Chapter 9- Forgiveness!
I was so very tired after that day with the bikers, helping Mr. Papino, doing the Bike Parade, the sales booth and having all that fun. Peppy was pretty beat up to, and Mr. Papino allowed him to do a sleep over with me. My folks said it was okay, "Just tonight!" they warned me, so Peppy and I snuggled and cuddled under the covers. I was so happy just laying there with my puppy, thinking about that day, all that went on, all the people, the motorcycles, the old car show, the sales booth, the "C-note"!.... everything keep going on in my head. Although I was super-tired.... I was also super excited... and with Peppy at my side... I was super happy, content and at peace. We both slept well that night!
I was woken up by the sound of my mother calling up the stairs, "Kyle..Kyle...wake up! Mr. Papino just called and said that today is the last day at the Apple Orchard before they close for the winter. If you want some donuts, you better get dressed because he is leaving soon to go visit the horse!"
"Oh boy!" I sprung up from my bed but I forgot that Peppy was in bed with me, and with that- Peppy kind of went flying when I sprung up!
I then grabbed my little buddy who had just experienced a totally rude-awakening, cradled him in my arms kissing him and petting him, "I'm so sorry little buddy...are you okay?" I ask him in my puppy-dog tone of voice.
He was fine, and now we were going to the Orchard! It would be the last time of the year that we could get some donuts, and- in the back of my mind I kept asking myself, "Is Mr. Papino gonna make me ride Happy the horse today?"
I had been avoiding the horse since he bought him weeks back. He went to the orchard almost every day, and I knew it, and I always avoided him in a sense, because I was still uncomfortable around horses, but I knew that today I had to confront my fear... that is, if I wanted a chance at some more of those delicious apple cider donuts and freshly squeezed apple cider juice! I was hungry, and I was willing to take that chance... once the orchard closes for the season- that's it!
I also was wondering if they were also closing the horse farm for the season... just like the orchard?
By now, Mr. Papino was honking the horn of his Ford Pickup truck, waiting for Peppy and I to emerge.... so, we ran outside, jumped into the truck and off we went!
"Did you guys sleep well?" Mr. Papino asked!
"Boy did we sleep great, once I was able to sleep!" I replied and went on...
"Yesterday was a great day, I had so much fun and so did Peppy!.... thank you Mr. Papino, and thank you for that "C-note!" I gave it to my folks... you know...easy-come easy-go!"
With that he broke out laughing and then he replied, "Well it wasn't that easy!" .... "I don't want you to not appreciate the value of money and of a hard day's work!" he replied with a little concern in his voice.
I could tell that he was a wee bit concerned that maybe he had said an expression to me that he wishes he hadn't. All the talk about "The c-note" and "Easy come easy go" were two expressions I never used before, and that I learned from him. There were a lot of expressions I never heard before meeting Mr. Papino.
"So," he said and then hesitated, "You think you're up to ride Happy for the first time today?".... "It may be your last opportunity!"
"What do you mean?" I exclaimed loudly, are they closing the farm for the winter too?
For a minute I got my answer; the whole orchard and farm would be closed for the winter.... but I was wrong... way-wrong!
"Oh no!" he replied.... the horse stable is open all year long. People go riding all the time.... it's just that, like Mike-The-Bike, I am also a horse-trader; I buy and sell horses all the time!"
"Ohhhh" I said, now thinking about what he said, "So your going to sell Happy too?"
Part of me was kind of disappointed because I thought that Happy was part mine.... I mean, not that I really cared that much about the horse, but I would have thought that Mr. Papino would have mentioned this to me when he first told me that it was "our" horse!
Then he replied, "Well Kyle, to be honest with you, I didn't think that you really cared that much for Happy... if you did, you would have visited her with me more often. The only reason your with me now is for some donuts and cider.... I actually think you cared less about Happy. If you want me to keep her, we don't have to sell her... but if you let me sell her, we can always buy another one... just like the motorcycle!"
He went on to tell me about how all his life, how "He never falls in love with a thing"... such as car, a bike, a horse or something he makes out of leather. He said that "He never gets attached to a thing!"
"Your not going to sell Peppy....are you?" I asked him, with concern in my mind and heart.....
With that he again laughed, rubbed my hair in a mess and reassured me that that WAS NOT going to happen...that Peppy was "Family!"
He did however go on and on to express the fact that he has made money selling puppies in the past. If Peppy was a girl-dog, and if Peppy had a litter of puppies; those he would sell without a doubt!... but Peppy was a boy so there would be no puppies for sale "Any time soon" he expressed....
So now I got it; Mr. Papino buys an old motorcycle, fixes it up in the winter, customizes it with his leather goods, and then sells it after it is fixed and ready! In the process, he gets to go for a ride whenever he can... so just like the bike, Mr. Papino buys a horse, gets to ride it and then sells it at a profit! I get it now.... that's pretty cool!
With that, I put a little "Spin" on my situation with riding horses. "A spin" is when you kind of twist the truth to fit the situation, I learned....
So he wanted to know if I wanted to ride Happy before he sold her, and I replied, "Well... not really, I don't want to ride her and then get attached; especially since you have her sold" I said. With that I kind of felt bad because it was kind of a lie... just kind of.... it was more of a bad-excuse than a lie... but now it was out there- I said it!
Mr. Papino knew that I just lied or put a "Spin" on the truth, and I could tell that it bothered him a little bit.
"You know Kyle, you don't have to lie to me about your fear of horses.... and I don't blame you for fearing horses... I too hated horses at one time; that was until my father got me to ride one and- 'the rest is history'!"
..... another expression I picked up from Mr. Papino.....
So now Mr. Papino had caught me in a lie. He called it a lie, I called it a spin, but... it was a lie....
With that, I couldn't say anything.... I just sat there quietly while we continued driving toward the Stables. My arms were crossed and folded on my chest.... I was gripped with shame and anger at the same time. Mr. Papino practically called me "A liar!"
Silence filled the truck and now Peppy was noticing a change in my demeanor....
He stood up on my lap, jumped on my chest and began moaning and licking my face.... he was trying to cheer-me-up!
I started to cry, and then I started to ball my eyes out. I lost it.....
"I'm sorry Mr. Papino... I didn't mean to lie.... it's just...it's just..." I started choking on my words and on my tears... boy was I a mess!
He pulled the truck over to the side of the road, grabbed me in his arms, hugged me tightly, mess up my hair and then, choking on his own tears he said, "I'm sorry Kyle, I didn't mean to call you a liar, please forgive me....."
Then he took out a handkerchief to dry up his tears, while I used my sleeves to dry up my own. Peppy looked confused and just sat there watching all of this go down.
"It's true Mr. Papino.... I did lie.... I am the one that should be sorry" I expressed back.... "I am the one who should be asking for forgiveness!"
With that he kind of laughed in between tears, and said, "You're forgiven my friend... you're forgiven!"
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