"So You Think You Can Write??" - A ZYNDALEE PRODUCTION -

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

CONGRADULATIONS ROCKEE FOR WINNING WITH YOUR SECOND SUBMISSION!!!

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Post 1: "So You Think You Can Write" - If you haven't noticed :roll:, "So You Think You Can Write??" is the title of this competition. - This is a WRITING contest. Made because I, Zyndalee, love writing and LOVE reading what other people have written. Writing is an art form! Contestants competing in this competition will be given three topics to choose from and write about: Music, K9, and Horse. Genres were chosen by what people seemed to be most interested in. When it comes to these topics you have a huge amount of things to write about. Whether it be K9 sports, Love songs and how they relate to you, or Pole Bending and how it's done.. as long as it pertains to the words: Music, K9, or Horse.. it counts. Do you consider yourself an author?? Do you enjoy writing?? Then fill out the form (below) and share your work for a chance to win prizes!! Name: (what would you want your name to be if you were an author?? xD Filling this out is optional.) Chosen Topic: (which topic are you writing about?) THE COMPETITION STARTS NOW!!

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Post 2: Topics/Examples Topics: MUSIC K9(DOGS) Horses You can write about anything that has to do with dogs, music, or horses!! ...and I mean ANYTHING... Your writing can be in ANY form..(short story, poem, essay, story..etc..) Examples of what you DO NOT want your entry to look like are in RED. 1.) Dogs are fun and cool. They like tor una round a lot and sometimes they like to lick certain people but other times they like to bite people and i dont think that is good so they shoudl put those types of dogs to sleep. I had this dog one time that would chase all of my cats outside and then drown them ina pool of his drool.. it was funny. Occasiopnally dogs will bark, and I hate that, when they bark I want to yell shut up but I cant cuz then my mom would wake up and yell at me to shut up. 2.) Music is like, my life. Music is like, my wife. Music is like, so fun. Music is like, good for everyone. The acceptable entry below is in BLUE. 1.) Dogs. The amazing, perfect creatures that we so willingly call "man's best friend". Dogs can complete a person, they can complete a family. Without these wonderfully composed specimens what would the human race be forced to resort to when looking for comfort? Cats. None of us want that. Dogs are better then cats in innumerable ways... etc.. The above passage is an OKAY start to an entry. Think you can do better then that?? Then sign up!!!

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Post 3: RULES/guidelines 1. DO NOT rush me to pick a winner, dead lines will be announced and winners chosen when I see fit. You will have plenty of time to complete entries. 2. Be a good sport. You can't win everything right? 3. No entries less then a paragraph long! This includes poems. A paragraph is only 5-7 sentences, how hard is that?? (There is no max to how much you write.) 4. DO NOT steal another person's work (plagirism)!! You will automatically be taken out of this contest. 5. Just stay on the topic that you chose, and we should have no problem. 6. YOU MAY ENTER MORE THEN ONCE (up to two entries per person!!).. OR YOU MAY FIX PREVIOUS ENTRIES AND RE-SUBMIT THEM!! (think you can fix your already submitted entry to get a better score? Then re-do/re-submit it!!)

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Post 4: Prizes THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE WINNER Ok, I lied, maybe runner ups will be chosen... xD Anway.. 1st place gets: An unnamed/untouched 10x4 BOXER. A training of any kind, and 300k VPC.

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Post 5: Our Authors!! Rockie will be writing about Music - Zyndalee's Critique on your work: - I loved it! xD Very well written. Proper grammar was used, and that's a big thing for me. I really like how you used bigger words instead of the meager ones found in most writing. It's very visual.. not only could I picture what you were saying, but I could feel it, there was definitely emotion in this passage. A mental image of my first concert immediately popped into my head while I was reading, and from the very first sentence I could relate to what you were saying. I love how your entry could relate to pretty much everyone actually. I only wish it was longer, I know that if you turned your take on music into something like an essay, or short story, it would be amazing. Good job. : ) Kazuko will be writing about Music - Zyndalee's Critique on your work: - Oh, it was gorgeous! It did take me a little while to fully understand who was telling the story and what was going on, but that's probably only because I just woke up and literally jumped on here to see the entries and I wasn't really thinking straight. xD I would say though, that this isn't a story for people with low comprehensions. It's intelligently written, and beautifully told. I could understand where she was coming from, when she felt something, I felt it. I even got pissed off on the part where he used her money for an anime convention! xD I thought it was fantastic how you mixed poetry in, (or were those just lyrics from a song??) xD, the poetry alone would have been beautiful, but mixed in with a story based on such a sensitive topic and you have a beautifully composed piece. I love the length of this, and I like how it was long but kept me entertained and fully focused the whole time, a story that can do that is a big deal considering the fact that I have a very short attention span! Excellent. coco will be writing about horses and k9s - Zyndalee's Critique on your work: - The quick change from happiness to death was intense, and very sad. The story was dramatic, and told from a point of view that I could definitely relate to. I believe we've talked about this before, about the death's of our horses? I re-lived the depressing experience with my baby boy Leroii when I read your entry, and although that's an experience I wouldn't like to re-live very often, the fact that you were able to draw such emotions from me is incredible. I think that for someone that doesn't know much about horses though, they wouldn't really understand. Your piece didn't just describe the death of an animal, it told of the loss of a loved one, and that's something I'm sure we all have had to experience at one time or another. The narration is beautiful, your point of view was dramatic (in the good sense), and compelling, it made me want to read on. Bravo. xD 2nd entry critique: Frost will be writing about horses - Zyndalee's Critique on your work: - Aww! That was adorable! I love how the little horse won at the end. It reminded me of the first time I ever went to a horse race, I was 11 years old, and as soon as those horses took off I saw one bolt through the gate and I fell in love with him! xD He wasn't much, and my father kept insisting that the odds were stacked against him, that there was no way that that little horse would win, so I bet my dad 50 bucks. xD In the end my horse went winding through the other horses, right before the finish line came into view he bolted to the front, and he won by a long shot. People were screaming that they couldn't believe it. (there's my little flashback story for ya). I love your description of the scene, your story telling is good, and a picture of the horses running was clear in my mind during the race scene, you told it well. Although I can't remember my heart fluttering when I was at that race, I like that you share your opinion openly. xD I've never really been one for horse stories, I can get a little distracted, but my attention was completely directed to your entry. I give you praise for being able to write an interesting piece on a horse race, and being able to keep a non-horse racer (me) attentive the whole time. : ) Mysty will be writing about horses - Zyndalee's Critique on your work: Luvy will be writing about music: Zyndalee's critique on your work: - I didn't know you were a singer Luv, although a lot of things seem to go unnoticed by me nowadays... I myself, have the talent, so the feelings are mutual, and I know exactly what you're talking about. Your description of the scene is fantastic, and SPOT ON. I love the emotion you use when describing your passion for singing, you make it seem like it's a a rare talent... and it IS. Real singers, the people with real talent, are hard to find these days. I like how your description portrays the ability to sing as a gift, talent, AND hobby. - "When your adrenalin is pumping, and you’re singing your heart out, you forget about everything else." - I love this line. This is like, the epitome of how a singer feels when preforming. Never apologize about the length of your work unless it breaks the rules some how. ; ) I enjoyed every sentence. If only it was shorter because this thing was wayyy to long. (A JOKE) xD Very nice work. I couldn't have describe the passion of singing better if I did it myself. (By the way, kudos on how honest your entry was. It was so... REAL) ((I will only give my opinion on your work if you'd like it xD))

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

Name:Rockie. Yes, I want to be like Cher and have a one name...name =D Chosen Topic:Music

Kazuko · April 2011

Name: Kazuko Topic: Music Are you picking the song/genre?

Coconayr · April 2011

Name: Coco Theme: Horse Is is ok to write like a story, and is there a max?

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

There is no max CoCo, you can write in any form that you want, stories are acceptable. Kazuko, you pick your genre and song.. it's really whatever inspires you most.

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

Mines done Soothing The Soul One Beat At A Time Soft guitar chords start, then the drums kick in. The crowd screams with excitement as the singer puts his mouth to the microphone. Then it happens. The world seems to stop as it all comes together. I close my eyes as the music enters my mind and soul. The band makes it feel like I'm the only one there, even though there are hundreds of people around me. Music isn't just one thing, it's a million little things. The instruments, the singer's voice, the undying passion, and so much more. It has a way of healing you when you think all is lost. It's the one thing that everybody can relate to. Who couldn't like music? There's something for everybody, from raggae, to country, to death metal. When you listen to a song, you can feel what the singer is feeling. You can hear the raw emotion in their voice. I believe William Congreve put it best when he said, "Music has charms to sooth a savage beast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Well that was fast! Would you like me to put my opinion up on the participants list..or would you like to skip that part?? xD

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

lol Oh, I'd love to hear your opinion.

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

YES!!! I was hoping you'd say yes because I actually have quite a few things to say.

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

That's either really good or really bad....*braces myself* lol

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 wrote:

That's either really good or really bad....*braces myself* lol

Are you properly braced?? If you are *gulp* ... go read it.

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

=D Thank you. That completely just made my night! Or well, day since it's 1:40 am,lol

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Yay! I love giving negative feedback when it comes to writers who are serious about their work.. constructive criticism in my opinion, is extremely helpful. I was going to give you some but couldn't really find any. xD heh heh. :twisted:

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

lol I completely agree, it's very helpful, it can only make you better if you listen to it and act on it.

Frostbight8 · April 2011

Name: Frost Topic: Horses Dun dun da dahh

Kazuko · April 2011

I know this writing assignment is about music, but how about I bypass that and jump straight to the lyrics? You might be expecting some psychobabble about how 'Well, when he says 'up in flames' what he REALLY means is...' but that's now what I'm doing here. That's too literal for me. I take things personally, these songs, this song specifically, mean something to me. Lots of songs mean lots of things to people, you have love songs, and hate songs, songs about being lost, and songs about being found. Songs about break ups, songs about make ups... This song fits pretty nicely, in its own secure little niche, somewhere in between all of those, a niche I've carved within my heart where I shove all kinds of emotions, hoping to never let them show. You see, I have this little thing about me, I am the most self-conscious, least confident woman in America. This isn't what I usually show others, in fact, I avoid letting them see this part of me because I'm afraid to show weakness like that. I hide behind a false sense of confidence. I'm going to let some emotion show, however, in this post. You've been warned. If you want to remember Kazuko as a strong, confident, proud person, stop reading. This place rings with echoes of lives once lived, but now are lost, time spent wondering about tomorrow. I don't care if we lose it all tonight, up in flames, burning bright, warming the air of the world. Everybody loses someone. I can say this with as much conviction as you can say two plus two is four. It's the sad truth, and I'm no exception. This isn't about losing family, it's not about losing a pet, it's not even about losing someone altogether, though I certainly still feel misplaced. There are certain places back home that I can't go to without remembering him. Certain things that people say that make me think, "Hey, he said that!" I'm filled with a sort of warm nervousness, a shaky feeling of love that only dwells in those who have been shattered and then slowly pieced back together with all the aptitude a sleepy toddler can offer. I've tried to forget, I've tried to move on. I'd like to do those things, but some people just stay with you forever, no matter how often you might deny it. I deny it a lot, to be honest. I laugh and call him names, I try to speak of him as little as possible, but he's always there in the back of my mind, and I don't think he'll ever go away. Before you ask or get the wrong idea, no, I'm not talking about an ex-boyfriend. I don't even have an ex-boyfriend to talk about. He was my friend, the closest thing to an older brother that I could ever hope for. Being with him, I was happy. I admit, I loved him. I still do, or at least I still love who he used to be. "I don't love you anymore." is all I remember you telling me, never have I felt so cold. But I've no more blood to bleed, 'cause my heart has been drained into the sea. We met at the local anime club, he was an older fellow, early twenties at the time, but most people in that club were around that age. I'd always been the youngster of the group, so I was used to talking to random adults. He was no different, though we didn't actually start out talking, believe it or not. You see, back in the day, I used to wear a red cat collar. Before you get any weird ideas, no I did not believe I was a cat. My friend had worn them around school and had been picked on something terrible, so I began to wear them so people would focus the brunt of their attacks on me. But that's a different story altogether. Anyway, a friend had snagged the collar off my neck, being one of the quick release ones. She began to toss it to various club members, an amusing game of keep away. Then someone tossed it to him. He grinned at me, snapped it on his neck, and covered it with the turtle neck-like shirt he'd been wearing. "What collar?" he asked me. I glowered. "I don't know what you're talking about!" I flailed and whined. He just laughed. So I stole his coffee. I went home with his coffee. He went home with my collar. It was a pretty fair trade, to be honest- it was a damn good mocha latte. That was the beginning of a very humorous relationship, full of good times. Steps I take in your footsteps aren't getting me closer to what is left of the dreams of what I once claimed to know. Within my bones this resonates, boiling blood with circulate, could you tell me again what you did this for? But like all good things, this relationship came to an end. Not abruptly, it just slowly decayed. Maybe that's why it still feels like a fresh wound? The strings that tied us together began rotting about the time he asked me for a fairly large sum of cash. He needed to fly to a different state, his uncle had died and he needed to attend the funeral. With a week's notice, I managed to procure the money, a difficult task for a fifteen year old whose parents didn't even provide lunch money. The night he was due to leave he basically spilled his guts to me. Told me he loved me, told me he wished he were ten years younger. It's sick and awkward thinking back, but hindsight's always 20/20. So off he flew. "Be back in a week," he told me. Three weeks later I saw the pictures on a popular cosplay site- he hadn't gone to a funeral at all. He just wanted to make it to that anime convention. He didn't get back for another three months. After that, nothing was the same. "I don't love you anymore." is all I remember you telling me, never have I felt so cold. But I've no more blood to bleed, 'cause my heart has been drained into the sea. We still spoke. Our conversations were always short and full of akward pauses. Every now and then we'd have a fun conversation, usually taking place at four in the morning on a school night, but it was worth it at the time. I don't even remember what those conversations were about. Must not have been as important as I thought. Later, he revoked everything he'd ever said to me. He told me that I just wasn't good enough of a person to be around. That he couldn't trust me. That I was a horrible person. That'd I betrayed him, that I'd stabbed him in the back. That I didn't care. Something broke then- me. I did. I still had my husband (boyfriend at the time), but those two never played well. There was always an alpha male rivalry between them. I couldn't talk about it to Vincent. If I did, he got jealous, would accuse me of cheating on him, of wanting to break up with him, of loving that guy more than I loved him. Well, you know who I married, so we all see how false those statements were. But I was shattered, heart broken. There was a giant chunk of me missing. Still I wait, with a hope inside of me. So still I wait, until we meet again. Until we meet again. To be honest, I still feel that way. Have you ever watched a movie where there's such a tight kinship between two characters you can just feel their loyalty to each other? I long for that feeling, the feeling of absolute trust, of unconditional love, in a person besides my significant other. I used to hope, close my eyes and pray, that one day everything would go back to normal. That I'd have him back as a good friend, as my brother. That we could go back to our old ways, laughing and joking, with him worrying over my every action like a mother hen. It wasn't until I moved that I realized things would not go back to my definition of normal, but somewhere deep inside, I still have this glimmer of hope, this sliver of faith. Within my bones this resonates, boiling blood will circulate, could you tell me again what you did this for? Like all memories, like all experiences, this one is deeply ingrained in my being. He helped shape me to be who I am today. I can never change that, I can never forget him. I don't know why things went down that path. If I did, would I care less? I guess he's just another friend lost down the path of life. Everybody loses someone. I am no exception. <img src="http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/122/e/5/Blood_To_Bleed_v2_by_Kesshi.png"; alt="http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/122/e/5/Blood_To_Bleed_v2_by_Kesshi.png"; class="bb-image" />

Kazuko · April 2011

Sorry for the double post, didn't want to ruin that post with other comments. Hope something non-fiction and personal is okay. If you keep doing these, most my entries will probably be such. It's nice to be able to let things out. Comments are wanted, obviously. xD

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Kaz.. my thoughts on your work are up! xD Everyone esle: I CHANGED THE RULES UP. (only a bit). : )

Mileysmybaby · April 2011

Mysty Horses!!!!

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

woo hoo mystee boo!! xD

Frostbight8 · April 2011

Alrighty.. Here we go. I fought my way through the stubborn people who were crowding the gates, they were attempting to at least brush one of the high-strung thoroughbreds prancing by. However, I wanted a look at the contenders. Casually I leaned on the fence near a stressed out police officer who was attempting to keep relentless fans behind the barriers. The brightly colored silks of jockeys were eye catching as the already neon colors caught the sun, causing a glare that forced me to squint. The crowd grew even louder as the favorite, D'trina, calmly strode by. Unlike the other horses, D'trina was cool and collected around large crowds. They didn't seem to even phased the undeafeated champion. If D'trina won the Derby today, it would be her 5th consecutive victory and a promise that the filly was to run in the Preakness. As the last horse walked by, the crowd began to disperse, some people went to go find their spot in the grandstand, while others scrambled down to the bar to grab an ice cold drink before the race. Suddenly the trumpet like horn began it's little tune and the crowd hushed. Below, the graceful horses were prancing into the starting gate. A little boy standing near me was shifting from foot to foot and his hands were trembling, either he was excited or had to pee and his parents wouldn't take him to the bathroom. It was then that I found my own hands trembling with excitement, the tremble slowly moved up my arms into my whole body. Before I knew it, my whole body was shaking. A few people stared as I attempted to hide my excitement, though I didn't care what they thought. In my opinion, if your heart didn't at least flutter a little before a race, you weren't a real race fan. We all rose and listened to the voices of a chorus singing the national anthem. When they finished, the last horse was loaded into the 20th gate position. The poor horse on the 20th gate hadn't much of a chance at winning, it had only happened once before with Big Brown in 2008. The crowd became silent as tension mounted, a screaming baby broke the silence just before the bell sounded and horses took off, scrambling for a decent spot on the rail. Lifting my binoculars, I analyzed the horse's positions. D'trina was running in fifth with a spot on the rail, a nice spot to be as long as her jockey could find an opening in time. The announcer was calmly calling positions, and as he mentioned the horses trailing behind, my eyes set on the horse who broke from the 20th stall, apparently his name was Glory Days, a name I didn't even recognize. So not only was Glory Days in a bad position, he was a longshot. He was at the back of the pack and appeared to be struggling to keep up with the pace already. Turning my attention back to the front runners, I found D'trina was beginning to move up and was slowly claiming third. Most of the horses that were originally running it front had fallen back and others had taken their place. As they pack rounded the far turn, the announcer was beginning to yell and the crowd had broken their silence, cheering D'trina on as she overtook the second place runner, then moved into first. I assumed the race was over, and D'trina had won, when I spotted a mucky brown horse thundering around the pack, which I knew took a long of stamina. With each stride he was growing closer to the front. Lifting my binoculars again, I found it was Glory Days. My stomach flip flopped and I, usually a calm fellow, began to jump up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs to the little colt. The announcer was shouting, the crowd was baffled, but I was thrilled. Glory Days caught D'trina, and was past her in just three strides. No matter how hard the desperate jockey whipped D'trina, the race belonged to Glory Days. The pair flashed under the wire, Glory Days clearly in front. I was not disappointed D'trina had been defeated, deep down I was happy. Even though I'd lost a few dollars on her, I knew I was yet to see an undefeated horse win the triple crown.

iluvdogs111 · April 2011

Name: Luvy Topic: Music

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 · April 2011

=O We can enter two!? I'll deffinately be entering another one! Probably on horses

LaLa_Laru · April 2011

Rock_N_Roll_Queen90 wrote:

=O We can enter two!? I'll deffinately be entering another one! Probably on horses

Yes..ENTER TWO!!

Coconayr · April 2011

I am a simple girl. I'll admit it. The one thing that's always set me apart from others is my love for animals. Sure, the other girls went through that phase where they wanted to be vets, but once push came to shove, their hopes changed. They moved on and wanted to be doctors, singers, whatever. I've always wanted to be a vet, no matter what. Last summer only feuled my want; my need. Ever since I could remember my mom would send me to my aunt's ranch for the summer. This summer was no different, but this time, I had my very own horse! And, what's more, my aunt was paying for me to take lessons. Before then, I'd lug around on the geriatric quarter horse, Doc. That was fun, don't get me wrong, but I wanted some excitement. My lessons came along nicely, I even cantered for the first time! But, I couldn't help but feel bad. Since the lessons tired me out, Tribute was only being ridden maybe once or twice a week. He was a beautiful, stocky black anglo-arab. He was very high maintenance and needed to be lunged and worked everyday. It wasn't very hard for him to get bored and act out. When I would ride him, he was spooky, and would bolt, rear, bite, kick. You name it, he did it. But, I was patient with him. He was abused, I felt I owed it to him to make his home here great, so I worked with him everyday after, the lessons becoming less and less often. Doreen, the lesson instructer, was one of my aunt's best friends. She knew ways to get accepted into events that we couldn't even fathom. She entered Tribute in a team sorting show, but with my aunt as the rider. I felt betrayed, even unloved. Did she not trust me to ride my own horse? I'd been riding him and lunging him for months now, but apparently, to her, not to the extent that it mattered. To make matters worse, my aunt would ride up every so often, complaining about how he wasn’t fast enough. She’d practically let him rot in a stable for two years, how could she expect him to have the energy of a 5 year old?! In the end, she’d over worked him. I rushed to get his tack off and get him groomed. He was breathing heavily, his nostrils flared, and foam collected at the sides of his mouth. My aunt always said she knew the best for her horses, how did she let this happen?! I led him to get water, and loaded him up in the trailer. His hay had run out, but he’d be getting loads from me once we got home. Tribute was happy to be home. I threw him a couple flakes of hay, and climbed up on his back. He didn’t mind, I laid on his back all the time. Out of the eight horses my aunt owned, he was the only one who would let me. The very next day, though I wanted to give him some rest, I woke up early to lunge him out. His head was high, and he was frisky as ever. It was possibly the most alive I ever saw him. He pranced around me like a thoroughbred, and bucked like an Arabian. This is what I loved about him, he always recovered quickly. I hopped on his back like I did so many times, and this time, he actually took me for a ride. We cantered through the pasture, his ‘girlfriend’ Dusty following up like a hawk. When Tribute finally grew tired, I filled up his water, accidentally spraying him on the cheek. I don’t know why, I’d done this a few times, but this time I hurried back into the pasture to wipe it off and apologize to him, as if he could understand me. My panicked voice scared Tribute, and he pulled his head away from me. Eventually, I calmed down and petted him goodbye, before leaving to the house to sleep. Just a few hours later, I woke up to go give Tribute a carrot or two. He wasn’t in the southern pasture, or the one directly in front of the driveway, so I thought he was lounging in a stall. I rounded by the tree he loved, yet he wasn’t there either. That’s when I headed to the stalls, and lo and behold, a white foot was sticking out of the farthest one. I called out to my aunt and knelt beside my beloved friend. His head was warm, and he made no attempt to get up, but he nickered softly once he knew I was there. My aunt yanked my arm and pushed me away from Tribute- later saying it was for my safety. Safety? Even if Tribute was having a heart attack he wouldn’t hurt me- or so I thought. I stole my cousins bike and hurried to the feed store. The store’s interior was a blur to me, I just stood against the counter and yelled for electrolyte paste, unsuccessfully fighting off tears. I practically threw the money to the man and began on my way out when Doreen’s husband, Corey came in. My aunt had told him I ran off, and he was looking for me. He put the bike in the back of his truck and bought me some chocolate- to soothe my nerves. Corey brought me around town to look for a friend with proper medicine. He dropped me off at his house. Doreen would bring me back with mineral oil and syringes. Doreen hugged me and told me to get in her car. I did so, numb. She drove me back to my aunts house in a strained silence. I wanted to help Tribute so badly. Eventually, the adults let me take his lead and walk him around. They said he was having a colic, to which I ignorantly replied, “What’s that? Will he die?”. Just the words make me choke up. In three puny months, this horse had become my life. They told me that he could die, but he was already looking better. They never stopped to tell me what colic was. And so, we walked. Soon, he looked better. I was elated, my baby would make it! I petted him and talked to him. He certainly was coming along nicely. But, now his side was twitching. Why’s he twitching?! I almost growled when Doreen pushed me away and sent me inside. I was a blubbering mess of a girl. I screamed obscenities from inside, and tried to sneak peeks every other second. The adults waved me away and told me not to look. I was furious- I wanted to know what they were doing! I don’t care if they were putting him to sleep as long as I was there for him! No one here’d EVER really ridden him, loved him! Why should they know what’s going on and not me?! According to the adults, that was his first heart attack. I was allowed back out. I was in a daze, and grabbed his lead. My aunt tried to shove me off again, but in my fury I slapped her hand away and marched off with Tribute. My boy only got exhausted though, so I had to let him lay. I was told to take a shower, and I did so quietly. Once I got out, I groomed Tribute. His eyes were dull and half lidded, and his head touched the ground, but he loved to be groomed. The adults understood why I was doing this, and no one made a move to stop me. Only when it was late and my own eyes begin to droop did I leave his side. I took a restless nap in the front seat of Doreen’s car, a flimsy comforter over my shoulders. Doreen was next to me, reading a book. Outside, we saw my aunt and Corey prodding Tribute with needles and trying to force him to stand. They gave up for a while, but nearing one in the morning, Corey forced Tribute to his feet. What was he doing?! Tribute couldn’t stand! He didn’t have the strength! Stop! Tribute was on his feet, and me and Doreen were yelling from the car. “Let him lay! He can’t stand, let him lay!” Corey only wanted to help, but his rough nature helped little. Tribute’s legs began to shake, and I jumped out of the car as he toppled over himself. Tribute lowered his head, and I wish I could tell you he died then, but unfortunately he didn’t. After a few seconds of lying there helplessly, me still outside the car, Tribute began to flail. His head went side to side, and he was on his feet again. But now he was bucking and rearing weakly. Doreen rushed to my side and pushed me inside, but it was too late. I’d looked back, and Tribute was trying to bum rush me. I struggled against Doreen’s cold and tired hands. I didn’t care if he was rabid and trying to attack me, I couldn’t leave him. She roughly pulled me in, and I had no choice. My grandmother hugged me tightly once we were inside, and my other aunt came out to comfort me. He isn’t dead! I wanted to tell them, but I honestly didn’t know. My throat was tight, and I couldn’t breathe. I needed to be with him, why wouldn’t they let me be with him? I was weak by now, my shoulders slumped over and my hands shaking. Doreen came in with sad eyes. “He’s dead.” She told me, and I ran out the door, it couldn’t be true! Just this morning I was practically having a joy ride on his back, how could he be dead?! I stopped dead in my tracks though. He was right in the middle of the driveway. Well, it was in the middle of the driveway. His eyes were open, but they were lifeless. How could this be? I reached down to pet him one last time, like they did in the movies, but when my hand landed on his cold neck, I snatched it back and cradled it to my chest. I can barely remember the rest of the night. The only thing that stands clearly in my mind was Corey, clutching onto my skinny frame. He was a big man, a tough man, but that night he cried with me. We held each other tightly, not wanting to accept Tribute’s death. It took me a whole month to get back on a horse, and even then my throat tightened up. I felt like I was cheating Tribute. I should be on his back, not this mare’s! But, though it was hard, though it broke my heart, Tribute wouldn’t have wanted me to give up on riding. I carry this feeling, even now. My grandmother tells me I gave him a second chance. I fed him, watered him, and cared for him until he died. No, she’ll say, you care for him, even after death. She says that even though he had a rough start, I brought his confidence up, and made him feel good about himself. Now, whenever I mount a horse, I feel less depressed. If I stick with my lessons, perhaps one day I’ll have another Tribute. Tribute was a beautiful, stocky anglo-arab. He had his faults, and I have mine, but he was the best horse I could even dream of. He was a frisky thing, he was a sentimental horse. I remember when I first met him, he’d corner himself if I jumped on his gate, but in his last days, he’d be right there, wanting me to hop on more than anything. He’s irreplaceable, and though it saddens me to think of him, I couldn’t ask for another chance. His death has taught me so many things, and it’s made me strive to make the world a better place for horses like himself. Thank you, Tribute.

Coconayr · April 2011

I don't particuarly like it, but it's my first entry no matter what

The second will be about k9

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