Race the Wind

Race the Wind

The persistent whinny, floating on the air, called to Jenny as she slowly stirred, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"Blaze, my beautiful Blaze!" she sighed, remembering the glorious day they rode as ONE. It was a balmy day, perfect for riding and Blaze seemed to realize their special oneness. They had performed all the exercises with near perfection, every move so subtle it seemed to take only a thought and it was accomplished.

"I know Blaze felt it, too!" Jenny thought dreamily, anticipating the moment she would slide upon his back once again. From the kitchen, Jenny could hear the sounds of morning...mother singing with the radio (she loved music), the sizzle of bacon frying, the brrrp of the coffee percolating, the canary whistling to the early morning breeze , and Blaze, his whinny of anticipation, eager to start the day. The morning smells of pancakes, bacon and coffee, drifting up the stairs, began to make her tummy rumble.

"Jenny, Joel...are you awake? Breakfast is nearly ready", her mother called. Jenny could hear Joel banging drawers in his room.

"MOM! Where's my purple socks!" he shouted, "I gotta have'm...they're my lucky socks and we play the Raleigh Rockers today!"

"They're in the dryer! You better hurry, your coach will be here at 9:00", Jenny heard her mother answer over the thumpity-thump of Joel descending the stairs.

"Oh Joel", Jenny thought lovingly, "you are so special! I am so glad you're my brother!" Jenny smiled as she thought, "how different we are and yet we have the same exuberance for life. 'Course, he IS a boy! Mom said, when she carried us, she knew we were a boy and a girl...her heart 'saw' us before we were born. She also felt us. I was the quiet one, she'd told us." This thought brought forth a giggle as she pictured her rough and tumble brother always making his presence known with his slamming, banging, stomping, running ways.

Jenny's only thought at breakfast was "soon I will be upon the back of my beloved Blaze! Will this be the day? The day I've longed for? The day WE race the wind?" The rattle of dishes as her mother cleared the table only faintly intruded on her thoughts as she could already feel the warmth and rippling muscles of Blaze beneath her

Grabbing his cap, Joel was on the run. "Later, mom", he called over his shoulder.

"Don't let the door......slam", her reply cut short by the BANG of the screen door.

From his stall Blaze greets all that enter with a perfunctory whinny but, as Jenny enters, his whinny resounds with the intensity of love he feels for this frail, golden-hair creature.

"Oh Blaze, I love you!" Jenny whispers as his magnificent head leans down to nuzzle her neck.

Surcingle in place, Jenny lifts to stretch her leg and slide upon the sun-warmed back of her devoted friend as he stands, ever so still, feeling her like a feather on his back. Now in place, she leans towards his ear while stroking his neck and mane, her whisper directed to him alone, "Today, Blaze...today we will race the wind", she whispers, "and you know it, too, don't ya boy! I can feel it...we are one, you and me, like one of those friendship hearts...two pieces meant to be together and when we are, nothing can separate us."

And so he steps out with confidence, his passionate heart , that had once longed for freedom from his limited boundaries, now nearly bursting with pride as his stride increases in response to her urging seat. Their hearts beating in syncopation with the rhythm of his thundering hoofs as they seek to reach the moment.

Suddenly, as if all time stopped, it happens! They hear the wind whistle, "I am here...race with me". Jenny's arms fling open wide, her hair flying like the mane and tail of her adored Blaze while tears of ecstasy stream down her cheeks.

Jenny's heart soars as her thoughts grasp the significance of the moment , "This is the ultimate union of heaven and earth...child and beast...seen and unseen. Nothing can contain the soul and this day, Blaze, we have reached and felt the freedom denied us on earth. We have raced the wind!"