The Long Way Home
GoldenView
Everyone called them"The Odd Couple"! Jason & John were best friends, but even as little kids Jason was bigger...a LOT bigger. As they were walking home from high school..taking the long way (as usual) Jason realized that he was towering over him. "You still look like a little kid!", said Jason, but as John looked up at him, he knew he was wrong. "Sorry!" he said. "If people would really LOOK at you, they'd see you're not a kid at all!" "But of course they never DO this because they're always staring at the top of my head!" laughed John.�
Jason and John did have one thing in common. They both liked horses. Jason had
a passion for drawing horses, & wanted to become an artist. John loved to ride them and envisioned himself riding high..like the wind..right into the Winner's
Circle!
Luckily, there was a new neighborhood near their school that had riding paths
encircling the community. It was here that they met Bill...."Trainer of Champions"! Well..that might be a slight exaggeration..but he'd been good enough to make a
living at it. Now, he worked at a "regular job" (as he put it) ...but he still had a dream! He owned a horse...a very spirited stallion with lots of speed and a will to win..�
When Bill met Jason & John, they were an answer to a prayer! "Boys...I have to work overtime for several months, to try and make ends meet. This doesn't leave time for me to care for my stallion. How would the two of you like a job? I can't pay much, but......" "PAY?" they interrupted. "We'd pay YOU !"
"Great!" said Bill. "John, you can ride all you want, & Jason, I'm sure the horse would be happy to "pose" for you as soon as he's been groomed, watered, fed, his stall cleaned out..." "Whoa there..Stall cleaned out?....I'll let John� do that part, said Jason!" "Really? Gee thanks!" laughed John.�
The months passed quickly. Jason's artistic talent became obvious to his teachers, who said "We want you to enter the County Art Contest at the Fair! There's a $10,000 prize for First Place!" (That's all Jason needed to hear!)
John had his own career in mind!� "You are one in a million!" said Bill. "Light as a feather...Full of natural ability...& the horse will do anything for you!"�
Everything was going so well, that it was a complete shock when Bill said one day,� "I have a very serious problem! I'm late with the house payment! I have no money in the bank and I'm so far in debt that I'm simply MUST sell the horse.
Jason had to sit down! John felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Bill went on....� "It's great to follow your dreams....it's great to take the path wherever it leads you..but for me, it's time to wake up! My dreams have let me astray!�
John told his parents the bad news,"Let's go over & talk to Bill!" said his Mom! "And let's ask Jason's folks to join us!" said his Dad. We CAN'T just give up!" "Whew! There's still hope!" thought John, as he dialed Jason's number.�
It was quite a night! "I can help you find a better paying job, said Jason's Dad. "We can give you a loan to pay the rent.", said John's parents. "And when I win the prize at the fair, I'll pay you back! said Jason. "Hey! When I win the Kentucky Derby, I'll pay off the mortgage in full! said John!"
And guess what? That's exactly what happened! (almost) Jason DID win that prize! And John DID (eventually) become a jockey.( He's still hoping to win the Derby.) As for Bill, he now owns several champion horses! (And he paid off the mortgage himself!)
It happened because people believed in each other...believed in their dreams...and then FOLLOWED them! (Even when it meant taking the long way home.)