Just for You

Chapter 5 - The Project

I catch a ride into town with Dad the next morning. After dropping Todd off at a friend's place for the day, he is working at the IGA again, even though it's Saturday. He says that he needs all the work he can get and for now that means even working on Saturdays. I don't really care about that though. I'm still angry with Dad and only talk to him when it is absolutely necessary. I'm interested in the internet connection in the back of the IGA that Dad mentioned. I had borrowed Dad's laptop and I'm ready for a morning of research until I got results, no matter how long it took.

I leap out of the car as soon as we pull up in front of the shop. I grab the laptop bag out of the back and walk just behind Dad, into the IGA. A man about in his fifties is standing at the counter. He smiles widely when he sees Dad.

“Mornin' Richard!”

“Good morning, Mr. Wright.” Dad motions to me, “This is my daughter, Phoebe. She's wondering if she can borrow your internet for a while. I don't have ours set up yet.”

Mr. Wright smiles at me. “Sure you can, honey. Through that door and to the right. Plug into the wall and sit at the desk. Take as much time as you like!”

“Thanks.” I walk through the door and turn to the right. From the front room I can here Dad and Mr. Wright talking. I sit down at the desk. Once I have plugged into the shop's internet and booted the laptop I take from the bag piece of paper on which is written a list of things to do. For some reason I've written “contact friends” last. I'm not sure why I did that. I guess I just thought of it last.

First thing I need to do is find out something about halters. After a bit of research I work out that I can learn to make my own rope halter and it will be less expensive than buying one. I don't even know if this town has a saddle shop or anything vaguely similar. I soon find a step by step instruction sheet on how to tie a rope halter. I will need twenty two feet of rope which works out to just over seven metres.

I leave the computer and ask Mr. Wright if he sells rope. He shows me his selection and I work out how much it will cost me. I think I have enough, but if I'm going to continue this project, I will need to work out some way to earn more money. Maybe I can look for a job in town.

After getting permission from Mr. Wright, I print out the halter instructions and do a little more research on saddlery, stables, paddocks and general horse care. I learn a lot and by the time I reach the last thing on my list, I am fairly knowledgeable in the field of horsemanship.

Finally I log in to facebook and begin the process of reassuring my worried friends that I haven't committed suicide. It takes a while to contact them all, but by the time Dad tells me he can drive me home during his lunch break, they are all well informed of my situation and sympathise with me.

When I get home I have the house all to myself. I change straight into my ripped jeans and old T-shirt, now christened my “working clothes”, and head straight for the stables.

It doesn't take long to get the rest of the stables in order. Once it's all clean I walk out into the paddock joining onto the back of it. This is where the horses would be let out to graze. It's overgrown, which doesn't bother me as a horse will mow it for me just as well as a mower. The real problem is the fence. The wire is cut and broken in several places. I'll need to re-string it and some of the posts will need to be replaced. It will be a big job and I don't know that I will be able to do it alone. I may need to enlist Dad. But how am I supposed to do that? He won't go near the stables and he certainly wouldn't waste his time helping me fix them up.

I give up on the stables for the time being and head back to the house. I fix myself a drink and some lunch and sit down at the kitchen table, the rope and halter instructions in front of me.