Monkey Dee

Wind chimes outside were singing.

There weren't any other sounds echoing through the house; just my own thoughts to keep me company as Glint changed upstairs.

I'm kinda curious how she'll look. Maybe we'll match? I was sitting on our couch, peering down towards boots I'd donned earlier. Snake leather stitched with floral patterns contributed to my cowboy aesthetic. And I'd just finished buttoning the iron buttons of a brown, suede vest that felt heavier than my normal one.

Another minute passed. Two minutes. It gave me more time to reflect on my outfit. Did I really need to dress up just to go in our backyard? I know I'm trying new styles, but still.

Then, I heard a series of approaching clangs. Someone in heavy boots was shambling down the stairs, gaining confidence with each step. Her canter came to a climax as she stepped around the corner.

"Ummm, I think I might've gone overboard, hehe." Glint ambled into our living room. Her cowgirl hat was on backwards, though the dark color matched her purple flannel tucked snug inside jeans. And her thin waist—buckled firm with a belt—wobbled while she tried walking in high-shaft boots that were a size large.

"Sorry," I said. "I couldn't find any other ranch boots in Fate's room."

"It's fine," she said while doing cute hops to get used to them. "The heels aren't big, just angled. But you're sure your sister won't mind me borrowing these?"

"Don't worry. Her whole existence demands borrowing clothes . . . "

"If you say so." Strolling around the living room, Glint had almost mastered the cowboy boots even having never worn heeled shoes before. They'd be needed for what she might be demanding later.

All I did was suggest boots, but she went the extra mile! I watched her trot like I was a proud dad watching their child take her first steps. Boots were natural for me; being raised in the countryside meant my family had embraced western heritages. But Glint? I still didn't know much about her. She was an enigma—an anomaly that'd sparked curiosity, and someone I wouldn't mind getting closer with.

"Whew!" Glint plopped beside me on the couch. "I think I got the hang of things now."

"Awesome," I smiled. "Wanna head out now?"

"Mm!"

We trekked across the room in our clanging cowboy gear, chattering, until we reached the patio door. Just beyond were wind chimes dancing in a breeze.

Alright, let's go. I slid open the door. Blasts of arid air struck us as we acclimated to the desert environment, step by step.

"Woah," Glint said as she peered around. Her hat's brim shielded from sunlight overhead. "There's so much land out here."

"Yeah. Welcome to Hesperia, haha."

A near barren landscape—sand slithered around as another breeze kicked up dust towards the hot sun. The rays were poignant, beaming towards clusters of sagebrush, desert grasses, and wildflowers below. There was no such thing as shade except for stalls and sheds stationed ahead.

"Hmmm . . ." Glint crouched to admire a yellow marigold. "You mentioned this town's name before, but now I'm thinking we actually did have Hesperia where I'm from."

"If your California has a high desert, I'd bet it has Hesperia too."

"Who knows how different they'd seem though."

Good point. It was food for thought if nothing else: how different could two worlds with unique modes of transport be?

Our walk forward continued. The property was enclosed within two acres of land, and surrounded by chain-link fences separating us from neighbors. A few prickly Joshua trees dotted the range, though trace greenery thinned as we approached some stables.

"Oh!" Glint pointed, excited. "Is this a 'pasture'?"

"Monkey Dee wishes it was pasture," I chuckled. "But nah. That's just his paddock."

Iron-pipe fencing encircled a stretch of land covered in sand. Nothing stirred inside except faint, distant slurping sounds lapping water.

We traveled through a wooden gate that led towards a weathered shed. Cracks in the blue paint festered, sun-dried by years of elements. And a slight tilt to the side meant the shed was on its last legs.

"Monkey's grub is here," I said while I tried prying the door open. A stubborn knob refused turning until twisting hard. "Oof. Let's head in."

Light inside was scant apart from a cracked window stained with grime. Dust floating about made Glint behind me sneeze.

"It's kinda stuffy in here . . ." she said.

"Yeah. I keep telling Fate we gotta buy another shed. But there's not enough allowance for it."

"Allowance?"

"Complicated issue." I crouched down to examine hay bales. "Can you look around for scissors or something?"

"No problem."

The old floorboards squeaked with each step of her boots. She peeked inside tool boxes and tip-toed up towards shelves, before finding an old knife.

"Will this work?" She handed it to me.

"Perfect, thanks. I just gotta cut some flakes out."

It was an odd, warm feeling—Glint hovering over my shoulder watching me work. For something as mundane as slicing a rope, she observed curiously just like when I was cooking earlier. And even as I dug through hay, checking for mold or rot, she remained focused on not distracting me.

"This one seems good?" I pulled out a hay slab that kept its shape. "It's Timothy, so pretty hardy stuff."

Glint bent down to my level. "Looks nice. Is Monkey Dee a picky eater?"

"Not really. But he's getting older, so we gotta make sure he doesn't get sick."

"Poor guy."

In another minute we were back outside, each of us carrying a slab of hay. I'd asked Glint if she had allergies, but she kept cutely sneezing until we waltzed into a red barn.

Inside were assortments of stalls. However, just one off in the far corner was occupied.

"Chkchkchkchksmooch." My mouth puffed kissing noises as we went. "Sorry. That'll let 'em know we're coming, haha."

"Oh? I'll try calling too!" Glint's glossy lips prepared a pucker. "Smoochsmoochsmooch! Monkey Dee! Where are you?"

Our voices echoed. Then, a horse poked its head out from the final stall.

"There's our man," I said.

"My gosh! He's so cute!"

Excited neighs welcomed us as we gathered in front of Monkey's stall. The red door had a window for his head that let us get a good look at Monkey up-close.

An American Quarter Horse, Monkey boasted cinnamon-brown hair all around except for a kiss of white on his forehead. Tall, pointed ears swiveled in sync while he listened to our cooing voices. And his mane—an auburn strip—glistened like someone just washed it recently.

"D-Do you think I can pet him?" Glint beside me said.

"Go ahead. He's the calmest horse possible."

With a nod, she lowered her slab of hay and stepped forward. Monkey Dee, as if aware, drooped his head to let himself be caressed.

"So cool! Good boy!" Glint smiled. "How old is he anyway?"

"Twenty-five—probably." My spare hand joined in petting Monkey. "Basically Fate's age."

"Did your family get him young?"

"Mm. A foal. But my parents were around to train him, so he turned out pretty gentle."

Under the shadow of her cowgirl hat, Glint's eyes gleamed with sudden excitement. There was no hiding her eagerness.

"If he's a gentle horse," she said while petting him, "maybe there's a chance I could ride him?"

Expected. "Mmm . . . Nah! No riding!"

"Huh? Why not?"

"Haha, I'm kidding. He loves a little ride sometimes."

"Then it's fine?"

"Sure, but let's finish things here first."

"Okay!"

Glint held my hay so I could unlatch and open Monkey's stall. The red door swung wide to reveal an enclosure full of wood shavings. Buckets lined the wall, along with taped photos and colorful stickers. But cramped accommodations meant there wasn't much room to maneuver.

"Make sure you don't step in poop," I told Glint as we walked in. Monkey Dee tried sniffing and licking us out of curiosity.

"Hehe, he's funny," Glint said. "Just wondering, but who named him Monkey Dee?"

"My sis." I nodded towards a photo on the wall. "They've been close since before I was born."

"Hmmm?" Glint approached the pinned pictures. An assortment—some photos were discolored from age, while others gleamed like new. "Oh! This one must be when Monkey was still a pony."

"Foal. But yeah. Fate originally wanted pet monkeys, so naming him Monkey Dee was the middle ground."

Glint seemed charmed by the collection of pictures, so much that she hardly noticed Monkey nibbling her hair. So I let them have their fun while I worked.

A net hanging on the wall was restocked with hay. Then I checked some water buckets to see how full they were. Nothing else seemed amiss except piles of poo Fate would clean.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Glint said. She grouped by me after finishing stretching.

"Think we're mostly done here," I said, wiping my forehead. "Wanna help get him ready though?"

"Let's do it!"

I asked her to keep Monkey company while I ventured into our tack room that was full of horse equipment. Inside were shelves overflowing with gear we didn't use often. But after pinpointing what I needed, I began plucking items one by one.

First I slung a cushion pad over my shoulder, then grabbed the tangled straps of Monkey's bridle and halter. Each piece weighed me down, though the heaviest was yet to come.

Mounted on the wall by a window were log-shaped racks jutting out. They once held saddles we'd been forced to sell after our parent's deaths until just one remained.

Ol' reliable. My fingers brushed dust off the worn saddle, trying to feel memories of days gone. Every crease, every ding, every nick all told a story. And even as I hauled it up, the faint groan of leather stretching against me felt comforting.

Monkey's saddle wobbled in my arms before settling in. Fifty pounds of gear made stumbling back through the barn taxing, each step harder than the next. But I put on a tough guy act as I arrived back at the stall.

"Oh my gosh! Chance!" Glint said, concerned. "That all looks heavy!"

"I-It's nothing, haha . . ."

"Here, let me help."

Without me even asking she lifted the cushion pad off me, but couldn't budge the saddle.

"This thing weighs a ton," I said. "If you wanna help, can you put that cushion on Monkey?"

"Sure."

Monkey Dee remained calm as Glint nervously adjusted the cushion along his back. Curved flaps settled to his outline until sealing a snug fit.

"Looks good, thanks." I lumbered over and hoisted the western saddle onto Monkey, making sure it aligned with his cushion. Then I began the annoying process of cinching girths under his belly.

Monkey neighed as if tickled.

A final test of two of my fingers between his straps checked how tight things were—too loose would make him unsteady, but too tight would become uncomfortable.

"Seems alright," I said as I stood. "We're like half done."

Glint was standing aside in the stall while she spectated. I didn't want her getting dirtier than needed; so I continued things myself.

Please be cooperative, Monkey. After strapping the halter around his head, I nudged the horse downwards and tried sliding a metal bit into his mouth. He resisted at first but relented with an audible clamp of teeth.

"Doesn't that hurt him?" Glint behind me said.

"Nah," I said after adjusting straps. "Horses have a big gap between their incisors and molars, so that's usually where you nestle stuff."

As if reassuring her, Monkey Dee licked my cheek before neighing a laugh.

"G-Geez. We're about done anyway." I tied a lead rope to his halter before leading him out of the stall. Clanging hooves livened up our barn while we waited for Glint.

"Darn, I think I might've grazed poop." She stood on one leg to check her boot. "Yeah. I'll wash it for sure though."

"My sis' thanks you in advance."

The three of us paced down the barn corridor. An urge welled inside telling me to small chat Glint, though she seemed more enamored by Monkey trodding along.

"It's still so cool seeing a horse move," she said. "I've never even seen one in person until today."

I turned towards her, smug. "City girl?"

"Maybe a little, hehe."

We reached the building's exit and stepped outside. Bright sun overhead covered the desert landscape as I tugged Monkey towards a sandy area.

"Come on, we're almost there," I told him.

Soon we were all in the center of his paddock. Wide open spacing and distant pipe fences would help if anything went wrong.

Glint walked around me to take in the scenery. "Looks like there's lots of room for a canter!"

"Canter?" I almost laughed. "We might not even trot."

"There's a difference?"

"Gotta learn through experience. Here, hold Monkey's rope."

"Alright."

I passed the cord so I could start rolling the saddle's stirrups down. Long, leather straps unwinded until a metal tread where boots slide into appeared. The textured steel would help riders keep their balance.

"Hmmm . . ." I said, looking down. "Actually, these stirrups don't roll down far. You might need a mounting block to get on Monkey."

"Huh?" Glint beside me said. "Aren't mounting blocks just—"

"They're basically booster seats, but for standing on instead," I chuckled.

"Hey!" Glint pouted. "I don't need anything like that."

"Figured you'd say that, haha. That's why I suggested boots instead of sneakers earlier. Safer too."

She handed me back Monkey's rope before standing ready to mount him. "J-Just give me any tips I should know."

There was some hesitation in me, wondering how she'd handle something she'd never tried. Then again, her whole world—her whole presence—was new to me too. Yet it seemed we were both eager to learn everything we could about each other.

I sighed and passed her the reins. "Okay, let's get started."