Daniel

"Ma!" I hissed as evilly as she would have, "Can't I at least have some say in this?" I backed away from her and rubbed my ear, which felt like a feather, all so numb. I then fixed my eyes on the cold hardwood floor. She had dragged me into the dining room in unremarkable time. I let my ear rest and took my hand away then I stroked my long bushy hair out of my face.

Although Ma tells me that I'll need to cut it when I turn of age, I still value my hair while it's long. Why not admire something while it lasts? I told Ma that it's not all so long but she must always argue with me. I told her about Henry's hair being down to his shoulder's, and Ronald's being almost as long, but she still says mine is TOO long. It's only just past my earlobes, poor, poor earlobes. My one earlobe must be a bright pulsing red compared to my dirty blond hair, which probably could get by as a brunette, but I like being a blond. Blond's are suppose to be dumb, and that fits me well. But wasn't Zel's hair blond...Oh good thing I didn't say that...Man am I dumb.

"Daniel, were you listening to a dang word I said?" Ma asked with her hands on her hips.

I snickered, great.

"Na, I don't feel a need to listen to ya, Ma. I," I said then shut my mouth close tightly while figuring out what I had just said. Dumb, yes that's me. Oh and a big mouth. "I didn't mean it Ma! Truly!"

She just stared at me, wide-eyed. Her hazel eyes pierced my face, leaving wounds everywhere. Her curly blond hair was pulled up in the latest fashion and her face was burrowed with stress.

"Ma,"

"You, boy, go to your room right now." She said with the same expression on her face.

"But, Ma,"

"Now, boy,"

"But,"

"I mean it!"

"MA!"

"Don't Ma me, Daniel. Go to your room, NOW. Or you'll get a spanking!"

"I'm mean it too Ma!"

Before I could say anymore a sharp pain broke out through my bottom. It seemed to spread through my whole body as fast as a train.

"Ouch!" I yelped.

"Now go, or shall I get the paddle?"

I gulped and merely nodded, no.

"No, Ma. I will not give in this time. I wanna be a strong man, Ma, with a strong voice. Not some peasant boy that lives with his Ma. You know that!"

She stood with her jaw dropped.

"How dare you insult me like that," She whispered in a dangerous tone.

"I can do better,"

"No...NO! Daniel, go to your room! I don't want to see you until supper. Or I'll just not feed you! And take a shower while your at it, you smell like the pigs, boy."

I then noticed that we where fighting, yelling loudly, surely Zel could hear us. But some reason I couldn't help myself from laughing. Pigs, I grinned, I smelt like the pigs. I laughed louder till I felt to my knees. I hugged then with my arms and made myself into a little ball. I rolled back and forth the floor laughing like crazy. It sounded quite evil, actually, and I couldn't stop. I felt tears roll down my cheeks while I laughed. It made me laugh more. Crying while you laugh? Sadness and happiness at the same time? Wow, how my life and changed in the last five minutes. I felt a rough hand, compared to Zel's, grab my arm a lift me up.

"Oh forget it Daniel, you will be your stubborn self. Now, will you please do your Ma a little favor, if you won't listen to her other commands?" She asked while going into the kitchen.

"Uh, sure Ma...Sure thing!" I smiled while I heard my voice come out. I sounded like a high pitched girl, but really, I thought, I sounded like Ronald when he screams. I started laughing again. Ah, Ronald...

"Just take this empty milk jug to Ronald's house. Tell them thanks, for your Ma too while your at it." She smiled, hardly, and placed the jug in my hands. She patted my shoulder once and beckoned me away.

I merrily skipped out of the house towards Ronald's place. I laughed my same evil laugh I had before and then saw Zel, in the same place I left her. I smiled, still staring at her, when that same stinking rock from before somehow moved in front of me and BANG! Well more like an, OUCH! And then I fell down, tumbling. Everything seemed to go in slow motion, as I fell. I was so focused on breaking my fall that I let go of the glass jug. It and myself hit the ground roughly and heard it shattered. I jammed my eyes shut, then I heard the new horse we got, rear up. It must have been scared by the glass. I drew myself up finally, then to my horror, I saw Zel all bloody. The jug hit her on the head straight on. Crap, crap, crap, no. Just great Daniel... I then lifted her head out of the grass, little shards of glass came falling from her beautiful silky hair. I stroked my dirty rough hands through her hair, trying to get the rest of the glass out of it. I felt all kinds of sores on her scalp while I did it. I lifted my hand out worringly and saw it all bloody. I sighed and pushed her hair aside behind one of her ears. I then took my shirt off and used it as a headrest for her. "I'm sorry, Zel...Or whatever your name may be." I gently whispered into her ear. I then heard hooves take off, the horse. I got up quickly and ran after her, she was now cantering in little circles. She all of a sudden stopped though.

"It's okay, darling, shh..." I reassured her while slowly walking towards her. I put my hand on her muzzle and stroked her beautiful fur.

I felt something then, not the warm blood all over my hands from Zel, or the soft white fur brushing against my skin, something else. Something that I knew was there the whole time but never noticed it. Something I've been trying to ignore, but utterly failed. It had to be it. I was in love, not only with the horse, but with Zel too. This was all happening too soon. It felt as if...As if I had been awakened by time.

"Shh..." I hushed, feeling as if I was not only talking to the horse but her too. I mounted on the horse and rode back over to her. It hurt me to even say her name now, even though it wasn't actually her real name. I dismounted the horse and bent over to help her.

"Hey, hey. HEY!" I said, dumbly, while shaking her head roughly. "Wake up!"

Though, of course, she wouldn't wake up. I groaned for her pain and mine, that's just how selfish I can be. Then I thought, my one and only friend, as I liked it, was now passed out because of my stupid clumsiness. I actually laughed at the thought of it. Just how stupid it sounded, wow, what I was going to tell her? Oh, hi person, I was just staring at your unnatural beauty while carrying a glass milk jug when a stupid rock appeared in front of me and I tripped. I was so selfish that I protected myself and dropped the glass, in a spot which so happened to be your head. I sighed, I'm such an idiot.

I looked at the horse, "down, please," I commanded her.

The horse in an instant obeyed and bent down where it was on her knees.

I smiled quickly and then bent down and tried to pick her up. It was hard, since she was pretty much twice my size, but I managed. I owed her after all. Couple of sore muscles shall do it, right?

I then mounted on the horse, with her in front of me. I leaned her body against the horse's mane. And then we took off back to the house.

Once there I quickly dismounted and ran inside for Ma.

"MA! MA! Help! I...I...Uh..." I stopped, to my surprise Ma was already standing there with her first aid kit. I smiled, good old Ma.

"You, boy, take a bath. The tub is all ready for you."

I nodded and silently walked to the bath house.

After my long refreshing bath I sat on the back porch staring up at the sky. Sun bathing, you could call it. Though I do prefer the rain, the sun is good too. I must of fell asleep because next thing I know I'm dreaming about some storm... Nasty thing... A cloaked figure then, out of nowhere, came into view.

"Daniel, boy, are you asleep?" She asked roughly.

I snapped awake to see Ma staring down at me. I sat up quickly and blushed, "Sorry Ma,"

"Ah, well, boys will be boys. Ha,"

I rolled my eyes, she always says that some, weird, reason. And she also always has to add the 'Ha,' in with it.

"Now listen, boy. Your little friend up there is going to be...different. Just treat her the same okay?" She looked at me funny.

"Sure Ma, whatever." I sighed, oh, how I hate myself. She was like the sister I never had. I loved her like the sister I never had, and still don't.

"Here," She threw something brownish-red at me. I looked at it, it was my old T-shirt I had on. Good thing it was just a plain white one. I threw it to the ground, in disgust.

"Thanks," I mumbled while kicking the shirt as far away from me as I could.

"Behave, Daniel," She whispered while walking away.

"Uh-huh."