“MORNING”

by Colin

“Morning” . . . Strange time of day….things happen in the early hours that scare you ….

“Morning” . . . Strange time of day.…things happen in the early morning sunshine that are surreal………….

“Morning” . . . Strange time of day….things happen that change your life forever……

“Morning Steve. Have you seen Slugger? I looked for him in the kitchen but he wasn’t there and the fire has gone out,” asked Dora as she wandered out of the house into the stable yard. It was 5 am and the sun was just coming up.

“No, I thought that he would be up bright and early, but I don’t think he is here. I looked into his room but his bed was still made up, so I’m not sure if he even slept there last night. I’m sure he’ll appear though. You know Slugger . . does his own thing when he wants to!” Replied Steve as he led Barney out of his stall into the main field. Steve stopped, looked straight at Dora and said in a loud, guttural voice.

“Anyway, there’s no point in worrying about Slugger right now. What are you going to do about the feed that Bill Cartwright is due to deliver today? You know that he’s looking for cash, at least two hundred pounds when he delivers and we just don’t have it. I told you yesterday that you needed to talk to the Colonel about it, but nooooo; ‘I’m Dora of Follyfoot and I’ll fix it’ was your answer. Well, what are you going to do now? No money…no feed…typical, you’ve left it too late again. Living in your dream world with rose-tinted glasses. Well?” Not waiting for a reply, Steve walked off with Barney, turning his back on Dora and mumbling under his breath.

“Steve, I don’t know. Something will turn up and we’ll be fine….you’ll see! I’m more worried about Slugger right now. He never goes off in the early morning like this, he always makes breakfast for us and cleans up the kitchen” said Dora as she started to muck out Barney’s stall.

Typical of Steve, thought Dora. More worried about money that Slugger. Why are boys like that…people are more important than money, friends mean more than money, people you can trust are the most important. Why, oh why can’t Steve see that and realise that her feelings are so easily hurt when he shouts at her about money, and ignores her when she is worried about people!

And Dora was really worried. Late last night Slugger became very upset when he answered a phone call and Dora overheard him saying in a hushed voice that he really did not want it, and there was no need for anyone to come calling on him as he would be away for a few days. She missed the rest of the call, but as she came down the final steps on the stairs, she saw Slugger going out the front door, cap in hand and a very worried look on his face. She called after him, but he ignored her and went out, disappearing into the dark within seconds.

Sunshine streamed into the stalls, glinting on the metal bars, reflecting off the shiny tie rings and showing up the cobwebs that everyone seemed to always miss when cleaning. Straw and dust danced in the sunlight beams, like little fairies floating around looking for somewhere to land, the smell of the horses was all pervasive, lovely if you loved horses, but dank and putrid to those who did not. The stalls were very old, with a unique musty smell and a clingy atmosphere that stuck to your clothes, but brought back happy memories and made you feel good!

Dora was struggling now, moving a giant lump of soiled bedding.

“Ere girl, let me help you with that,” came a strange voice from behind her. Dora turned around and saw a small, wizened old man standing in the open doorway.

”Name’s Wizen and I’m looking for Slugger….seen him around have ye?” Asked the wizened man as he easily picked up the bedding and slung it into the wheelbarrow in one easy move.

“No, sorry. He’s not here this morning. How do you know Slugger? Asked Dora.

“Well, I used to serve with ‘ol Slugs in the Army, ye know. We woz real close, but I lost touch with him when I went off to stir for a few years. Just thought that I’d look up me old mate…maybe he can help me get a job or a place to stay until I get a job” said Wizen.

Dora started to feel very uncomfortable. She was alone in the stables and this man was blocking her as she started to move towards the exit. Wizen stepped forward and stood between her and the door, holding the rack and slowly eyeing her. His eyes were strange, one seemed to point upwards while the other seemed to be looking out the door to the left and wandered around by itself. Spitting on the floor, Wizen looked at Dora, and seemed to be looking at her from head to foot, staring at her legs.

“Let me out!” said Dora in a very commanding voice. “If you don’t stand aside, I’ll scream and you’ll be sorry!”

Wizen looked puzzled, and with his wonky eye, Dora was getting scared. Wizen lunged forward as if to grab her so Dora stepped backwards, picked up the water bucket and swung it in Wizen’s face, hitting him on the chin. Wizen burst our crying and fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, truly I am” bawled Wizen as he held his hand up to his chin, blood pouring out from his cut lip.

Dora was stunned! Not only did she stand up to this man by herself, she had hit him in the face and he was now crying on his knees in front of her.

“Why did you act like that, threatening me? I could have really hurt you! What is going on?” Dora stood over the man, emboldened now and holding the bucket in her hand just in case he stood up too quickly.

“Well, I was an old mate of Slugger’s, in the army and then in the ring for a few years. I got caught selling bootleg tapes and sent down for a few years, but Slugger was the only person who kept in touch and helped me get out. I needed a reference and he was there for me. Anyway, I just wanted to see him and thank him. I’ve got some money that I owed him and wanted to give it to him.” With that, Wizen produced an envelope in his hand. “There’s three hundred in here, that’s what I owe Slugger and I just wanted to give it back to him.” Said Wizen.

“I told you not to come around here, Wizen,” came Slugger’s voice from behind Dora. Slugger was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame and looking tired and wet.

“Slugger, are you all right?” asked Dora.

“Yes, I’m fine, girl” replied Slugger, still looking at Wizen. “This is Wizen my old mate from the army. Got into some trouble a few years back and I helped him out, Then he goes off and gets married to Nancy, his childhood sweetheart, settled down in High Wycombe and the last I heard was doing good. He called me last night, wanting to pay me back for money I lent him years ago, but I know that times is hard for him so I didn’t want to take any money, what with him having a wife and a kid”

“Oh Slugger, I thought that you were in some sort of trouble and I was so worried about you” cried Dora as she ran over to Slugger and hugged him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Dora turned back to Wizen and said “I’m sorry I hit you, it’s just that I thought that you were staring at me and I got scared”

“That’s okay, girl. I get that a lot. See, I was always getting knocked about a bit in the Army and then, when I was boxing, I got hit in the head so I’ve got what they call a ‘lazy eye’, so don’t you be worrying, I’m fine now,” said Wizen.

Wizen slowly stood up and looked at Slugger. “Well, me old mate. Seems we have a bit of our wires crossed. Yes, I’m married and got me a kid. Fifteen he is now, and a right handful! But he’s a good ‘un, works hard and does good at school. And my business, well, I just opened my second bakery store and my wife is helping me, so things are going okay. Anyway, time is going past and I just think that one good turn deserves another. I always paid my debts and I knew that you could use the money so...”

At that moment, Bill’s feed-truck pulled up and he honked his horn.

“Oh blast, that’s Bill with the feed and I’ve no money to pay him” said Dora as she ran out into the yard.

“Here mate, you’ve always stood beside me and I really can afford it,” said Wizen as he held out his hand with the money in it. “If you won’t take it for yourself, then take it for Follyfoot. Seems like she’s doing a good job here, needs a bit of money to help out and this is your home and all...”

“Thanks, but only if you’re sure?” Said Slugger, a small smile creeping onto his furrowed face as he took the money. He embraced Wizen and the two old friends stood there for a few seconds, remembering all those years together and sharing a feeling of bonding and happiness.

Striding out into the yard, Slugger walked up to Bill and Dora as they were talking about the feed.

“Listen Dora, I know that it’s for a good cause, but I need to get paid for this feed. I just can’t afford to keep giving you stuff and not getting paid.” said Bill.

Dora was about to open her mouth, but Slugger came up and put his arm around her shoulders, gave her a big grin and looked Bill straight in the eyes.

“So Bill, me old mate. I knows that you’ve been overcharging Dora for all this feed recently. Old man Hector, down at the vicarage, told me that you’re just charging him one pound for a bag of oats, but you boasted that you’re charging ‘that silly girl at Follyfoot’ three pounds . . . . so, how about you tell me the real price and then we’ll talk about paying you in cash.”

“Ha, cash. Likely story. She’s got no cash! But, if you pay me cash right now, I’ll settle for one hundred and fifty pounds for all that’s owed, plus the load today and I’ll give you a discount for cash for future orders – let’s say one pound per bag and a free bag for every ten that you buy?” Said Bill, with a smirk on his face.

“Righto, my good fella,” said Slugger, as he peeled off three fifty pound notes and handed them to Bill.

Well, you could have knocked Bill, Steve and Dora over with a feather! Wizen and Slugger were rolling around in fits of laughter, pointing to Dora as she stood there in shock. Steve looked over and shook his head in disbelief. Typical, he thought, Dora just has to wish for something and it happens. Anyone else would have been going nuts worried about paying for the food, but no, she just goes along in her dream world and things happen and everything is fine.

Steve and Bill started to unload the truck as Wizen walked over to the house, calling out that he was going to get a cup of Slugger’s thick black coffee before it solidified into road patch repair material.

Slugger and Dora walked over to the Lightning tree and Dora jumped up onto the lowest branch, swinging her legs and smiling at Slugger as he stood there, leaning against the tree.

“You know, girl, there are times when I doubt myself and other times when I just don’t know what is going to happen. But one thing that I’ve learned is that around here, anything can happen and yet it always seems to work out okay. Friends is always around you, just sometimes you stop seeing them because they are always there, or sometimes you stop seeing them and then they come back and help you out at just the right time. This is my home and all my friends are here, so I think it’s just right that the money goes towards helping Follyfoot, makes me happy, girl!” Said Slugger, his face going red as he managed to get that out in one breath.

Dora looked at Slugger, tears in her eyes as she thought about all that had happened. Maybe she did live in a dream world and maybe she did look at the world through rose coloured glasses, but why not? She did not want to see anything change and when Slugger was missing that morning, she'd got scared and wanted her friend back in his place in the kitchen. Then Steve shouteded at her and she was worried about the money for the food, but Wizen had appeared and everything worked out okay.

As she looked up, Ron roared past on his bike and she waved happily. Now all her fiends were here, the horses were neighing loudly as the morning ritual started, the sun continued to stream into the barns, stall and the yard, laughter could be heard coming from the yard and she could smell the straw in the shed nearby.

Dora still had tears in her eyes as she turned to answer Slugger, but the words just would not come.

Slugger looked at her and there was just the tiniest twinkle in the corner of his eyes. Perhaps a glistening in his eyes, must have be the wind. Slugger reached up and grabbed Dora around the waist as he helped her down. For a moment they looked into each other’s eyes and squeezed each other in a warm embrace.

“Come on, girl. Let’s not let the others see us, weeping here like a couple of old fogies. Just remember, friends are the most important people in the world and here at Follyfoot, we’re all a family, no matter how much we fight and squabble from time to time. But we need someone to believe in, we need someone to lead us and we need someone who will make sure that the Dream become reality. It’s hard for us normal folks to believe in your dream world, but if you keep on believing, we’ll eventually believe as well...especially when money for bills just appears, like today!” Said Slugger as he started to walk back to the yard with Dora.

Still choked for words, Dora squeezed Slugger’s brawny hand and walked back beside her friend. Turning back, she looked up at the Lightning Tree through tearing eyes in the early morning sunshine and saw a beautiful Robin Red Breast sitting on the topmost branch, with a green twig in its beak.

And right beside him was a dark shadow that seemed to be blowing in the wind.

Was that a leaf growing beside him?