My Kingdom for a Horse

by Daniel Finneran

My Kingdom for a Horse

Thrinakia Publishing

thrinakiapublishing@gmail.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is completely coincidental.

Other stories by Daniel Finneran are available at: http://scribd.com/nostromo10

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** My horse! My horse! My Kingdom for a horse. Richard III Shakespeare

My Kingdom for a Horse

oc Miller had broad shoulders, had been an intelligence officer for the Navy, and had played minor league baseball. (Whether it was just because of the rhythm of it, or for whatever reason, when Doc was referred to, in

conversation, absent his being there, it was usually, Doc Miller. As in He screwed up his shoulder, and I think hes seeing Doc Miller. But when you actually spoke with him, it was Doctor or Doctor Miller.) Jed Collins had just broken through the small path behind Steve and Tobiass house two step-brothers, that were his good friends and had walked down their driveway, looked, quickly, both ways, on Dairy, and was walking across the street to the Millers house. (Steve and Tobias, just last year, had moved to this house, from another house about a half-mile away.)

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Doc was leaning up over their station wagon, tying something to the roof. (The Millers were getting ready for vacation, and it was the type of vacation, in Maine, where you tied things to the roof of the station wagon. Docs idea of a vacation was rustic) Hi, Doctor Miller, said Jed, walking onto the top, flat section of the Millers Ushaped driveway. Doctor Miller glanced down. Jed. How are things. Ready to get started? Sure. Definitely, said Jed, as Brian came out the side entrance, of the long, big, white house. With black shutters. Brian. Hey, Jed, said Brian, who was the same age as Jed. He was lanky, and a pitcher for the local Babe Ruth team, though Babe Ruth season was over, so the Millers could go on vacation. Brian walked through the small side-yard, where Jed used to clean up after the small dog, of the old woman, who used to own the house, until about four years before. (She had been the first paper on Jeds paper route, and then died, and the Millers moved in. So, in New England terms, they were extremely new to the neighborhood, though had lived elsewhere in town. Jed had retired from his paper-route duties, thinking it was time to move onto other economic opportunities. His father sometimes wondered when those opportunities would be forthcoming.) Ready for vacation, said Jed, and, with Doc still tying something off on the wagon, Brian rolled his eyes, and then said, Oh, yeah. No doubt about it. Doc gave a last, hard tying of a knot, and turned, and said, Okay, Jed. Most of it youve done before. But I think one good tour.

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Sounds good, Doctor. They walked down the hard slope of the driveway, to the brown barn, its shingles marred by weather, a few missing, and into the area on the left, where there were two sheep. Just use this hose, and fill the water, up to here, said Doc, his hand towards the hose, and the water trough just inside their pen. And you can let them out, to run, for a few hours, but then come back after a few. Theyve been out this morning, so dont worry about that today. Is that okay? Sure. No problem. Im around all week. And this is their feed. Just once a day, in the morning, fill these two containers to here, where there is the line. Thats plenty, he said, and watched as the two sheep bleated is that what they do, bleat? thought Jed and semi-jumped about at the excitement of having company. Methodically, Doc moved on, and they walked through a thin doorway, whose door-jam seemed to be somewhat askew. There were sections of the barn that actually did seem slanted. Almost sort of an Alice in Wonderland setup. And in this room were the chickens. Again, water, and their feed. Thats their feed but youve fed the chickens before, right? The chickens, yes. Not the sheep. Good, well its really not much different. And youve fed Jim before, so thats no problem, said Doc, and they walked out into an open space, at the center of the barn, that

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had no door, but was big enough for a car. Sometimes the Millers would park one of their cars in the space, sometimes not. Yes, Ive definitely done that. Doc looked up towards the house. Jenny, Brians younger sister, was walking towards the wagon with a suitcase. She was thin, with long brown hair, and pretty, and was carrying the case with two hands, in front of her. Jed was thirteen, and she was eleven, so she was too young for him to have a crush on, but he did like her. Jim was the family dog, some sort of small poodle, but more her dog than anyone elses. She taught the dog tricks, like jumping through her legs. He just nodded towards her, not wanting to say Hi in awkward way to her, in front of Doc. She just semi-nodded, and kept walking. Just leave his food, and water, in the kitchen, and he can come and go, through the dog-door, said Doc, and reached down into his pocket, and took out a key. She, he said, nodding towards Jenny, as she walked towards the car. Likes to insist on canned dog food, for Jim. But I think he can survive a week on dry. There are some cold cuts in the fridge. Just cut a few up, and put in with the dry. And theres the key to the house. And you also youve fed the parakeet, right? Everything except the sheep. So I think I should have it, said Jed, and the key to the house was being handed to him. And the dog food, its In the room off the kitchen. If you need to know more about the cold cuts, just ask Jenny. Jed took the key from Doc, held it steady, and then put decisively in his pants pocket. Jed was always somewhat nervous around Doc. The Millers house occupied the far center-right field section of the local softball field, right there on Dairy. On Saturday

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nights, Dairy had become a haven for high school students to congregate, and drink beer, and cavort. When it got too loud, Doc would just walk up and down the street, saying nothing, and dumping the overloaded garbage cans into another can. In essence cleaning the street, as it was being sullied. As it was happening, no one would say a word to Doc and often the street, as he passed, almost became silent Doc walked out onto the driveway, where the sun was shining, so Jed and Brian followed. Brians younger brother was now also walking outside, with what looked to be sleeping bags, and heading to the wagon. Out back, Jed heard one of the two Millers horses neighing. The sheep were new, but just assumed, like previous times he had fed the animals, that the horses were part of what he was supposes to do, and so Doc had would just leave it at that. Jed didnt want to look stupid by bringing up something that was assumed. So I think that should be it. Any questions? said Doc. Jed nodded his head back and forth. I think I should have it down. Jim will stay in the side-yard, right. Right. Keep the latch closed. And you can clean up after him, right? Uh-huh, said Jed, thinking how he was sort of doomed, somehow, to be cleaning up after dogs in this small, fenced in side-yard, that was a small part of this big yard. And thinking, I guess thats just how things work out. Okay, gotta keep packing. You all packed? said Doc, to Brian. Im all packed. Ready to go, said Brian. Mrs. Miller came out from the side-yard, and looked down toward them. Hi, Mrs. Miller, said Jed.

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Hi, Jed. Youre going to take care of things for us? Best I can, Mrs. Miller. Youll do okay. Just dont let the sheep throw you. They get excited. And you told him about the cold cuts? said Mrs. Miller to, Doc. All set, said Doc, and then said, towards Jed and Brian. As long as we dont let Jenny know it isnt prime rib, we should be okay. Okay, well be gone in about a halfhour, youre ready, right? said Doc. And Brian nodded again. Im all set. Ready to go. Doc nodded, and proceed up the driveway, leaving Brian and Jed. Gone for a week, huh? Brian rolled his eyes. Docs into this stuff. Family stuff. Not that bad, its on some pond. Or lake. I think we can water ski. What can you do? Doc stopped And Brian, did you take in the jugs machine? Gonna do it now? Make sure you do. Dont want that out in the rain. Brian nodded, indicating they go out back, and Jed followed, walking towards the metal, corral-type fence, leading out left from the barn. They walked through the small gate, next to the wide gate, where cars could enter and exit. They walked back behind the barn, and there was the old jugs machine, that used two, off-white, spinning tires to project a ball. Doc had seen this, used, and bought it, so he could pitch to Brian and Craig, Brians younger brother. Here, just have to bring this into the barn, said Brian.

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Jed looked at the two horses, one a dark brown, one beige, trotting about, amongst the acre or so of land out back. They were back far, back where there were apple trees, and neither said anything about them. Jed, again, assuming what he had to do with them. And Steve and Tobias, theyre gone for the a couple weeks? said Jed. I think at least. I think Tobias has a job, so I dont think hell be back. Really? At some marina, I think, on the lake. So, yeah, I dont know when theyll be back. Wow. Babe Ruth, all done. Right. All done this year. Hajjar had you guys practicing everyday, huh. Every day. Doc loved it. Hes not a bad guy, though. Is Eric, his son he pretty good. Hes pretty good. Little full of himself, but not a bad guy. Brian tipped the machine back on its small wheels, and began pulling it back towards the barn. Is Doc gonna shave those sheep, or whatever they do with them? said Jed. Brian shrugged. Docs Doc. Im not sure what hes gonna do. All I know, is I have to take care ofem, said Brian, and the machine was dragged through, just barely fitting, another door that was sort of askew, leading out from a room next to the sheep, and Brian placed an old blanket over it. They walked back out, into the backyard, and towards the corral gate. Well, have a good time, with the family.

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Brian shrugged. Dont you ever have these things? Family vacations things. I guess we might have to go to the Cape, for a weekend. Crowd into one or two rooms in a hotel or something. Thats what I hear, not sure yet. Well, I can handle Harp, if you need it, said Brian, referring to Jeds Irish Setter. Good, cause she goes nuts when we bring her to the kennel, said Jed, and they both exited out from the gate. In the midmorning sunlight they walked up the driveway, as the rest of the Millers traveled back and forth, to the car, with that last burst of energy, before everything was settled, and all took their respective seats. Jed saw Jenny, coming out from the wagon. Hi, Jenny, said Jed, and Jenny said, Hey, Jed howya doin? in her sort of tomboyish way, and kept walking back inside, and Jed wondered if Jenny did like him at all. She was still eleven, but she was pretty, but felt if Doc ever knew that he liked her at all, he might kill him, so never ever betrayed even a hint of these thoughts to anyone. The Millers packed everything, Doc checked that everything was tied down, and Jed took a last look around at the grand landscape over which he would preside for the next week, walked down to the barn, checked on the sheep sheep! what is Doc going to do with sheep and the chickens at least they gave you eggs and went in, and checked on Jim, and went home. It was sort of a weird day everyone seemed to be away. Steve, and Tobias. Now Brian. Joshua, who lived down the hill, was away. His friend, Phillip, from the big family, who lived up the street, was a year older than Jed, and Jed was pretty sure he was at a friends house a few miles in another section of town.

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He spent the day largely alone odd for a summer day. Building a model at midday seemed strange, so basically just got the model a Patton tank, with motorized treads ready to be built that night. He often built models, at the kitchen table, late into the night. Dinner would be at six, so around five decided to go down to the Millers and feed all the animals. He arrived, fed Jim, had Jim jump through his legs a few times, which Jim almost insisted on doing, fed the parakeet, and walked to the barn. He fed the sheep, and the chickens, then walked out back, into the back space, where the horses were kept. He walked out, looked around, at the apple trees towards the back, and the long line of semi-woods, on the right, separating the Millers land, from the right-field of the softball field, and kept looking around. No horses. He looked again, and again. No Horses. He walked, with some rapidity, towards the middle of the land. Where the grass was parched from July. He looked around, again and again. He tried to look around slowly, thinking that would change things. Then looked back and forth. He walked, his breath feeling short, fast, with near a jog, to the metal corral gate. The big gate was just off its latch, and it was open just a few inches. Oh, my God, he thought, looking back now where, just that morning, there had been horses. Ive lost the horses. Ive lost the freaken horses.

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He figured, when he and Brian had gone in and out of the backyard though he didnt remember it this way he must have forgotten to put the latch on. Ive lost Docs horses. He put his head down he just could not believe it. He knew that if he lost these horses; oh, man, was he screwed. How much does a horse cost? How mad would Doc be. He breathed in deep, and said, well, must start looking. He walked up the driveway, down Dairy, and then started running. He ran down across the playground, and past The General Store, at a high jog, looking around. But what do you say Do you say, Have you seen two horses? One is brown, the other is beige, and I lost them? What do you say? A grey American sedan passed, and it was Phillips mother, and he waved, calmly, happily, not conveying that he was in a lot of trouble. He ran to the Common, and down along the Common, looking in to see if the horses could be on the Common, grazing, but werent there, and kept running. And running. He probably ran two or three miles, looking in yards, up streets, for the horses. But didnt want to seem nuts, so didnt ask anyone about it. Have you seen two horses? I was supposed to feed them and the sheep, and the chickens, and Jim, the dog Sheep. Who has sheep? Doc Miller. Whats he do with sheep?

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I dont know. But Ive lost both his horses, and have you seen them? Theyre about this big. Ones brown, ones beige. He ran and ran, and it was now 6:30, and he arrived home. Where have you been? said his mother, and Jed, still slightly out of breath, said, Feeding the Millers animals. There are just more of them this time, took longer than I expected. He sat and ate with his three sisters. His father was, as always, still at work he came home around 9:30; and his brother now lived in Boston. He sat, eating salad, and beef stroganoff what a mess. What a freaken mess, and said little during dinner. Just thinking, What will they do, when they find out, that I have lost the horses. He wondered about that gate. He didnt remember using the gate, but, thats sort of typical isnt it. Didnt even remember doing it, and it happened. He could only barely think of his fathers response two horses. You managed to lose two horses, and then just shaking his head. After dinner, he again went running, thinking, should I call the police. But, again, how do you explain it to them. He ran and he ran, through street after street, and the end of the day was arriving, and the players were playing softball. He walked up Dairy quickly, and to the edge of the Millers driveway, and saw a car, parked in the driveway, and his heart seemed to sink, and rise, at the same time. What could this be? What could it mean.

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He saw two people coming out from the barn, with some bits, and straps, the type that go on horses, and some bags of grain. Hi, said Jed. Hey, how are you? said the man. They were both middle-aged. Good I just I feed the Millers animals. When theyre away. My name is Jed Collins. I just live up there, said Jed, pointing up the hill. Oh, okay. Doc said you might be around. Im Dwight Goldman, this is my wife, Maria. Hi, how are you, said Jed, nodding. There then was an impasse. Jed not exactly sure what to say, but seeing these people, with the harnesses, and the grain. He just he decided to go for it. Whats the worst that could happen. Are you are you looking for the horses? For the Millers horses? Mr. Goldman, for a moment, looked confused. No, we bought the horses. We picked them up, this afternoon. We just, in the confusion, left a few things. Just loading them, things get a little tense. Mrs. Goldman gave him a little wink. You bought them? You bought the horses? Well, we picked them up this afternoon. Doc didnt tell you? said Mr. Goldman. Jed breathed a great sigh of relief. He must have forgotten. I just, see they were here this morning, and then they were gone. Ive been well, Ive been running all over town looking for them. You what? said Mr. Goldman, laughing a bit. Youve been looking for them.

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I thought that I lost them. I figured I hadnt closed the gate, and that I lost them. So you have them. You have the horses? Safe and sound. At our house. We could even show them to you. Youve been running around, looking for these horses? said Mrs. Goldman. Now he felt sort of stupid. He felt relieved Dear God, I didnt lose these horses but did feel a little stupid, having just spent the past few hours, running around town. I just I thought I lost them. I thought, yes, that I lost them. So this, said Jed, his left hand going out towards the harnesses, and the grain. This is great. Mr. Goldman thought for a moment, and then laughed. Wait til I tell Doc that one. You thought he lost his horses. Jed nodded. I know. I thought I lost Docs horses. Well, theyre all set young man, said Mrs. Goldman. Theyre all set. The Goldmans left, and Jed saw the man, Mr. Goldman, as they left, still laughing about it. Mrs. Goldman giving Jed a nod, as if to make sure he was okay. Jed, for the heck of it, checked on the sheep, and the chickens, checked on their water levels, and went home. That night, the summer now in August, until 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning, working on models, this one a P-47 Thunderbolt. The week passed, and the summer was hot. August hot. At the end of the week, the Millers arrived home, and Jed, with some trepidation, came to greet them. They had been home for about an hour or so, so were almost settled in, when he broke through the path, across Dairy, and onto their driveway. Brian was outside, taking a few last things in from the car, and they exchanged greetings.

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Vacation? said Jed. Brian shrugged. Not that bad, really. Did some water skiing. Some fishing. Doc likes to fish. You eat it? Doc likes to catch and release, said Brian, and shrugged again, saying, in essence, Doc was Doc. Mrs. Miller came out the side entrance, letting Jim out into the side-yard. Hello, Jed. Jed nodded. Hello, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller smiled. Well, Jed, I dont know how you did it, but I havent seen my husband laugh that hard in a long time. When he heard you lost the horses. I just didnt know We know. We know what happened now. It was our fault, we thought you knew. There he is. The old horse thief, said Doc, coming up from the corral. You havent lost any cows or anything have you lately, said Doc, and laughed. Nothing lately, Doctor Miller. Doctor Miller laughed. Well, were sorry about that one. You got in a good workout, though didnt you. Few hours. Yes I did. Doc continued to laugh. Thought he lost the horses. Gotta love that one. Thought he lost the horses, and continued on inside.

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Mrs. Miller just shrugged. I dont know why, he just seems to get a big kick out of that. Anyway, youre okay, arent you. Oh, Im fine. All set. The animals are all okay? The animals are all set. You did a good job, Jed. Mrs. Miller went inside, Jed and Brian talked some more, Jed looked to see if Jenny was anywhere to be seen she wasnt and he headed home Most everyone was away, but at least now Brian was back. He headed back up through the path, through the trees, and onto the small field leading up to his house. It was an odd feeling, he wasnt sure why, but as he thought about it, that Doc got such a kick out of the whole thing, laughed about it all, he was not sure why, it sort of made him feel good. He was not sure why. Sort of laughed about it himself. His father owned a small business, on Main Street, and usually got home about 9:30. Then he would eat, and, usually smoking a cigarette, or two, or three, and sit in a gold-brown chair, and watch some TV. As with all households, his mother ruled the roost, and wanted everything to be clean, and just right. So there was some contention when Jed began building his models, at night, usually around 10:00 or 10:30, at the kitchen table. He would put out some newspaper, to protect the kitchen table from the paints and glue. It was a funny thing, because it was one of those things, that sort of just went away. His father hadnt said much, when his mother voiced her concerns. And it sort of went away.

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And, it was sort of an odd thing. Cause now and then, Jed would still be up late. Everyone would be in bed, and he would be at the kitchen table, parts and paints, and brushes, and glue, before him. And, maybe, now and then, about 12:00, his father would check in, before he went to bed. Give a glance over everything. This evening, Jed was building a Corsair. Complete with folding wings. And was at that point where you put on the decals, so had small bowls of water before him. His father came out, shutting off lights, getting the house ready for bed. Night, Jed. Night, Dad. Whachya building? he said. A Corsair. They were on the aircraft carriers. Thats right, said his father, and gave him the smallest nod of approval, as he glanced down at the parts, and the plane, and the bowls for the decals. They were on the aircraft carriers. Thats right. And gave him another small nod. And then he off to bed. Jed then kept building. It was warm, and all the windows were open, and all you could hear was a summer evening. A few cars, but mostly the silence of the evening. Jed there, not even wearing a shirt, tomorrow, Brian was back, so probably do something with him. But sitting at the kitchen table, all the warmth and heat of summer everywhere, every window in the house open, he just thought to himself, Summer is the best time of year. Theres just no question about it, summer is the best time of year, and, carefully, dipped the blue and red insignia, with the white star, for the Corsair, into the water, and began placing it, as carefully as possible, on the side of the plane, hed just built, there at

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the kitchen table, late late into a summer evening. As if, if you stayed up late, building, summer would last forever. . END