sparkybow




	Write 2 The Heart April 21, 2005 Welcome to your latest issue of Write 2 the Heart. Have you visited our new bookstore? It’s located at http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html You will find wonderful books written by, or that include stories by many of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect market for your writing. Pamela has been very fortunate in her life to meet many amazing animals with personality plus. Sparky was her brother’s horse, yet touched everyone in her family. Take a Bow, Sparky By: Pamela Jenkins It was early morning as Sparky and I made our way back to the barn. It was a cool, crisp day, just right for horseback riding. Sparky was my brother's new horse, and I was enjoying my first ride on him. The Paint was a beauty to look at, although he was a bit small. What he lacked in size, he made up for with his personality and willingness to please. As we neared the barn, I gave Sparky a kick and he started to gallop as fast as his little legs could carry us. We were racing along happily when Sparky did the unexpected. He slammed on his brakes! I was so taken by surprise that I didn't even have time to shout, "Whoa!" I went flying through the air and landed in a dusty heap on the hard ground. Oh, I'm going to feel this tomorrow, I thought to myself. I opened one eye and looked back at Sparky. He stood at attention with his ears forward, waiting for me to pull myself together. I couldn't see a bit of remorse in those big eyes. I managed to stand up, and brushed the dust off my pants and shirt. My hands were skinned and bruised and I ached all over. "You ornery old hay-burner," I began as I walked back toward Sparky. Then I heard my father's voice from the barn. He yelled, "Now, don’t hurt the horse!" Well, that stopped me in mid-stride. Don't hurt the horse? How in the world could my father imagine that I could 'hurt' this huge beast that had just flung me through the air with the greatest of ease? Even more so, if my father had been standing in the barn's doorway and witnessed the whole thing, why wasn't he worried about me? "You must have done something to make him stop like that," my father said as he walked over and patted the horse on the neck. He reached down and gave Sparky an affectionate pat on the chest, too. What happened next left both of us speechless. Sparky dropped his head and bent his knees. He extended one front leg and, like a courtly gentleman, gave a bow. My father and I were so surprised that it was several seconds before we burst out laughing. Sparky's past was a mystery. Little was known about the old horse except a vague reference to his former days as a trick pony. As he was passed from one owner to the next, his commands and cues were forgotten by all but Sparky himself. We never knew what surprises he would show us next. By spending time with Sparky, we found out that he could count to four by pawing the ground. He could bow, pray and sit. He would curl his lip and nod his head up and down. We found out by accident how to make him rear up on his hind legs and were strictly forbidden by our parents to make him perform that feat. Hooves dangling over our heads just seemed too dangerous, even if Sparky was gentle as a lamb with children. Sparky loved people and enjoyed being the center of attention. No other horse could outshine him when it came to the yearly parade in our hometown. Sparky could prance with the best of them. Sparky also had a weakness, a sweet tooth that couldn't be satisfied. His favorite treat was a sugar cube and we made sure we never visited the barn without a few in our pockets. Sparky would nuzzle and smell until he found the hidden sugar and could hardly wait to crunch into its sweetness. One winter day we were cleaning around the barn, and Sparky was standing nearby enjoying our company. My mother was wearing her new winter coat. It had huge white buttons down the front, and Sparky's eyes lit up in wonder at what he must have thought were the biggest sugar cubes he'd ever seen. Unable to resist the temptation, he trotted over and snagged a button between his long front teeth. "Oh!" my mother exclaimed as she tried to move away. Sparky wasn't about to give up, and held on with dogged determination. My mother waved her arms while Sparky batted his big brown eyes, but he wouldn't let go. Finally, with a pop, the button came off. Sparky worked the button around in his mouth. We could hear it rattling against his teeth, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make it taste sweet. In disgust, he spat it out on the ground and laid his ears back. The look he gave us clearly said, "Now, that was a dirty trick to play!” Even to this day, I never think of Sparky without a smile coming to my face. He gave us years of devotion and companionship. And even into his old age, he continued to pull surprises out of his hidden bag of tricks. Take a bow, Sparky. You were one in a million. Pamela Jenkins calicoblessings @ aol.com Pamela Jenkins lives in Oklahoma with her husband and four children. She is the office manager of a veterinary clinic and enjoys writing in her spare time. She is a contributing author to such books as ‘Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul,’ ‘Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul,’ ‘Angel Cats - Divine Messengers of Comfort,’ and ‘Country Magazine.’ Did you enjoy today’s story? Send the writer an email to let them know. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com Write 2 the Heart now has an affiliate program with Cognigen. They have several long distance plans to chose from. I personally use the PowerNet Global 4.5¢ Per Minute Plan. I love having my own toll free number without the monthly fee; I only pay for actual calls. My family can call home whenever they are out of town. I have used it more times than I care to remember over the last three years in emergency situations. Cognigen has more than just great long distance rates; they have calling cards, internet access, web hosting services and much more. You can check out all of their telecommunication products and services at http://ld.net/?cbspeir. Looking for an affiliate program? You will be surprised at all the products and services you will have access to. Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Robert Henderson David Habighurst Tonia Melissa Bair Matthew Nutter Nick Nation Seth Jarrell Matt Hall Donald Wayne West Frank Schambach, Jr. Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. Cheryl’s Corner While the kindergarten classes were at lunch, someone went into the classrooms and robbed the teachers purses where daughter- in-law-to-be, Kristen, is doing her student teaching. They grabbed check cards, credit cards, and checkbooks. Tim’s checkbook was in her purse. The thefts were reported to law enforcement, banks, and credit bureaus, but it sure is frustrating when you start getting calls from businesses and banks that checks are bouncing, credit cards are being maxed out to buy furniture and debit cards are trying to being used to buy many tanks of gas. The thieves are even trying to open cell phone accounts You just don’t realize how much information someone can have on you if they steal your checks! Just about everything a thief needs to ruin your credit or buy anything in your name. The clincher is that when a business calls you to see if you indeed are opening an account, they ‘can’t’ give you the information on the form! Who are they protecting, you? Or the thief? God bless, Cheryl Copyright © 2005, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.