for The Unicorn Challenge which is hosted by Jenne Gray and C.E.Ayr.
. .
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Jonathon Pargitter was a highly respected racehorse trainer. His stables, Highwood Grange were the envy of the racing fraternity. However, he was a hard taskmaster and inclined to be unreasonably demanding. At times he’d be abusive, even cruel to his loyal workforce.
Gilbert Pope, the Head Groom had worked at Highwood Grange for over thirty years. He was paid far more than he could have earned elsewhere, so he tolerated everything his malevolent employer threw at him.
One evening after the staff had retired for the night Jonathan Pargitter was in a stable admiring his greatest asset, a fine and fiery mare which was proving unbeatable the world over.
But whilst the staff put up with Jonathon Pargitter’s unpleasant ways the mare no longer would, and on that fateful night, she flew into a rage trampling her owner to an untimely death.
The following day Gilbert Pope found the stable door ajar. The mare was unusually calm. There on the straw laid the battered and lifeless body of Jonathon Pargitter. Nobody else had seen it, nor would they.
Jonathon Pargitter’s sudden disappearance remained a mystery to all but Gilbert Pope. His son Patrick Pargitter took over the stables.
*
Two years later, workers were clearing the slurry pit and beneath the rotten straw and stinking excrement, they found the remains of Jonathon Pargitter. They recovered what they could so he could be offered a proper send-off.
“Dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” said the priest.
“Shit to shit”, muttered Gilbert Pope.
.
© Ayr/Gray
Love this Keith! ❤️
Thank you so much!
You are most welcome! 😊
Fabulous, Keith! And this sound like the excellent recounting of a true story. Fact or fiction, this is a great write!
That’s so generous of you Nancy, thank you.
Going to remember that expression. Might come in handy someday.
You never know!
Excellent last line and a fitting tribute to Jonathon Pargitter.
(PS All the other lines were excellent too! A great, fun ‘moral’ tale.
I should have put up a naughty language warning! Thanks so much, Jenne.
Ha! love the ending to this one
Thanks, Beth!
Excellent!
Thanks, David!
Language, Timothy!
I’m a big fan of stomping wee turds who are nasty to beautiful animals.
Sorry!
I couldn’t agree more.
A moving story Keith.
Thank you, Sadje.
You’re welcome 😇
Horse sense wins.
Perfectly put, Patricia.
Animals will defend themselves, and good for them.
So they should. Thank you, Mimi.
Yet Gilbert kept collecting that paycheck even while the cruelty continued over 30 years. I hope the cruelty ended once the mare ended his reign (pun intended.)
He did, probably to protect the poor beast. (pun appreciated!)
You’re probably right, Keith. Some kind of buffer between a monster and its vulnerable victim.
Great closing line!
I was worried it might cause offence!
Really like your blog. I hope you like it too and follow mine. Min thanks. A warm greeting from the south of Spain 💯👋 🫂