Happenstance

“I can’t believe you’ve lost your horsey. You expect me to go back in there and find it?” a tired looking blonde yelled a little bit too loudly at her little girl.

“I need Sergeant. He’s my only friend.” the little girl in pigtails whined.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you have plenty other stuffed animals.”

“But Daddy got me Sergeant.” With that, the little girl burst into tears.




James stood in front of the Piggly Wiggly half watching the drama unfold, while waiting for his cousin Kevin to park his bike and catch up with him. Kevin marched up to James, looking hot and sweaty, but mostly mad; and punched him in the arm.

“Ow, what was that for Grumpy?” James inquired rubbing his arm.

“Cheating. You went through the Jackson’s field again, even though Dad told you not to.” Kevin accused.

“Yeah, well, he’s your dad, only my uncle, and I won’t even be here in a couple weeks when school starts again anyway. So there.”

“Good, cause you’re always mean to me.”

James took Kevin’s shoulders and steered him into the store. “Am not. Look, I let you carry the grocery list and money Aunt Arlene gave us. Now let’s see what’s on that list so we can get home and cool off in the creek.”




After getting the bread, James was heading down the cereal aisle contemplating what Aunt Arlene would do if he came home with Lucky Charms, instead of the listed corn flakes. Scanning the shelves to see which cereal was offering the best prize; James noticed a dark object on the bottom shelf, half way behind the Cocoa Puffs. His curiosity getting the best of him, James cautiously reached for the object. As he was pulling out a well loved black horse with one eye, Kevin arrived with the milk and butter.

“Ew, what’s that?” Kevin asked, peering over James’ shoulder.

“Looks like a black horse to me.” James said turning it over in his hand.

“Just leave it there James and let’s go. It has nothing to do with us.”

“Did you notice the Lucky Charms have a 3D puzzle inside?” James pointed out to Kevin while handing him the bread. “Get the cereal and go to checkout. I’ll catch up with you.”





James ran out the door to the parking lot. The blonde lady and her little girl were walking toward an older brown pickup truck; the back loaded with all sorts of odd shapes and covered with a tarp making it look like a modern art sculpture.

“Excuse me.” James said approaching the duo. They turned around and James squatted to speak to the little girl. Her green eyes were still puffy from crying. She reminded James of Cindy Brady, except with brown pigtails. He almost called her Cindy Brady, but at the last minute noticed her cheeks and nose were sprinkled with freckles.

“Do you know this horse, Freckles?” James asked as he pulled the stuffed animal out from behind his back. The little girl squealed loudly and was clutching Sergeant to her chest as quickly as James let the toy go.

“Why, thank you, young man. Losing Sergeant while passing through Tennessee here was going to make our trip to Iowa much longer for the both of us. You did a good thing. Katie, thank the young man.”

“Thank you mister.” Katie mumbled shyly.

James stood up and nodded at them. He went back inside to see what cereal Kevin had picked out and if he was ready to check out yet. After all, James had to get the head start on Kevin so he could cut through the Jackson’s field and beat Kevin home.