Barn Of Memories

“Mary, dear, are you out here?” Ted asks as he rounds the corner of the barn and enters through the large open sliding door. The barn was once a bright red color but was so worn that it has most of the paint missing, making it a brown color now. The roof has a leak, and the flooring is rough dirt, but he still loves the old thing.

“I am over here, honey,” Mary says as Ted looks around and finds Mary sitting on a bench in between a couple of the stalls. It is one of the few benches, but it is the one that has always meant the most to both of them.

“What are you doing out here? Everyone is waiting for us to cut the cake.” Ted slowly eases his tired body down onto the bench next to his wife of 50 years. They were both supposed to be inside celebrating their anniversary with their only child and the grandkids. When Ted had noticed Mary was gone, he knew he would find her here.

“I am just remembering the old times when the barn was still in good shape. It saddens me to see it get so run down.” They both often come out to this run-down old barn to just remember. A lot of important events took place in this barn, which is why Ted has never had the heart to let their son tear it down.

“I know how you feel. I can remember the first day I saw you and how I instantly fell in love with you.” Ted can picture very easily how lovely she had looked that day. She had been sixteen years old, and he had been seventeen.

“I was sitting right here, was I not?”

“Yes, you were. Your dad had just hired me to help clean the stalls, and you were sitting here cleaning your riding boots. I fell in love the minute I saw you and swore I would marry you someday.” Ted remembers that she was wearing her hair in a side braid that day with a couple of flowers woven into it. She was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a simple green t-shirt.

“Which you did in this very barn. I remember dad giving me a look when I said I wanted to have it in here.” Mary can easily picture the pure look of confusion and wonderment when she had asked him about holding the wedding in the barn. He had wanted to say no because of all of the horses, but she had reassured him that she did not mind them and wanted them there. She loved all of their horses and had a deep bond with all of them, which is why they could never manage to sell any of them.

“You were so beautiful in your dress.” Ted can see in his mind that moment when he had looked down the aisle and saw her walking towards him. Her hair was in a side braid again, but instead of flowers, there were small jeweled clips in the braid. She had decided not to wear a veil, and her dress was done in a delicate floral lace that perfectly fit her body. He danced the night away with her after they were married.

“You were a dashing young man in your suit.”

“This old barn holds a lot of memories for us.” Ted can remember so many different events that happened in this barn, such as their son almost being born in the barn when Mary had gone into labor early.

“Our son took his first steps here.” Mary smiles as she remembers how happy they had felt that day.

“I remember that. He got up off this very bench and walked over to pet Lightning.”

“Seeing him in front of that horse scared me so bad. I almost ran over and scooped him up, but you stopped me,” says Mary. Lightning was one of the few horses that gave them problems. They had rescued him from some people that were not taking proper care of him and were mistreating him in the process. It took a long time for Mary to get him to just let her near him to bathe him and feed him. Seeing their small son right in front of this large horse almost gave her a heart attack.

“I know what you mean. If Lightning had not been reacting so nice and easy with him, I would have run over myself,” says Ted. They will never forget how shocked they were to see this large horse that acted so timid around them being calm and patient with their son. He had managed to walk over to the horse but must have stumbled because the horse had its nose pressed against the child as he stopped him from falling. Their son had a grip on the horse’s long mane and was patting the horse. He had not learned yet how to properly pet a horse, but Lightning just stood there and let him pat away.

“This barn is like a member of the family with how important it is to our history. I just wish we could make sure it is still around for our grandchildren’s future,” says Mary.

“Maybe you can, mom,” a male voice said from the direction of the door. Mary and Ted turn to see their son walking over towards them. He stops right in front of the stall that was once Lightning’s. “I have offered many times to fix this barn for you guys.”

“I know you have, but as I have told you before, we cannot afford it,” Ted says smiling at his son with sadness still showing in his eyes.

“Ok. Let me reword what I said and put it this way. I am fixing up this barn even if you do not want me to. I have had many wonderful memories in this old barn and would love for my children, as well as their children, to have some as well.”

“Now let's get you two in the house to cut the cake before the kids decide to help themselves,” he says. They all laugh as they head for the house.