" Good morning Cinders. How are you doing today? We are so excited. It’s Christmas

Eve morning. We are going to decorate your stall." Cinders had wondered what was in the boxes.

The boys gave him his hay then set about taking garland and lights out of the boxes. They sang songs as they decorated. Cinders watched at they dusted his trophies and wrapped them in tinsel and lights. They hung a wreath from his stall.

The singing and decorations made Cinders happy but he wasn’t sure why. He leaned over the stall door and nibbled on the shiny garland. Blech. It tasted awful.

The boys giggled." Silly Cinders, It’s to look at not to eat! "Cinders settled for eating his hay.

He watched the boys as they resumed their decorating. When they were done they gave him a good brushing. He liked being the center of attention. That came with being a champion show horse. He was used to being fussed over even as a young colt. His loud Appaloosa coloring, complete with a huge blanket full of spots made him stand out from the rest of the horses. He

even had spots in the black on his head and neck. His gentle but curious nature made him loved by everyone. Well, almost everyone. Sometimes he got a little too curious.

The boys stopped brushing him and gave him a scoop of oats. "We won’t be in the barn today Cinders. It’s Christmas Eve and we are going to town to celebrate it with our friends and family. It’s a special time. We are even going to be in a play." Bobby informed him.

Bobby kissed him on the nose. " Now you be good today and stay out of trouble. Maybe Santa will bring you a present." With that the boys left.

Cinders didn’t like being alone. He wondered what this thing called Christmas was all about.

He knew through the years the day brought on decorations and treats. But, he didn’t understand

what Christmas was about. It was then that Cinders made his decision, when his family went to town for Christmas he wouldn’t be far behind.

A Spot of Christmas Magic

There would be no magic this Christmas he thought as he trekked through heavy snow. The white powder breaking up around his boots then settling down to be kicked through again on the walk back. His older sister Sally was sick. Very sick. His parents so focused on her care that they seemed to have forgotten the Holiday season all together. Not much to celebrate anyway he figured. They were all to old for Santa and magic.

The bitter cold burned through him. His cheeks stuck to the high collar of his jacket where the metal zipper attached his hood.

Reaching his destination he opened the door just enough to squeeze through and inhaled the warmth. He would thaw as he worked only to freeze again returning back to the house.

Cows mooed and horses shifted in their stalls.

Boogy was the first to peek over the stall. He was his sisters horse. A youngster she held much pride in. Justin hated him. He was the reason Sally is in bed right now and not sharing in the usual Christmas eve tradition of early morning chores and barn decorating.

Christmas was Sally’s favorite time of the year. She loved it more than anyone else and would dare you to say different. No one argued with her. She radiated the cheer of the season and she was loved for it. She did little things like tying bells in her boot laces and t ribbons in manes. She even put stockings for every horse on the stall doors. She would fill them with treats for both horse and owner. When she was well the Christmas spirit surrounded them because of her.

This year he was alone in the barn. The box holding barn decorations ignored but not unnoticed. Sally started decorating the barn years ago for her clients when she started her business of training horses and giving riding lessons. Everyone enjoyed the sentiment and helped by donating more decorations every year. He used to be indifferent to her holiday spirit and now he wished he had taken the time to absorb her enthusiasm. To him Christmas was a time for presents and sweets. He didn’t get the true nature of the magic as she saw it and now he was scared she wouldn’t be around long enough to show him.

The barn seemed so quiet compared to past years. Her clients horses now back in their own homes and little kids still tucked in bed during the early hour. Sally was tucked in her own. Not by choice. Her body wouldn’t allow her to move much anymore. He longed to go back to the days of Sally cleaning stalls and singing Christmas carols. She loved to change the words, sometimes silly, sometimes she used the horses names. "On Rollo, on Maggs, on Sukey and Boogy...." He found himself imitating her and smiled.

Boogy nodded his head and snorted in greeting. He lipped at the stall latch. He loved to wiggle it with his lips until it came undone and he could push his way out. He thought it was fun to have Justin chase him around the yard.

"Enough beast." Justin admonished. " Dad’s going to fix that someday. Lets see you sneak out then."

Yeah..someday..it will get fixed. So will the gate to the south pasture and the stuck door to the barn. Dad didn’t have time to do the small repairs anymore. He had to sell most of their stock and go back to work in town. Justin wasn’t supposed to over hear them when they discussed bills, but he did and he knew things were getting tight.

He was grateful the farm wasn’t in danger. The hayfields prospered and so did whatever grain they rotated that year. He heard his dad say once that they would have cattle again soon. Selling the initial stock paid for most of Sally’s medical bills so far. He never thought he would miss the sound of lowing cattle like he did.

He felt bad when they apologized that they couldn’t get him a new game for his Game-boy this month. He was embarrassed about the fits he used to throw about getting things.

Toys seemed so unimportant now.