Jeans Wings

It had been going on for longer than she was aware. Just a girl and her horse, talking to each other. That's all, and nobody ever really questioned it. Mary-Bell was a large horse. The brown kind with a white spot, right dab smack middle of her forehead. She was calm and easy-going for the most part. Without a doubt, Jean loved that horse just as much as she loved her mother. In the four years since Jeans' mother's sudden passing, Jean had become pretty lonely. The 26-year-old had lost contact with her real dad some time ago. Being an only child meant nothing to Jean. Jean's mother was all the family Jean needed, or so she thought.

Rumours had been circling the town like vultures. The fact of the matter was that Jean's mother's passing was a shock to everyone who knew her. Which was pretty much everyone in the small island village of Saanichton. Jean had to find a way to get over it. No matter how hard it was, "it’s what mother would have wanted" Jean would hear herself saying to those who date to ask her how she was coping. It was just easier to do quietly, her way. Besides, she didn’t feel alone when she was with Mary-Bell. She could tell her anything. She knew that even though Mary-Bell cared about her feelings, she would always tell it like it is.

“She was not staring.” Said Mary-Bell. “She was.” Jean clapped back! “I think I know when people are staring,” She continued. Jean had no idea why people cared about what she did or who she talked to. She wasn’t anyone special, she thought. A lot of people talk to their animals and Jean was just like anyone else. Mary-Bell thought Jean was kind and gentle. Highly regarded attributes in a horse's eye. The two spent most days wondering and talking about all the ways that things should be different about the world. Like the good old days, they would laugh. Most things they agreed on, but when it came to Jean's self-worth they agreed to disagree.

Jean was already making mental arrangements for the upcoming Polo season. She knew she was going to need a new set of guards. If only she could remember what she did with her right knee guard. "Of all the things to lose, a bloody knee guard, geesh!" Mary-Bell mocked. "They were scratching us both and you know it! A new pair of guards never hurt anyone." Scoffed the horse. The sun had just started to peak over the hills to the east. The smell of dirt and dew began to fill the air as the ground began to warm and wake from the crispness of the night. Most of the players had started showing up. Jean had the feeling that today was gonna be different. She just knew it. It wasn't long before the players began to make their way about the grounds in preparation for what should have been a fantastic start to the new season of Polo. Jean mounted Mary-Bell and in no time made their way front and center. From the west with the speed of light came an image from the side of Jeans' head that she will never forget. White and tan wings with a set of massive eyes swooped down towards Jean and Mary-Bell. Jean instantly was reminded of the scene from one of her favorite childhood movies; Labyrinth. The scene where David Bowie in the guise of a gorgeous Barn Owl flies into Sarah's baby brother's room, throws open the french doors and swiftly becomes Jerad the Goblin King. With the same power and thrust to which the owl/ Goblin King/ David Bowie throws open Sarah's french doors, Mary-Bell reared up high on her hind legs. The horse throws Jean high and far. Coming down with what could only be described as a loud crunching sound, Jean screamed, as one does after having the wind knocked out of them. Almost an inward scream. Followed by another deep breath that never seems enough. The horse was obviously traumatized and more so; very embarrassed. "Jean" gasped Mary-Bell, followed by everyone else within earshot. At both the site of a fragile-looking young woman flying high off her high horse and the sound of her very own horse clearly naying her name. It was clear this day was, indeed; special. Not the good kind of special, everyone hopes for. The embarrassment type special, that keeps folks up at night wishing it didn't happen.

The doctor began explaining the x-ray's to Jean with a sombre mono-tone voice which was easy to tune out. Jean had bigger fish to fry, she thought. How was she going to explain to everyone what had been going on? Would they even believe her? What would become of Mary-Bell? A science experiment? "That can't happen" Jean blurted out. "Sorry, Jean." Said Dr. Montgomery. "Yes, it can". Quickly Jean snapped out of her daydream-nightmare and looked the doctor straight in his strangely droopy eyes... "Do you think I'm crazy?" "No, Jean. Not at all. It's just a broken clavicle, Jean. I see these all the time." The doctors' Scottish accent was somehow soothing to her. She put her hand up to her neck to feel around for the bump. Her grandma's Scottish voice ran through her memory...

"You are a magical girl Jean." She would say, "You are going to show the world what real magic is all about."