We're taking a break from He Said She Said month today, and that's because we have a contest winner!
Caryn Solly submitted the winning entry:
"The old man at the frontier lost his horse"
One sunny day, a tired old man kept watch over his florist stand, blooming with roses, daisies, lilies and other fragrant flowers that filled the street with springtime scents.
The bright mood of the bustling street was interrupted when several local bullies crowded in with their horses.
The old man immediately recognized one of them as his beautiful oldest daughter's new suitor. He did not want her to marry this boy because he was from a poor family. The old man wanted his own family to be taken care of and wished her to marry rich.
The suitor was aware of the old man's displeasure and sauntered over to his cart. The other boys started mashing flowers in their hands.
"Old man, you cannot stop your daughter and I from marrying," the suitor said, and with that, he picked up the old man and threw him over the back of a horse. Hopping on a horse himself, he gave the steeds a few good whacks and soon they were running toward the forest. The old man, fragile in his age, could do nothing but hang on for dear life.
Hours after he'd been dumped onto horseback, the old man was able to swing a leg over the horse and right himself. He was so tired and couldn't believe he hadn't fallen. He was deep into the woods and the suitor was nowhere to be found. The old man, whose dementia was worsening each day now, was lost.
He got the horse to water and looked around. He had not noticed whether they had ridden into the forest north or south of his town. Since he was at a stream, he decided to follow it downriver.
The woods got wilder and wilder as he and his horse followed the creek. Unseen animals growled in the dark. The old man was not getting any closer to home, but he kept on, knowing this water must lead to something.
While the horse was stopped for water, the old man hopped down and drank some himself. As the cool water dribbled over his lips and chin, a wolf crept out of the woods and spooked the horse. He reared onto two legs and his whinny echoed through the trees. The old man choked and clambered to reach the horse's reins. His wet hands slipped through the leather straps, as the horse ran to escape.
Now, hungry, lost and cold, the man was face to face with a wolf.
"The old man at the frontier lost his horse" means "Things can always get worse."
As usual, Caryn wins a Fabulous Prize!