Two Mutes, A Horse, and A Friendship Begin (SHER!)

"Hey Ailis! Can you call the dog in? Oh wait! You can't!" teased Benny and my other sisters. I gave them a hard stare, and they just continued in hysterics laughing at me. I sighed and grabbed my blue rain boots on and stepped outside. Of course, with my luck, as I jump down from the last step, mud splashes all over me. The brown, runny dirt stained my green t shirt and blue shorts. If I could, I would scream.

I walk over to the barn yard with a bored stare on my face. Suddenly, something changes that. My dog comes up barking and licking me. Actually, licking the dirt right off my skin. I smile and pet him, but I have to get to the horses, so i shoo him off to go find something to play with. They keys I have jingle n my fingers as i unlock to the tack and hay room. sing the wheelbarrow and a pitch fork, I bail some hay into the wheel barrow and push it ober to the horses. One by one, I feed the six horses in the barnyard, each time petting their noses and feeding them a spare mint in my pocket.

it was the only way I could find happiness, through the animals. It was like they understood me. Once my chores were done. I went out the back of the barn and pried open a loose wood board. Under it, was a stash of shiny coins I have been saving up. Today was my thirteenth birthday, but nobody seemed to cared, so I decided to treat myself. Finally a teen, finally.

I took the shortcut to the market, through the sheep and horse fields of our neigh boors. I knew it was trespassing, but I made sure they didn't catch me. Unfortunately, I heard cantering from behind me, and the sound of reigns. I hit the ground, hiding in the tall grass, hoping my strawberry blonde hair would blend in. To my luck they passed, and I way son my way again.

Soon I came to the square and looked around for a good store. As I turned my head, I found a beautiful mare that caught my eye. As I looked at her, a boy put his arm around her neck protectively. I cocked my head and walked up to him, forcing a small smile on my face. i picked up my hand and waved it slightly in a hello.

As he waved back, he started signing to me. I really didn't know what he was saying though. Unfortunately, nobody cared enough to teach me. Then I realized. He was signing! Meaning, he was a deaf or mute. My heart skipped a beat. Best birthday present ever. The boy then motioned me over and I put on a warm smile, one that truly was real. I skipped over to him happily and help out pointed to my mouth then shook my finger saying, I can't speak.. I hope he understood! His mare nudged my shoulder, I grinned and pet her nose gently. What a beautiful thing. I wish i was aloud to ride mine. I looked back at him still grinning. I was overwhelmed and in shock overall. The chances of one mute being born was very low in a district, but two in one, from two different families! Unless, my parents never told me, I had a brother. We seemed about the same age, but i pushed that out of my mind. That could never be true. Ever.

"Me too!" he gestured. I smiled and nodded. I was surprising myself with all this grinning, I don't think I have ever grinned wider in my life! It felt amazing, even though the corners of my mouth were starting to hurt. "Twelve, thirteen soon." he gestured with his fingers. Then he pointed to me. I held up all ten fingers, then three, saying "Thirteen!" I motioned giggling a little, of course, with no noise. Just smiling I guess. I was completely speechless, here was a boy, my age, loves animals, and is mute. Maybe my luck was good on my birthday! I just turned thirteen, and met this boy. I felt overwhelmed, my body was warming up, and just as I was about to speak, a heavy torrential rain broke above in the sky and poured down on us. I just laughed some more and stared at the sky, my hair drenching in the cold water.

As the rain pored down on us, his horse started going a little crazy in the rain, probably didn;t like the water. I couldn't blame it though. he then motioned to me, the saddle, and the horizon. Ride away into the sunset? I thought amusingly to myself, and then I realized what he was meaning to say. "Want to ride to my house? It's better than the rain." I assumed he was meaning to say. I can't believe this, this was the best day ever! I nodded happily stepping closer to the horse. As I neared her, she got a little uncomfortable. But I patted her neck softly and shushing her softly though the rain. she seemed to calm down alright. I looked back at the boy as he got on, and he helped me on. I wondered how he learned how to sign. maybe he could teach me when we get to the house!

I smiled all the way to his house, the rain falling against my face and clothes gently. As we came to his house, I noticed it was such a pretty little thing. A nice ranch house on a lot of land. My dream house. He helped me off and I leaped to the ground gently, taking in the warmth of the barn. He points to the horses and cows, wondering if i take care of them. i point to the horses and nod, and too the cows and shake my head in a no. I then pretended to pet something on the ground, about the right size for my dog. I was trying to tell him I had a dog, I hope he didn't think I was some psycho person though.

Sadly, he shook his head in and to the dog, telling me he didn't have one I suppose. I shrugged and took his hand as he held it out for me. Giddily, we ran through the pouring rain to his ranch house. I don't think I have been this happy, or felt this free in a long time, I was mighty thankful for that. When he knocked on the big wood door, almost immediately a nice, older looking woman opens the door. She looks very happy and sweet and gentle, three things I lacked in my own home.

Her and the boy started signing back and forth. He then pointed to my muddy rain boots and I flushed a bit red, immediately removing them to show my green and blue striped socks underneath, i was happy they kept my feet warm, inside it was a bit chilly. "Can you sign the letter of your name, dear? Oh, maybe you can write it down! I know I have a piece of paper and a pencil here somewhere... Isis, come down and help me get some snacks from the cabinet! Horus brought a guest!" she asked as well as calling another girl down. I guessed it was his sister becasue they looked a bit alike. I smiled at her and took her hand. What i thought was going to be a friendly shake turned into her pulling me inside along with her brother.

It was funny when his mom asked for my name, becasue frankly, I didn't know his either! Soon, Isis brought a neat pad of paper and yellow pencil. I gave her a small smile and curt nod in a thank you and began writing.

"My name is Ailis, and i'm thirteen. Sorry I can not sign, but thank you for letting me in your home away from the rain. Not to be rude, but the boy hasn't told me his name so I can thank him,"

He wrote a very nice note to me, I nodded in thank you with a small pursed smile on my lips. Then, his mom smacks him on the back of his head. I grimaced a little, almost feeling the pain on the back of my head, maybe because it was all to familiar of a feeling to me. I was repeatedly abused at my home by my brother and parents. I looked down at the ground a bit embarrassed and flushed for causing him harm.

I looked back up with a sorry look in my eyes and watched his mom grab some tea from the cupboard and dip them into cups of water. It looks like Horus doesn't appreciate it that much, he looks at me curiously. I shrugged as if saying, Never had it. She handed me a small blue teacup with a saucer underneath, a pretty looking thing. I blew on it carefully, making sure it wouldn't burn me. As I was about to take a sip, a huge clatter came to my ears. i looked up to see the tan looking water splattered all over the floor along wit the pieces of broken glass. His mom looked pretty upset, she yelled at him and threw him a tattered rag to clean it up.

When he looked at me, his cheeks pink, i just let tout a little giggle and set my cup aside and bent down to carefully pick up the broken blue pieces of tea cup. I shook my head, Silly Boy.