Hey all! I'm Back!
Hope you enjoy this chapter, I'm getting into the swing of things for Christmas!
Christmas. It was the best time of year. Lights and decorations lit up the new homes and stores. Everyone was out doing their last minute shopping before Christmas actually came. I watched as people trudged along on the sidewalk carrying bags and packages. I was already excited, the holidays were coming up. Just one more week left of school.
That meant no homework, or classes, annoying freshmen who think they run the school, girls who cry because they don't have a date for the upcoming dance, for two whole weeks!
I was currently sitting in the front seat of my brand new truck, which I had received when police my old ranger totaled in a car repo lot. Of course I was upset I found out that Catherine had smashed the bejesus out of my truck, but it was long forgotten when I was presented with a new 2012 Chevrolet, complete with full back seats.
I turned the truck onto the familiar dirt road. I was back in Staten Island, helping Meg to decorate the barn for the holidays. The back seats were full of garland, lights, glass ornaments, and other decorations, and who could forget Christmas music?
The sky was starting to get dark. I looked over at the glowing green numbers on the digital clock. It was 5:46.
My senior year at high school was going surprisingly well. I had a few spares, technology and tourism, biology, math English, some drama. I was as happy as a clam. Who wouldn't be? I barely had anything to do. Not to mention, I was enjoying not having as much homework.
Up the road, I could see lights coming from the large barn that accommodated Meg's property. I could easily make out the figures of horses standing out in the fresh snow that blanketed the ground.
I pulled the truck into her long driveway and parked in the small lot beside the barn. As soon as I opened the door and got out, I was attack hugged by Meg who stealthily snuck up on me, wrestling a Santa hat on my head. "Merry Christmas, Belle!" She cried. Meg herself was decorated from head to toe in an elf costume. "Going all out this year, I see?" I smiled, opening one of the back doors and pulling out a box of garland and tinsel.
"Well, why not?" She laughed, taking the box from me as I grabbed another and we headed inside the barn. "Do you have any lessons tonight?" I asked. "A couple actually. Most people have gone away for the holidays, but a few are coming." Meg nodded as we went back to the truck to grab the last of the boxes.
Just as we were bringing the boxes in, a minivan pulled into the driveway, parking beside me. Out of the van came a mother in her thirties and small girl, who liked she could be six or seven. "Merry Christmas!" The girl said, bouncing along beside us with a box full of candy canes. "Merry Christmas." I said, as Meg and the little girl's mother stopped to talk.
"What's in the box?" She asked. "Decorations. I'm gonna help Meg decorate the barn." Inside the barn, I set the box down next to the others and the girl stopped to look at what all was in it. When she was done, she looked up at me, prying the lid off her box. "Want a candy cane?" She held the box to me. "Sure, thanks." I smiled, delving into the box and pulling one out. "What's your name?" I asked her. "Rachelle." She said happily. "What's yours?"
"Isabelle." I replied. "You own Ike, don't you?" Rachelle asked. "Yep." I smiled, reaching into a box. "I like him he's funny." Rachelle giggled to herself.
Digging around the box I was looking at, I pulled a long string of garland out of it. In a smaller box, I grabbed a couple of thumb tacks, and pinned the garland on top of the message board. "Who are you riding tonight?" I asked Rachelle. The little girl stopped and thought for a second. "Boots." She smiled as she remembered.
"Do you wanna help me go get him?" Rachelle's face lit up and she ran to the tack room to get his halter and lead rope. I followed her in and went to my locker where I kept all of my stuff, and I got Ike's halter and lead. "Are you going to ride too?" Rachelle asked, waiting for me by the door. "Maybe, but I should bring Ike in and feed him. I haven't seen him for a while anyway." I told her.
Outside, Rachelle and I trudged through the snow, going all the way to the end of the paddocks where Ike's paddock was. I whistled as I got close, and the outline of the palomino gelding's head shot up into the air. "Hey buddy!" I called to him, and Ike trotted up to the gate to see us. "Wanna come in?" I asked, opening the gate and slipping his halter on his head, then lead him to where Boots was. I helped Rachelle put his halter on, and let her lead him back to the barn as Ike and I lead the way.