Muckel
Legacy Name: Muckel.

I was a happy little foal. My mother was so proud watching me running and frolicking over the meadows. And I loved to do that, swishing full speed through the grass and kicking with my hind legs.
My mommy always watched me and was there for me, when I slipped. "Boy, you have to calm your temper", she reminded me amost every day. Back then I did not understand the worries in her eyes and the concern in her voice. What a foolish little foal I was ...
The farm we lived at was owned by a couple and their two sons. The old farmer and his wife gave us food and brushed our fur. The older son didn't come often to see us, but the younger one looked at us almost every day. His name was Valentin. I remember that he brough a carrot for my mommy every time and after a while, also for me. At afternoons he spent lots of time running with me, picking dandelions or just rubbed my mommy's and my back.
I had a happy, careless life until I turned four months old. Then, one night, everything changed.
One night I was sleeping lightly, when I heard a silent noise from the horsebox next to us. Curiously I stretched my neck and peeked through the bars into the box, where a bunch of hay bales were stored. There was Valentin and another boy hugging each other. They pressed their mouthes together and held each other very tight, but also very tender. It was such a lovely view and Valentin was smiliing with blushed cheeks. How happy he was with this other boy in his arms. I lightly kicked against the wooden part of our enclosure, as I wanted to cuddle with them both as well and nickered quietly.
"Hush, be silent", gave me Valentin a warning. But it was too late.
The old farmer flung open the door, rushed in and brought a cloud of asomewhat stinky, sharp scent with him. I didn't remember all the bad words he yelled at Valentin, after he tore the other boy away and threw him against the wall. Then he opened his belt and pulled it out of the belt loops.
My mommy shoved me away so I didn't have to watch what happened next, yet I still could hear it.
I will never forget Valentin's pain-filled screams and his pleading.

Valentin didn't smile anymore after this night. He left for two weeks and came back with a bandage around his arm and bruises on his face. The other boy, who made him so happy, was gone. I've never seen him again.
"Always obey, always!"
These warnings burnt into my mind. Any time the old farmer brought this stinking smell with himself, I tried my best to not upset him. However, it didn't matter. Even if I tried to be the best little horse on earth, he found a reason to push me around, kick me and shout at me. When Valentin visited us, he didn't play with us anymore. Often he moved slow and stiff and when I tried to nibble on his shirt to find the carrot, he flinched back in pain.
I can't count, how many times he flung his arms around my neck and cried until my fur was all wet and salty from his tears. It broke my heart. No matter how hard I tried to cheer him up, how careful and gentle I caressed his head with my lips, how the other boy did, he cried just harder.

And one day he was gone.
The evening before he brought me a whole bunch of carrots and delicious, crunchy bread. I was happy for the treats, but he just watched my eating with empty, watery eyes.. Nothing was left of the giggling, playful boy just two years back. And then he left. Every day I stood in my horse box, waiting him to come by, to give me a pat or just lean against my shoulder. But he didn't come. And it filled me with grief.
However, it wasn't the only loss during these days. As soon as I grew up, the farmer put leather belts on me and forced me to pull out logs from the woods. It was a hard work and my muscles often were sore and hurt. The stinky smell hung around the old farmer every day now, and often he forgot to brush our fur, clean our hooves or give us food. And then, one day, my mommy didn't get up anymore. She was huffing and laid flat on her side. How thin and boney she was, how miserable she looked. It shocked me.
"Don't be afraid, little boy", she said. "I will be in another, a better place very soon."
"Where will you go?", I asked, my heart racing so hard I couldn't keep my legs still.
"I will become a star upon the sky. And every time you look up at night and you see the stars, be sure that I will be watching you as well, my little boy."
Then she closed her eyes and her breath went still.

The years after my mommy died were hard and tiring. I wished to run over the meadows, so careless and free like when I'd been a foal. But instead my days were filled with hard work. My back and sides were always sore from whip lashes and the harness rubbed my skin open. I didn't want to live any longer, I wanted to follow my mommy up into the sky. But somehow it went on and on. Year after year passed by and the old farmer became lonely and bitter.I didn't know what I had done to deserve such suffering, but I couldn't escape. When I tried, the farmer just caught me and hit me even harder. The burning pain was my only fellow. I lived, I worked, I suffered ... and finally, I resigned.

I had seen twelve winter when suddenly a new scent sweeped through the barn. It was somewhat pleasant, that made my heart race fast in my chest. I knew it from somewhere. From back then, when my life was still happy. Slowly I raised my head, and then I saw him.
Valentin!
He was back!
Over the years he grew up to an adult, handsome man. Wide shoulders, a funny hair style with short sides and long hair on top. It reminded me a bit on my own mane, just more messy. His arm once again was bandaged, but this time he smiled. And he brought another man with himself, even taller, even stronger than him. And this man also smiled and put his arm around Valentin's shoulders.
"So, this is him?", the stranger asked and looked at me with an amused grin playing around his lips.
"Yes", Valentin replied and smiled up to the man. "This is my best friend. I don't know anymore how my father called him, but I always called him Muckel. Isn't he beautiful?"
The other man came to me and gently put a hand on my neck. I stiffened for a moment. Oh boy, this guy was even taller than the old farmer, but his touch was as gentle as a summer breeze. Slowly I relaxed and carefully searched his pockets for treats.
"Well, then let's take your scruffy little friend with us." The stranger pulled Valentin closer and kissed him gently.
Valentin nodded. "Yes. let's take him home."
Then he came to me, flung his arms around my neck, just like back then. But this time he didn't cry.
This time he smiled.




Code, Story and Graphix by myself
Background Photo by Pixabay
Proofreading and corrections by Masquerade