Michigan's Insurance Company
Other States
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America & Me Essay Contest
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Third Place Essay
Maggie Carr
Gaylord Middle School
Gaylord
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My Guardian Angel
Copper leaks out of her coat as I shine the spotlight on her. Rain pelts the roof of the barn, promising growth for the plants outside. Penny and I take refuge in the barn, staying warm and dry, surrounded by all sorts of delicious alfalfa hay. She saunters over to me and sets her long beautiful head in my lap and closes her chocolate-like brown eyes. Reaching into my pocket, I say, "Hey Babe, here's your favorite treat," and grab a Tootsie Roll. Her ears prick up, and her nostrils flare. With my hand flat, I hold out the treat, and feel the familiar velvet lips brush over my hand. Burying my head in her neck, I breathe in the scent of my horse.
How she makes my life complete is not comprehendible. Penny takes care of me every day, even though to the untrained eye it would seem as if I was taking care of her. I can't tell you how many times I have turned to her in a time of need. Certainly more than everyone else combined. When my parents told me they were going to get a divorce, I cried with her. When our weanling was put down, we wallowed in self-pity together. I stood next to her and stared in horror when Star, the beast you could hardly call a horse, thrashed against the rope and reared to no end like fire was being lit on her hindquarters. There are many other times when she's dried my tears, but I don't have enough room to list them all.
Penny does something no one else can-she takes me with her when she flies. Galloping on Penny is a natural high, and it never fails to take my breath away. Sitting on her back takes me away from the Earth, away from my troubles, and galloping among the stars purifies my mind, making a tough decision suddenly seem clear.
Penny is radically different from any other horse on the Earth. She is the best lawn ornament anyone can have, and she mows the lawn as well. No matter how much I babble about things of unimportance, Penny always listens to me. She's the best friend anyone can have, because, like George Elliot so brilliantly pointed out, "Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, pass no criticism." Penny loves to show off, which is good because I love to show her off.
When we think of the word heroes, we think of firemen, policemen, or even Superman. They save the lives of innocent people from ever increasing dangers. A horse is a very different type of hero, but that doesn't make her any less important.
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