#pandorathom2025 #day3. #umasreeraghunath
*The Curmudgeon and the Colt*
In the quiet, almost forgotten corner of the valley, lived a man named Jebomany. He was the type of person everyone steered clear of—known for his sour temper and even worse attitude. A curmudgeon, they called him, though no one dared say it to his face. Jeb had no use for friends and preferred the solitude of his little farmhouse, nestled beneath the sweeping canopy of an ancient oak tree. It was said the tree had been there for centuries, its branches twisting like old bones reaching for the sky.
Jeb's house was small, with a weathered porch and a rusting wind chime that never seemed to move, even in the gustiest winds. It was a place of quiet isolation, where the only sounds that filled the air were the chirps of crickets in the summer evenings and the occasional hoot of an owl from the nearby woods.
One day, while Jeb was sitting on his creaky rocking chair, a commotion came from outside. He grumbled under his breath, annoyed by the disturbance. When he stepped outside, he saw a colt, no older than a year, tethered to the fence by his barn. The colt was wild-eyed, tossing its head, and neighing anxiously as it struggled against the rope.
A cat—black as midnight—watched from the edge of the porch, tail flicking slowly, as if amused by the colt's confusion. Jeb scratched his beard, wondering how the animal had ended up in his yard. No one had ever bothered him enough to leave such a creature. He had no use for horses or their owners, and yet here was this young colt, seemingly abandoned.
"Well, look at you," Jeb muttered, walking toward the colt. "Ain't nothing but trouble, that's for sure." He paused, glancing at the cat, who merely blinked at him before licking its paw, unconcerned with the whole situation.
Jeb's fingers tightened around the rope that bound the colt. He tugged, but the animal resisted, kicking up dirt and whinnying loudly. "You're stubborn, aren't you?" Jeb muttered. But despite his irritation, there was a faint, reluctant fondness growing within him. He had dealt with animals his entire life, but something about this colt—so young and wild—made him pause.
The sky began to darken, the sun dipping behind the thick canopy of trees. The crickets outside had started their rhythmic chirping, a sound that usually signaled the end of another long day. Jeb sighed, leaning against the fence. He had no plans for the colt, no desire to keep it, and yet something told him it needed to stay. It needed his care, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
With a sigh, he started to untie the rope. The colt, realizing it was no longer confined, stood still, its head lowered in a calm submission that surprised Jeb. It looked at him with those wide eyes—almost pleading.
"I suppose I can’t just leave you out here to fend for yourself," Jeb muttered, shaking his head as he led the colt into the barn. The cat followed, its green eyes glowing in the twilight, as if approving of Jeb’s decision.
Inside the barn, Jeb made a bed of hay for the colt, and as he worked, he found himself humming a tune under his breath—a habit he hadn’t realized he still had. The colt seemed to sense the shift in the air, and as Jeb placed the last piece of hay, the colt lay down with a soft snort, curling its legs beneath it.For the first time in years, Jeb didn’t feel so alone. The company of the colt, and the quiet presence of the cat, seemed to fill a space he hadn’t known was empty. Outside, the crickets still sang, their song a reminder that life continued, even in the most unexpected ways.
As the night settled in, Jeb stood by the barn door, looking out at the darkened valley. His heart, which had been hardened over time, seemed to soften just a little.
"Well, I’ll be," Jeb whispered, turning to the colt. "Maybe you ain't so bad after all."
And for the first time, Jeb felt the warmth of something he hadn’t felt in years—something that resembled connection. He wasn’t sure what the future held for him and the colt, but one thing was certain: he wasn’t as alone as he once thought.
The cat meowed softly in the corner, as if in agreement, and the sound of crickets filled the air once more, serenading the old man, the colt, and the cat under the canopy of trees that watched over them all.
