Chester & Tabby

Chester & Tabby

Chester is a chestnut horse who loves being brushed and eating apples. Tabby is a beautiful orange cat and she loves napping, playing games and being petted. They both lived on a small farm about half a mile from where I lived.

Although I saw them often, they normally were kind and caring towards each other. Chester and Tabby had known each other for over 3 years since Tabby was a kitten and Chester was a pony.

They were close friends, walking around the farm together, and always playing together. Chester even took Tabby for rides on his back They would spend hours together frolicking around, without a care in the world.

One morning as the sun was coming up, the dew was still glittering across the green grass in the field; Tabby told Chester. "Hey Chester, will you promise me that we will be friends..forever?"

Chester neighed, stomping his hoof into the soft dirt and said, "Of course Tabby, there is nothing that will ever stop us."

So they finished their breakfast, Chester had oats and an delicious red apple. Tabby ate her canned salmon, which was her favorite, with a small bowl of milk. Tabby then begin licking her paws, to clean  herself up.

Tabby came off the porch and said "Hey Chester how bout we go play by the pond, we can dig up some bugs and chase the butterflies around."

Chester loved playing with Tabby and agreed to chase around the bugs they found together. It would remind him of Ol' Nate who was an aged Appaloosa, with white and brown marks on his back.

Ol' Nate was a good Horse, who Chester loved and admired.

While outside playing, Tabby found a grasshopper, and instantly pounced on it and swatted it around until it flew away.

Meanwhile Chester was grabbing the grass with his mouth and pulling it up including the roots and uncovered some worms and beetles.  Chester mumbled "Here you go Tabby."

Tabby turned around and crouched down and pounced on the bugs yelling "hooray, I got them!"

Chester just snorted and smiled.

As the sun started to set, they decided to go back to the farm and rest for the night. It was such a wonderful fantastic day of bug hunting.

As the seasons changed they enjoyed many days of frolicking and lying around telling stories.

Tabby remembered a story that Mary, her owner told her about "Mindfulness" Tabby told Chester the story of mindfulness.

Tabby said "Mindfulness is about being in the present moment and allowing us to focus on our environment."

Chester interrupted and said "What does environment mean?"

Tabby explained "It is our surroundings, where we live and where we go."

Chester let out a soft neigh and said "Oh." As he remembered the stories Ol' Nate told him at bedtime.

Tabby went on describing it to Chester. She told Chester to close his eyes and just listen to the sounds around him.

Chester could hear the frogs croaking and the smell of apple pie that Mary was baking and the soft breeze, and birds chirping quietly in the distance.

Tabby said "Now take deep slow breaths in and out while listening to what's going on around you."

So Chester stood there, next to the barn breathing and listening to the world around him. His senses seemed to come alive as is he were more in touch with the world around him, and he even heard a horn blaring a long distance away.

After several minutes, Tabby asked "So how are you feeling?"

Chester replied "I feel great, and seem more focused."

Tabby said "That's wonderful, it is supposed to help with anxiety and other issues people have when they are stressed out."

Chester once again asked "What is anxiety?"

Tabby said "I asked the same question to Mary, and she said it's when you are confronted or experienced an emotional or physical trauma, that our bodies can't handle and we are fearful or apprehensive about something that may or did happen."

Tabby said "So by practicing mindfulness it allows us to confront our fears and to relax our minds, most of the time."

Chester thanked Tabby and said "Do you remember last spring, when they took ol' Nate out of the barn and a truck picked him up?"

Tabby said "Yes, I remember that; whatever happened to ol' Nate?"

Chester replied "I heard a man say that ol' Nate's time has come...I believe he is no longer with us." Chester sighed and then said "I can picture him in a lush farm eating golden straw and oats, I hope he is happy."

Tabby had a tear coming down her face and said "Me too."

Chester said "As long as we remember the good times, he will always be with us."

Tabby wished Chester a good night and said "I hope Ol' Nate is in a better place, and tomorrow we will have some more adventures."

Chester agreed by giving a soft neigh saying "Rest well Ol' Nate, we will always cherish our times together."

Chester and Tabby would have many more adventures as time went by.  This story is more for children and young adults helping them with being mindful and accepting loss.

Prayers,

Mandie