CORPORAL

CORPORAL









Tiffany watched as the horses trotted around within the corral. She sighed, feeling her heart lie heavy in her chest and leaned over the top of the white corral fence.

She watched as the other horses seemed to shy away from Corporal. It was as if they no longer accepted him as part of their group ever since the accident which injured his right leg. The other horses seemed to see Corporal as different from them now as he walked with a limp and had trouble running with the others.

At one time they had relished in the company of the beautiful, black horse! Tiffany's heart went out to Corporal. Still, the great horse did not seem bothered by the rejection the others now gave him and Acceptance stood by Corporal proudly as she always had before. Their lasting friendship was the magical force that showed the beauty of life.

“They are really moving, aren't they?” Uncle Roy said, walking up and leaning against the fence as well.

“Yes. Yes they are, Uncle Roy,” Tiffany said softly, watching the horses run.

“Hey! What's the matter Tiff?” Uncle Roy said, punching her lightly on her arm.

“Why do they do that?” Tiffany said, bolting up and backing away from the fence. Uncle Roy was shocked.

“Why do they do what Tiffany?” Uncle Roy said, looking at her. “What's the matter?”

“Why do the other horses have to be so mean to Corporal?” Tiffany exclaimed. “Why? Just because of a little limp that is going to go away? Corporal will run again!”

With that Tiffany turned and ran to the barn.











“Tiffany!” Uncle Roy called out after her. “Tiffany!”

“What's the matter Roy? What's going on?” Aunt Sarah called, stepping out onto the porch from the kitchen.

“I don't know Sarah. Tiffany is upset about something. I better go talk to her.”

Aunt Sarah watched with concern as Uncle Roy walked to the barn.

“Tiffany?” Uncle Roy called out as he entered the barn. It was dark inside. “Tiff?” Uncle Roy carefully walked through the dark barn letting his eyes slowly adjust.

“Just go away Uncle Roy. Leave me alone,” Tiffany said from somewhere inside.

“Tiffany, we've talked about this before. The horses are just reacting naturally to Corporal's injury. Nothing is going to change that.”

“I'm going to change that Uncle Roy,” Tiffany said confidently. “I am, and so is Corporal.”

Uncle Roy could see Tiffany sitting on a hay bale. His eyes had adjusted and he could tell by the way Tiffany was looking at him that she had been crying and also that she was serious. She meant to do this. Tiffany meant to help Corporal run again but he did not see how it could be done. The specialists had said that Corporal's running days were most likely over and with that the horse had changed, as well as his niece.

“Tiffany, the specialists...” Uncle Roy began.

“I don't care what they said,” Tiffany interrupted. “We are going to do this. Corporal and I together. A little each day,”she said, wiping her eyes and standing up from the bale. “You and Aunt Sarah will see, Uncle Roy. Corporal is going to run again.”











Tiffany marched past Uncle Roy, her eyes locked with his as she exited the barn. For a moment Uncle Roy was bathed in warm sunlight and then it was pitch black once again as the barn door closed. He stood there for a few moments and then left the barn himself.

“Are you all right honey?” Aunt Sarah asked as Tiffany walked up to the porch.

“I'm okay Aunt Sarah,” Tiffany replied and went inside the house.

“Is she okay?” Sarah asked Roy who was now approaching.

“Let's go inside. I'll fill you in over coffee,” Roy said.

“Well, I don't see what harm it could do,” Aunt Sarah said when she was briefed on the situation. She sipped her coffee. “Let's let her try Roy.”

“But what if it all fails?” Roy asked. “It would break her heart.”

“It breaks my heart seeing Corporal as he is now Uncle Roy,” Tiffany said, walking into the kitchen. “And no, I wasn't eavesdropping,” she added. “Just let me try. Like Aunt Sarah said, it cannot hurt to try and I have thought about the possibility of all this not working out. It may just work though,” Tiffany said, looking at both of them.

“Well, okay Tiff,” Uncle Roy said, getting up from the table and pouring himself another cup of coffee. “You need any help just let us know.”

With that Tiffany gave them both a big hug.

“Just you both wait,” she said, smiling.

At first Uncle Roy and Aunt Sarah did not know what to think. Uncle Roy felt it would be he who would be getting up early to work with the horse again on top of all of the other chores of the











farm. But it was not that way at all. Tiffany worked hard with Corporal every day that entire summer. When school started up again Uncle Roy worked with Corporal as much as he could. As soon as Tiffany would get home she would take over. For the next year she and Corporal worked together with his leg, starting out slowly with walking exercises. In time they were up to a gentle trot and eventually Corporal was running. It took a lot of time and effort on the part of everyone involved but it was all well worth it. They had proven the specialists wrong.

“That a way Tiff!” Uncle Roy called out, leaning over the corral fence as Tiffany and Corporal went charging past. Uncle Roy's hat actually blew off of his head.

“Can you believe it Roy?” Aunt Sarah asked, bending over and picking up Roy's hat. Roy turned around so that his back was against the fence and looked at his wife.

“You know hon, if you were to ask me that about a year ago I would have said no, I cannot.”

He smiled as Tiffany called out “Go Corporal! Go!” in the distance.

“But I think time has made me a believer again. We have seen a miracle here,” Roy added.

“Yes we have,” Sarah agreed, hugging Roy. “We certainly have.”

“Amen,” Roy said, looking up at the sky.

“Look at him run!” Tiffany called as they circled past again. “Look at Corporal go!”

“Go Corporal!” Uncle Roy called back, laughing. He and Sarah put an arm around each other as they watched Tiffany and Corporal ride with the wind.



The End