Cry, my beloved people

A whole new world Part 63

"So you are the city boy," Paul said, turning his back on Gregory as he started to unpack his suitcase.

Gregory gulped: "I guess that's true."   He wondered if this is going to turn into some bullying.  He did not think of that when he enrolled.

"Here," the tall boy threw some clothes at him, "they are anyway too small for me.  Get rid of your city clothes, less you want the school bullies to sniff you out."  Something inside Gregory warmed up towards the boy in front of him as he looked at the tops in his hand.

"Thanks, I was too busy planning for my studies to think of that." He said sheepishly.

"You're welcome, are you doing any sport?"

"I did cricket at my old school."

"Well, we're only playing rugby here, do you want to try it?"

"I can give it a go, what do I need?"

"The school jersey for one, and  white trousers, you don't need them for practice and you might be able to buy them from the clothes bank."

"The clothes bank, here at the school?"

"Yes, next to the secretary's office, but I'll show you, you might make a good flank."

Gregory swallowed, whatever that means, it sounds robust, but he managed a "thank you."

"Do you like horses?"

"I'm not sure, I read books about them, but I never touched one, they look awesome when you see them grazing in the fields."

Paul shook his head at Gregory," you've got a lot to learn, city boy, let me go and show you, my friends."

They walked through the passages, here and there some guy greeted "Hi Paul," and gave Gregory a nod, then they were out on the fields.  It smelled nice, the air was fresh and smelled like his grandpa's farm.  He felt at home.  Then the smell changed as they got nearer to the stables.  Some of the horses snorted as they entered the stables.

"Here is my best friend, Chariot," Paul said as he rubbed the horse's neck, "do you want to rub it too?"  He stood back and Gregory got closer and gave it a few strokes, the horse swayed its tail and outer a huge snort.  Gregory jumped backward and Paul laughed.

"Now he is excited and want us to go for a ride, do you want to try it, I'll give you a tamed one, that one over there is Mary, she is good.  Here's her saddle, watch me while I saddle up Chariot and you do the same with Mary, I"ll inspect it before we mount them."

When Gregory sat in the saddle of the big, white horse, called Mary, it felt if the whole world belonged to him and a silent prayer went through his mind: "Thank you God for giving me such a kind friend."

At first, they walked past the vegetable lands, they were huge and Gregory tried to imagine how they started it, it was about twenty times the size of Lindie's.  Then they set off into a gallop through the grazing fields.  This was heavenly.