from Luna...

Azure loves horses.  Camping in a meadow with three of them was her ultimate delight.  When she couldn't con any of us into outside visits, she'd perch at the toyhauler window, nose pressed to the pane, eyes enormous.  

Aidan doesn't love horses.  Not the real, flesh & blood, two steps away with no fences between you kind.  It became apparent as the whole family trekked across the meadow to visit last year's forts.  Azure rode proudly on Dad's shoulders, steering him away from the original goal with demanding coo's and a stubborn, craning neck.  How dare we march across that field without a visit to her friends.  So, of course, Dad altered our route.

And Aidan stopped, shook his head and muttered, "Here come my fears again."   A few steps to his rear, I also stopped and asked why he was so afraid. To which he turned back, eyebrows raised and words deliberate:  "They are very large animals."  

But the boy did continue despite his nerves.  

Meanwhile, Azure's giggling sounds and flailing limbs intensified with each step.  Davyn stood right below her high perch, a quieter replica of pure delight.  They greeted the horses, and then we turned back toward the original goal single file.  But one mare fell in as caboose.  

Aidan urged, "How do you make a horse not follow you?"

I had no idea, of course, and was likewise nervous at the animal's proximity.  But in Davyn's mind I know all.  So he tugged at my hand with a whispered, "Don't tell him the real answer."  

Which made me grin.

He and Azh would have been happy to be followed all the way home to Queen Creek.

Comments

[Neighbor Jane Payne]

Oh ho, I'm going to remember that line: "Here come my fears again."

[Jill S.]

This is such a cute story!

[Kelly]

My favorite part of this was "don't tell him the real answer". So cute! It looks beautiful out those toyhauler windows!