By VIRGINIA SHAW GENTHNER
A few days went by and the newness of Paisley was seeming to wear off. Lessons were continuing as normal and Pudge was realizing that having Paisley there really didn’t change much for him at all.
On one of the days Paisley returned from a lesson and immediately huffed her way to a corner in the paddock. Curious, Pudge looked over and said,
“Everything all right?”
Paisley sighed and gave no reply.
Pudge repeated his question but this time added her name,
“Paisley, everything all right?”
Paisley flicked her tail, turned and screeched, “NO!”
Pudge was a bit taken back. Paisley proceeded to storm to the other side of the paddock. Pudge gave her a minute and then walked over.
“What happened?” He said.
“Ever since I got here everything has been a mess! I got put in this paddock with you and clearly you don’t like me, now I’m doing lessons with multiple riders and don’t know what I’m doing. Like today, I was doing my lesson and the kid kicked me so I went, well I didn’t realize she didn’t mean to kick me and she fell off because I went too fast! It’s all just a mess and all I want is to find a home.”
Paisley turned away from Pudge and stood head hung in sadness.
For the first time since Paisley arrived Pudge felt like a jerk. He was part of the reason she was upset. He could have been nicer. He could have told her some of the habits of the kids to make her lessons go smoother. Pudge knew what it was like to want a home. He moved slightly closer to Paisley and said,
“I’m sorry. I know what it’s like to want a home and friends. I will be your friend and maybe that will help you see this as your home too.”
From that day forward Pudge and Paisley were the best of friends.
Read part 1 here.
Read part 2 here.
Read part 3 here.
Read part 4 here.
Read part 5 here.
Read part 6 here.
Read part 8 here.
