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Chapter 1

Even though I love to sleep, I hated my bed, it was Cocoa's saddle pad. Cocoa was a good ostrich-horse, even though she loves to run away, a lot.

My head was thrown frontward as Jim, my friend, shook me awake.

"Su, Su, Su, SU," Jim yelled in my ear.

"What? Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" I asked. I turned, Jim had the biggest smile on his face. "What? Did we get more money?"

Jim shook his head still grinning.

I lifted my right leg and turned it to Jim, then the left leg.

"Did we," I thought hard. "um…did Chuck get a girlfriend?" I asked with excitement.

Jim shook his head, again. "Do you know what today is?" he asked

"Um, Monday?" I said, fixing my tangled hair.

"Um, well, yeah," Jim said. "Your 12th Birthday!" I blinked. "Surprise!" Jim showed me a towel.

"I don't need a towel." I said, sadly. Jim shoved it into my hands. He smiled and hopped in place.

"Open it!" He cried. As a 16 year-old, he sure is hyper. I looked down at the gift. I gently unfolded the towel. I actually forgot it was my birthday, since a lot of other things have been going on the last couple of days.

When I got to the last fold, I gasped. "Jim," Jim got me a brand new bridle for Cocoa. It was black leather with a silver imprint "Cocoa" on the left side.

"Look," Jim lifted the reins, "it says, 'Su's ostrich-horse'. Do you like it?" Jim asked.

"Oh, why wouldn't I, of course I love it! Thanks!" I smiled. I wanted to see it on Cocoa right away. "Where's Cocoa?"

Jim shrugged. I pulled away my blanket. Jim put his hand under my knee and his other on my back and lifted me up. "Let's find her then, shall we?" Jim asked.

I nodded. "Let's."

We searched all around town. We were in this town for a week, so, we had to move on. Tonight, Jim was going to sing for one last time so we could get some extra money for a better wagon for me to lie in.

I saw Cocoa sleeping next to Chuck, who was also sleeping.

"There!" I said pointing to Chuck. Jim smiled and walked over to him, still holding me.

"Hey!" Jim yelled. Chuck cried

"Juliet?" Chuck said. I laughed. Chuck looked up at us. His face was confused. "What, Is that Jim, and Su?" He asked.

I nodded. "Oh, yes, it is."

"Did you nod?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah, sorry." I said.

" You know I'm blind! Gosh, it's only been for like, ever since I was blind." Chuck yelled, waking up Cocoa.

"It's been 5 years," Jim said. Then, Cocoa peaked Chuck in the head, she didn't like Chuck, much.

"Ow!" Chuck cried, rubbing his sore head. Cocoa did a quick, professional like, nod. I chuckled a little.

"Ahem?" I asked.

"What?" Chuck asked.

" Isn't there something you want to say to me?"

" Oh, Happy Birthday, Su." Chuck said. He slowly stood up. I bet the whole town could hear his back creak. "Ah, nice night?"

"Yes, you?" Jim asked.

" Ah, not that good, I had a weird dream, I was……………."Chuck's voice trailed off. I was watching some children run in the lake. Oh, how it must feel to run, or to walk.

"Isn't that funny, Su?" Chuck asked. I didn't answer. "Su?"

"Oh, no." Jim said. He saw me looking at the children running, freely. No boundaries, just, the wind at their heels, hair in the wind. I sighed.

I remembered the days I ran with Jim and Chuck, I was 7 years old. We were playing tag, and I was it. Jim was at the other side of his backyard. I raced after him. His face looked horrified, I thought by me chasing him, but, just like that, I realized, he wasn't scared of me at all, he was scared for me, by a wild ostrich-horse that came out of the thick forest Jim had in his backyard. It was running straight at me, I was so scarred, I couldn't breath fast enough. Frozen. Like a statue, waiting for the bird to strike. When it did, it was stunned. I don't know what happened to the ostrich-horse though, but, I hope its dead. I woke up the next day in a hospital. When the nurse told me how I was, I almost fainted in the bed.

I loved to run, I have long legs made for running. Since that day, 5 years ago, I was never able to run or walk, ever again, I was paralyzed, for life.

"Su, you alright?" I heard Chuck asked.

I stayed quiet for a while, turning from the children, letting the noises of the town fill my ears. "Yeah," I sighed. "I'm just fine." I felt Cocoa's beak rub up against my hand. I looked over to her. She stood all the way up, I stroked her feathers. I have this bitter feeling for Cocoa, I know her kind did this to me, unable to walk.

Jim broke the annoying silence, "So, Su, you wanna play your viola for your birthday?"

Even though I felt terrible, I nodded. Playing my viola made me feel much better, I felt like I was actually succeeding in something.

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