Taffy on the Loose (ages 9-12)

 By Hope S.

Andi woke up when the rooster was still crowing. She rushed down the stairs. She was very excited for today was her birthday! She planned big things.

            Andi slid into her chair. “Happy birthday, Andi!” her family called out.

            Andi ate her food. It was yummy. She quickly rushed through her morning things and went to the barn. She waited until a ranch hand came over to lift the saddle for her filly, Taffy. Then Andi grabbed the fishing pole and her bait. Her mother gave her lunch in a little cloth. She hugged her mother and then she set off to her special spot.

            Andi got there early so Sadie was not there. Then Andi started fishing. She got a few fish, then she saw a big fish. It was close enough for Andi to grab it. Andi bent down, she stretched out her hand… splash! She missed the fish. It got away before she could get it. Then she smelled something gross. She realized it was the fish she had already caught.

            She got up, took a big sigh, and tied the fish to her filly and took off to home to drop the fish off then come back. Andi really wanted to stay but the fish stunk. She tried to make Taffy go faster. Taffy galloped to home. She was panting when they got there.

            Andi gave Taffy water, then she took off the fish. She brought the fish inside.

            “It is odd that you are here at this time, Andrea,” said Mother.

            Andi stretched out her hand full of stinking fish.

            “Oh, I see.” Mother grabbed the fish and put them in the sink. “I will wash the fish later.”

            Andi smiled and went back to the barn. She took her filly out of the stall and hopped on her filly’s back. Andi snapped the reins, and they took off to Andi’s special spot again. When they got there Sadie was sitting down on the ground. She had already started fishing.

            Sadie giggled. “Oh, you got here late,” she said.

            Andi stopped. She felt hot. She got very angry. She took a big puff of air and said, “Actually, I got here before you did, but I had to go back home because the fish stunk.”

            Then it went quiet for a while. Then Sadie broke the silence and said, “Well, happy birthday, Andi.”

            “How did you know I’m turning ten?”

            “I don’t really know, but I think you told me before.”

            “Oh, okay,” Andi said.

            Together they both sat on a rock. They talked about funny and goofy things and sometimes they talked about very serious things, but most of the time they had very funny things to talk about—like when Andi’s big brother Chad rolled out of bed and there was a big thunk. Andi remembered when she started laughing and Chad got mad, and after breakfast when she was heading to the barn, he went with her. When she got there, Chad yelled at her. She wished she didn’t remember that part, but it was funny when he fell out of bed.

Sadie thought it was funny too, so they talked about it for a long time, then they switched to Sadie’s story. Hers was when Zeke fell off his horse. That was funny too, but soon it was dark.

            Andi hopped on Taffy and waved and said, “Goodbye.” Then she took off. Andi snapped the reins, and they turned into a gallop.

            Andi started to daydream about the cake and the joy of when she would blow out the candles and her family would sing “happy birthday” to her, when suddenly thud! She fell to the ground. Taffy was still galloping. Andi tried calling to her, but she didn’t come back. Soon Andi couldn’t see her.

            Andi felt bad. She had been so busy daydreaming, she let go of the reins. Soon Andi felt rain. She quickly dashed to a tree. She sat down underneath it. She was so upset! She closed her eyes and quickly fell to sleep.

***

When Andi woke up, it was daytime. Andi was worried her mother would send out a search party.

            Andi felt tickles up her neck. She was so scared! But soon Andi heard crackles. She looked over and saw her big brother Chad. She quickly stood up and hid behind the tree the best she could. What would Chad do to her when he found out she had lost Taffy? Would he yell at her or tie her up in her lasso again? She was so worried.

            All of a sudden, something grabbed on to her! She opened her eyes. It was her big brother Chad.

            “Where’s Taffy and what are you doing here?” he asked.

            Andi felt a big lump in her throat, so she didn’t say anything.

            “Well, Mother is looking for you,” Chad said. “So get Taffy and let’s go.”

            Andi finally swallowed the lump in her throat and said, “I lost Taffy. I accidentally let go of her reins,” she said very quickly.

            Chad’s eyes got big. “You lost Taffy!”

            “I am so sorry.”

            Chad took a big sigh. He grabbed Andi and roughly put her on Sky, his horse. He hopped on and snapped the reins and the whole time on the way home, he didn’t say a word. He looked very mad, so she didn’t say anything either. Then she wondered again, What will he do to me when we get home?

            Chad stopped Sky in front of the barn. He took Andi off Sky and then he hopped off himself and walked toward the house. Andi followed him, but he acted like she was not there.

***

            When Chad and Andi went inside, Mother grabbed Andi hugged her tight. Chad opened the door and left.

            Finally, Mother stopped hugging Andi and said, “Where have you been? Are you okay?” She started fixing Andi’s clothes.

            “No,” Andi said. “I lost Taffy.”

            Mother stopped fixing her and looked up. She looked very confused. “You lost Taffy?”

            “I accidentally let go of the reins.”

            “I’m sorry, Andrea. Now go upstairs and clean yourself off.”

            So Andi went upstairs. She washed her face off and changed into another pair of overalls and changed her shirt. Then she sat on her bed and thought about Taffy. Andi really wanted Taffy back!
            Soon Andi heard footsteps. It was her mother. She went to Andi’s door and said, “Are you okay?”

            “I miss Taffy.”

            “Don’t worry. Chad and Justin are looking for her. Now come on, breakfast is waiting.”

            So Andi went downstairs and had her breakfast.

***

            That day felt very long to Andi. Soon it was dark, and they still didn’t find Taffy. Andi really badly missed Taffy.

            Andi’s mother put Andi to bed. Andi stayed up for a long time. She was too busy thinking about Taffy to go to sleep. It was one o’clock in the morning when she fell asleep.

***

            It was 7:15 when Andi woke up and went downstairs and went to her chair. Everyone looked at her. “We found Taffy,” said her mother.

            Andi’s eyes opened wide. She quickly ate her breakfast but not too fast so she wouldn’t get in trouble. She changed her clothes and rushed out of the house and went to the barn as fast she could. She went to her filly’s stall and hugged her tight and hard. Andi said, “I will never lose you again.”