The Master, the Horse, and the Noblemen

By Joseph C. Collins

In a country far away, there lived a man with a horse, and a lovely horse it was. Its hair was a golden brown and its eyes were blue and it had a white stripe on its nose. It was a magnificent creature. Every day the man would brush its hair to make it shine and then he would give it sugar cubes to eat. When the days got cold he would put a blanket over his horse to keep it warm.


The man loved his horse and the horse loved its master. When the master was at work tending his farm, the horse would walk up behind him and rub its nose up against his back.
Then the man would tern around take his hand and rub the horse’s nose and say, “Good boy, good boy.”


But the best part of the day for the horse was when its master took a ride on its back out on their farm. It was a hundred acres of tall grass, the kind of grass that would flow when the wind passed over. All around the farm were tall trees and mountains, with a fresh river rushing under hills as for as one could see.


Except for this one hill witch was the tallest and at the some time the closest. So after every ride the man would take his horse up to the top of this hill, and on the top was their tree that they would sit under and look out-- and what a sight it was.

They could see the mountains in the distance; they saw the woods all around. They could hear the birds singing songs, and they loved the sound of the river streaming down. Even a horse, can appreciate God’s creation.


And so the horse lay under the tree with its master laying his head on its side, reading a book and watching the sun go down behind the mountains.
One day the man decided to go on a trip and take his horse with him. He packed his effects up; it was a trip that would take a week.


He saddled his horse and off they went. Passing woods and pastures, they then passed a field of windmills, and as they went on they came to a stone bridge stretching over a small stream. They had so much fun, often stopping to enjoy the view.
Then one day they came to dirt road. Looking at the road, the man decided to give his horse a break, so he got off his horse and started to walk, leading the way.


As they were walking, a man in a cloak jumped out and gripped the man; the thief stabbed the man with a knife, and the man fell to the ground. Suddenly, the horse got on his hind legs and trampled the cloaked man to death. The horse walked up to its master who was lying on the ground; the horse rubbed its nose up against its master. Still breathing, the man turned over, picked up his hand, and rubbed his horse on its nose.
“Good boy, good boy,” he said. Then the man’s hand slowly dropped to the ground, and he lived no more.


Now the horse, being an animal, at first did not understand death, so it kept rubbing its nose up against the man’s body. Of course, he did not move. Then the horse understood what had happened to his master. The horse was about to run off when it heard a sound of wheels along with the sound of hoofs. He looked in the direction that the sound was coming from and saw a carriage being pulled by two horses, but it was not an average carriage. It had the craftsmanship of a noble owner.


Suddenly, the driver of the carriage called out to the horses and pulled on the reins, drawing the carriage to a stop. The driver jumped down and quickly walked to the man to see if he was all right, but the driver knew after looking at him that the man had passed away.
A voice came from inside the carriage.


“What is the matter?”
“There is a dead man on the side of the road,” replied the driver
After hearing this, the door of the carriage opened and out came a man dressed in a royal suit. He was holding a cane, he had white gloves and clean boots. He was indeed a nobleman.


He walked up to the horse who just stood still not knowing what to do. Then the nobleman looked at the horse’s feet and saw the cloaked man that had been trampled. Then he looked to his right and saw the man lying on the grand who had been stabbed to death. At once he knew what had taken place.


“This poor man, he was just minding his own business when this other man who covered himself with a clock tried to rob him.”


The driver looked at the robber and asked, “How did he die?”
“Can’t you see this horse belongs to the poor man who was marauded? He was its master and the horse defended him.”
The nobleman slowly walked up to the horse. He grabbed its reins, leaned toward its ear and said, “You had a great bond with your master, didn’t you? Yours was such a bond that you would defend him. I am sorry that you couldn’t do it sooner.”


“What do we do now?” ask the driver
“We will take this man into town and give him a proper funeral. We will also take the horse and give it something to eat and a place to stay.”
So the Nobleman and the driver took the horse and the body of the man into town, with the Nobleman sitting up front with the driver.
When they got into town, they fetched the doctor and the police chief and told them what had happened. The following evening, they put the man to rest in the town’s cemetery that was on top of a hill outside of town.


As the Nobleman and the driver were walking back into town, the driver asked,
“What about the horse, sir? What will happen to it?”
“The police chief said that I could keep it if I wanted. I thought that it would be the right thing to do seeing how it was not the man’s fault nor was it his horse’s fault about what happened.”
“Right sir, it is not indeed,” replied the driver.


When they got back into town the Nobleman went up to the horse and said,
“I know that you miss your master. That is why I will now take care of you. I know that your master took great
care better then I but I well try my best.
So the Nobleman and the driver harnessed the carriage and the horse and they continued to their own home.


Passing woods and pastures, they finally got to the Nobleman’s home. The horse could not believe its eyes.
It was the biggest house that he had seen. There was a big front yard with rows of trees, a pathway up and down carved in stone, and bushes shaped all different.
When they got to the front of the house the Nobleman called a stable boy and told him, “This horse is my new friend and it’s been through a lot. Take good care of it.”


The stable boy did what he was told. Days went by and the stable boy went to feed the horse but it would not eat. The stable boy went to the Nobleman and told him. At once he knew why.
He went to the stable and to see the horse. When he found it, he walked up to it and saw the sadness in its face. He opened the door to the stall and let the horse outside.


He gently grabbed it by the head and leaned his head on its and said, “You are a magnificent creature, but I know you do not want to be here. I am sorry for what happened to your master.”
He took off the reins and said, “Now go, my friend and be free.”


The Nobleman slapped the rump of the horse and it started off running past the town and across the dirt road. What happened next no one knows, for as it was running tears began to fill its eyes. Some say it was just the wind, because he was running so fast. But others, like myself, say that it was the fact that it would no longer be with its master.


It ran, not once stopping for food or water, over the stone bridge. It ran past the windmills and the pastures and the woods, back to the place its heart ached most for: home.
When it got there, it ran up the hill that it and its master went up so many times before. When it got to the top, it walked to its beloved tree.

It laid on its side under the tree and looked out and what a sight it was. It could see the sun going down behind the mountains. It could see the woods all around and the birds were still singing their songs. It still heard the stream flowing, for even a horse can appreciate God’s creation.

But it no longer could it's feel its master’s head on it side as he read his book. With all of his strength leaving, it slowly closed its eyes and lived no more.

To Make Things Right

By Joseph C. Collins

It was another wonderful day in the city. The trees were bright with colors and the grass in the park was as green as always and all the clouds in the sky molded themselves into whatever shape people saw.

Sadly though, the day was coming to an end and for all the people in the city it was time to go home from a long day of work.

But for one young man, he couldn't help but smile, for it wouldn't be long until he was home with his wife. As he was making his way on the sidewalk he was suddenly

stopped by an elderly man.

"Can I help you?" the young man asked.

"No, but maybe I can help you. Tell me. Do you want to be happy?" asked the elderly man

"I already am," replied the young man.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

The old man said, "In my hand is a map of an island and on the island is a mountain and on the top is something that will forever make you happy."

"I'm sure there is, but as I said, Sir I already am. But thank you for your offer. Now if you will excuse me."

"As you wish, but if you change your mind, my shop is right round the corner."

As the young man continued walking along, his house soon came into view. As he made his way to the stairs of his house he stopped, and turned his head to the front window to see his was wife looking out from it.

A smile then came to his face as he made his way up the stairs he open the front door.

"I'm home," he shouted has he closed the door behind him, but there was no reply.
"Honey I'm home," he repeated and still there was no answer.

Baffled, he walked to the room where his wife was, just one door from the one he come through.
Knocking gently he opened the door slowly, and made his way in the room. There sitting on the window seat was his wife with her knees tucked up against her chest. As he walked closer he could see a sad look on her face.

"Are you alright?" he asked

"I'll be fine," she replied

"Are you sure?" asked the young man.

"Mm-hmm," She whispered while nodding her head.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No I'll be fine." She replied.

"Okay, I'll be upstairs if you need anything."

As the young man walked away, he looked back at his wife who was staring out the window with that same look of sadness on her face.

The young man made his way out of the room and went upstairs. As he was changing clothes, the joy that he had slowly faded, for he couldn't help but wonder what was
bothering his wife.

He sat on the bed and started to think about the times when she was happy. So much joy she had, and so how much love that she would show to him. He thought about her smile and how it lit up a room.

He thought of all the times that she came to him when he felt sad and how she made him happy.

Now it is her who had that look of sorrow in her face.
"She has done so much for me," he said to himself. "Now it's my turn to make things right."

He sat on the bed thinking about how to make it right. Suddenly he remembered the old man who had stopped him on the way home.
"That's it!"

He jumped to his feet towards the closet and opened the door. Bending down he reached for his pair of walking shoes, He hurried back to the edge of the bed took a seat quickly tied his shoes.

After words he aging jump to his feet and made his way downstairs.
But before he walked out the front door, he peeked into the room where his wife was. There she was looking out the window with her knees up against her chest.

The young man bent his head down and let out a sad sigh.
Then he softly closed the door, he then walked towards a table that was next to the front door.

In the drawer of the table laid a pen and piece of paper. Picking up both of them he wrote a short letter to his wife that he would be back soon.

Grabbing his keys he went out the front door and down the front stairs and made his way across the street.
As he was walking away he glanced back at his wife, determined to make things right.

With a steady pace he made his way to the shop. Standing outside was the elderly man.

"So you came back for my help after all," the elderly man said.

"Well actually I'm here for my wife," the young man replied.

"Oh, is she not happy? Well then you came to the right place. Come in."
The elderly man led the young man through his little shop all the way to the back. There in the back was a small room.

Its walls were covered in old medieval artifacts which consisted of swords, shields, bows, and arrows.

As the young man looked around, he noticed a closet in the corner of the room. He could not see what was in it because it was covered with a curtain.

He walked toward the closet and stopped in front of it.
He looked back at the elderly man and asked, "What is behind the curtain?"

"Why don't you take a look?" The elderly man replied.
The young man reached out his hand and pulled the curtain open to reveal a suit of medieval armor.

"It looks brand new," the young man said.

"I take good care of all my things," said the old man. "Are you ready to put it on?"

"Put it on? Why?" asked the young man.

"Where you're going, you may need it."

"Where am I going?"

"To the island on my map," replied the old man

"And how am I going to get there?"

"Do you want my help or not?" asked the old man.

"Yes," answered the young man.

"Then put on the suit."
One by one the young man put on the pieces of armor until he was covered from head to toe.

"Magnificent," said the old man. "Now for your sword and shield, let see where did
I put them?"

As the old man looked for a shield and sword, the young man grasped his hands in and out to get a feel for the armored gloves.

He looked at himself in the mirror
"I look like a knight," said the young man

"Of course you do," commented the old man, as he handed the young man a shield and sword.

"Are you ready?"

"I am."

The old man reached in his pocket and took out a medallion. Then he opened up the map and laid them both on a table.

"On the island there is a mountain and on the top of the mountain is an indentation. The only way you can get down into the mountain is down a stairway made of stone.

At the bottom of the stairway there are two pillars with statues of beasts on top. The very thing that you seek is in the middle."

The young man listened intently.
"Now this is important," continued the old man.

"Once you pass the statues, you cannot for any reason go back and reenter through the pillars upon which they sit. You must have the item or not have it; there is no going back."

"Sound dangerous," the young man said.

"What? You were expecting it to be easy?"

"It would be nice."

"It would. Now you are perhaps wondering how you are going to get there."

"I am guessing a boat," replied the young man

"Not exactly, do you see that medallion?" the elderly man questioned.

"Yes."

"It is a very special piece of jewelry. You see, it was found in the same box as the map. I don't know who found it or where. All that I know is that it was found."

"How does it work?"

"All you have to do is put it around your neck and you will no longer be in this place or time."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Trust me."

The elderly man handed the young man the medallion, then guided him to the center of the room.

"Are you ready?" asked the elderly man.

"I am.”

Standing in the center of the room, not one thought of fear went through the young man's mind. All he could think about was the look on his wife's face and how he would make
things right.

So, dressed in his new suit of armor and with his new sword and shield, he closed his eyes, then took the medallion and put it around his neck.

Suddenly the young man heard the sound of waves clashing on a shore then he felt a cool breeze moving across his face. Slowly the young man opened his eyes to find himself on the island that the old man told him about.

As he looked around he saw that there was not much there. All of the grass seemed to be the color of ash and all the trees for some reason were all burned to cinders.

As for the sky, it too was as black as ash itself. It was not at all the place he imagined it would be, but then again he did not think that this type of place existed at all.

Walking his way up the shore his eyes soon come to see the mountain that was on the map.

He gazed at it for a minute and said

"You've got to be kidding."

Suddenly out of the distance a sound of thunder echoed across the sky.
"Ah, that can't be good," the young man said for he knew a storm was on the way.
With no time to lose, the young man ran up to the mountain as fast he could and started to climb.

Racing to the top he felt drops of rain falling on his face. Then he felt a strong wind pushing him back and froth. It was as if the wind and the rain themselves were his enemy. Step by step he climbed up the mountain, and step by step the storm challenged him.

As he reached out to grab a piece of the mountain, a small rock came loose. Losing his footing, he quickly struggled to grab whatever nook of the mountain that he could.

Watching closely the storm saw its opportunity. It blow as hard as it could, but despite the storms best effort the young man quickly regained his footing and began to climb, the mountain again.

"Almost there," he said.

Soon the storm began to blow even harder but the young man would not quit, for his goal was greater. Fighting the wind, and rain the man could finally see the top of the mountain.

With one final reach of his hand he grabbed the edge, pulling himself up on top of the mountain. He turned over onto his back and started panting for air.

With the rain falling on his face he turned his head to the left and saw a hill leading to the top of the mountain. Slowly getting up, he made his way through the rain to the top of the hill. He looked out.

To see a deep trench moat and in the center was a man made cylindrical shaped plateau fifty yards across.
He saw the stone stairway.

At the bottom of the stairway stood two statues of fierce looking beasts sitting in place as if they where grading.

As he glance up, he saw in the center was a smaller shaped plateau and on it, in the center, was the very thing that he sought.

With a quick pace he made his way down the stairway. When he got to the bottom he could finally see the statues up close. He walked up to them and as he looked at them a sense of fear went through him.

With no hesitation he put his hand to his side and drew his sword. Then he reached to his back and brought out his shield, and held it in front of him.

With his heart racing he slowly walked toward the item. Suddenly a sound of flapping wings could be heard from the edge of the mountain. He stopped and prepared himself.

Slowly but surely the sound of flapping wings grew louder and louder. With a great roar a mighty dragon flew out from the edge of the mountain. It looked down and saw the young man. Swooping into a descent the dragon flew towards the young man

Quickly thinking, the young man threw his shield in front of him. Just as he did, the dragon opened his mouth and a streak of flame came shooting out.
With his shield in front of him he deflected the flames until the dragon had no

choice but to fly up. Suddenly the young man saw his opportunity and with the item before him, he started to run towards it as fast as his legs could carry him.

The dragon, knowing what the young man was after, turned around and went into another descent, quickly gaining on the man. Still the young man was just as determined.

With the dragon almost on top of him the man reached out his hand to grab the item. But the dragon was just too fast. With another roar the dragon opened its mouth, snatched the young man by his leg, and carried him out to sea.

With the mountain quickly fading from sight, the young man let out a cry of pain. As he hung from the dragon's mouth. Refusing to give up he took his sword in both hands and started hacking at the dragon's mouth.

One slash after another, he hacked until the dragon opened its mouth. With a roar of pain, the dragon released the young man, causing him to plunge into the sea.

Splashing into the water, he frantically waved his hands back and forth, fighting his way back to the surface.

The weight of his armor though was too much for him to handle. With no other choice, he reached for the medallion, closed his eyes and ripped it off.

With his pulse racing, he suddenly realized that the water was no longer around him. Opening his eyes he found himself lying on a floor.
As he looked around he saw that he was again in the back room of the shop. He sat up and noticed that he no longer had the suit of armor on, nor did he have his sword.
Worse, he did not have the item that he sought.
In desperation he called out for the old man, but there was no answer.

"Where is he?" the young man said to himself.
As he stood up, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his leg. Looking down he saw that his leg was bleeding.

As he looked closely he saw the teeth bites of the dragon in his leg. He looked around the shop for a first aid kit but all he could find was a roll of cloth that he grabbed from a table in the room.

He wrapped it around his leg covering the wound that the dragon had made.
The young man let out a muffled cry of pain has he tightened the cloth. He almost fainted, but gathered himself and went to find the old man.

As he made his way through the front of the shop, he could not find any sign of the old man. He limped his way outside and just stood there on the sidewalk. He looked around for the old man but he was nowhere to be found.

Looking up into the sky, he noticed that the sun was in the same place as it was when he walked in the shop.

To him what seemed like hours was just minutes to the rest of the city. So with time left in the day he still was going to find a way to make his wife happy.

He went towards the flower shop, knowing that flowers would not be enough. As he walked up to the door he saw a sign hanging from the door that read “closed”.
In frustration he threw his hands up in the air and brought them back down to his side.

For the first time today he knew that it was time to give up. With his head down, and the day coming to an end, he once again, just like before, made his way home.

Only this time he was not walking with a steady pace but with a limp.
Once again his house came into view.

The sun had gone down, the street lamps were being lit, and a small breeze was blowing through the city right as the young man begin to walk.

As he limped his way to the front stairs of his house, he could still see his wife in the window with that sad look on her face.

With his head down and his pride broken he limped his way up the stairs. Limping into the house, he gently closed the door behind him. At the same time he placed his head up against it letting out a small sigh.

He made his way to the room that his wife was in. When she heard the door open and saw her husband walk through, she saw his leg that was banged up.

She jumped to her feet, hurried to his side and asked, "What happened?"
Her husband looked at his wife and told her all about the old man and the dragon.
When she asked why he would do something like that, he answered

"All the times I was sad you would do everything you could to cheer me up and to make me happy. So when I saw that same sadness in your face, I wanted to do the same, I wanted to make you happy."

With his head bent the man then turned around to a table that was behind him and started to empty his pockets onto it.

As his wife stood there looking at him, she could see that he was bending his head down in shame. Soon tears began to fall from her eyes for she could not believe that her husband would go through so much trouble and so much pain for such a small thing.

So with love filling her heart she walked up to her husband from the back and wrapped her arms around him and held him as tightly as ever, When her husband felt his wife's loving embrace, he then leaned his head back resting it on hers.

As they stood there in silence, she gently whispered to him, "As long as you are here with me, then I am happy."

My Dear Friend

By Joseph C. Collins


My friend, my dear friend. How is it that you are able to have so much joy? It is as pure as a child’s. And how is it that you have a smile as bright as the sun? It seems that you are almost in a world of your own, away from the pains of this life.

Yet when someone comes your way you see a look of sadness in their face and you take pity on them. You put aside your life to comfort them, and then you listen to all of their words and witness all of their tears.

You show love, and with love you bend down to the ground to pick up a flower. You walk up to them and with a gentle “yea” you shower them with petals of that very flower. And soon you are laughing together and all is well.

But when you walk away I can see in your face a look of sorrow of your own. My heart aches for you. But I am not the only one who sees it, for your other friends see it as well. Remembering all the times that you helped them, they take this time to make you smile.
To them it is not right otherwise.
I see them running to you bringing their own flowers. That very joy that I see, they see also, and they do not want it to go away.

It reminds me of the old story of a village long ago. In the center of that village was a gathering place, and in the middle is a bright flame with magnificent colors. All the villagers would come to sit around it.

There they would sing songs and they would eat and even tell stories of their own.
One day the flame began to fade away. One by one the villagers came to keep the precious flame alive, and one by one they could not succeed.
And so with the flame slowly fading, they all gathered around it for one last time. Some were crying and some had their heads down. They gathered to watch as their beloved flame flickered away.

Suddenly they heard a man walking from the shadows. And for some reason they had never noticed him, yet he had always been there.

The man walked up to the dying flame and waved has hand over it. Suddenly with a blaze the flame came back to life. With wonder in their eyes, all of the villagers came up to the man and started to thank him.

But the man looked at them and said, “All of this time when you came here to sing songs and to tell stories, you did not even once notice me. I have been here long before these flames were even a spark.

“As much as I appreciate all that you have done to restore the flame, it does not burn for your joy. It burns for my glory and my joy. I am its keeper and am the only one who has and will always tend this flame.”

And so my friend, my dear friend, this is what I see when I look at your face. Your friends run to your side because they see the same joy as I, and they do not want it to snuff out.
So as you walk toward me you honor me by looking my way. Then you bless me with a smile.
As you walk away, I see that you do not walk alone for there is a man walking with you. It is not your boyfriend nor is it your father.
“Who could it be?” I think to myself.

Just then the man looks back and I see his face. I now know who he is, for the man who walks with you also walks with me.
Finally I understand how you are able to have so much joy and show so much love and have so much strength. You are able to find the strength of men. Yet it is the same men who wish they had such strength.

My friend, my dear friend. How I have longed for the days that it was just us. I can still remember all the times you came up to me just to talk. You have now found others you want to be with. So I will now walk the other way, but I do so staring through tears, for I know that it is over.

I will no longer cry about what was. Instead I will rejoice in what is and what is to come. As I walk away I will always carry with me the scars of that fateful day.
Every morning I wake up and look in the mirror I am reminded of how and why I got the scars. I was ever so kind and tried my best to show love for it was my name that they mucked and my chivalry that was stained.

So now you know the look of sadness you see in my own face. We were such good friends and now it is coming to an end.
But I know deep down inside, that no matter who comes and or who goes that my life is far from over.
And now I say to you “Goodbye my friend, my dear friend, goodbye.”

Secret Place

By Joseph C. Collins

Everybody has a secret place. Some are big and some are small; a lot of the time some are in plain sight. You just have to know where to look, but then it wouldn’t be a secret would it?
This is a story about just such a place. I don’t know if it’s true. It may be, it may not, but all I know is that it is a good tale. It is a tale about friends.

It starts in the very small town of Maxwell. It’s a lovely town of solitude for there are no big city sounds here. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I just like a nice, small, quiet town. They are good for sitting.

But for the girl in this story sitting was one of her least favorite things to do. She wasn’t an out of control girl. She just enjoyed having fun, and that also meant exploring: in the trees, behind the rocks and even under porches. Still none of these places she could quiet call her own.
This made her very sad.

“I know,” she said to herself, and so off she went looking for that place she cloud call her own, her own secret place. She looked at many trees and behind many small hills and at the town’s creek but none of these were secret.

She then came to a big opening in the woods. Standing there, thoughts went through her mind of all the great things she would discover.

While walking through the woods she remembered what her father and mother said about losing oneself and how to make sure to find things to remember so she could find her way home.
“What to look for?” she thought to herself.
She came up to: an old tree, log, and then she past a huge rock and then she jumped over a small creek.

“Over the log,” she sang to herself. “And past the mighty rock, and now through the creek.”
As she sang her new song she came to it at last. There it was: a big opening in the woods, a perfect place to call her own. There was a huge tree with branches hanging down perfect for climbing. There was a soft place to sit on the grass. Here the birds sang a song of their own, and there were plenty of places to hide without getting lost.

As she was standing there, her eyes opened wide in wonder. I know what you are thinking. For you and me it would just be another place, but for a little girl it was perfect.
As she was walking up to the tree, she suddenly heard a sound behind her. She turned around and saw a little boy standing in the opening of the path. For a minute both of them were silent.

“How are you?” asked the girl.
“I’m good,” replied the boy.
“Do you want to be my friend?” asked the girl.
“Yes,” said the boy. “I would like that.”
“So would I,” said the girl.

And so every day at the same time they would meet at their secret place. Some days they would play hide and seek, and other days they would race one anther to the top of the tree.
After they were done playing they would tell one another all that had happened to them outside of their secret place.

For many years they came and played and talked, but one day neither of them came.
“What happened?” you ask.
As I said, many years went by. When that happens little girls and boys simply grow up. That is what happened to all the little boys and girls in Maxwell.

Do not be sad for my story does not end here.
For summer has come to the little town of Maxwell and all of the young men and women have come home from a long stay at college.

What do you know? There is that same little girl, but she is not little anymore, oh, no. For she has become a lovely young lady.
“Welcome home,” her family said. “It as been a long time.”
“Yes it has,” replied the young lady.
“Tell us all about it,” and so she did.

The day was coming to an end and all her family and friends were saying goodnight.
“Such a long day,” said the young lady. “I think I will go and have a seat on the porch.”
As she sat there she could remember all the great times she had as a little girl, and then it came to her.

“I wonder if it is still there?” she thought to herself.

She hopped up from her chair just like the little girl she used to be. To the opening of the woods she ran, over the log, past the rock, and through the creek. Once again like so many times before she was standing in her secret place.

“Just as I remembered it: the tree, the birds, everything. But something is missing. What could it be?” she said to herself.
Suddenly she heard a sound behind her. She turned around. There standing in the opening of the path was a young man.

“How have you been,” asked the young lady.
“Well,” replied the young man, "And you?" asked the young man "I been good." the young lady replied. So there in that wonderful place they begin to talked just like when they were little all those years ago.


And so my story comes to its end. Like I said, everyone has their secret place. But for them, theirs was a place that was untouched by time.
And in that place they were, and always will be, friends.