Pacifica

Prologue

They say the world is too small for some people. I couldn't agree more. Life on the farm is complex, but the same routines are performed every day. Milk old Betsy, spread grain seed for the chickens, turn out the horse, & then there is planting to be done. I personally hate planting. Leaning down over the ground, with sweat getting in my eyes from the extreme heat, is exhausting. Having just turned 12, last week, my father seems to think that means more work responsibility. Today, I get to learn to plow the field. My dad has always plowed the field, this year is the first of many, that I will plow the field. My dad couldn't help grinning proudly as he woke me up this morning. "Time to get to work son!" Dad bellowed. Ma, who was in the kitchen glanced away from her cooking to grin at dad sheepishly. Walking over to her, and pecking her cheek, Dad bellowed with a hearty cheer, "Us men need a big breakfast, so we can do our business today." Outside our small cottage, a rooster crowed signaling the start of our day.

Ma brought her famous hot pancakes to the table. Smiling as Ma sat down on one of the wooden chairs Pa had built, I reached for some of the steaming pancakes. In twenty minutes they were all gone. Mom began clearing the table as Pa and I went outside.

The fresh cool breeze hit me in a wave. Breathing it in, Pa instructed me to Hitch up one of the horses. Sighing, I grabbed the basic halter off the hook in the barn. Pa busied himself with pulling some weeds in the garden. The leather halter in my hand, I opened the gate to our horse's field. Diego, our Black Bay was the first to come when I made the low whistle sounds that were used to call the horses. Diego nickered softly, and I gave him some oats. I brushed the dust off him and proceeded to put the harness on him piece by piece. Grabbing the long reins and whip, I finished up and lead him to my father. Pa lead Diego to the place we left off yesterday in our 15-acre field. He then attached Diego to the metal shovel looking thing, Pa got from town. "Ok son, show me how you think you do this." Grinning Pa watched the show unfold. I grabbed the reins and clicked once. Nothing happened. Diego just says there placidly and licked his lips. Pa grinned, "Did you forget the whip?" Embarrassed, I grabbed the whip and thrust it forward. As soon as the frayed end touched Diego's skin, he jolted forward. I almost let go of the tiller, and ran with Diego, shouting "whoa boy! Whoa!"

That horse took off with me, faster than one could blink. By the time I got Diego slowed down we had to start all over again. Pa sat there way on the other side of the field chuckling loudly. As I walked over to Pa, he still grinning watched as I still struggled with control of Diego. By the time I made it back, Pa stopped grinning and eyeing me started" Son, watch my movements and sounds careful." Giving me a wink, Pa took the long reins and patted Diego. Pa raised the whip and brushed it lightly on Diego's skin. Pa then urged Diego forward with a click, and without hardly lifting the reins, had Diego change direction with a slight turn of his head. Diego was still sweating hard, so pa gave him the signal to stop, which was a slow quiet whoa. Diego stopped immediately. " Wow pa! Can I try again?" Pa grinned. "Just give him a little break soon." We tilled all day, as Pa worked on other tasks. Diego nickered at me softly helping me to look up at the sky. The clouds were rolling in. A storm is coming.

"Finish up Andrew!" Pa bellowed from the goat pen. Sighing, I took the halter off of Diego and proceeded to walk back to the barn. the clouds were really starting to roll in now I realized as I began disassembling the harness. Lugging the heavy harness back to the barn, I realized is my least favorite part of tilling. Diego was getting anxious. He stomped his front hoof in frustration. "I know, I know..." mumbling as I fumbled with the harness pieces. Leaving the heavy equipment on the hook on the side of the barn. Pa was still finishing milking one of the goats in the pen next to the barn wall. So no put Diego back in the field, and walked the short distance to Pa. Pa still grinned sheepishly when he looked up at me. Picking up the bucket of fresh milk, Pa hugged me with soppy hands.