Andi's New Life

by Megan S.

a 2014 contest entry



Part 1

            “Hold on there!” Andi rode up to the girl. “Here, you need to hold the reins like this. Don’t let them flop around like that, okay?”
            “Yes, Miss Carter-” Andi gave her a stern look. “I mean, yes, Andi.”
            “Good girl,” Andi smiled. “Now let’s try the fences again.” 
            She watched closely as the young girl jumped several fences. “Good job!” she called out. “I think we have time for one quick canter around the field, then we need to head back to the corrals!’
            “Okay,” the girl hollered back.

-       -       -       -         -         -         -        -         -         -        -      -                                     
           
            That night, Andi took out a piece of paper and prepared to write. She thought awhile, then began.

            Dear Cory,

            I wish I could thank you a million times! You won’t believe how happy you’ve made me by finding this job for me. I mean, honestly, training kids to ride, which means constantly being around horses, it’s a dream come true! Not to mention that here on the ranch people don’t care if I act like a tomboy and run around in overalls. I don’t have to act like a lady! I mean, really, a lady with fancy skirts and who took tiny ladylike steps wouldn’t get around anywhere here! I just can’t thank you enough!

            I wish you had been here last week. A spoiled girl named Deborah Roberts started training here and guess who was her trainer? Yup, me! The minute I met her a knew I had another Virginia Foster on my hands. The first thing she said to me was “An expert rider like me just doesn’t need a trainer. I wish Father was smart enough to see that!”

            Gee, did I sure wish I could pull her hair! But the nice Andi kept me calm and all I said was “I’m sorry you feel that way. It may be possible that you don’t need a trainer, but I’ll have to see how you ride first.”

            She kicked the horse so viciously it made me wince. During her ride I could see why her father thought she needed to learn how to ride! She couldn’t even hold the reins properly! She tightened it as much as she could then crumpled it into her hands. Her heels were way up and her shoulders way down! When she started the jumps, she almost gave me a heart attack. She’d go over the fence, scream and flop like a rag doll. Every single time she jumped she would nearly fall off the horse! Whew, was she a handful! 

            Oh yeah, and there’s one other thing about her that really bothers me. She likes to wear these billowy white dresses and bonnets with feathers. She really looks funny!  I asked her why she wore them and would she mind very much if she wore overalls instead? Do you know what she said? “Oh, yes, I would mind if I were to wear overalls-” (giggle)  “Overalls aren’t dainty enough. Ladies should always wear dresses. And I always wear these white dresses because they compliment my skin wonderfully. And-” (giggle) “If I were to meet a gentleman- (flutter eyelashes) “I wouldn’t want him to see me in ugly hideous overalls!” Really! I’m not here to chaperone, I’m here to train with willing riders and horses!

            Anyway, that’s enough complaining though it’s not really complaining, is it? I’ll bet you’re laughing your head off right now about Deborah and her antics. 

            How’s everything at the ranch? The Double T Ranch is really fun, but it isn’t at all like the Circle C. I guess sometimes I get a little homesick. Oh that reminds me, I get a break in two months! That means I get to come home and I can’t wait! 

            See you soon!

            Andi

P.S. Tell Mother that I’ll be sending her letter soon.

P.S.S Taffy says hello too and can’t wait to see her stall again. 

***
           
            “Hey sleepy head! Time to get up,” a voice said the next morning. 
            Andi turned over and mumbled, “Go ‘way.”
            There was silence. A few minutes later, Andi heard footsteps and then a freezing cold pitcher of water was dumped over her head.
            “Chad!” she spluttered, sitting up quickly. “Even when you’re married you still tease me!”
            “Reserved only for my youngest sister.” He ducked as Andi’s pillow flew towards his head. “Come on, Andi, you’ve got to go to work today. And someone’s waiting for you downstairs.”
            “I’ll be right down.” Andi shook the water out of her hair and jumped out of bed. 
            “Mownin’ Auntie Andi,” a pretty young girl lisped as she came down the stairs. “I been waiting fow fowevew fow you to come down. Why you take tho long?”
            “Sorry, little Birdie,” Andi hugged her niece. “I was extra sleepy today.”
            “Eww, you wet. How come?” Birdie asked.
            “Because Chad - your daddy poured water on me to wake me up,” Andi explained. 
            “Nawty Daddy,” Birdie shook her chubby finger at Chad, who had just walked into the kitchen. “You make nith Auntie Andi all wet!”
            “Mornin’, Aunt Andi,” a young boy shouted as he raced out the back door. “Be right back, Dad!”
            “Where’s Andrew going?” Andi wondered. “And where’s Helen?”
            “Right here,” Chad’s wife entered the room. “And breakfast is all ready. Why don’t we all sit down first? I’m sure Andrew will come in soon.”
            “Me thit nexth to Auntie Andi,” Birdie sang cheerily. “And me thit nexth to Mommy.”
            “Yes, dear. Why don’t you sit down right here?” Helen patted a seat. Birdie toddled over and sat down obediently. After a few minutes, Andrew burst in, slamming the door behind him.
            “Please don’t slam the door, Andrew,” Helen said gently. “It’s starting to become a habit now.”
            “Sorry, Mother. I’ll try to remember,” Andrew said, kissing her then sitting down at his place.
            Chad said the grace, then everyone began eating the delicious pancakes that Helen had made. 
            “Andy, do you want to go fishing today?” Chad asked during breakfast. 
            “I’d love to, Chad, but I can’t,” Andi said regretfully. 
            “Well, I actually meant Andrew Carter, not Andrea Carter,” Chad laughed. “See what I told you, Helen? If we named our son Andrew, he was sure to be mixed up with his aunt!” 
           
***

Next day, Andi watched as a young girl in a creamy white dress walked stiffly toward her. 
            “Good morning, Debbie!” she said as cheerily as she could. 
            “It’s Deborah,” the girl sniffed. “Be glad I don’t make you call me Miss Roberts, even though it sounds much more simulated.”
            “Do you mean sophisticated by any chance?” Andi choked back a laugh.
            “Whatever. Am I going to have another unneeded lesson today or not, Miss Carter?” Deborah tossed her head haughtily.
            “Yes, we are. Are you sure you don’t want to try on some overalls? Your dress might get really muddy. The ground is still a bit wet,” Andi warned.
            “Will you just leave me and my clothes alone? I’m old enough to take care of myself, thank you very much.” Deborah said irritably.
            “Alright,” Andi said doubtfully. “Let’s head out into the fields.”
            Deborah clambered onto her horse, which she had named Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Andi had never heard her omit anything from the name ever since she first started training.
            They reached a field and Deborah rode out, warming up the horse. Then she cantered around in a circle. 
            “Raise your shoulders higher,” Andi instructed. “And you could probably lower your heels a bit.”
            “Raise your shoulders and lower your heels,” mimicked Deborah in a high squeaky voice. “Really Miss Carter, you say that every time!”
            Well if you remembered what I tried to teach you I wouldn’t have to repeat myself, Andi thought to herself. 
            “I just wish Father would get some sense into his head for once and not make me take these lame lessons,” Deborah whined. “I am way too old to be taking lessons from a girl only 3 years older than me!” 
            Suddenly, she gave Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine a sharp crack over the rump with her riding crop. The horse reared and galloped across the field. 
            “Deborah!” Andi shouted in alarm. “Get back here right now!” She thought she heard the girl shout back, “Catch me if you can!” 
            “I am going to go crazy,” Andi groaned. 
            Deborah shrieked with glee. Then her shrieks turned to screams of fear and Andi squinted to see where she was. The horse was running wildly to the muddiest, slipperiest part of the field. She began running as fast as she could toward them. “Deborah! You’re going to slip if you go any further! Turn your horse!”
            “Her name is Queen Eleanor of Aquita-” Deborah began to say, but she never finished her sentence. 
            After a few steps in the sticky mud the horse slipped and fell. Andi never forgot what she saw then. She watched, horror constricting her throat, as a white object went flying through the air then landed in a crumpled heap on the dirty earth.


Part 2

            “Deborah! Deborah! Wake up!” Andi cried out frantically, shaking the muddy heap of clothes.  After five minutes, which seemed more like five years to the panic stricken Andi, the girl murmured something incoherent, then sat up. 
            “Andi?” she said, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
            “Debbie!” Andi was so relieved that she hugged her. “I was so worried!”
            “What’s wrong?” Deborah repeated. “What happened?”
            “Your horse slipped and you flew off,” Andi said. “For a second there, I thought you were dead!”
            “Of course I’m not!” Deborah smiled. “I’m glad you care though, Andi. Would you mind helping me back to the main house? I’m a little cold and my dress is so dirty!”
            Here it comes, Andi thought tensely, preparing herself for the outburst.
            “I can’t imagine why I would be so stupid as to wear a white dress while horse riding. It’s the most ridiculous thing!”
            Andi nearly fell over. She was struck with the realization that Deborah wasn’t sounding - well- like herself. The “old” Deborah would probably have started weeping and acted as if her whole body was broken. And she would definitely have blamed Andi for the accident. But the Deborah she was talking to was... kind! Deborah didn’t object to being called Debbie and she was calling her -
            “Andi?”
            “Yes?” Andi turned to Deborah quickly. “Is something wrong?”
            “No, but you looked a little like you were drifting away.”
            “Sorry.” Then Andi glanced sharply at her. “Deborah, are you feeling all right?”
            “Never better! I am a teensy bit cold and wet, but that can be fixed quite easily. Why?”
            “Oh, well, you see, you don’t seem to be acting like yourself,” Andi said.
            “Not acting like myself? What on earth do you mean?” Deborah asked in amazement.
            “Don’t you remember? Before you were acting pretty - well - um - spoiled. You were complaining at everything and you wouldn’t listen to me.”
            “What are you talking about?” Deborah stared at her. “Who wouldn’t listen to you? You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had!” 
            “Yes - but - you know what? Never mind. Pretend I didn’t say anything,” Andi smiled at her. “Let’s head back.” 
            After they had reached the house, Andi and Deborah met Mrs. King, whose husband ran the ranch. 
            “Heavens! What on earth has happened to you? My stars! Deborah, dearie, your dress is a mess! Oh, spinning planets!” Mrs. King exclaimed, interspersing any celestial being she could think of in her speech. 
            “She fell off her horse,” Andi informed her in a low voice. “Could you take care of her for awhile? I need to get her father as fast as possible. Something strange has happened!”
            “What is it?” Mrs. King asked, but Andi was already half away across the front yard. 

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            “Here comes Mr. Roberts,” Andi said in relief as a buggy rattled at a precarious speed towards the house. She went out to meet him. 
            “I came as soon as I could,” Mr. Roberts said. “How is she?”
            “Deborah seems to be fine,” Andi said. “Except for one thing. Her temperament has changed completely.”
            “What do you mean?” 
            “Why don’t you come into the house and see for yourself?” Andi suggested. “You’ll see what I mean once you start talking to her.”
            They went into the house just as Deborah was telling Mrs. King that her parlor was “simply heavenly” and the dishes on the mantle were “exquisite”.
            “Deborah!” Mr. Roberts almost ran to her and caught her in a warm embrace. “Are you alright, my darling?”
            “Of course I am,” Deborah smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, Father. I’m just fine!”
            “Ask her some questions and see if she’s lost her memory,” Andi whispered to him.
            “Do you know what your name is?” Mr. Roberts asked quickly.
            “Father! Of course I do! Who would forget their own name? My name is Deborah Charlotte Elaine Michelle Roberts.” 
            “Who were you named after?” 
            “I was named after the Deborah in the Bible. Charlotte was Mother’s name, Elaine was your sister’s name, and Michelle was Mother’s sister’s name.”
            “How old are you?”
            “Fifteen.”
            “What was your mother’s favorite instrument?”
            “The piano.”
            “What did you name your horse?”
            “Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. That name is so long! I can’t believe I used to call her using that entire name!
            “Do you remember what I got you for your birthday present?” 
            “Why yes! How could I have forgotten? You bought me that lovely blue mirror with the ivory comb and brush. You really shouldn’t have spent so much money on it!”
            “Well, you seem to be fine,” Mr. Roberts shook his head. “Your memory is sound. The only thing that has changed is your temperament.”
            “I feel perfectly normal,” Deborah said, laughing her tinkly laugh. “What do you mean, my temperament has changed?” 
            “How about we go home?” her father suggested. “Thank you for calling me so quickly, Miss Carter.”
            “No problem,” Andi pulled him aside after he had helped Deborah into the buggy and added in a lower voice, “Please, do you think anything is wrong with her, Mr. Roberts?”
            “I’m not sure,” Andi could see that he was clearly baffled. “I’ve never heard of anything like it before. I’m planning on bringing her to the doctor, just for a quick check up. But I’ll let you know what he says.”
            “Thanks, Mr. Roberts,” Andi waved as they drove away.

-       -       -       -         -         -         -        -         -         -        -      - 


            “You’re saying that that girl’s temperament reversed, but nothing else was changed?” Chad asked incredulously.
            The family was at dinner when Andi had brought up the exciting incident that had occurred at the Double T. 
            “Yup,” Andi shook her head, still puzzled.
            “That sound’s really, really weird,” Andy grinned. “I guess she won’t be the school brat anymore.”
            “Andrew Carter!” Helen looked at him sharply. “That was a very rude thing to say.” 
            “Yeth, Andwew, that wath a vewwy, vewwy wude thing to thay,” Birdie shook her chubby little finger at him.
            “I’m sorry, everyone,” Andy apologized.
            “I fowgive ya!” Birdie said instantly, her big cheeks simply glowing with cheerfulness.
            Andi giggled and hugged her young niece. “Oh, Birdie, you are so funny! What would we do without you?”
            A week later, Andi met Deborah again. The girl looked totally different from the seven days prior. The dainty white dress, pretty riding boots, and hat with fluffy feathers had been replaced by overalls, dirty boots, and a cowboy hat stuck jauntily onto her head. She had even changed her hairstyle. Gone were the soft, long curls. Instead two sturdy braids flapped behind her.
            “Hi, Andi!” Deborah called out cheerily. “Father said I could come riding again with my favorite teacher! I brought Ellie down and she’s in the barn waiting.”
            “Who’s Ellie?” Andi asked, coming up to her.
            “My horse,” Deborah grinned. “Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine! Whew, that takes forever to say! Ellie is short and sweet.”  
            “Oh, okay,” Andi smiled back, still trying to accept the fact that Deborah was no longer the same. “Shall I meet you at the back field?”
            “Sure!” Deborah skipped to the barn, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you in five minutes flat!” 
            Andi was about to head to the specified field when a young girl came up to her and tapped her arm.
            “Yes, Lily?” Andi recognized one of the students at the ranch. “What’s the matter?”
            “There’s a man here who said that he wanted to talk to you.” Lily looked up at her expectantly. “What should I tell him?”
            “We-ell, I have a lesson that I need to give to Debbie,” Andi hesitated. “Could you ask him if he would mind waiting 45 minutes or so, Lily?”
            “Sure,” Lily ran off.
            “Hopefully, it’s nothing urgent,” Andi muttered to herself as she walked.
            “Deborah arrived at the field a few seconds after Andi. Once again, Andi tried to suppress her surprise at Deborah’s quickness. Usually, Andi had to wait for at least 15 minutes before she arrived anywhere.
            “Alright, let’s get started,” Andi reached up and patted the horse. “Are you ready, Debbie?”
            “Yup,” Debbie said. “Let’s go!”
            “Okay, how about you try trotting around the field a bit first, just to warm up?”
            Debbie instantly obeyed and gently kicked Ellie into a brisk trot. 
            When it came to the jumps, Andi nearly fell over with shock. Deborah had her shoulders and heels in perfect position, she held the reins properly, and best of all, she didn’t squeal like a bunch of monkeys!
            “Excellent job, Debbie!” Andi shouted, joy filling every syllable. “You’re doing great!”
            Suddenly, the horse reared and whinnied in horror. Andi saw a a creature slither through the grass. 
            “Debbie! Hang on tight!” And hollered. Her terror was mirrored in Deborah’s eyes. 
            “Andi! Help!”
            Then it happened. The horse kicked and Deborah went sailing through the air. 
            Andi ran faster than she had ever run in her whole life. “Debbie!”
            To her utter relief, Deborah groggily lifted herself from the ground. 
            “Oh, please, Debbie, you have to stop falling off your horse!” Andi gasped. “You’re going to give me a heart attack if this happens every week!”
            “Deborah!”
            “What?” Andi stared at her in surprise.
            “How many times do I have to tell you? My name is Deborah, not Debbie! And where is Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine?”
            “Queen Eleanor of - but - Debbie -”
            Deborah!”
            “Deborah, but you used to call your horse Ellie for short!”
            “Ellie! I would never think of such a vulgar name!” Deborah exclaimed indignantly. “How could you ever think that, Miss Carter?”
            “Miss - What is going on?” Andi cried out in puzzlement. “Don’t tell me you’ve changed again!”
            “I don’t know what you mean by changed,” Deborah said crossly. “Oh!”
            This exclamation was caused by the observation of her clothes. “What am I wearing? These horrid, nasty things! I am disgraced! Oh, what if someone sees me in this repulsive outfit? And braids! Who did my hair like this?”
            “Oh, someone help me,” Andi groaned. “My head is in a spin.”
            “Get me home, right now!” Deborah demanded. 
            As they walked back to the main house, Deborah pestered Andi with complaints.
            “Please call Mr. Roberts,” Andi said wearily to Mrs. King. “Deborah fell off her horse and she - “
            “Miss Carter!” the voice was icy cold. Andi turned and saw Deborah standing behind her with her hands on her hips. “Kindly remember that the name is Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Not horse!”
            “She’s changed again,” Andi finished quickly. 
            Mrs. King nodded in agreement as Deborah criticized the very china she had praised the previous week. “You go on home, deary,” the kind woman whispered. “You look like someone brought you to the moon and back in one second.” 
            “Thanks,” Andi headed to the door. “See you tomorrow.”
            She walked out with her eyes pasted on the ground. “How is this possible? How can someone’s temperament change twice in less than two weeks?” Andi suddenly crashed into someone. “Oh! Excuse me! I’m sorry, I was so caught up thinking
about one of my students who fell off her horse twice and her attitude has been changing so rapidly and I can’t keep up with it and -”
            “Whoa, slow down, Andi!”
            Startled at the familiar voice, Andi looked up. 
            “Cory!”
           
             
THE END

7 comments:

  1. This a great story! It was hilarious, and good writing too.

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  2. Awesome job, Megan! :)

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  3. What happens next?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :) wonderful story, Megan!

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  4. GREAT story! So funny!!

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  5. I LOVE the part where Chad pours water over her head. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

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