Educated Equine (continued again!)
Kim had been gone for five years now, forced to perform for crowds who had no idea what they were financing. She tried to warn the spectators as best she could, but was often restrained before she could do any damage. She lived in her bridle, and had gradually lost her speech. She had gone from a healthy, happy horse to a broken-spirited, scrawny, scarred animal. The day came when Jerry, Derek and Marge decided that she was not enough of an attraction anymore and put her up for sale at a local horse auction. As she stood with head hanging down and deaf to the world, she heard a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. "Kim!?!" She did not respond. "Kimberly of St-Bruno?!?" Kim raised her head halfheartedly. Her ears pricked forward and she looked very closely at the person. She tried to speak, but no sound came out from under the bridle. The woman removed the bridle. Kim yawned to stretch her mouth, then said "May?" Her voice was hoarse and almost non-existent. "YES!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!?" Kim dropped her head again, ashamed and embarrassed. "Ask my owner." May seethed with rage. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER?" Very calmly, Jerry said "You wanna buy her or not?" May's rage boiled over. She wound up and unleashed such a powerful punch that she literally knocked the man to the ground, breaking his jaw in the process. She then turned around and said gently to Kim. "Come on. Let's go home." The man yelled after her. "Hey! Wait! You haven't paid for that horse! Police!" Calmly, May and Kim waited for the Mexican officials to arrive. "All right now. What's going on here?" asked the marshal. "Officer. Look at this horse. This man stole her five years ago and has abused her." The officer raised a skeptic eyebrow, but he looked over the horse. As he worked he asked, "Where is this animal from and what is (he bent down and checked) her registered name?" Kim resented being called an "animal", but said nothing. He found the puncture wounds, dried sweat and lacerations. "Her name is Kimberly and she's from St-Bruno. She was reported stolen over five years ago." He could feel the ribs through the skin. "Don't believe me? Get it straight from the horse's mouth (Sorry Kim.)" The horse nodded and spoke. "It's true officer. I was savagely captured from my home and forced to perform against my will for five years now." The marshal's expression was priceless. Then, he said "W-well, there's no better testimony than that. Come with me sir. You are under arrest for cruelty to animals and grand larceny." Jerry knew it was over, and he followed the officer without argument as he was read his rights and handcuffed. But before the officer and Jerry could get far, the horse spoke up again. "Hold on, he wasn't alone." and trotted off. She soon came back, herding Derek and Marge. "Meet the rest of the clan" she said proudly. The officer handcuffed the other two and left, thanking May and Kim for their help in turning in what he called "three of the most notorious horse abusers". After the officer had left with the criminals, the two friends looked at each other and engaged in the longest, silliest hug ever witnessed. One with her arms around a sweat covered, mangy horse, the horse resting her chin on the girl's head, eyes closed in ecstasy. "So, May, what have I missed?" asked Kim. May wiped away the tear of joy from her eye at finding her best friend and soul mate and said: "Well, let's see, you've made the top story of every imaginable media for the past three years, and they named a national holiday after you!" Kim's jaw dropped. "No. May. I don't believe you." Kim said. Without a word, May fished out a newspaper article out of her purse and held it up so that Kim could see it. "Montreal's most famous horse to become national holiday." Kim was speechless. "Boy. Wait until I'm gone to have all the fun, eh?" May laughed. It was the most beautiful sound in the world. It was the sound of old times, something that both May and Kim had been in desperate need of for the past five years. And now everything was back, for good.