CLYDE, THE PEPPERMINT SNATCHER

CLYDE, THE PEPPERMINT SNATCHER

By: RuthAnne Anderson

  

Quivering with cold, paralyzed with fright, I couldn’t open my eyes. If I peeked, would it be terrifying or safe? 

Mom nudged me to stand. I wobbled, stumbled, jerked. She wasn’t going to leave me alone until I stood, so I stood!  I simply locked my legs. Wow, I’m standing all by myself!

Playing hide n’seek we were taken aback, whinnying with fear. The alarmed squirrel’s eyes popped out as he trembled, screeched, and leapt into midair. Grabbing the tree, he scampered up quicker than any Super Hero. Laughing hard, we staggered and stumbled.

Water moved, bubbled and splashed. Little critters hopped and jumped, surprising me. I snorted and shivered. Beady little eyes looked my way. I took on the water, head to head. I’m not afraid.

Tag with friends but Keep-away is my favorite! Stealing a long blade of grass, ducking down, and spinning around, no one could ever get mine. I am too fast!

Missing my mom, I caught a glimpse of her today. With new daily routines and schooling, I was too tired to complain. Helen was gentle as she put my halter on. Hesitant, I learned to lead, stand, and the word "treat"! Treat means Peppermints! Standing fully saddled, I heard a candy wrapper crinkling. What a test, a tease for me. Can I have that peppermint, please?

Little visitors giggling and wiggling on my fence. Bravely I smelled one, tasted the other. Zane tasted like dirt and Zoe was like a flower. Nuzzling my nose up one leg and smelling down the other. I tossed my head, kicked, bucked, snorted, and sniffed the air. My company yelled a big “Yee Haw” as they trotted away.

Creeping, sneaking, I slipped into the tack room. Peeking, seeing rows of saddles, layers of bridles, and things never seen before. Locating a large tub of peppermints, Wow! Hundreds of wonderful smelling candies! I inched, I stretched. The tub was out of reach.

Grasping it with my lips, dragging it closer, peppermints! Twenty mints bunched in my mouth when a deep, familiar voice barked, "CLYDE!"

 Bummer, I’m caught!

English, jumping, and western were effortless jobs. Traveling by trailer, munching hay, watching the sights, trucks were loud, smelly, and scary. Tall buildings, like needles, reached the sky. The city was noisy, smelly, but never dull, especially flashing lights and loud siren sounds.

No owner for me. I tried different riders every day. One lost her balance and flip flopped as she plopped to the ground. With an unforgiving jerk, in slow motion she hit the dirt. A sudden pinch under my chin, I leapt away stopping to stare. A girl, face down gasping for air as she started to cry. A muddy river of tears slid slowly into her mouth. Understand arena dirt elements include nasty old shavings, filthy dark dirt and lots of well … poop!

Familiar voices! Zoe and Zane wondering, “What’s in the trailer?” I backed out slowly. They screeched and cheered, bouncing and dancing, and embrace my leg. My heart sang. Could this be my new home?

A sensation of eyes directed my way, two green, two gold, synchronized. Approaching, I sniffed their hair, causing quite a sneeze. Like rockets they flew straight into the air. Eyes lit and claws showing they darted away.

Struck by steam, I lowered my nose. A tasty breakfast, warm bran mash and oats I slopped, splashed, and licked to get every morsel. While covered up to my eyes with mash and mush, Zane saw me and froze. Giggles exploded into laughter, clasping his stomach while stepping on a rake. Bonk … it conked him in his head.

Smacked by Zane’s rope several hundred times, spinning, twisting the lasso loops circling from side to side. Practice makes perfect, yes he might not hit me this time!

Slipping, sliding, grabbing handfuls of mane, Zoe’s legs pressed against my sides. Bareback, she began to feel more secure and pressing me into a jog. Moving round the arena turning and twisting. Making circles, and asking me to lope. Zoe yelped, tugged my mane, and gripped with her legs. Relaxing, releasing becoming a unit, flowing as one.

Zane drank from his water bottle. Stepping into the pond, I pawed, and took a gulp, splashed and inched into the water. Working my way deeper, muck tugged at my hooves. Deeper I inched feeling zilch, stumbling forward, Zane shouted. Nothing except water under my hooves and over my head! I struggled for air! Pounding in my chest, moving, galloping in an uphill race taking huge strides, my nose surfaced … I started to swim! Zane sat back and

my head emerged. We made it to the other side. Dripping we reached the grass, shaking so hard it rattled Zane. Back for more … lunging into the water, stretching forward, with large strides we swam across the pond. Zane laughed, yee-hawed, and we headed home.

Missing! Zoe and Zane have been gone all day. Down the drive with bags on their backs, they trudged out of sight. Waiting, worrying, frightened they’ll never return. Pacing, weaving, determined to move. Galloping to take flight, over the fence I flew. Worried, watching, trotting to the end of the drive. Something appeared. Flashing lights ahead, leaping from a bus, Zoe and Zane materialize. They have not gone astray!

Rustling, crunching, and happiness fill the cool air. Leaves flew sticking in their hair. Long trail rides together add warmth to the shortening days.

We headed down the driveway out to the road, pulling a cart filled with pumpkins and pies to the fall festival. I liked hearing my shoes clip clop, clip clop on the asphalt. Wagon rides for kids brought a reward of peppermints. What an occasion on this fresh autumn day!

Out they jumped, causing a fright. “Trick OR Treat,” yelled Zoe and Zane, dumping their supplies onto the ground, giggling, and dancing around. They decorated my mane with feathers and beads and added sparkles and frilly tassels to my tail. Zane in fancy clothing held a long lunge whip and Zoe, so beautiful, a prima ballerina as she stood on my back. We rode down the street and went “Trick or Treat.”

Smoke from my muzzle filled the air, while white flakes drifted in the sky. White blankets covered the hills. Winter was here. Morning light shined bright as jolly sounds ignite. An old fashion sleigh ride, prancing and dancing I made such a clatter. The harness jingled as we sang our way to our neighbor’s cabin. Hot chocolate was served and my cheeks were filled with peppermints, when all of a sudden … a puppy appeared. Hopping and springing all over the place, Sandy stopped to lick my face.

Snow angels, snowmen, and snow ball fights packed the day. Slither, slinking biting the peppermints, wiping the smile from that snowman’s face! Licking my lips, and giving a snort reaching for his last peppermint. As the sun began to rest, we settled into our comfortable barn. Sandy curled up in my hay and the cats snuggled on top of my back. We are down for a long winter’s night.