"On
Top of Old Smokie"
The
most memorable "end of school" I can recall was the end of my seventh grade year
at the Vinco School. My best friend at the time lived on what was Utopia to me;
"the farm," to her. A year ahead of me in school, this was her last year in what
was called, "back then," grade school. The next school term would bring
a rite of passage for her—high school—leaving
me behind to spend one more year as a "kid."
How to make a grand exit from the world of childhood to the "cool" universe of
Teen-dom was the topic of conversation for many days prior to the "last day."
Eventually, after much brainstorming and pondering all the possibilities, the
lights came on: We'd take Smokie the horse to school as a "Show and Tell"
and offer pony rides to anyone brave enough to climb aboard the old nag for a
walk around the schoolyard.
Not
exactly kept for riding purposes, Smokie was mostly just a "pasture horse"
content to wander his domain, graze on grass and clover, and swish his tail at
the occasional annoying fly.
On
the "big day," my friend rode Smokie to school through the woods and creeks and
along the back roads from Mundy's Corner to Vinco. I rode the school bus as usual.
Smokie was a "hit," and the pony rides went off without a hitch. Smokie was
well behaved and so were his passengers, and soon the last day of school was over
and it was time to head for home.
Not
wanting to ride home alone, my friend requested that I ride behind her on Smokie's
back. Climb on top of old Smokie we did, and headed for home through the woods.
Smokie, sensing home was near, became a little unruly and, ignoring the "whoa's"
and rein pulling, started off in a heated trot toward home, bouncing us on his
back as he raced through saplings and bushes that slapped at our faces, arms and
legs.
After
all these many years, I can still hear the "whoa...damn it... whoa"s. The
slapping of the saplings and bushes were the least of our problems. All that bouncing
and running had worked the saddle loose and soon we were listing dangerously to
one side! Finally pulling Smokie to a halt, we climbed off and proceeded to recinch
the saddle which Smokie had grown mighty weary of.
Smokie
started to buck and jump around in an attempt to get away from the dreaded saddle
and his riders...the situation was one to behold...one very determined horse and
two very scared kids.
We
got Smokie home that day...or did Smokie get us home? Whichever,
the trek home involved walking and not riding.
And
Smokie? Smokie returned to his pasture to graze on clover and grass and to swish
his tail at the occasional annoying fly.
