Chapter 1- The Last Day of School
Nellie Mae was startled awake by the deep exhale of breath on her face. She let out a scream.
“Ah! Wait! What?! Where am I?” said Nellie Mae, as she popped to a sitting position.
Her horse Comet, now nose-to-nose with her, leaned in through the Dutch door, nostrils flaring, in search of donuts. For a horse, he had quite a sweet tooth. Comet had learned weeks ago how to unlatch the top half of the double-door to Nellie Mae’s bedroom after someone, likely Nellie Mae herself, had left a half-eaten donut on the windowsill. He was a small horse with a big heart. Nellie loved how his shiny black coat turned speckled around his rump.
Nellie Mae lived in a big old yellow farmhouse on Happy Hills Ranch. The house, with its large wrap around porch, stood close to a big red barn. Nellie Mae’s bedroom was on the main floor which had two doors. One was a Dutch door, opening to the outside, and the other was an interior door leading to the kitchen.
The Dutch door was unique. Nellie Mae liked that it could open as a half-door, either at the top, or at the bottom, or as a full door when the two parts were locked together in the middle. Nellie Mae enjoyed sleeping with the top half open on summer nights, feeling a cool breeze while listening to the night time sounds of ranch living. She missed the days when she could run through the bottom half of the Dutch door, when she was still short enough to avoid hitting her head without ducking. Nobody else in the family had been able to do that. But that came to a screeching end, even before she outgrew the lower half doorway, as some of the animals on the ranch began to follow her inside the house for a visit.
The ranch had a large perimeter fence with a big rusty iron sign over the driveway gate at the start of the front yard. There were corrals by the barn and the family garden was fenced in, but everything else was open. Animals would frequently pass between the house and the barn which made Nellie Mae feel as if she had farm animals for siblings.
Today was Nellie Mae’s last day of 3rd grade. Summer vacation was about to begin. She was thrilled to be free from Ms. Buford’s constant picking at her. Nellie loved to read and could get lost in a good story for hours, especially while sitting in a tree. Yet, Ms. Buford was a stickler for rules and sitting still. Nellie was designed for the wide-open spaces of the ranch, not to be confined to a desk. Ms. Buford was a rather plump teacher who frequently peered over her small reading glasses and said, “Nellie Mae, you must sit still, child, and for heaven's sake, stop fidgeting.”
Today Nellie was up earlier than usual because of her unexpected wake-up call from Comet. Trying to settle back into her sleep, Comet nudged her again.
“I don’t have any donuts Comet!” But Comet nickered and nudged her again. “I told you...”
Nellie Mae’s voice trailed off as she caught the smell of cinnamon and sugar. She rolled over in bed to discover a tray of donut holes, fruit, and a glass of juice resting on top of her desk. Unraveling her covers, she climbed from her bed and walked over to read the note.
I love you, Nellie Mae.
Happy Last Day of School! Have dad take your picture. I’ll pick you up later today.
Love, Mom
“Ha, that means I don’t have to do my hair ‘cuz dad won’t care. Yes!” Nellie pronounced the “Yes!” with a fist pump.
“And I bet mom will do something special after school, like go for ice cream or something.” Nellie Mae shared Comet’s affection for sweets, and Nellie’s mom enjoyed making a big deal out of
the last day of the school year.
Nellie Mae pulled her dark brown hair back into a ponytail then popped one of the donut holes into her mouth. She grabbed the breakfast tray and walked over to her bed, careful to balance the juice without spilling. She picked up a second donut hole and held it out flat on the palm of her hand for Comet. He popped his big lips until he found it on her hand and inhaled it like it was the last morsel of food on earth. Nellie laughed when she saw his lips covered with powdered sugar. He gingerly nuzzled her nose to nose leaving a dash of powdered sugar on her freckled nose. Nellie giggled and kissed the peculiar stripe on his nose.
Nellie’s dad Nathan walked into her room. He saw himself in Nellie. They shared the same hair color and dimples but above all, they shared a commitment to the care of the animals on the ranch. They both felt at home out on the range and made the necessary bonds of trust with their horses easily. He had enjoyed the ranch life as a child and dreamed of being the next generation to take it over. He knew it took hard work, devotion and real grit to run the ranch. It has been in the family for generations and he hoped Nellie would one day take it over from him. Like her parents, Nellie loved animals, so Nathan had hope that the ranch would continue on. Ranch families seem to survive on generosity, gratitude and grit.
“Good morning, Sweetheart,” he said. “I’ve gotta check on a calf that I think got out last night. It might be hurt. Can you get ready for school on your own? I’ll be back to take your picture and then we’ll go.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” Nellie said.
Nellie Mae got dressed in the new shorts her mom set out. Nellie grew so much throughout the past year that her summer clothes no longer fit. Yet, the weather had changed drastically that week, with midday temperatures so hot that shorts were permitted at school once again. Only one local store stocked kids’ clothes. Nellie Mae’s mom was kind enough to buy some new things that looked comfortable for the last days of school. The larger stores with big selections were far away, so Nellie’s family only shopped there once or twice a year. And since Nellie Mae hated shopping, this suited her fine.
Nellie Mae slipped into a new pair of jean shorts with a horseshoe stitched on each of the back pockets. She pulled on the matching shirt, brushed her hair and teeth, and then checked the clock.
“Yikes! Dad must have had more trouble with the calf than expected.” She said, glancing at the clock, “We need to leave right now for me to make it to school on time.” Nellie Mae grabbed her backpack and stuffed Comet’s halter inside before putting it on her back. That way she could put his halter on to tie him up safely to wait for her dad instead of the bridle. She left a note for her dad.
Dad,
I didn’t want to be late for school.
Comet can get me there on time if we take the shortcut through the meadow.
Can you pick him up later? I have his halter.
Thanks, Nellie
XOXOXO
“Let’s go, Comet. Dad’s busy, so we can do this on our own. We know the shortcut to town,” Nellie Mae said, as she put the bridle on Comet, then walked him over to the gate near the driveway. This wasn’t the first time Nellie Mae had started off for school without her dad. She liked to take this route to town and visit the little general store to buy candy or stop at the bakery for donut holes. Nellie Mae climbed the gate like a ladder and hopped onto her horse’s back. Away they trotted out through the ranch gate. They turned right on Shady Lane for a few feet before turning onto a field road and riding cross-country through the fields to school.
When she arrived at school, Nellie Mae’s teacher, Ms. Buford, was NOT Pleased!
“For crying in a bucket, Nellie Mae, what are you doing? I have said it before, and I’ll remind you today -even on the last day of school, horses do NOT belong here!” she said, shaking her finger, the other hand on her hip.
Nellie took her backpack off and put Comet’s halter on. She traced the letters with her finger admiring how pretty the colors made him look. It was teal blue and purple with Comet written on the
noseband. Nellie Mae purchased it with her allowance money as a gift to Comet last Christmas. She tied him to the swing set and approached Ms. Buford.
“My dad was busy doctoring a calf this morning so I didn’t have a ride to school. I didn’t want to be late. Will you please call my dad to pick Comet up for me? Mom is my ride home after school
today. I don’t think Comet will fit in her car.” Nellie Mae laughed at her own joke. Before Nellie Mae walked away, she unzipped the front pocket of her backpack and retrieved two pieces of licorice -one for Comet and one for herself. She and Comet ate their treats as Nellie Mae got ready to enter school.
“Good boy, Comet, you got us here on time,” she said, patting his nose as he chomped the licorice. “Dad will give you a ride home in a little bit. I’ll bring you another treat after school. Be good, okay?” Nellie hoped that Comet would understand why she was leaving him tied up outside. Comet grabbed the licorice in his lips and chomped it into his mouth. He nickered a little as Nellie walked
away.
Nellie turned and said, “Love you too, Buddy. See you in a little bit.” The bell rang as Nellie Mae took off running toward the door.
Nellie Mae settled into her desk. She was finishing her last spelling test when the kids started to giggle. Nellie looked up to see Comet spying through the window at them. The window was located behind Ms. Buford’s desk. With her back to Comet as she sat correcting papers, Ms. Buford looked up to see what the children were fussing about. Peeking over the rims of her glasses, Ms. Buford looked out at the students, and then followed their gaze to the window behind her. She was taken by surprise and jumped, getting her red pen tangled in the little chain which was attached to her reading glasses. The children's giggles turned into full laughter at the sight of Ms. Buford knotted up in the chain tight around her neck, and a full-grown horse peering in from the back window. Comet cocked his head and wiggled his ears as Ms. Buford flailed and screamed.
Nellie Mae was relieved to see her dad’s truck and trailer pull up near the playground in the distance. She sank in her chair and let out a sigh hoping she wouldn’t get into too much trouble now that Dad had arrived.
Nellie Mae was startled awake by the deep exhale of breath on her face. She let out a scream.
“Ah! Wait! What?! Where am I?” said Nellie Mae, as she popped to a sitting position.
Her horse Comet, now nose-to-nose with her, leaned in through the Dutch door, nostrils flaring, in search of donuts. For a horse, he had quite a sweet tooth. Comet had learned weeks ago how to unlatch the top half of the double-door to Nellie Mae’s bedroom after someone, likely Nellie Mae herself, had left a half-eaten donut on the windowsill. He was a small horse with a big heart. Nellie loved how his shiny black coat turned speckled around his rump.
Nellie Mae lived in a big old yellow farmhouse on Happy Hills Ranch. The house, with its large wrap around porch, stood close to a big red barn. Nellie Mae’s bedroom was on the main floor which had two doors. One was a Dutch door, opening to the outside, and the other was an interior door leading to the kitchen.
The Dutch door was unique. Nellie Mae liked that it could open as a half-door, either at the top, or at the bottom, or as a full door when the two parts were locked together in the middle. Nellie Mae enjoyed sleeping with the top half open on summer nights, feeling a cool breeze while listening to the night time sounds of ranch living. She missed the days when she could run through the bottom half of the Dutch door, when she was still short enough to avoid hitting her head without ducking. Nobody else in the family had been able to do that. But that came to a screeching end, even before she outgrew the lower half doorway, as some of the animals on the ranch began to follow her inside the house for a visit.
The ranch had a large perimeter fence with a big rusty iron sign over the driveway gate at the start of the front yard. There were corrals by the barn and the family garden was fenced in, but everything else was open. Animals would frequently pass between the house and the barn which made Nellie Mae feel as if she had farm animals for siblings.
Today was Nellie Mae’s last day of 3rd grade. Summer vacation was about to begin. She was thrilled to be free from Ms. Buford’s constant picking at her. Nellie loved to read and could get lost in a good story for hours, especially while sitting in a tree. Yet, Ms. Buford was a stickler for rules and sitting still. Nellie was designed for the wide-open spaces of the ranch, not to be confined to a desk. Ms. Buford was a rather plump teacher who frequently peered over her small reading glasses and said, “Nellie Mae, you must sit still, child, and for heaven's sake, stop fidgeting.”
Today Nellie was up earlier than usual because of her unexpected wake-up call from Comet. Trying to settle back into her sleep, Comet nudged her again.
“I don’t have any donuts Comet!” But Comet nickered and nudged her again. “I told you...”
Nellie Mae’s voice trailed off as she caught the smell of cinnamon and sugar. She rolled over in bed to discover a tray of donut holes, fruit, and a glass of juice resting on top of her desk. Unraveling her covers, she climbed from her bed and walked over to read the note.
I love you, Nellie Mae.
Happy Last Day of School! Have dad take your picture. I’ll pick you up later today.
Love, Mom
“Ha, that means I don’t have to do my hair ‘cuz dad won’t care. Yes!” Nellie pronounced the “Yes!” with a fist pump.
“And I bet mom will do something special after school, like go for ice cream or something.” Nellie Mae shared Comet’s affection for sweets, and Nellie’s mom enjoyed making a big deal out of
the last day of the school year.
Nellie Mae pulled her dark brown hair back into a ponytail then popped one of the donut holes into her mouth. She grabbed the breakfast tray and walked over to her bed, careful to balance the juice without spilling. She picked up a second donut hole and held it out flat on the palm of her hand for Comet. He popped his big lips until he found it on her hand and inhaled it like it was the last morsel of food on earth. Nellie laughed when she saw his lips covered with powdered sugar. He gingerly nuzzled her nose to nose leaving a dash of powdered sugar on her freckled nose. Nellie giggled and kissed the peculiar stripe on his nose.
Nellie’s dad Nathan walked into her room. He saw himself in Nellie. They shared the same hair color and dimples but above all, they shared a commitment to the care of the animals on the ranch. They both felt at home out on the range and made the necessary bonds of trust with their horses easily. He had enjoyed the ranch life as a child and dreamed of being the next generation to take it over. He knew it took hard work, devotion and real grit to run the ranch. It has been in the family for generations and he hoped Nellie would one day take it over from him. Like her parents, Nellie loved animals, so Nathan had hope that the ranch would continue on. Ranch families seem to survive on generosity, gratitude and grit.
“Good morning, Sweetheart,” he said. “I’ve gotta check on a calf that I think got out last night. It might be hurt. Can you get ready for school on your own? I’ll be back to take your picture and then we’ll go.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” Nellie said.
Nellie Mae got dressed in the new shorts her mom set out. Nellie grew so much throughout the past year that her summer clothes no longer fit. Yet, the weather had changed drastically that week, with midday temperatures so hot that shorts were permitted at school once again. Only one local store stocked kids’ clothes. Nellie Mae’s mom was kind enough to buy some new things that looked comfortable for the last days of school. The larger stores with big selections were far away, so Nellie’s family only shopped there once or twice a year. And since Nellie Mae hated shopping, this suited her fine.
Nellie Mae slipped into a new pair of jean shorts with a horseshoe stitched on each of the back pockets. She pulled on the matching shirt, brushed her hair and teeth, and then checked the clock.
“Yikes! Dad must have had more trouble with the calf than expected.” She said, glancing at the clock, “We need to leave right now for me to make it to school on time.” Nellie Mae grabbed her backpack and stuffed Comet’s halter inside before putting it on her back. That way she could put his halter on to tie him up safely to wait for her dad instead of the bridle. She left a note for her dad.
Dad,
I didn’t want to be late for school.
Comet can get me there on time if we take the shortcut through the meadow.
Can you pick him up later? I have his halter.
Thanks, Nellie
XOXOXO
“Let’s go, Comet. Dad’s busy, so we can do this on our own. We know the shortcut to town,” Nellie Mae said, as she put the bridle on Comet, then walked him over to the gate near the driveway. This wasn’t the first time Nellie Mae had started off for school without her dad. She liked to take this route to town and visit the little general store to buy candy or stop at the bakery for donut holes. Nellie Mae climbed the gate like a ladder and hopped onto her horse’s back. Away they trotted out through the ranch gate. They turned right on Shady Lane for a few feet before turning onto a field road and riding cross-country through the fields to school.
When she arrived at school, Nellie Mae’s teacher, Ms. Buford, was NOT Pleased!
“For crying in a bucket, Nellie Mae, what are you doing? I have said it before, and I’ll remind you today -even on the last day of school, horses do NOT belong here!” she said, shaking her finger, the other hand on her hip.
Nellie took her backpack off and put Comet’s halter on. She traced the letters with her finger admiring how pretty the colors made him look. It was teal blue and purple with Comet written on the
noseband. Nellie Mae purchased it with her allowance money as a gift to Comet last Christmas. She tied him to the swing set and approached Ms. Buford.
“My dad was busy doctoring a calf this morning so I didn’t have a ride to school. I didn’t want to be late. Will you please call my dad to pick Comet up for me? Mom is my ride home after school
today. I don’t think Comet will fit in her car.” Nellie Mae laughed at her own joke. Before Nellie Mae walked away, she unzipped the front pocket of her backpack and retrieved two pieces of licorice -one for Comet and one for herself. She and Comet ate their treats as Nellie Mae got ready to enter school.
“Good boy, Comet, you got us here on time,” she said, patting his nose as he chomped the licorice. “Dad will give you a ride home in a little bit. I’ll bring you another treat after school. Be good, okay?” Nellie hoped that Comet would understand why she was leaving him tied up outside. Comet grabbed the licorice in his lips and chomped it into his mouth. He nickered a little as Nellie walked
away.
Nellie turned and said, “Love you too, Buddy. See you in a little bit.” The bell rang as Nellie Mae took off running toward the door.
Nellie Mae settled into her desk. She was finishing her last spelling test when the kids started to giggle. Nellie looked up to see Comet spying through the window at them. The window was located behind Ms. Buford’s desk. With her back to Comet as she sat correcting papers, Ms. Buford looked up to see what the children were fussing about. Peeking over the rims of her glasses, Ms. Buford looked out at the students, and then followed their gaze to the window behind her. She was taken by surprise and jumped, getting her red pen tangled in the little chain which was attached to her reading glasses. The children's giggles turned into full laughter at the sight of Ms. Buford knotted up in the chain tight around her neck, and a full-grown horse peering in from the back window. Comet cocked his head and wiggled his ears as Ms. Buford flailed and screamed.
Nellie Mae was relieved to see her dad’s truck and trailer pull up near the playground in the distance. She sank in her chair and let out a sigh hoping she wouldn’t get into too much trouble now that Dad had arrived.