Speaker 1: Amongst the fields of the Irish countryside, there was a
small but pretty farm. To be completely accurate, it had
been a farm once upon a time, and it still
retained much of the land and many of the buildings,
and it still had a few animals too, although these
were either a cat's chickens or a horse's. The locals
knew the farm's owner as Granny Horse. It wasn't how
she introduced herself, but it's what everyone called her just
the same. If you had a problem with your horse,
you tended to take it to Granny Horse to have
it looked over, maybe even leave it for a few days.
Granny Horse had spent many years living happily on the
farm all alone. She had her animals and her regular visitors,
so she didn't miss company. But recent events had changed
all that. When she took in her two grandchildren, Ada
and Conrad. At first it was quite a shock for
all three of them, but they weren't strangers. The children
quickly settled into the rhythms of looking after the animals
and were distracted by the comings and goings as neighbors
near and far called in to talk to Granny Horse
or bring in a mare or a fowl to be
looked at. In truth, Grannie Horse was both surprised and
pleased at how smoothly the children were adapting to their
new lives. Both Ada and Conrad loved the animals, learning
the names of each of them, despite the challenges this presented.
The cats lived amongst the barns and tumbled down outbuildings,
keeping the rats and mice down, so they weren't easy
to find. The chickens were another challenge, as the eight
girls Granny Horse kept for their eggs all looked very
much alike Grannie Horse, though knew how to tell them apart. Hannah,
for example, was missing the end of a toe on
her left foot, while Orla's comb the red ridge atop
her head, was much shorter and flatter than her sister's.
Shaneade was Ada's favorite, as she, unlike the other chickens,
insisted on laying her eggs in the strangest of places,
so finding them was like a fresh treasure hunt every day.
Learning the horses names was much easier, other than the
temporary guess that the locals would bring to the stables
for a few days. There were three horses on the farm.
Morrigan was a white Irish cob with a brown face
and large brown patch on her flank. She was the
eldest of the horses and the most patient with the children.
Then there was Dagda, a chestnut horse that towered over
everyone despite his size. He was gentle and open for
his ability to let himself in and out of the
barn where he lived. The last horse was Ogma, a
carry bog pony. Ogma got into everything, thought nothing of
pushing you over, and was a general nuisance half the time.
But this playful cheekiness just made the children love him
all them. A few days after their arrival, Ada and
Conrad were carrying buckets of feed, sweeping out the stables
and topping up the water as if they'd been doing
it all their lives. Grannie Horse was pleased to hear
the laughter as the children encouraged the chickens into the
coop for the night, not least because Orla was refusing
to go in. Can't we just leave her out? Grannie asked, Ada, Oh,
heavens no, chuckled their grandmother. The fox will have her
in an instant. She's too quick, complained Conrad, attempting to
grab the dodging hen. That she is, laughed Grannie, but
not quite quick enough to escape a fox. As if
understanding the seriousness of the situation, Aurla changed direction and
ran straight up the ramp to disappear inside the coop.
Got her, said Ada triumphantly, as she slid the door
into place. Let's settle the horses, then we'll sort ourselves.
Something sweet, said Grannie as she turned to the stables
and barn. They not gone two steps when their attention
was caught by an approaching engine. A little late for visitors,
Grannie said, adjusting the scrunchy that held her long gray
hair back like a horse's tail. In the fading light
of evening, a battered white truck pulled into the yard
towing a horsebox. It pulled up, and a middle aged
man with a flat cap and a day's worth of
stubble on his chin climbed out Grannie horse. He said
with a curt nod, it's mickey. There was no mistaking
the concern in the man's voice as he and Grannie
made straight for the rear of the horse box. Ada
and Conrad huddled around as it was opened up to
reveal a sickly looking black cob with a white nose.
I'll look at you, Micky, said Granny Horse as she
entered the box. You are in a sorry state. Is
he gonna be all right? Grannie asked the man, his
voice full of worry. Well it's not looking good, Ronan
replied Grannie Horse. She inspected, Micky not good at all.
Help me get him into the stable. Micky walked awkwardly,
almost reluctantly, across the short distance to where Conrad held
the door to one of the two empty stalls open.
Will you look after him, asked Ronan, twisting his flat
cap between his fingers. Well, I'll do my best, nodded Grannie.
You always do, Grannie replied Ronan, attempting a smile. That done,
He climbed back into his rusty old truck and returned
down the track. What's wrong with Micky, asked Ada innocently. Oh,
poor Micky's lived a long time, Poor Ronan, there is
going to miss him, she said softly. Can you help Micky,
asked Conrad. I can, but not to make him better.
Grannie said, but I could make it easier. Ada and
Conrad weren't quite sure what this meant. Ronan seemed very upset,
said Ada, Micky's important to him. It'll break his heart
when he goes, said Grannie, closing the stall's door. Come on,
let's head inside for that sweet treat. I can come
back out here later, Can we come, pleaded Ada. Yeah,
can we help? Conrad added No, No, insisted Grannie Horse.
It'll be bedtime for you two. Now come along, there's
cake waiting. Although Aida and Conrad did go to bed,
they didn't go to sleep. Conrad was staring at the
ceiling when there was a light tap on his door
and Ada appeared in his room. What are you doing,
he whispered loudly, as she made way for his window.
I want to see, she said, and pulled the curtain aside.
Conrad's room overlooked the stables, allowing them to see the
lantern illuminating Mickey's stall. Grannie Horse was at work. What's
she doing, asked Conrad as he tried to get a
good view. Can't see properly, explained Ada. Regardless, they stayed
at the window until they were too tired to watch
any longer. The next morning, they sorted their own breakfast.
As Grannie Horse wasn't in the kitchen, they found her
shortly afterwards, in Micky's stall, How is he asked Ada.
Not good, replied Grannie. But he's coping. When you said
Miki was important to Ronan, what did you mean, asked Conrad. Well,
Micky is a working animal, explained Grannie. Ronan doesn't own
a tractor, so Micky pulls his cart when he's gathering
his fruit and projuice. What will he do without him,
Conrad asked, with concern. I don't rightly know, said Grannie.
You saw the state of his truck. He'll not have
the money to replace Micky when he goes, is he
began Ada nervously. Is he going to go? I'm afraid, so,
said Grannie. Now I need you to take care of
the animals by yourselves this morning. Can you do that?
Conrad and Ada nodded firmly and got to work. It
proved a welcome distraction, not least when they went searching
for where Shaneide the hen, had laid her latest egg.
There was an old rusting car between the stables and
the barn, missing a back door, a head light, and
all four wheels, And after searching for a while, Ada
remembered seeing the chicken pecking in the dirt nearby. Found it,
shouted Ada with satisfaction as she removed the speckled egg
from under the steering wheel. Well it's smells in here,
said Conrad, pinching his nose as he leant inside. It's
just chicking poo, laughed Ada, as she wriggled back between
the seats. You should be used to it by now.
They didn't see much of Grannie all day, although they
checked on her and Mickey regularly. By bedtime, Grannie was
preparing to go out to the stall again as the
children got ready for bed. Aren't you tired, Grannie asked Conrad.
A little, she admitted, But it won't be long now.
Is there anything you can do? Pleaded Ada. Ronan won't
be able to cope without Miki. Well, I've been giving
that a lot of thought, she said to herself, A
lot of thought. Ten minutes later, she was back in
the stall and the children were back at the window.
Can she say if Micky, Ada asked. I don't think so,
said Conrad sadly. They watched for an hour, not being
able to see much other than a brief glimpse. Micky
was lying down amongst the straw. Now his ear occasionally
twitching as Grannie busied herself around him. Then, quite unexpectedly,
the large, dark shape of the horse appeared along the stables. Conrad, Look,
that does let himself out the barn, yelped Ada. What's
he doing, Conrad wondered. Dagda used his teeth and lips
to open first Morgan the cobstool, then Ogma. The big
ponies both wandered off in the direction of the barn.
Dagda then stood in front of Micky's stall, blocking the
children's view. After a moment, the big horse turned and left,
followed by Grannie carrying her lantern. I'm gonna find out
what's going on, announced Conrad. Ada was right behind him
as they pulled on their boots and slipped out into
the cool night air. The yard was dark, but it
was obvious where Grannie had gone as the lantern was
lighting up the barn's interior, stopping beside the willless car
as they caught scraps of conversation. Who's she talking to?
Whispered Ada. They moved closer, still allowing them to pick
out the murmured conversation of four individuals. The barn was
old and the wooden boards on its side weathered and warped,
allowing the pair of them to peer through narrow gaps.
There was Grannie deep in conversation with Morgan, Dagda and Ogma.
It was such a stunning spectacle that both Ada and
Conrade almost forgot to breathe. Then it's agreed, said the
white cob. Something old for something new. I'll get it done,
nodded Grannie horse Fearing they would be discovered, Conrad grabbed
Ada's arm and pulled her away. They didn't stop running
until they were back indoors. Good morning to you, both,
greeted Grannie as they came down for breakfast the next morning,
who unscrambled eggs. Aida and Conrad nodded but didn't speak
as Grannie cut thick doorsteps of bread and dropped them
into the toaster. You two are quiet, she said, Didn't
you sleep well? Grannie asked Ada abruptly. How's Mickey All's sweetheart?
Said Grannie with a sad shake of her head. Micky's gone,
bless him, but it was peaceful. He didn't suffer. I
saw to that. But what about Ronan? What will he do?
Asked Conrad, sounding distressed. That's all taken care of, smiled
Grannie as she began scrambling the eggs. Ronan's beat up
white truck and horse box arrived just as they were
wiping the last of the yoke from their plates. The
children rushed out to join Grannie and were surprised to
see Ronan smiling. Oh thank you for all you did
for Micky, he said to Grannie, clutching her hand. Oh
don't mention it, insisted Grannie, Horse, Conrad, and aid Her
took the opportunity to peer into Mickey's stall, but all
they could see was the large sheet draped across him.
Are you serious about me taking a new horse away
with me, Roanan asked, twisting his hat in his hands,
like he had that first evening. I am, said Granny.
There were forestools in the stable, Morgan's, Agma's, what had
been Mickey's, and one empty one. The children knew it
was empty because they'd searched it yesterday for eggs, but
it wasn't empty now. Grannie opened the door and let
out a young gray cob. This is Cormac, she said.
Ada and Conrad were stunned. They'd heard no vehicles delivering
this new colt and yet here it was being made
a fuss of by its new owner. Conrad's eyes strayed
towards the barn, where Dagda stood in the doorway, closer
to Morgan and Ogma. Closer to Morgan and Ogma watched
from over their stable doors. The old rusty car between
the two buildings was gone. Conrad gasped something old for
something new. He whispered under his breath, the and