"That name," says Newport. "Something we have to eventually change. Ladies, you'll be up close to a real race horse."
"Believe it or not we didn't have enough money to buy the Washington Redskins, so instead we got involved in the Sport of Kings. We bought us a $10,000 claimer. I'm excited."
"Horse stables?" says Ginger.
"We're walking all the way, over there." asks Pepper. She looks down at the short man next to her.
He puts out his hand. "I'm Rank. That's what they called me when I was a trainer, and it had nothing to do with my odor."
He laughs.
"Rank. It means very difficult to deal with. I'd take some pretty fractious horses, horses that just didn't obey, and I made them winners. So the name just stuck."
The five walk past the track, beyond the far stretch, to where they stable the horses.
"So we're having breakfast," says Ginger. "We're relaxing, and you call us. We're going to Santa Anita. Want to go? What are we going to say? Of Course. Fly over, box seats, maybe lobster lunch, make a bet or two, watch your horse run, then fly back."
"We thought you ladies would like to go." says Hampton. "Maybe we won't call next time. We really like you two, but you and Pepper aren't the only two escorts in Vegas, you know."
She clutches Hampton's arm. "Hampton, don't be like that, come on. I'm just saying, didn't expect this, spending time in the stables. This is kind of a walk."
Sweat forms on Pepper's forehead. Ginger wraps her sweater around her waist. Over dirt and gravel, and ten minutes, they reach the stable area.
"This is it," says Rank. "There's probably 2,000 horses in here. We'll find Unresponsive right over here. Come on."
Pepper looks down at her high heels, and lifts her leg. "Is this mud, or OhMyGod..no...nooooo..."
She looks at Ginger, and then at the other three.
"Part of owning a horse," says Hampton. "You're going to get some horse poop. Comes with the territory, my dear."
Rank smiles toward Pepper. "Ma'am. We have boots you can change into. Wait right here, I'll get two pair." He jogs off.
Pepper looks at Ginger. "Something. Anything. This isn't funny. These are $250 shoes. Ruined. This isn't happening."
Horses from all through the stable turn and look at the two ladies. Pepper hops on one foot, while she dangles her gunky shoe from her finger.
"Wasps," says Ginger, and jumps back. She waves her hand violently in the air. "Wasps, don't sting me, don't sting me. Please."
Rank jogs around the corner, holding four well used boots. "They're okay," he says. "They're supposed to be here. They feed on fly larva. It's a natural way to get rid of flies."
"You're kidding?" says Ginger. Her body stiffens. "Wasps instead of flies, brilliant."
"Don't worry. They don't sting. It's better than spraying tons of pesticide, or fly traps or putting up Sticky Strips. With them the flies just keep coming back." He smiles. "He's right up here, everybody." He points.
They get to the stall. A horse watches them arrive. His name plate: Unresponsive.
"Hi, Unresponsive." says Rank. "Are you ready to meet your new owners?"
"Who named you, my friend," says Newport. "Somebody with a sense of humor. You look fast to me."
"But, yeah," says Hampton. "We need a new name. You're a thoroughbred, so I'm thinking..."
He touches the nose of Unresponsive. "Something like, Swifty, or Immediate, or maybe FastAndLoose?" He rubs the horse's nose.
Pepper jerks back. "Boy, it really smells in there. So gross. How about Stench, or GodAwfulSmell. You got any kind to spray for this?" She makes a gagging sound and holds her nose.
"Stinky," says Ginger. "Hey, Stinky."
Unresponsive blinks and stares at Ginger.
"You two have to get into the spirit of this." says Hampton. "This is all part of being a horse owner. All you've seen are pictures of horses in the winner's circle. Can't have it both ways ladies."
"How about Momentum?" says Newport. "That's a good name."
A horse in a close stall whinnies.
The girls jump back, then duck down. "No way," says Ginger. "I got to get out of here. It smells so bad, and all these tiny knatty thing buzzing around, and these boots? Hampton, sweetheart, I can't be seen in these."
"And they hurt my feet," says Pepper. "Can we just go back to the Box Seats, or somewhere. No offense horse, but I can't be in here much more."
Unresponsive whinnies and nudges Pepper hard in the back. She pitches forward, and falls onto the muddy/strawy/poopy ground. "Son of a bi..."
She stares up at Unresponsive. Their eyes meet. Unresponsive whinnies again and paws his straw.
"I hate you, horse," says Pepper. Her breath is heavy.
"Time to go," says Newport. "Unresponsive, you're running in the Eighth race today. Rest up, my friend. Remember, we can easily put you in another claiming race," He helps up Pepper. "He must just be off his feed."
"I like this horse," says Hampton. He laughs, and pats Unresponsive on the nose. "You keep your name. Supposed to be bad luck to change it anyway." He looks at the two ladies and laughs again. "But it's time..."
Ginger and Pepper hold onto each other, and trudge toward the open end of the stables. Pepper hobbles in those large boots, while Ginger waves at the tiny wasps in her face. Both lurch forward toward the fresh air. Newport helps, his arms around both of their waists.
Hampton turns to Rank. "I like this horse. How good is he really."
"Bet him to show, you'll have more fun with him. He's not a bad horse at all. And don't change the name. With a name like Unresponsive he'll have some very good odds. Who wants to bet on a horse named Unresponsive."
Hampton shakes Rank's hand, then turns and waves to the horse.
Unresponsive bows his head, whinnies, and paws the straw.
Other horses watch the fraidy-cat humans leave their stables. They whinnie loudly, look at each other, and shake their heads.
--------------------
Help comes from:
http://arcadia.patch.com/articles/
StiffLeftJab.com/Let's Buy the Redskins/Jan2012
Google/Images, Wikipedia/Santa Anita
http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/fly-control-program
http://www.readabilityformulas.com
No comments:
Post a Comment