Wise Horses
Look to your left and you may see some horses in the field. This story is about them.
The sound of footsteps filled the house, Jessie was pacing again. She was full of energy and, as always, her head was full of questions. The thing about questions though, she found, was that she didn’t always have the answers.
She sighed, the person she really wanted to ask was Grandpa, but he had died last year. She really missed him. When she was younger, they would make magical wonderlands together, pillow planets where you could jump everywhere, log cabins draped with snow duvets, theme parks with futuristic rides and even fall into other worlds through fairytale books.
“Maybe I’ll go and visit Grandma” she said, who only lived a few houses down. She pulled on her trainers and headed round. Jessie had timed it well, her Grandma was just taking some freshly baked biscuits out of the oven.“Oh Jessie” she said, “It is good to see you.” Jessie explained that her head was full of questions. “Well, said Grandma, “let’s go for a walk and see if we can find some answers. I know exactly where to go”. They wrapped up some biscuits and Grandma popped an apple in her bag, “just in case”.
They headed up to Darland Banks taking in deep breaths of fresh air as they went. They spotted sloe berries, looked for shapes in the clouds and said good morning to Feathers as he flew by. They stopped at a crossroad in the path. “How are you feeling now” asked Grandma. “A bit better” said Jessie, “but I still have so many questions!”
“Hmmm. I’m going to share a secret with you Jessie, a secret that helped me as a child and that I have kept until now. Can you see those horses over there?”
“Oh, yes” replied Jessie. She was surprised she hadn’t noticed them until now, there were four of them, one was grey, three were brown and they were all looking at her.
“They are Konik ponies”, said Grandma, “and they help to tend the ground, but these horses do much more than that Jessie, for they are full of answers. They are Luton’s Wise Horses and you can ask them any question.”
“What’, cried Jessie, “you mean they can talk? I can ask them any question and they will know the answer?
“Well yes”, Grandma chuckled, “but only those who really need the answers can talk to them, they don’t talk to everyone”.
“Oh, wow, so I can ask them anything? Erm like, why do I have to go to school? Will I own a 1000 dogs? Will I eat a banana today?”
“Woah, woah, woah” said Grandma trying to slow her down, “there are some rules. Firstly, they will only answer three questions and secondly these questions have to matter to you, you know, the ones that have been spinning around your head all day. So, have a biscuit and have a think, and when you are ready we will go and meet the Wise Horses.” Jessie sat on the grass, she thought and she pondered, and then she thought some more. The same three questions kept coming back to her. “Ok grandma, I think I’m ready”
The horses cantered over and bowed their heads. The grey horse stepped forward. “Good afternoon Jessie, we have been waiting for you. Tell us, what would you like to know?” Jessie was speechless, she had never heard a horse talk before and her mouth dropped wide open in surprise. “Come on Jesse” encouraged Grandma, nudging her out of her shock, “ask them your questions”.
“H H Hello Wise Horses”, Jessie began, “and thank you for talking to me today. My first question is - can you show me my future?
“A very common question” replied the horse shaking its mane, “I can neither show you your future or your past, as we live in the moment in tune with everything around us.”
“Hmm” pondered Jessie, “That’s wise, maybe I don’t need to know my future yet, I can just enjoy the now. Thank you. My second question is – will I get my dream job?”
“Dreams change throughout your life” replied the horse, “so keep exploring and never be afraid of trying new things.”
“Oh, yes, of course, thank you Wise Horses. So, my final question is, well it’s” she paused, taking a deep breath in “my final question is – Do people from the past ever come back? I mean, do people who have died ever return? Will Grandpa…
The horse took a step forward. “People from your past, whoever they are, are always with you Jessie. It is not a case of them coming back. You carry them in your head and your heart, in memories that never fade”. The horse nuzzled Jessie's head gently, then with a neigh, stole the apple from Grandma’s bag and galloped off. Question time was over.
Wrapping Jessie in her arms, Grandma hugged her tight. “I love you Jessie” she said, “sometimes answers can be found by simply saying the questions out loud”.
“I love you too Grandma. Thank you for bringing me here, and Wise Horses, thank you too.” Holding hands they turned and walked down the hill, watched silently by the four wise horses in the field.
If you could ask the Wise Horses three questions, what would they be?
Hello Feathers, we are following, lead the way!
