Kipp

The Banter was joyous, ringing in the air like Sunday church bells. Kipp swayed in time with his horse, locking eyes with Robbie over the crowing of the other riders. The man shot Vivian a smile, and Kipp returned it happily. The feeling of dread that had once crowded him like a bubble was beginning to lessen, and Vivian found himself beginning to enjoy the day's ride more than he had this morning. Everyone seemed at ease in the open, sitting comfortably atop their horses, a mixed bag of palominos, quarters, and other breeds. Kipp let his hands drift into the Haflinger's mane, carding his fingers through the thick black hair. When he inhaled the scent of pine trees and saddle leather filled his nose. He was familiar with the steps he had to take. Sure, he wasn't comfortable with it, and he probably never would be but at least there was routine amongst the chaos. Part of that was Robbie's doing as the man knew every twist and turn of life, and he was happy to take Kipp along for the ride and settle the man in.

Robbie had done everything he could, he had taken note of the way Kipp behaved with the other men and the way he struggled and grew. He had made his suggestions and given his warnings and Kipp couldn't have been more grateful than he was now. Things had changed, people they knew had come and gone but the one constant was that they had one another. Through and through. Over the years, Kipp had begun to come out of his shell. He remembered when he first started at the academy and how unsure he was. He had also been prideful, happy to achieve what many in the town had desired and he was going to prove something to his father. If there was one thing that would never change about his father that Vivian knew, it was that he was never satisfied and never would be. Nothing was good enough. Kipp was his only son and had appeared to become the least favorite from the day he could toddle around the room. His sister however was treated well by both his mother and father. Kipp was two years older than she was when he had been yelled at for the first time.

In the little town of Blackcreek, there was just one school, where all the kids congregated each day to learn something new. Vivian had taken his sister's hand, tugging the dark head of hair behind him and into the classroom. They never looked alike, despite what people said. Kipp had his mother's eyes, dark and intelligent and his mother's hair, wavy and the kind of blond that sparkled and glowed in the setting sun. His sister was the opposite of him, with a dark head of curls, bronzed and sun-kissed skin with the brightest blue eyes you could ever imagine. Partway through the lesson, his classmate Benjamin started trouble. Only after Vivian had expertly retaliated did the teacher take note. He was swiftly marched to the front under the blazing stare of Ms. Penny where he hung his head. "You, Vivian Kipp, are a troublemaker and that will not be tolerated in my classroom." Her voice was orotund, as she decided to come down to his level. She had instructed him to face the class with his head up. "If you do not, I will have no choice but to send you to the hallway, where you may remain for the remainder of the class." She folded her arms and peered down at him, waiting.