Interference from Michigan... Again

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli was fuming as he walked out of Ms. Robinson's office. If he'd been a cartoon, steam would probably have been coming out of his ears. It wasn't the woman's fault, though, or even the computer. If only it had been a glitch, some mistake. But no.

He thought back to the conversation that had just occurred, where he had let the barn manager know that there was a mixup with his file, that it apparently linked to a horse, although he had none. The woman had pulled up the file, and then let him know that no, apparently it was not a mixup. Said horse, Northwoods Compass, had been delivered the day before by a horse transport company, and was currently enjoying time in the Blue Ridge stables.

He hadn't believed her, not at first, claiming that it must have been another student's horse that was falsely being attributed to him. The woman had seemed concerned at the possibility, and had pulled out the various documents that the horse had on file, in one of the file cabinets in the office. The signature at the bottom of a bill of sale had told Eli all he needed to know, and he'd stopped arguing - He'd know that signature anywhere. It had been on plenty of homework assignments, and some field trip forms too - When they hadn't lain forgotten in a corner.

His father had, without asking him, decided to buy Eli a horse. Thankfully, the barn manager had allowed Eli to look over the documents, getting at least the basic information about his new steed, so he didn't look like a complete idiot as he wandered the barn. However, looking like an idiot was the least of his worries, as he approached the horse. Lost. What a stupid name for a horse. And how was he supposed to be competitive on a Morgan, of all things? A quarter horse would have been fine. An appaloosa, a dream, a great stroke of luck. But a Morgan? Where had his father found this nag, and how much had he paid to be conned into thinking it was a good mount for his son?

[Victoria Greco]

Since the weather seemed to be playing ball, Tori had decided to take Poe outside for a groom, as it gave the inquisitive gelding more to look at, more people walking around that he could con for attention, that kind of thing. With the gelding's grooming session finished, and the temperature dropping slightly, she decided to err on the side of caution and headed back into the barn with her horse.

Approaching his stall, she saw an unfamiliar boy standing by a door, which she was sure belonged to the stunning Morgan that had arrived the day before. She moved over slightly, so as not to crowd him with her horse, but Poe had other ideas as he blew down his nostrils over the boy's head. "Oh gosh, I am so sorry!" She gasped as she grabbed the halter under the gelding's chin and pulled his head away before he got too friendly.

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli had gotten lost in his own thoughts again, standing in front of the stall of his horse, who was studiously ignoring him. Or, he had to admit, possibly hadn't noticed him yet, in favor of dozing. Eli hadn't exactly made himself known, either. That all changed, though, as he felt something ruffling his hair. He flinched downwards, then glanced upward.

He recovered, and felt slightly foolish at his reaction, "Don't worry, it's okay." He glanced at the horse the girl was holding, "See? That's what a western horse should look like." He paused, "Sorry. Guess I shouldn't carry out arguments in my head aloud." He paused, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to relax, "And that's not much better. Brilliant start, Eli." He smiled at the girl, "I'm Eli, and I'm really not as crazy as I sound. Just still getting my feet under me here. Who is this handsome dude?"

[Victoria Greco]

Tori's eyebrows shot up and then she laughed when it seemed that the boy had spoken without meaning to. "It's all good." She replied with a friendly smile. "I'm Tori and this is Poe... err... Pocket Full of Personality. And don't worry, we're all a little crazy around here." She rubbed Poe's nose as she looked at the horse in the stall. "Is he yours? Not the western horse you were hoping for." She knew that Poe was what a western horse was supposed to look like, but if it weren't for all his bling; white face, blue eyes and awesome legs, he wouldn't stand out. At least if she entered the ring on a Morgan, then she would turn heads.

Poe ducked his nose out from under her hand and stretched out toward the boy again, sniffing every inch of him that the horse could reach, no doubt trying to work out if he was withholding any oreos. "As you can see, he has personality in spades."

[Elijah Taylor]

Eli smiled at the girl, "That's a good name." He nodded at her observation, "Yeah. I asked to get sent here, but I was planning on riding a school horse, I didn't have one of my own back home." He paused, "And you really don't want to know the whole life story, but yeah, he's not exactly what I'd have wanted if I'd been asked."

He paused, smiling as Poe sniffed him up and down, "No worries, it's nice." He looked into the stall he was standing by, "And apparently Mr. 'Lost' has noticed I'm here too." The gelding was eying him, although he hadn't approached, or moved away from the haynet, just yet. The derision in his voice made it clear what Eli thought of the name, "Think he'll mind if I rename him?"

[Victoria Greco]

Tori smiled as she nodded. "It could have been worse." She said, her smile deepening. "He could have been a Mule." Not that she had anything against Mules, but it was the worst case scenario she could think of.

"Lost?" She repeated with arched eyebrows. "Nice name. A little lost in translation, maybe?" She looked at the Morgan horse. "I don't think there should be any issues with changing his barn name. Any idea what he's trained in? You opinion on him might change when you've had a ride."