Drabble – Push – 500 Words
Two of Alexander's generals made there way over a hill near the army camp. Arguing voices were heard from the other side. What they saw when they crested the hill stopped them in their tracks.
Alexander and Hephaestion stood besides a muddy hole arguing. Bucephalas was chest deep in the mud hole looking very happy and content.
"One of us needs to get behind him and push and the other can pull him." Alexander said, "So you get in there behind him and I will pull from here."
"He's your horse, you get in the mud." answered Hephaestion.
"I'm the King and I order you to get behind and push."
Hephaestion folded his arms across his chest and planted his feet firmly apart. "You could be Zeus himself and order me to push and I still wouldn't get behind that horse!"
Alexander started mumbling to himself with choice words about his best friend and added a few about his horse for good measure. He wadded out into the muddy hole and placed himself very carefully behind Bucephalas, who turned to eye him menacingly.
"Do you suppose we should go and help them?" one of the generals asked.
" Let's wait a minute and see what happens."
One hand firmly on either side of Bucephalas' behind, Alexander yelled for Hephaestion to pull. Bucephalas didn't budge even an inch.
"You aren't pulling hard enough, put your back into it." Alexander yelled.
Hephaestion looked around Bucephalas' head and glared in Alexander's' direction.
Pulling and pushing continued with nary an inch to show for the effort.
Suddenly Hephaestion spotted an apple tree not far away and went to pick a few to entice Bucephalas, while Alexander was still pushing with all his might. Returning with the apples Hephaestion took a big bite out of one and let the sweet smell drift towards the stubborn horse. Bucephalas took one whiff of the apple and leapt out of the muddy hole. With nothing to lean on anymore Alexander did a perfect belly flop into the mud face first.
Spitting mud as he came up Alexander looked up to see Bucephalas eating the apples out of Hephaestions' hands.
Hephaestion smiled at him and looked back at the horse and didn't see the well aimed wad of mud as it came to flying at him and hit him squarely on the back of the head.
"What was that for? I got him out, didn't I?"
"The least you can do is help me out," said Alexander. But instead of helping him out, Alexander pulled him into the muddy mess.
Now two brown figures made their way to dry land, arguing all the way. They were so engrossed in their conversation they failed to notice Bucephalas as he made his way back in the cool muddy mess.
The generals decided to wait and see how much better this could get before they offered their help. After all, it isn't often you see a King defeated by his own horse.