Cracker-Jack

Chapter nine

I watched them empty a little room in the shed, it was small, had short ceilings, 4 little rooms, and was cluttered with bottles and soil on the floor. I turned my head toward the young girl, Kathy I suppose, that is what the other woman calls her. She seemed more calm and laid back than the other one, her mother maybe. Her mother's forhead was damp with sweat and muttered curse words as she picked up and threw the trash outside, on the other side of the shed, Kathy was calm, sweeping the little rooms while grinning and singing songs to herself. She set down the broom and walked toward me, she led me to the cleanest little room and closed the door. Kathy stood at the gate watching me as her mother walked off. Her grin reached from ear to ear. I sniffed around the room, there were wood shavings on the ground that cushioned my hooves and a little bucket in the corner of the room filled with water. Kathy walked in the room with me. 

 "How do you like your stall, Sweetie?" She combed my mane with her fingers. Just like Master used to do. I swiftly turned my attention to the water. I can't remember the last day I had water. I stretched my neck to the bucket and gulped the cold water, the cool liquid hit my stomach like a bullet, but I ignored it, it tasted so good. Kathy pulled me back by my halter. "Woah, not so fast, you will get colic!" She held me back for a minuet while petting my neck softly, then let me drink again. She did this until my thirst was quenched, but my stomach was still aching for food. I scanned the ground for anything, but there was nothing. Kathy had a puzzled look on her face then she smiled and ran away.

 That was wierd

 Before thinking, I lied down, stretched my neck, and rolled, it helped scratch the itch on my back from the mud and flies. Shavings flew through the air as I kicked up my hooves with pure enjoyment. Then all of the sudden I heard giggling and laughter. I jerked my head up to see Kathy standing above me with a red bucket.

 "Are you done?" She laughed, I shifted my eyes at the bucket, it had steam puffing from it and smelled of sweet feed and sugar. She set it down for me, it was soft and sweet. The aroma and the tastes of honey and banana was spectacular. After my belly was full, I nudged Kathy's jean pockets in search for more. She just laughed and pet my cheek, I closed my eyes and savored the moment, I hope this will be my last home, I don't think I could go anymore, I don't think I could get attatched to anyone else, I can't bear the pain of leaving them. I walked away from Kathy's hands and went to lie down, hopefully I could sleep for a whole night without pain, without being cold, and without hunger. I slowly closed my eyes. I could still here Kathy breathing behind, me, but after a while, I listened to her boots click across the floor, and she was gone.

*****

 Morning awoke me with singing birds, a soft wind, and the warm sun peeking through my window. It was a peacful morning, warmer than usual, I don't hear any sirens, I don't feel the pain of barbwire, and I am not cluttered in a tiny corral with many horses. It's just peacful. The air was clean, sweet smelling, and the water was clear and cool. I heard ticking coming from the other end of the barn, the ticking from Kathy's boots. I stretched my  neck out and watched her walk to me with a bag dangling from her wrist. She seemed excited.

 "Hi, Jack!" She welcomed me. She reached in the bag and pulled out an apple and set it in my red bucket. I looked like an apple, but smelled of banana, honey, and peppermint, I bit into it. Out came mashed banana and a round peppermint. I ate the apple and the goodies and licked the bottom of the bucket, I lifted my head up and walked up to Kathy, she walked in the stall with me and set the bag down on the gate.

 "Hi, boy! Let's take a look at your neck and leg," She reached in the bag pulled out a roll of cloth-like thing, and a tube of this jelly stuff.

 "Easy, boy," She said soothingly and felt down to my leg, I dident know Kathy, but I do trust her, so I stayed still as she got some water from my bucket and rinsed my leg, I flinched, but I kept my hooves still for her. She rubbed the sticky jelly stuff on me and wrapped my leg in the cloth. Kathy stood up and smiled at me and patted my neck. She went the the bag again and pulled out a bottle of some smelly stuff and dabbed it on a cotton pad and applied it to the scratches on my neck. I stung, but I forced myself not to move.

 "There you go," She kissed my nose, grabbed her things, and walked away.

 She kissed my nose!

 I decided to fall back to sleep again, for I was still tierd, as I laid down, I glanced at my wrapped leg, It was red, I have to admit, my leg did feel better, it protects it from when I lay it down on the shavings. I closed my eyes once more, and fell asleep peacfully.