Running With The Bull
Interpreting Life’s Course Design
Earnest was picking at his cottage pie at the British theme pub down the street from what America defined as the Las Vegas Strip. He had been washed up on the desert island since his young adult life. Deemed one of the best ambulance drivers in the Southwest he could not leave his caretaker post instead the gentlemen made do by eating good food and playing the horses. Staring at the fruited iced tea Earnest reflected on assisting people in need and having the power of switching on the lights to warn people he was coming down the highway.
Fishing for answers Earnest stared contently at the drink that was right in front of him trying to map out a strategy on what else he had to accomplish in a twenty-four-hour period. To be honest Earnest had a very interesting skill being a top-notch delivery person to those needing emergency services. After getting his college degree in journalism he took a beat on the local paper in his mid-western hometown covering health care issues. Then when the weekly paper went out of business Earnest decided to follow his notes to Las Vegas. Still continuing to pursue the information he obtained from the communication trade Earnest found himself behind the wheel of an ambulance.
Picking Up A Nice Horse to Read
Only a few miles from the Pub known as the Fair Field Inn Muriel sat on her trunk and stared into space still with her gloves on wondering if she got the job done. For about two hours in a small compact ring that resembled a nice place for a photographer to take equestrian themed pictures in order to contribute to society she tried to figure out the meaning or interpret the horse she was schooling.
“Dad, what was Of Mice and Men really about?” she yelped watching the grey mare she was riding only a few minutes ago.
“I dunno honey I only read the cliff notes,” the Father stuck his head out of his office that oversaw the training area.
Walking into the house then into an office, “we were little off today,” she explained about her training of the horse named Of Mice and Men while sitting in the chair that was for guests.
“And why did you buy Of Mice and Men for me?”
“Having a good friend to work through things will be good for you.”
Taking things in stride like she was in the hunter show ring the soon to be an adult stepped out of the business portion to the house. And then headed through the entry that had the image of a reboot of the CW television show Dynasty. Opening the door, she could see Of Mice and Men grazing and taking only a few steps she was inside the tack room with two carrots.
It was Of Mice and Men who benefitted from Muriel’s stepping out to think about things “Poppa thinks you we should be good friends and good friends work out obstacles together,” she told her four-legged companion with a carrot.
After the second one she decided to do some more pondering by taking a walk and soon ended up on the roads heading to the main street where all the food establishments were located.
‘This town did have the lure of such nice cafés and despite the late afternoon heat she found herself feeling peace at the French café “Art De Triumph” across the shopping center from a dance studio.
Fishing for Answers
Earnest forgot why he left traditional journalism to pursue a career in one on one communication that simply had the responsibility of put it in the back and I will take it there. Seeing the games on the television and the theatric conclusions the memory came back to the reason he dropped the notebook and cassette tape machine for the rescue vehicle.
“Well here is the twenty, thanks for the pie,” Earnest told the waitress which rendered an answer, “do you want a refill of the iced tea to go.”
“No, I am not going to the hammock today,”
“Dessert, Earnest?”
“No, I am stuffed,” he told the British theme establishment.
Walking out to head to the car it hit him why he stopped writing like a reporter. Just like driving into a treacherous area to fulfill a professional obligation he got tired of going into uncharted areas and having to sift through information only to get the “no comment” treatment from a source.
Sitting in his car without the light and sirens Earnest turned the radio on to return to the highway
Getting the Time for Reference
Sitting with a cup of tea Muriel found a book on the shelf and started to page through the contents. It was written by an American author not having the name John Steinbeck and it was about horses. In the chair opposite to her was a dance instructor who lived in the same area as her mini farm.
“It’s a good book,” the French accent made sure it was heard by Muriel, “author lives down the street, it’s about relationships, you know working with a partner.”
Muriel took note of the comment as she scanned the words that were written like it was scribed by a journalist. Despite being fiction, she was engrossed in the points the writer made and the interpretative style allowed her to understand the concept to the importance of a relationship. Closing the book and returning it to the shelf the dancer met her halfway. “It’s all about contributing to each other making them stronger.”
“Well, thank you,” replied Muriel before heading out the door brushing by a gentleman with a cane. “Bobby it’s so good to see you,” the voice came from the reading area.
Promotional Tease
While flipping through the newspaper Earnest glanced at each story especially the good ones in the side bar. Then he noticed the advertisement schedule for the equestrian friendly Hotel Casino. Tickets went on sale for the Crown Royal/Budweiser/Johnnie Walker Las Vegas Grand Prix presented by Longines and Rolex the message stated, and Earnest pondered the notion in this city they had racing horses on the television screens while those who had the spectacle of jumping had a stage. Putting the periodical down Earnest took a hard look at the artistic New York City skyline before pulling out of the fast food parking space.
Dealing with A Line of Communication
It certainly was a nice walk back with the sun setting behind her and reaching the one stall barn Of Mice and Men stuck his head out to see who was coming down the walkway. “Oh hello,” the human voice greeted the four-legged animal, “they say we need to build our relationship skills, we need to contribute to each other, like dancers, do you understand that? I don’t.”
Of Mice and Men shook his head in approval and took a step back to scratch his leg. “Well then you are going to have to tell me,” Muriel scratched his forehead, “tomorrow of course.”
Afternoon Observations
It was nearly one pm in the afternoon and the dancer had already taught dance lessons to preschool kids. With only another private class of a husband and wife scheduled for the end of the day to go Trixie decided to head across the parking lot to the Art of Triumph. During the break time she found herself inside the library area of the café sipping on a cup of tea with her dear friend, Bob. Talking about nothing but the ways of the world when Earnest came into the literary domain filled with theatrical people.
“Come join us for afternoon tea, Earnest,” the dancer said.
“Trixie, I do not mind if I do, Bob” and taking his hand off the cane Bob acknowledged the entrance.
Bob peered out the window to see the young girl and the jumper take a fence with such grace. “How do they do that?” He asked with Trixie putting down the cup with the saucer, “do what?’
“Do that?” He repeated the question, “do what?” She said like it was a staged conversation. Earnest picked up on the observation, “apparently she lets go and he takes care the job of going over the fence.”
“Natural communication,” Trixie interjected, “she was in here yesterday over there,” pointing at the bookshelf reading that book you know the local author wrote, “a little rough around the edges but quite nice.”
“Teenagers are supposed to be rough around the edges, that is what makes them teenagers!” Bob put his two cents into the conversation.
The Plan Works
“Easy we will try this one more time,” Muriel leaned forward and whispered into her mounts ears while her father brushed off his pants to bring the rail up another half inch. “This will make it three feet honey,”
“That is good poppa,” Muriel was delighted with the relaxed discussion during the schooling time. Pulling on her outside reign Muriel gave a small kick and Of Mice and Men took off into a controlled canter. With a smooth bend Muriel stayed focused first using the fence post as a guide and when she turned to the jump itself her eye concentration transitioned itself to the blue mark as she comfortably timed the approach and take off.
“Good going,” her Father told her.
“I stuck to my plan and it worked,” Muriel smiled as she walked Of Mice and Men back to his one-bedroom apartment.
From the Voice of An Author
Unlike Bob, Trixie, and Earnest presence in the Art of Triumph being very visible the local author only came in after dark. With a mysterious aura that would make an adolescent remember things the writer sat in the dark with a cup of tea. Having a need to embrace loving characters Muriel took an early evening stroll to the cafe. After placing her order, she ventured into the library area where she did not see the gentlemen instead, she picked up the book she was reading about horses.
When she sat down the writer watched her read what he had published, “ever hear of a man named Errol Flynn? A swashbuckler hero,” the voice in the dark said.
“No,” Muriel retorted, “who was Errol Flynn?”
“Fought many battles on film,” the voice explained. “that is a peaceful way to fight on stage, for me I can do it with words and allow the imagination.”
“You’re an author?” Muriel asked.
“Yes, I am the author of that book about horses you have in your hand,”
“You know so much, why aren’t you at horse shows teaching training,”
With a quiet smile the author returned to his cup of tea allowing Muriel to return to the read that she walked a small distance to escape. “Interpret my words, young Muriel that will make you understand relationships and once you have done that you will be able to clear any fence no matter how high.”
Taking the Course
A few months later there was a healthy crowd at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa for the Crown Royal/Budweiser/Johnnie Walker Las Vegas Grand Prix Presented by Longines And Rolex. Even know it was not on television it was still an exciting event. Trixie and Earnest convinced Bob to join them for the evening’s entertainment.
“These tickets were a lot less than most of the shows on the Strip,” Trixie stated
“And it is so much beautiful,” Earnest added with Bob listening in to the conversation.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Trixie defended her craft.
Over the loudspeaker comes a voice “Now entering in the ring hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, Muriel Steinbeck, the twice removed cousin of American legendary author John Steinbeck riding Of Mice and Men.
“Oh, dear look there is the girl from the café,” Trixie blurted out, “she has been working all day with that horse and we have been watching, right, Bob.” And Bob shook his head in approval while Earnest kept his peace watching the spectacle.
As silence descended on the South Point Arena the only thing that could be heard was the horse hitting the rails and as nothing fell to the ground everything seemed to be going according to plan. In other words, Muriel mapped out her strategy and attacked each obstacle one by one. Communicating with Of Mice and Men telling him where to go and when to jump the fence.
“She is handling this mission really well,” Earnest stated, and Bob agreed.
Halfway through the course the visual read like a well written book that the audience silently watched every move. Like it was staged choreography everyone checked out the time on the clock and seeing it was in the required amount they returned their attention to the final line consisting of a double obstacle, a triple and a single easy element.
Clearing two bigger challenges was a breeze and all she had to do was handle a simple element and the two would be in the second round.
“Is there a third round?” Earnest honestly made a point through a question, “if we are supposed to be socializing you would think we would have a third round so we can keep communicating.”
“Earnest, first thing is first, our friend past the test,” Trixie replied, “she may win the event and there are fifty-one others taking a shot, we do not need a third round.”
Earnest sat back in his plastic chair and seeing Muriel accomplish something that was her personal best made him clap his hands in approval.
No Faults
Muriel kicked her feet out of her stirrups and felt really relaxed as she went through the exit gate, “I am glad I made late dinner reservations,” her Father mentioned, “that was a great round.”
“I guess you are right Poppa keeping everything compact and small does breeds success,” Muriel allowed her Dad to take control of the situation by leading Of Mice and Men down the indoor arena’s path back to the barns.
“Why don’t you go get a drink upstairs and watch the other half of the class,” her Father suggested, “I got the horse from here.”
Despite being in the equestrian peaceful message of a uniform Muriel blended in with the other patrons and seeing the contingent from the Art of Triumph she gave them a wave.
“Such a nice round, Muriel,” Earnest was being earnest.
“Yes, good luck winning,” Bob was very positive.
“Go break a leg,” Trixie followed, and the two gentlemen gave her a look, “I mean break a leg, you know.”
Smiling Muriel threw a couple dollars on the counter then headed back downstairs with a fruity sport drink in hand.
Keeping It Clean
“We have seen 52 rides tonight and only three went clean and a jump off will decide the Crown Royal/Budweiser/Johnnie Walker Las Vegas Grand Prix presented by Rolex and Longines, when you have to time to party choose one,”
Being first to go Muriel was already at the gate with Of Mice and Men, then when the horn sounded the two made a large circle before going to the fences that had less than the first round. Thinking what the author wrote the horse felt her kindness to the arts which reflected upon the performance. Granted she took her time in dealing with each fence as they encountered the different obstacles and, in the end, she finished the test without any red marks.
“Well, she took her time,” Earnest noted.
“And I think her goal was doing the personal best performance,” Trixie defended the presentation.
“Both her rounds were clean,” Bob interjected, “that is something to be proud of.”
Clapping Earnest brought the debate to an end, “she did her personal best.”
With great entertainment the three watched the other two riders gamble one coming through with the quickest time and the other dropping a rail on the final fence due to going fast.
“Wow, she finished second,” Earnest was surprised.
“Out of Fifty others,” Trixie added.
An elated father put his shoulder around Muriel and told her, “you did your personal best and that is important.”
“And you know poppa both performances were clean.”
Winning at Steak
After all the tack and Of Mice and Men were put away Muriel hooked the red ribbon on her belt when she headed to the Casino level. Reaching the steak house, she met up the matre d who pointed her in the direction to her Father.
But before she reached the table a voice was heard from a table in the dark, “didn’t I tell you good communication skills will make for a good ride.”
“I did read that somewhere,” she answered the local author before joining Poppa for a blue-ribbon dinner.
The End
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