A Short Story

The whole road smelt of horse. It was as if the beast had been flogged mercilessly and then dragged the length of the scorching black. Tiny leaves fluttered down from the summer trees and the sky looked down in agony. The boy in the cart heaved a sigh of laziness and began to whip the horse out of sheer boredom.

He was going to be married in a few days. Being poor he was planning on riding the same beast he was mercilessly whipping to the doorstep of his bride. The sun beat down hot as he mournfully thought about his limited prospects. The horse was his only possession. The thin emaciated animal was his upper hand over the other boys and men. He could always be counted upon to get the goods to the market on time because of the horse. He loved the horse after his own fashion. It was not the selfless kind of love. In fact it was convenient love, where sometimes he forgot to feed the horse or never fed it quite enough.

The placid beast plodded along and owner and beast were one in silent contemplation of glum prospects. Then suddenly there was a loud crash. The goods for the market rolled off the cart and scattered in all directions. The horse lay crushed under the cart, it's tongue out and panting. The car swerved wildly around the mess and drove off. The road now smelt of toil, tears, blood and sweat.