CHAPTER 3: HORSE TALK

Christopher stood in the backyard, looking at the neighbor’s fields. He finished

settling in his room and just waited for his mom to arrive from town.

“Dad, give me the strength to start this new life, please. Don’t let anyone bully me

or make my life harder,” he pleaded as he looked at the beautiful landscape in front of

him. The sun was setting, giving the cornfields that golden looking color that he has only

witnessed on TV. He heard his mom’s car pulling into the driveway and walked to the

front porch to greet her.

“Help me with some bags, Chris. I ended up making a big purchase on

groceries,” she laughed. Christopher shook his head, knowing how his mother loved

buying extra things. He helped carry the groceries to the kitchen, and Grace handed

him the burger to reheat and eat while she put everything away.

“I met this nice girl at the diner when I went to get you the burger. Her name is

Palmer, and she told me she’s pretty excited to meet you.”

Christopher quickly stopped eating, looking at his mom with a frown. They

haven’t been in town for over twenty-four hours, and people already knew about them?

“I’m sure she’ll be disappointed when she sees me. No one wants to meet

someone like me,” Christopher said as a matter of fact.

Grace slammed the meat down and leaned against the marbled countertop.

There was a moment of silence between them before Christopher finally took another

bite of his food.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop with that attitude? Many kind

people would like you not because of how you look, but because of who you are. You’re

smart and handsome, and don’t forget how kind and selfless you are.”

Grace wanted to cry, but Christopher stood from his chair and hugged her from

behind. She hated to see how insecure her son was.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I just can’t get over it. It scares me that the same thing might

happen here. I know I’m used to it, but it still stings a little, and I want someone to

accept me for who I am.”

“Well, maybe that girl will, and she can be your friend. I also saw two others with

her, and they looked nice and fun to hang out with,” she turned around and hugged him

tight, “Now, go eat before your burger gets cold again.”

He kissed her on the cheek, and her heart swelled at how much love he always

showed others. She was trying to be a tough mom for him, but inside, it scared her. He

was almost an adult, and she shouldn’t be concerned, but he was still her son.

Grace worried about things like, would he be okay, or can he handle the first day

at a new school? She attempted not to think if they would accept him. She only hoped

they did. It was never easy for her to see him come home every day, crying because

another boy took his backpack and tossed it inside the toilet or because they called him

horrible names.

Since her husband passed away, it had changed for the worse. She tried so hard

to be there for him. Christopher’s stepfather never cared for him much. He would say he

could never be the father of a freak like him, and that was, in part, the cause of their

divorce. She would not let her ex-husband mistreat her son.

“So, are you ready to start your last year of high school?” Grace asked, putting

the milk in the refrigerator. She always had to buy two kinds of milk since he was

lactose intolerant.

“Yes, I’m ready. I just hope it’s a good one,” Christopher said, taking the last bite

before tossing the trash into the bin and washing his plate. “I’m just going to take a

shower. Maybe do some stargazing later. I want to see if the stars look as nice as they

do in the pictures.”

Grace shook her head and dismissed him. He hurried to his room and took a

shower, changing into his sleepwear. Putting his favorite outfit, a white t-shirt with E.T.

in the front, and black sweatpants with the solar system, he was ready to relax.

Night had fallen, and he was ready to try his telescope. He adjusted the lens to

the desired distance, shocked at what he saw. The stars were indeed shining brighter

here than they did in the city.

Christopher lost track of time, and before long, he had to go to bed. One day

closer to meeting new people at the new school.

~~~~~~

“Hello, my princess. How was school today?” James asked as Palmer came in

through the door.

“It was good. The usual stuff, rehearsal for the pep rally, and classes are as

boring as ever. The only thing new is the gossip about the Melbournes. I met the mom.

Her name is Grace. She seems very nice.”

“I’m glad you liked her. Maybe you can be friends with her son. I’ve heard he has

had a rough life because he suffers from a condition called Albinism,” Daisy mentioned,

“He might need a friend here.”

Albinism, Palmer thought. She was curious, so she decided she would learn

more about it and get to know Christopher better.

“Do you want to eat dinner?” Daisy asked while serving her husband his drink as

he sat down to enjoy their evening meal.

“No, Mom, it’s okay. I ate with Faith and Gunner at the diner. I’m stuffed. Let me

just take a shower and do my homework before going to bed,” she said as she kissed

both of her parents on their cheeks, heading to her bedroom.

After a quick shower, she put on a red tank top and some shorts to sleep. She

did her homework and sat on her computer to research more about Christopher’s

Albinism. It took her about an hour or two to learn a lot about it, which made her even

more excited to meet him. Not only because of his condition but because she knew they

would be great friends. There would be no need to ask him about it. No need to make

him uncomfortable.

A message popped up on her computer. It was Hunter.

“Hello, beautiful. You left school without saying goodbye.”

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. Wasn’t she clear she wanted nothing to do with

him? Deciding whether to reply to the message, she laid down on her bed, looking at

the screen. Moments later, another message popped up.

“I’m sorry if I make you uncomfortable. I really like you, Palmer, and I want you to

go out with me one day. At least a friendly date.”

Uncomfortable? She was anything but uncomfortable. Getting out of her bed, she

replied.

“Hunter, I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I told you I don’t date guys like

you. Just being honest.”

She hoped he understood, but he was persistent.

“Just one date, please?”

Groaning, she accepted his invitation.

“Very well, but just one, and after that, you won’t bother me anymore, deal?”

A big happy emoji appeared on the screen, making her laugh and shake her

head. He was crazy.

“Deal!”

Palmer turned her computer off and laid in bed, but she wasn’t able to sleep. She

put a sweater on and her slippers on before she headed to the stables. Whenever she

couldn’t sleep, she would visit their horses and try to spend some time with them.

“Hello, my beauties. I hope you’re having a better night than I am,” she said,

caressing one horse’s forelocks. The sleeping horses woke up and took their heads out

of the stall to get her attention.

After spending some time with them, she walked inside Trigger’s stall. He was

her favorite horse, rescued from a negligent family. One amazing animal, who arrived

as skinny as a stick, his bones noticeable. The day they had brought him, she helped

her dad clean the stall, and it broke her heart to see him.

Now Trigger was healthy, with a beautiful black mane, and his entire body was

white. His legs were black, making him a rare specimen on the ranch. He was swift,

which made Palmer love to ride him through the fields.

“Well, my Trigger. You are the perfect one to help me sleep, just like always, my

dear friend,” she said as she pulled a blanket from the wall and sat on the block of hay

that was sitting on the corner.

“You know, it’s the weekend, and I’m excited to spend some time with you.

Maybe we can go for a ride and visit our new friend. What do you think? I don’t think I

can wait until Monday to meet him,” she said, getting a happy neigh in return, “I knew

you would agree.”