by captain dude » Sun May 02, 2021 7:15 am
username; captain dude
which one?; Elsie
name; Annie
prompt;
Do you believe in fate? Destiny?
Well, after all I’ve been through, I certainly do.
Life’s been good to me. Call me a “golden boy” (er, gal) but I just seem to do great at everything I touch.
And trust me, I’ve tried to fail before but I just can’t seem to do so. I grew up in a small town, at a small high school, where I was the big fish in that little pond. Straight As, homecoming queen, teacher’s pet. I was something of a champion for our little town. There were a few times when I tried to be the bad girl, but everyone took it as a big joke. Tests I skipped studying for I somehow still aced, softball practices I missed to go to the movies were cancelled day-of, concerts I shirked were cancelled due to rain. Everybody knew my name and adored me. Afterward high school, I went to work on my family’s farm. I didn’t really want to go to college; I’ve never been able to sit still. Maybe someday, but I just don’t feel... ready, y’know? I love the thrill and grind of hard, dangerous work. Plus there’s much more money to be had in farming.
I love working with my family. Nothing feels like a chore when you’re doing it next to people you love. We’ve been growing a wide variety of crops and animals for generations out here. But my favorite work? Managing our herd of rodeo stallions. Er, or rodeo stallions in training. Papa’s only let me work with those horses about a year ago. It’s risky and challenging but it definitely pays well. And riding them is the best feeling in the world, my long hair whipping in the wind as I hang on for dear life.
I mean, sure, there’s been a couple of close calls but with my strange luckiness, it’s all been okay. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’ve been training the latest batch for the past year, and I’m thinking it’s time to bring them to their first rodeo. If my luck has anything to do with it, I’ll end up winning for sure.
I load my favorites, Double Trouble, Grasshopper Jean, and Blue Huey, into their trailer and we’re off to the rodeo. As you can imagine, I go through a mountain of paperwork but I can feel the thrill as I button up my leather jacket and don my hat. It’s like electricity in my veins. I know I can’t lose. There’s no way. I’m just too lucky (and besides, I’ve worked way too hard) to lose.
I excitedly wait for my name to be called for the first event. As I’m up on deck, I get into the pen with Blue Huey, sweaty paw gripping the saddle. The door opens and I cling on right. I feel myself losing my grip.
No, I think to myself. I can’t lose. There’s just no way. I never lose.
But then I feel my paw slip from the saddle and a moment later, I hit the gravel.
I’m in shock. What?!? I thought I could never lose?
Stunned and a bit scared, I pick up my hat and shuffle back to the box to watch the rodeo clowns get control of Huey and wait for the second event.
A wave of self doubt washes over me. What if I really wasn’t as great as I thought I was?
The second event, barrel racing, comes and I’m to be the last to go. The competition is fierce. I’ve never seen so many good barrel racers in one place. As my turn comes up, I climb onto Double Trouble and gallop out there, cutting as close as possible on those turns around the metal barrels. When I finish the course, I look up at the timer with mixed feelings.
Second place. As I walk back to the horse trailer to put Trouble away and watch the rest of the rodeo events, my parents rush at me, enveloping me in a hug.
“Honey, we’re so proud of you,” my mom says. “You got back up and tried again, even after the first event.”
“I didn’t place first, you guys,” I tell them.
“But you tried again,” my dad says with a smile. “Persistence is what makes you a winner. They don’t give second prizes to just anyone, especially a newbie.”
That’s when it clicks. Maybe hard work and persistence get you further than just luck or talent. And working hard is what will make me a champion. I vow to myself that day that no matter how many times life knocks me down, I’d get back up again and keep on trying. And that attitude is worth all the luck in the world.
(optional: any remaining words can be used as an extra)