THE COUNTRY BARN
It was a hot fall day when Jane was riding her bike along a country road and she saw this large barn sitting
a bit off of the road up ahead, in the direction in which she was traveling. When she got up close, she got off of her bike
and looked around at the farm yard. She was dismayed when she saw that there once was a farm home there, but that it had burnt
down. This was evident by the charred remains of all that was left of it, was the foundation and the charred pile of ashes
that once had been some ones home.
Then she spied what she was hoping that she would find there. It was a well pump, just past
a couple of the trees that were there, and she was very much in need of a drink of water. There was a large wooden gate there,
but also a smaller one that was open and so she walked her bike in through it and parked her bike up against a tree that was
there.
Then she walked over to where the well pump was and saw a tin cup hanging from the side of it.
Sure, she thought, everything is there but if the pump isn’t primed it wouldn’t do her any good.
The only way to find out, was to start pumping and as she did so, she was pleasantly surprised to see the water begin to gush
out of the pump. When she figured that she had cleared the pump of any rust or dirt, she filled the cup and began to slowly
sip the water. Aw, she thought, it was just what she needed, as it was nice and cool and very refreshing. After quenching
her thirst she replaced the cup and then looked around the farmyard.
There appeared to be a chicken coop and an open sided drive shed with some old farm equipment
in it. Also, there was an outhouse, which she decided that she was in need of also. Later, she decided that she wanted to
have a look at the barn before she continued on with her bike ride. There were two large white doors on the level where she
was, so she slid one open a bit and squeezed herself through. On this level, there was a wooden floor and just some more farming
equipment stored in it.
She was just about to turn around and go back out, when she saw a ladder that went up to the hay loft. She
decided that she wanted to see what it was like up there before she left. Climbing the ladder, she stood up on the plank flooring
and saw that there was hay piled at one end of the hayloft. It was here that there was a large door that was open and letting
in a nice breeze that was keeping it nice and cool up there. Suddenly she was startled when there was a whirling of wings
and she saw a pigeon go flying out the open doorway, but there was still another one that was watching her as she was standing
there.
Ignoring the Pigeon, Jane decided on climbing up onto the hay to see what it was like to look out through the open loft
door at the end of the hayloft. When she got there, she sat down and was surprised at how far she was able to see into the
countryside in the distance.
There were some cows under a large tree, some standing and some laying down, just resting there, and farther out she could
see some horses grazing in a pasture. Also, off in the distance she could see a tractor doing some work in one of the fields
out there. It looked to her like the man driving it was cutting down some of the crops that had been growing there.
Then she just laid back in the hay for a while and her mind drifted off to how fortunate she was. Here she was, just past
her eighteenth birthday and off to college for the first time away from home. She was an attractive girl and had set her mind
on a continuing education that would ultimately result in her goal of having a business in the agricultural field. Perhaps
a business where she could work from home from a place such as this.
Jane picked up a straw and chewed on the end of it casually as she let her mind wander, as she laid there in a relaxed
position in the hay mow. She had been in college for just two weeks now, but wondered when she would be meeting and making
new friends. Perhaps that fellow that she saw looking at her in the hall before the last study period on Friday. She remember
how they had smiled at each other at that time. She had seen him different times before that and after the first few times,
she seemed to get all excited and flushed when he was near. Once she was at her locker in the hall when he passed and he did
not see her. He was busy talking to another fellow when he passed her.
She remembered how she had to put her arm against the lockers and rest her head against her arm, as she suddenly felt as
if she was going to faint. She suddenly came to her senses when another girl asked her if she was alright.
Jane saw a movement up in the sky and watched two large hawks as they drifted upwards on extended wings, searching out
the thermals of rising air from the heat of the fields below. The fresh air and the ride in the country must have had an effect
on her, as she started to get sleepy and soon drifted off into a light sleep. While she slept, the pigeon that had flown out
had returned to her mate.
Suddenly, she was awakened by the sound of some vehicle close at hand. She couldn’t see anything, but realized that
it had to be a tractor and glancing out the open doorway at the distant field, saw that the tractor that had been there was
not there any more. Then suddenly the engine of the machine was turned off and she knew that it was parked right at the gate
where she had left her bike.
After a few minutes she heard the sounds of the well pump being worked and she knew that whoever was driving the tractor
had stopped to have a drink from the well. Jane didn’t know what to do, so she did just that. Hopefully he would leave
if she stayed perfectly still. Soon she heard his footsteps coming to the barn, so she had to do something. She decided to
hide and the only place for that was in the hay mow. She laid down and covered herself with the hay.
Jay had been cutting hay at one of the fields at his parents farm when he decided to stop at the old farm yard on his way
back to his parents new place. It had been a hot day and he had finished his water jug but was hankering for a drink from
the well, which he had always liked the taste of. And besides, it would really be cool and refreshing.
He had just started his second year of studies at the local college and had been getting good marks in his chosen field
of marketing. He was planning on working from home and the old farmhouse site was promised to him when he graduated.
He liked the classes that he was taking and had his eye on several of the fair ladies that attended the college. There
was one in particular that stood out in his mind, and it was hard to forget her, even though she was one of the new freshmen
class and he had only seen her on a few occasions those few weeks of school.
On several of those times, their eyes had met and he had a strange feeling come over him. On the last time, they had exchanged
smiles. They had passed each other in the hall and it was close to the last period for the school week and when he had gotten
out of his class, she apparently had been able to leave the school a bit earlier. And here, he had wanted to ask her to go
to the local theatre with him to see a good movie. He kept thinking of her all week-end as he worked on the farm. His mother
had asked him what was on his mind when he hadn’t heard her talking to him and was waiting for an answer to something
that she had said. He had just passed it off as nothing, when he answered her.
Nothing my foot, he thought, as thoughts of her kept returning to his mind. On several occasions he had to back up his
mowing machine when he had wandered off course when thinking of her. Hopefully, he would see her again tomorrow at school.
Right now he had to see whose bike that was that was leaning against the tree out there.
“Hello” he called out, “Who’s in here?” There was no answer to his call, but noticed several
pieces of hay falling to the ground at the far end of the barn. Someone was up in the haymow. Picking up a pitchfork, he cautiously
climbed the ladder, with the fork at the ready above him. As he neared the top and could see into the hayloft, there was no-one
in sight except for two pigeons which started to coo excitedly. Then Jay watched them for a moment as the male of the two
suddenly moved away from the female and started turning first one way and then the other way, going around in circles, flapping
its’ wings against its’ body excitedly.
Then Jay knew that he had been doing a love dance or what-ever.
As he looked around there was no-one that he could see, so he climbed up on the hay to where he saw the hay fall from,
as he held the fork at the ready. It was then that he saw a shoe and the lower part of a woman’s leg partly exposed.
Then he recalled that it was a woman’s bike that he saw down there by the fence, but she could have a male friend
up here with her. He called out in a stern voice that would have left no doubt in anyone hiding there of his intent. “Ok,
I can see your leg there. I’ve got a pitchfork ready if you or anyone else wants trouble, you’ll have it.”
His hands were sweaty in anticipation of trouble that could come at any moment.
Jane was scared. She knew he had found her and now she was really in trouble. Slowly she moved up into a sitting position,
pushing the hay from her face and upper part of her body with her arms. And yet she kept them in front of her, in defence
of this unknown person. What could she do, she thought to herself.
Jay held the fork at the ready. Then he let it slip from his hands as recognition came to his mind. “It’s you,”
he said “What are you doing here?” Then he suddenly stooped to pick up the pitchfork and again held it at the
ready. “Who’s here with you?” he asked as he turned, half expecting some guy to jump him from behind.
“Please don’t hurt me, mister. I’m all alone, but please!” Jane was trembling very noticeably as
she cowered back as far as she could against the hay. Tears were beginning to appear at the corners of her eyes, welling up
and starting to run down her cheeks. Jay put down the pitchfork out of harms way and bent down on one knee so the girl could
see him better. “It’s ok. I won’t hurt you. It’s me. The guy in the hall at school. I’m the
guy you saw in the hall, and we smiled at each other. Don’t cry, you’re safe with me.”
Jane wasn’t sure of what she was hearing, as she was so scared. Then she wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands
so she could see better as he again repeated that he wouldn’t hurt her. That voice, she thought. She thought back as
she had heard the voice before of the guy in the hall as he was talking with some friends of his. A time that he hadn’t
known that she was near. It sounded like the same voice. This guy was wearing a hat, so she couldn’t see his hair. But
that smile, she thought. The voice and the smile, she just couldn’t forget them.
“It’s you, the guy in the hall. It’s really you.” Suddenly she was so relieved from her fear and
there was something else, and it was in her heart, that she sprang forward and putting her arms around his body, she caused
the two of them to tumble backwards down the hay mow. They landed with a thud on the hard wooden planks. At first they just
laid there. Jay with his arms outstretched above his head and Jane with one arm still around his waist. Then they both started
to laugh. Then they looked into each others eyes as Jay moved first one arm to cushion his head and then the other, he put
around her waist.
“I think it’s time we introduced ourselves. I’m Jay.”
“And I’m Jane. I’m glad it was you. I was so scared.”
“Maybe we could talk better if we get back up on the hay mow.”
“That would be a smart idea. These boards are kind of hard.”
As they got up to move back to the hay mow, there was a cooing from one of the pigeons. As they stopped to have a look,
they couldn’t miss seeing the fact that the two birds were sitting very close together and the males wing was slightly
extended and laying on top of the female.
Story: By James Westhouse
