Chapter 1 Life Brings Sorrow

***** Winnie Willis

Crack! My eyes flashed open! I was sitting, half laying, on the couch in the living room.

Note to self: Sleep in your bed tomorrow.

Crack! Thud! Crash! I was off the couch before you could say….well, quick.

I ran to the window where Lizzy, my younger sister, stood. Lizzy used to be taller than me before I had a growth spurt and passed her, but she still looks so much prettier than I do.

She turned and I saw that she had a horrified look on her face.

"What Liz?" I said, trying to see into the darkness.

"Winnie, look at the barn." She said with a little sniff.

"What happened to the…. Lizzy, Oh gosh!"

I know it is horrible to swear, but sometimes I make exceptions.

Where the barn used to stand, now under a great tree was a mess of wood and shingles. I slumped down to the floor, the barn. What was going to happen now? Suddenly I came to my senses.

THE HORSES! Nickers, Towaco, and Buddy were still inside the mess! Or were they? A piercing horse scream shot throw the air. I jumped to my feet and was out the door with Lizzy at my heels.

Soon I was digging through wood to find Buddy. Nickers and Towaco had run out before it fell, but she was just a little filly barely a year old.

Thunder rumbled and The sky opened up. The next few minutes were all a blur. Lizzy screamed, I ran over, There lay a limp, wet form of Buddy.

"Is she dead?" I asked.

"I don't know Winnie. But I am going to call the vet." I laid my hand on Buddy's chest.

"Still breathing." I sighed and turned away as she ran back from the house.

"He's on his way over." I heard her say.

Note to self: Life is so unfair, and hurts so much.

All I felt was a hurting ache inside, I looked at Lizzy. There was no way that Buddy would live. No way.

I ran to our room and threw myself on my bed. My Dad came in and I didn't even look up. He said something to me, but I didn't hear him. He stayed a minute then walked back out.

I wanted my horse, I needed her. So I slipped out the door and ran to the pasture. As soon as I got to her, I swung up and gave her a squeeze. She galloped away down to the end of the pasture.

When we got to the end she prepared to turn. But without even knowing what I was doing, I squeezed her and leaned forward.

Any other horse would have stopped, but Nickers sailed right over the fence. I kept her going, I was so angry and lonely inside that I didn't know what to do, or what to think.

With out knowing how, I wound up at the Coolidge's house. Thunder boomed and lightning cracked. Nickers Screamed and reared high, so high that I lost my balance and my grip. So when she came down in a bolt, I fell. Sliding, falling, then pain. I just lied there. Not caring or wanting to care about anything.

~O~

After a few minutes, my brain started to clear. All the hurt I was holding inside came out in a force of a horses kick. "God, how could you let this happen?" I screamed.

I stood up and looked at the sky that was emptying tears upon the earth. "Why did you let our barn fall? Why not the Spidells?" A wave of hate flamed through my body and Tears of anger rolled down my face.

Then a door slammed behind me and I herd Catman's voice, "Chill, Winnie!" I turned and my body shook with my sobbing. "Man" he said and ran down the walk.

I didn't feel like seeing anyone so I ran towards the wood's and into them.

"Winnie, Hold Up!"

I raced towards no where in particular, then sank down on the grassy path. The rain had stopped and so had my tears. I took a shaky breath and let it out.

After a couple of hours, I got up and walked back to my house. I felt better, and a little silly. I wondered if I had acted like a 12 year old instead of the 17 year old that I am. Sometimes I wonder if I've grown Up at all?

Outwardly Yah! Even the poor in sight could tell that. But Inside?

When I got to our yard, Lizzy ran over to me and threw her arms around me. "Oh Winnie, I am so sorry. Though I can't really tell how you feel, you know I don't really like horses, Oh Winnie!" she said and looked me in the eye, "How are you going to tell Madeline, or MASON!"

So far I had been avoiding this difficulty or hadn't thought about it. And to tell truth, I had no Idea.

Note to self: Find out what to tell Mason.