Chapter 9



The leaves were crunching as two horses walked down the path, It was just 3 days after Karilla and Mike’s first date. For the first time, Mike felt like he had a true soulmate and Karilla finally had a boyfriend that she can connect with on a personal level, not only with their mutual love for horses, but for so many other different thinks. As Mike rode Fury and Karilla rode Raven down the path, Karilla decides to strike up a conversation with her new boyfriend.



“Mike?”
“Yeah?”
“When was the first time you ever rode a horse?”
“Oh God....It’s a pretty funny story actually. When I was eighteen years old and a young and athletic studly kind of guy, I was dating the homecoming queen from my high school, and like you, she was an equestrian. And one summer night, I, she and a friend of mine were walking home from this huge party and we were still slightly buzzed. On the way back home, we passed the stable where this girl kept her horses. And one thing led to another....



FLASHBACK

“Yo, look man...It’s a horse.”
“Well, DUH! That’s where I ride!”



Mike hopped the fence and approached the large, already-saddled Chestnut gelding, admiring it’s size and stature. It is then where Garry, Mike’s friend gets an idea, to the chagrin of Jessica, Mike’s girlfriend.

“Yo Mike, If you got on the horse and I took a picture and put it on MySpace, man just think of everybody thinking how badass you look on a horse!”
“Mike, don’t.”



“Don’t do what?”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
“Don’t not ride this horse?”
“Who do you think you are, The Lone Ranger?”
“OK! OK! I won’t not ride it! PSYCH!!”




Doing a quick double take, Mike swiftly mounts the horse and spurs, not knowing what he’s exactly getting himself into.

“HI-HO SILVER! AWAY!!!!”
“MICHAEL!!!!!”



Following Mike’s spur, the horse goes into a swift canter.

“Ok Clint Eastwood, you had your fun, now get off of the horse!” Jessica sarcastically says. In the distance, she hears a rather humorous scene concerning Mike and the horse.

“Ok boy, slow down. Slow down! SLOW DOWN!!!!!! OH F***!”
“This can’t be good.”



The horse whizzes by Jessica and Garry, totally out of control with Mike struggling to stay in the saddle.

“JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!! HOW THE HELL DO I SLOW THIS THING DOWN!?!?!? DON’T JUST STAND THERE JESSIE, HELP MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

“Damn it, I did NOT sign up for this when I started dating him...”


Jessica and Garry walk to the stable, lamenting on what an impulsive idiot Mike can be.

“God, Mike is such a dumbass. He’s never been on a horse before, what makes him think he can ride like some spaghetti-western movie star?”
“I don’t know, Jessica. That’s just the way Mike’s always been. He’s always taking risks, always upping the ante, he’s a born daredevil, I guess. He ain’t afraid to do anything!”



“So this is the stable that I ride at usually. And right there on the hitching post is my horse!”
“Wow, cool. I wonder if Mike figured out how to stop that horse by now...”




Almost on cue, Mike and the horse blaze by once again.

“JESSICAAAAAAAA!!!!!! I THINK I’M GONNA BE SICKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!”
“Come on Mike, you handled the roller coasters at Six Flags Elitch Gardens just fine!”
“THIS IS DIFFERENT, NOW DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!”



Jessica then mounts her horse on the hitching post.

“Come on, girl. Let’s go save my stupid-ass boyfriend.”



She then gallops the horse parallel to Mike who is barely hanging on for dear life on the saddle and with one push; Mike tumbles off the horse’s back.



“THANK YOU!!! Ow....”



Grogilly, Mike rises from the ground, dazed, confused, but uninjured. Jessica rides to her boyfriend then dismounts the horse. Garry runs to his best friend.

“So, Mr. Cowboy. Have you learned your lesson?”
“Yes, MA’AM.”
“But I must give you credit, Mike. Not a lot of boys are willing to ride horses. So, I’m glad that at least you made the effort....”


PRESENT DAY



"Bullsh*t"
"Karilla, I swear to God that really happened."
"That was a pretty funny story though. And your GF was right. Sadly,with this whole "pretty pony" image, horseback riding is really becoming a "girls only" hobby, not a lot of guys are willing to get into the saddle nowadays."
"Hey! I'm a guy!"
"I know that! Guys that ride still exist, but not as much as they used to unfortunately. What happened between you and Jessica anyway?"
"Oh you know....we broke up before graduation after a huge fight...I don't really think we were meant for each other relationship-wise. I mean, we met at some high school party for chrissakes. With all of the illegal things going on, It wasn't exactly a romantic setting.......I feel that we're much more compatible...."
"You really think that, do you?"



"I don't think. I know"