Most Unforgettable 88 Life Stories - Yilin

Author: Xiaoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: That morning was clear and cold, with dense fog lingering in the air. The fence of the horse farm seemed to have grown layers of frosty mist overnight, and the mane of the horses was covered with sparkling tiny water crystals. I was 8 years old that day and felt exceptionally tall. Because it was the first time Dad asked me to help him and my brothers drive the horses, and in the past, it had always been Mom who helped. My brothers had to go to school after driving the horses, so time was very limited. Our task was to drive the herd of horses from the small horse farm into another horse farm on the mountain. There was a passage between the two farms, enclosed by a fence. As long as we could drive the herd into the passage, we would have accomplished our mission. However, there was a section of relatively low fence near the passage where mischievous horses could jump over it at full speed during their run, escaping into the larger field outside. My job was to guard that fence. If any horse came toward me, I had to drive it back into the herd. Even today, I still remember the scene of the herd charging wildly toward me. Their heads and tails were held high, completely ignoring me, as if "breaking the rules" was their favorite game. I knew the whole family relied on me to hold them back. But the herd surged toward me like a mountain collapsing, moving as fast as a train. How could a little me possibly stop them? In just a few seconds of hesitation, the herd had already leaped over the fence beside me, utterly disregarding my presence. I curled into a ball, feeling small, helpless, and guilty. I had wasted everyone's time, and now they had to gather the herd back into the small farm. It would all have to start over. The horses captured again grew bolder, panting heavily, jumping around, and casting mocking glances at me. The test came. The herd charged toward me again, snorting proudly and neighing joyfully. I could feel the sweat trickling beneath my thick clothes. Fear, mixed with the chill, crept up from my toes, freezing my limbs. The lead horse was named "Midnight," its black fur glistening in the milky morning fog. Right behind it was "Silver Bell," a small chestnut pony. In the distance, Dad glanced at me, as if saying, "Hold them back! You're no longer a child!" Gathering my courage, I spread my arms wide and shouted, "Ha! Ha!" Startled, Midnight made a sharp 90-degree turn, splashing mud all over me with its front hooves, and I could even feel its breath. But this time, I didn’t curl into a ball. Midnight was stopped! In its eyes, I had suddenly become tall, yet I was still that 8-year-old child from 20 minutes ago! Too busy thinking about that, more horses surged toward me. I spread my arms wide, jumping and shouting. The horses that once ignored me now turned and ran away in panic. The cold and fear vanished, and I was overjoyed! Ah, I knew why—because they "saw" me. Because they knew I wouldn’t back down, so I could hold them back. Wanting others to see you: respect you, size and strength aren’t the main things; the key is whether you have enough courage. With courage and determination, even a small me could stop the herd. P2-3