Audrey?

 By Hope S. 

“Tomorrow is the day!” chanted Andi as she was galloping home on her filly, Taffy. “Oh, I can’t wait!” Then she slowed down her horse and jumped off.

“C’mon, into the barn,” she told Taffy, tugging the reins so her filly would come.

She unhitched the saddle. “OK, Taffy. This time, I’m going to make it.”

Andi looked over toward the wall where her filly’s saddle was supposed to be. She took a deep breath. She grabbed the saddle tightly. “OK. 3…2 … 1…and, lift!” She used all her might and slid it off her filly’s back. Panting heavily, Andi walked across the barn. “Here comes the hard part,” she said between breaths. As hard as she could, she lifted the saddle. It was almost to the hook! But then her filly whinnied. Andi looked over, and just then her hand slipped.

The saddle came falling down. So did Andi! Rip! And her bottom hit the floor with a loud thud.

Andi looked over to see the saddle on the floor with a big tear on the back. The nail must’ve ripped it when she fell.

“See, Taffy. Look what you did!” she yelled as she pointed at the torn saddle.

“Ha ha ha!”

She looked up and saw Chad laughing. She felt her face get red. She knew Chad would tease her about this.

But Chad didn’t say anything. He stopped laughing and let out a breath. “Phew. Supper is ready. I’ll put up the saddle if you put Taffy in her stall.”

Andi was surprised that Chad didn’t tease her. But maybe he’ll tease me later, she thought. She got up and pushed her filly in the stall. She whispered in Taffy’s ear, “If you hadn’t whinnied, I would’ve shown Chad how strong I was.”

***

Andi had cleaned up and was coming downstairs. She was walking instead of going down the banister because her bottom still hurt from her fall. Then she went into the dining room. Then, forgetting about her hurting bottom, she jumped into her chair—and shrieked. 

Everyone jumped. “Why, Andrea, what’s the matter?” said her mother.

But before Andi could say something, Chad burst in: “It was so funny. You should’ve seen it! She was carrying—”

“Chad!” Mother gave him the be quiet look. 

“Anyone excited for tomorrow?” said Andi, trying to switch the subject.

“Are you excited for church?” asked Mitch.

“No, I’m excited for after church, when we go to Cory’s house for supper,” said Andi. “Can I be excused?”

“Yes, you may,” Mother said.

“Thanks. I’m going to go to bed.”

“This early?” asked Justin.

“The earlier I go to sleep, the earlier I can see Cory.” 

Andi ran up the steps, jumped into her bed, curled up, and fell asleep.

***

Andi woke up to the smell of breakfast. She quickly jumped out of bed and got ready for the day.

Then she ran down the steps and into the dining room, sitting down to a plate of bacon and eggs.

“Honey,” said Mother. “We can’t go to church or Cory’s house.”

“What? But, Mother—!”

“No buts. Chad said there is a storm on its way. And I want you to keep on your dress.”

“Why?” moaned Andi.

“Because I want you to look pretty today.” 

Andi almost cried. She ran up the steps and into the attic. It was a place she could let out her anger so that no one could see her. She prayed that God would stop the storm so she could see Cory. But even after her prayer, she was angry.

Grr! She grabbed a piece of wood and threw it. It landed in something close to a chest full of baby clothes. But it didn’t make a sound.

“Hmm. That’s weird,” said Andi.

She walked over to it and looked inside. Andi gasped. It was a cradle, with a name carved on the side. It said “Audrey.” Andi had never heard the name Audrey.

Just then, there was a big lightning strike. Andi jumped.

Mother called for everyone to come downstairs. While Andi was coming, she recognized she had brought the cradle. She set it down on the steps.

Andi ran downstairs and flew into her mother’s arms. “Mother, was someone in this family line named Audrey?”

“No. Why?” said Mother.

“Because—” But before Andi could finish, there was another big lightning strike.

Andi jumped. Mother yelled. 

All day, it rained. All day, Andi tried to ask Mother the question.

“Rain’s done,” said Chad, peering out the window at the end of the day, after winning his tenth game of checkers with Mitch.

Oh great, thought Andi. Maybe I should show Mother the cradle.

“Ouch!” The cradle came rolling down the stairs. So did Andi’s sister Melinda.

Oh no! I must’ve left it on the steps, Andi thought. 

Melinda hit the ground with a loud bang. Mother asked, “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Mother looked up from Melinda. She saw the cradle and gasped. She started digging through the bedding of the cradle.

“What’re you doing?” Andi asked.

“Look at this.” Mother grabbed something that was under the bedding. It was a little box with a very pretty ring in it. It looked like a very expensive ring.

“Why is that in there?” Andi asked.

Mother answered, “This is your cradle. When you were born, your grandma died and left this ring. The ring has been in my family for decades.” She slid the ring onto Andi’s finger. “Keep it safe.”

“I will.”

“Hey, Mother!” Chad burst in. “I wouldn’t trust her with that. You know the brand-new saddle we gave her on her birthday? There’s a really big tear in it.” 

“What?” 

“Nothing,” said Andi. “Mother, my name isn’t Audrey,” she said, pointing to the cradle.

“I wanted to call you Audrey, but then I decided to name you Andrea instead, after your grandma.

“Let’s head to bed. And I’ll see about this torn saddle later," said Mother. Oh no! thought Andi. She knew Chad would tease her sooner or later. 

                                                      The End