Imagine That (Short Stories) by Leon Rice (essential reading .txt) 📖

essence of heaven and hell in my mind at night and didn’t know it. But this is marvelous,” he exclaimed to the empty clearing in which he sat. A gentle breeze crossed his face, as though God had exhaled the breath of life on him. He was filled with glee and excitement and stood and turned in a waltz step in circles around the clearing. “Not only that, but God has forgiven me my indiscretions! This must be the revelation of which Cornelious spoke.” Zealand’s heart was filled with joy and he couldn’t wait to discuss this with his grandfather Grumpus and dear Cornelious.

“And so, today I am a man,” thought Zealand. Young Zealand’s life had been laid out before him. It was destiny, plain and simple thought Zealand - but where would he go? When would he go? Besides Stellar, Who would he be with, and just exactly who would he be fighting? And if I’m a prophet, why don’t I know these things? All unanswered questions but he knew his life was going to be grand - he was sure Stellar would inform him, after all, even a prophet gets his knowledge form somewhere. What better place than one of God’s own disciples

“I am to be a champion of the reformation - A truly righteous endeavor!“

Zealand placed the stone Stellar had given him in his pocket and danced all the way home.

* * * *


A Brand New Life on the Farm
A Short Story by Leon Rice

It was a cold, crisp, December morning, Christmas eve. Billy Brenner sat quietly in the stall with Mandy, Uncle Tommy ’s prize mare. Mandy was with foal. There was a feeling of great expectation as Billy and his Uncle Tommy comforted Mandy in the hours before giving birth. It looked like it was going to be a glorious Christmas - there was a new life coming to the farm.

Billy ’s parents had been killed in a bus accident about a year ago and he lived with Uncle Tommy and Susie since the tragic event. He missed his parents, but his love of Uncle Tommy and Aunt Susie was enough for him. His life was complete and he figured he couldn’t have done better if he had chosen his life himself. He kept a picture of his parents on the dresser and as he figured it, it was in a place of honor in his room.

Uncle Tommy had promised Billy that the new colt would be his, that he could raise him and care for him. Billy was overjoyed at the thought of having his very own horse.

Billy had listened closely to Uncle Tommy over the months leading up to this day and knew exactly what to expect from Mandy. He had done research on the internet, learning everything he could about horses. He watched videos of a colt being born on Youtube and he figured he was ready for the wonderful event. As Mandy labored to give birth, Billy gently stroked the mares neck and provided, although unnecessary, words of encouragement - the mare had given birth twice before and things were progressing normally.

“Do ya think she’s alright Uncle Tommy,” said Billy , with a look of concern on his face. Even though he had watched this on video, the experience of the “real thing” found Billy with butterflies in his stomach and thoughts of uncertainty in his mind.

“What if somethin’ goes wrong, Uncle Tommy?”

“Nothin’ is gonna go wrong, Billy . She’s doin’ just fine. Just keep stroking her neck, it’s almost time. Very soon, we’ll have a brand new life here on the farm, and the colt will be all yours.”

“This is beyond belief. How awesome is this,” thought Billy , “My very own horse!”

Billy had told all of his friends at school about the colt and they were all envious of him. Billy ‘s attention was momentarily interrupted by thoughts of a conversation he had with his best fiend. “None of us has got a horse,” commented his best friend, “Do ya think I can ride it when it grows up?”

“Sure ya can. We can all ride it when it grows up! Maybe you can help me take care of it”

Billy ’s attention was returned to the mare, when she shuddered slightly and made slight sounds of discomfort. Then the colt started to appear.

“This is it, Billy ,“ said Uncle Tommy . “Your horse is on its way! Just keep rubbing her neck, and talk to her. Talk to her and tell her everything is going to be just fine.”

“You’re doin’ great Mandy,” said Billy , “Tuck is going to be a happy dad, when he sees his new colt. All the animals is waitin’ for your baby to be born and I‘m gonna help you take care of it, and so is Uncle Tommy , and everybody can‘t wait.”

Time slowed to a standstill, as they watched the new colt appear from its mother. “Watching a video is nothing like the real live birth,” thought Billy . “This is the most fantastical thing I’ve ever seen!”

Mandy shuddered slightly, and with one last push and Uncle Tommy ‘s help, the colt was free and lay on the ground near its mother.

Uncle Tommy started to wipe the new colt clean and motioned for Billy to help him. Billy cradled the colt’s head in his arms as Uncle Tommy finished wiping the colt off. The colt opened his eyes and struggled to lift his head. Billy talked to the little foal.

“I’m gonna take care of you little horse,” said Billy . “I’m gonna make sure you got plenty to eat and I’m gonna brush you and take you for walks and it’s going to be great fun. You’ll like it here; this is a wonderful place and I know you’re going to be very happy. Your mom and dad will show you how to be a horse. Later on, after you grow up a little, we can go for rides in the forest behind the house and you can run and play. Yes, that’s right little horse, we’re going to have great fun together. And you‘re mine, all mine!” Billy hugged the little horse around the neck and thought “Life is really wonderful sometimes, really wonderful.”

“What cha gonna name him, Billy ,” asked Uncle Tommy as the colt struggled to his feet. He stood on spindly, wobbly legs, and eased up next to his now standing mother.

“Well I been thinkin‘ about that, Uncle Tommy , and since I didn’t know if it was a girl horse or a boy horse I decided a long time ago to call it Tinkerbelle - Tinker for short.”

“Well that’s just fine, Billy . Tinkerbelle it is. Tinker for short.”

“Isn’t he the most wonderfulest horse you ever saw, Uncle Tommy ?”

“That he is, young nephew, that he is. . .”

Young Tinker stood quietly in the stall and Mandy nuzzled the colt as they made tiny little sounds of assurance and reassurance to one another. The colt and mare were bonding, a bond that would last a lifetime.

“Come on Billy , we need to leave them alone for a while. They’ll be fine tonight. We can come back down to the barn in the morning. There‘ll be plenty of time for you and Tinker to get to know each other.”

They left one light on in the barn, and with great reservation, Billy squinted through the crack in the door for one last look at the pair and finally closed the door all the way shut. Tommy and Billy made their way up the small lane from the barn to the house. They were chilled to the bone from the time they had spent waiting for Mandy to give birth. Their breath could be seen as they exhaled with each step closer to the warmth of the farm house. It seemed that Mandy and Tinker weren’t the only ones to be bonding on this Christmas eve.

“So I guess we better get to bed right a way. Santa Clause is coming tonight as well,” said Uncle Tommy . “What do ya think Santa is going to bring you for Christmas this year, Billy ?”

“Well, I guess he kind of already did. I mean, Tinker is the best gift a person could get for Christmas. If I don’t get nothin’ else, I’ll be very happy.”

The light of the full moon lay gently on the yard and house as Billy and Uncle Tommy slipped in the back door to the farm house. Aunt Susie was asleep and the house was as quiet as could be. Lights from the Christmas tree and the remaining embers in the fireplace illuminated the living room.

Billy put on his pajamas and drifted off to sleep in peaceful slumber as Uncle Tommy placed presents under the Christmas tree.

* * * *

Billy sat bolt upright in bed the next morning, and his eyes sprung open wide. “It’s Christmas morning,” said Billy , “and there’s presents under the tree for sure!” He scurried out of bed and ran downstairs, sliding on the rug in the upstairs hall. He knew he’d get more that just a horse for Christmas, although the horse would definitely have been enough for him. Santa and Uncle Tommy and Aunt Susie didn’t let him down. His parents, as well as his relatives, always made sure he had a wonderful Christmas. Even though his parents weren’t here, he