Tomorrow does come

Tomorrow Does Come

Jodie was nearly twelve. Her life had changed drastically in the last
six months. After a long illness, her father had died, leaving her and
her mother alone with a huge mortgage on their city home, and little
else.
Lack of money had forced her mother into their present situation.
She'd had to sell the house, as there was no hope of keeping up the
payments. In order to keep a roof over their heads, she'd taken a job
on a large country estate as a house-keeper. It provided them with a
small cottage and a modest income, enough to keep them clothed and fed.
Their cottage was on the estate, so her mother had no worries about
leaving Jodie alone while she was at work.
It was difficult for her mother, but more so for Jodie. She was a shy
child, and the last six months had been hard. She had left her home,
city life and her friends for a life in the country where things were
very different. After the holidays, she'd be going to a new school
where she knew no-one, and, almost worse than that, she still had four
weeks holiday. What ever would she do, stuck in the country?
Her mum left the cottage for work at 8 o'clock every morning, came
home for lunch, then disappeared until at least 6 o'clock. Jodie
developed the habit of lying in bed half the morning, listening to loud
music, only bothering to get dressed in time for lunch. Nobody cared,
or so she thought. Her mum nagged her a bit about getting out more, but
she took no notice. Sometimes, she took a walk around the estate, but
she wasn't really interested in anything she saw. More often, she just
switched on the TV and lazed around until her mum got home for
tea.
One day, her mum came home unexpectedly. Jodie was lying on the sofa.
The TV was blaring, and so was her cd-player. She only realised she
wasn't alone when it all went quiet. She sat up, startled, to see her
mum looking none too pleased, with two plugs in her hand.
"Now Jodie," she started, her voice more worried than angry "This can't
go on. You're too young to sit about all day doing nothing. I've left
you to it for a while, hoping you'd pull yourself together, but it's
not working is it?" Jodie looked at the ground. She didn't answer, she
didn't know what to say. She really was ashamed of herself, because she
knew her mum was unhappy too, but she really did hate the
country!
"Anyway," said her mum, when it was obvious she wasn't going to get an
answer, "The reason I'm home early is because I've reached a decision
for you. You may not like it, but it's something I think you should
try. You can look over these papers, and we'll discuss the details when
I get home this evening." Without a further word, she thrust a large
envelope into Jodie's hands and left.
Jodie was almost hysterical by the time her mum returned.
"Horse-riding?" she screamed, before the door was even shut. "I hate
horses! You remember what dad said, dangerous at both ends and
uncomfortable in the middle. And they smell!"
"Oh, Jodie," said her mum sadly, "I wish you'd give it a chance.
Anyway, it's not only horse-riding. Did you read all the information or
just page one?"
Jodie looked shamefaced, muttered something about thinking it over and
went to her room. She threw herself on her bed and reluctantly opened
the brochure. It was called "Activities for All," and it described lots
of things which were to take part over the course of a fortnight. Apart
from horse-riding, there was canoeing, swimming, abseiling, archery,
and things she'd never even heard of.
When the smell of food reminded Jodie how hungry she was, she made her
way downstairs. Her mum looked up from the cooker and said,
"Well?"
"I don't know, mum. It might be okay, but I won't know anyone. I'm no
good with strangers. Anyway, how can we afford it?"
"Let me worry about that. I'll manage somehow, if you'll give it a go.
Don't worry about strangers, you'll all be new to each other. You're
bound to make friends."
As she dished out the tea she smiled to herself as Jodie
muttered,
"Okay, okay, I'll give it a go if you promise I can come home if I hate
it."
"That's settled then," said her mum, with a sigh of relief. Now she
would just hope for the best.
The following Monday found Jodie and her mum in a borrowed car heading
for the activity centre. It was only two hours' drive away, and
check-in time wasn't until midday. Jodie had panicked about the lack of
suitable clothes, but the brochure stated that all protective clothing
would be provided. At least she wouldn't need a riding hat, she was
going nowhere near those smelly horses!
When they arrived at the reception area, it was seething with
activity. No one seemed to know anyone, but they all seemed happy
enough to be there. Not only that, there wasn't a horse in sight!
Within minutes, she'd been paired up with a girl of her own age and
shown to a nice room which they would share for the fortnight. By the
time she waved goodbye to her mum, she was feeling much happier.
Jodie and her room-mate, Jenny, hurried to unpack, as lunch was to be
served shortly, followed by a tour of the facilities. By 3 o'clock,
they would be starting the holiday for real.
An hour later, the tour was nearly over, and still no horses. Jodie
was just starting to relax. She'd been thrilled with the indoor
activities. There was a room with pool tables and video-games, an
indoor swimming pool and even a canteen with a jukebox. It looked like
she could have a really great time without setting foot outside.
Just as she was thinking this, they turned another corner and Jodie's
heart sank. There they were. Horses. Lots of them. On two sides of a
big yard were rows of stables, and in each stable, a horse was visible.
Jodie was horrified. Even one horse scared her, but this many? And the
smell!
Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, they did. Jack, their
guide for the afternoon, held up his hand and called for quiet.
"This is where the fun begins," he started. "Line-up, and we'll tell
you which horse or pony we're pairing you up with for the fortnight.
We'll be riding most afternoons. Everyone who can already ride line-up
on my left, everyone else on my right."
Jack led the riders away first, and left Jodie's group behind. Jodie
didn't know what to do. She didn't want to be thought of as a coward,
but she was absolutely terrified. Eventually, Jack came back, having
left the first group making friends with their horses. "Come-on," he
said, "Come and meet your horses, and then we'll get you kitted out
with boots and hard hats."
Jodie hung back so far, Jenny, her new pal, and another beginner,
wondered what was wrong. "Come-on Jodie," she said "All the nicest ones
will be spoken for."
"I don't feel well," said Jodie, and she was very pale, "It must be
something I ate. I'll be there in a minute." Jenny was too excited to
worry about Jodie, and rushed off to join the others.
Jodie sat, with her head in her hands, trying to look invisible, but
it didn't work. After a few minutes, she became aware of a shadow, and,
looking up, she saw Jack.
"What's wrong, Jodie?" he asked, in a concerned voice.
"I'm not sure," answered Jodie, looking down at her feet. "I feel sick,
I expect it's all the excitement, and the heat."
"Well," said Jack, "you'd better go to your room and lie-down until you
feel better."
"Can't I just go to the canteen?" asked Jodie. "I could get a cold
drink and listen to some music."
"I don't think so," said Jack. "A lie-down is best if you're not
feeling well. I'll get everybody here started, then I'll come and see
you." Jodie had no option but to do as she was told. If she argued,
Jack would realise she wasn't really ill. She made her way back to her
room and sat, looking out of the window, thinking of all the other
things she could be doing.
After about half an hour, there was a tap on her door, and Jack came
in. "Well Jodie, you're looking much better. Why don't you come back
outside and join in?" Jodie immediately went pale again. She tried to
hide her face from Jack, but was unsuccessful.
"Poor Jodie," said Jack, sympathetically. "I think I've guessed your
problem. You're scared of horses, aren't you?" Jodie look at the floor,
she felt so stupid. She didn't like admitting she was scared, it made
her feel five years old.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," said Jack, in a gentle voice. "Do you
know why you're scared?"
"My dad always said they were dangerous," answered Jodie, in a small
voice, "and they're so big."
"I know this won't be easy for you to believe Jodie, but that just
isn't true. Sometimes horses are dangerous, but it's usually only when
they've been badly treated by people. All the horses and ponies we have
here are very safe and gentle. I'm sure that if you'd just come and
meet them, and watch everybody else for a while you'd see what I mean.
It must be a better way to spend such a lovely day than sitting in your
room." Jodie looked up, fighting back the tears which were threatening
to flow. She didn't want to believe that what her father had told her
wasn't true, but she didn't want to spend the afternoon alone in her
room. With a huge effort, she got to her feet and followed Jack
out.
As they approached the stable area, Jodie was feeling very shaky. Jack
put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and led her forward. They
passed through the stable yard into the field beyond. In the field were
two separate groups. In the distance, Jodie could see horses and riders
trotting around in a big circle. These were the more experienced
riders. Jack let her towards the nearest group. Some children stood
beside their mounts, and three children, including Jodie's room-mate,
Jenny, were being led around in a small circle. Each horse was being
led round by one person, while a helper walked alongside, giving
encouragement and instruction to the riders.
Jenny spotted Jodie, and waved cheerfully. "Are you feeling better,
Jodie? Come and join in." Jodie was beginning to relax a little, but
she was still unsure. She didn't know whether to believe Jack, or
believe what her father had told her.
She sat on the grass and watched for a while. Everyone except her
seemed to be having a great time. Even the children who weren't riding
looked happy, petting their horses, or ponies, as Jack had told her the
smaller ones were called. After a while, she got up and walked a bit
closer. Jack came over from where he'd been helping Jenny to hold her
reins properly.
"Well, Jodie, what do you think about it now?" he asked.
"Well," answered Jodie, after a brief pause, "it doesn't look all that
dangerous from here. I just don't know. If I did want to try, which
horse would be mine?"
"Wait here a minute, and I'll show you," said Jack. He walked over to
one of the helpers, spoke for a moment and then came back to Jodie.
"Come on then," he said cheerfully. "No time like the present." Jodie
followed him back to the stable yard. All the stables looked empty, but
as they came to the last one, a head appeared over the door. Jodie was
tempted to bolt when the pony whinnied, but Jack lay a hand on her
shoulder. "She's only saying hello, Jodie. She's been left all alone
for a while. She's just glad of the company."
Jack stepped forward and stroked the pony on the forehead. She put her
head down and rubbed against his shoulder.
"Come a bit closer Jodie, I promise she won't hurt you." Jodie took
first one hesitant step, and then another. The pony looked at her with
interest, one more step and Jodie was within touching distance. Jack
gave her an encouraging smile. "Just stroke her on the nose," he said,
"you'll be surprised how soft it is." After a long moment Jodie reached
out her hand and touched the pony. Jack was right. Her nose felt just
like velvet, and her breath felt warm on Jodie's hand.
In that moment, something changed in Jodie. As she looked into the
pony's warm brown eyes, she fell in love. She'd never been so close to
a pony before. Suddenly, the smell wasn't bad, just different, and the
warm breath on her hand made her feel strange inside. Tentatively, she
reached over and stroked a warm neck, and the pony nuzzled her
shoulder. When she looked round, Jack was smiling.
"What's its name?" asked Jodie.
"It's a she, not an it," replied Jack. "She's called Honey. You've only
got to look at her to see where the name came from." Jodie laughed as
Honey's breath tickled the back of her hand. "I suppose she could have
been called Goldie," said Jodie, with a giggle, "but Honey suits her
better. She's the right colour, and she's very sweet, as well."
They stood and petted Honey over the stable door for a few minutes,
then walked back to the field just in time to see everyone dismount,
ready to lead their horses and ponies back to the stables.
"You can help Jenny today," said Jack to Jodie, "then we'll get you
started on Honey tomorrow." Jodie was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer
number of horses, but she wasn't really scared any more. She walked
beside Jenny, back to the stables where they were shown how to remove
the saddle and bridle, and make the pony comfortable for the
night.
"That was the coolest thing I've ever done," enthused Jenny, as the two
girls headed for the canteen. "I can hardly wait till tomorrow."
Jodie just hoped she would still feel the same tomorrow. It wasn't
easy to admit that her dad might have been wrong, but there was
something about Honey that made her feel good inside. Instead of
thinking about being kicked or bitten, she was picturing Honey's kind
brown eyes, and feeling her warm breath on her hands. For the first
time since her dad died, she, too, was looking forward to tomorrow.