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Aug. 20, 2009
Chapter Three
Hey! I don't know where the time went. Yesterday went by before I realized it. Anyway, here's chapter three. Bon lisant! (I dare you to look that up!)
Chapter Three
Shiloh and I got along really well. Mom and Julie loved her. But I just couldn’t get over the fact that I wanted a horse. I decided that I would go by the old saying, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” I decided I would save all my allowance for a horse. I knew that I had a better chance of getting Dad to let me buy a horse if I had saved all the money myself. I got $3.50 a week for allowance. $3.50 a week would be $14 a month. That would be $168 a year. It would take me at least two years to get enough money to buy a horse at what the going rate is. I didn’t want to have to wait two years. I would be 16, almost 17. Then I thought that maybe I could do some extra work around the farm. It wasn’t much of a farm yet, just 30 acres with an old house, barn with a paddock and a few outbuildings. It was fenced and cross-fenced, though. I figured I could clear out that area Mom wanted to use for a garden. I could fix the broken down fences. Maybe clear out the paddock. Mow the lawn. I was sure Dad would pay me for that one. I worked out my plan, and decided to charge 50c to $5.00 depending on job size. First, I offered to mow the lawn for Dad. I told him I charged $5.00 an acre. He agreed and I told him I collected my pay in advance. He grumbled and handed me my ten bucks, but he gave me the job. We had a two acre yard, so this was working out fine for me. I’d just made ten dollars for riding the mower around the yard and if Dad was feeling the same way next week I’d get another ten bucks.
I later asked Mom where she wanted her garden. She told me the place and I asked her the width and length. She told me and asked me why. I told her I might be willing to clear that spot out for her. She said that would be wonderful. “I charge $3.00 an hour,” I had said. She didn’t seem too happy about that, but after I wrote up a contract saying that I would clear it for her, she signed on the dotted line, happy as can be. That was a hard job, clearing that garden space. I got out hatchet and started chopping. The job was done in three hours and I collected $9.
There was a lot more work that I did and got paid for. I added up all that I saved over the past year. Counting the money I just made, I had $130. Almost there, Phil. I told myself. But I didn’t know how far I really was from the goal.
“Hey, Dad,” I asked a few days later. He didn’t answer, like always.
“Hey, Dad,” No answer. I looked at the TV to see what was so interesting. Football. I should have known. I went over to the TV and pressed the power button.
“Now what?” Dad asked. Good. I had his attention.
“Dad, I was wondering… How much are horses going for?”
“I don’t know. Go look it up.”
“Dad, you know there are only certain websites I can visit,” I argued. Dad sighed and got up. I knew where he was going. Right where I wanted him to. He plopped down in the computer chair and looked something up.
“It depends on what kind of horse you want,” he said.
“Look up Grade Horse,” I suggested. He did what I said.
“There’s a chestnut grade mare for sale in Seymour,” he said. “They‘re asking $150 for her.”
I nearly jumped out of my socks. Only $20 more than what I had!
“Is there a picture of her?” I asked.
“Yeah. Says she’s 5 years old, broke to ride.”
I ran to the window.
“Dad, the lawn needs mowed.”
“It does?” Dad looked out the window. “Oh, it does. Well, here.” He handed me a ten dollar bill. Only ten more dollars. I thought. Only ten more.
“And, uh… I’ll trim the bushes for ten more dollars.”
“Alright. Here.” He pushed another ten dollars into my hand. I had it. I really had it. All the money I needed for that mare. I decided to tell Dad about it later, after I had done my work.
The mowing and bush trimming seemed to go fast with something to think on. I thought about that mare. I thought about what we would do together. Just her and me and Shiloh. Finally, the yard was done. I went inside to find Dad. He was watching TV again. At least the football was over, though. I didn’t really know how to say it. I never thought of needing to tell Dad I had enough money to buy a horse. I figured I’d just go up and tell him. So that’s what I did. I went up and turned the TV off without even trying to get Dad’s attention first. Dad looked surprised at first, but when he saw me, he let out a sigh and sat up.
“What is it now, Phil?” he asked.
“Dad… I have enough money for that mare.” He seemed to not know what I was talking about. Then it clicked. He sighed again. He got up and walked to the computer. He clicked a few things and then said, “This mare?” I looked at the screen then back at him and nodded.
“How much do you have?”
“I have $150 and 36 cents,” I replied.
Dad sighed again. Then he opened a up another window on the computer and started typing. I looked at what he was doing. He was writing an email! I would really get that little mare! Things were going altogether too smoothly and I should have taken notice of that.
Do you like cliffhanger endings? I do sometimes. Except on Sliders. Drives me nuts when they give me a cliffhanger ending on Sliders.
Betcha didn't look up what I told you to look up yet. Go to freedict.com.
Adieu. Adios. Au revoir. Ciao. Cheerio. Shalom. Bye. :) |
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Posted by 
Posted by Anna 
Posted by 
Aug. 21, 2009 - Bon Lisant
I tired the site you said,but never got anywhere there either.. So you have me stumped!! I took both French and Spanish in High School, and I have been taking Hebrew for about 8 years.. so, what does it mean and what language is it???
By the way I like your story so far. I hope people know in real life your dad is not a sports fan.
Love you bunches,
Grandma Heidi.