Trepha

Dear Levi,

Did I ever tell you about my favorite European race horse, Trepha? She was a three-year-old English Warmblood and valued at a quarter of a million dollars. I was only allowed near the old Cossack training horses at the time, but on the very first day I saw her, I knew I was in love.

She would take your breath away if you saw her. Her coat was a burnished, gleaming black velvet and her head tossed with inquisitive spirit. She was so light on her feet, so graceful and agile. When I saw her coming into the cooling arenas from the training track, she was prancing gingerly but looked so sweet as she tried to please her jockey.

Trepha. I have no idea what it mean. What do you think? I snuck into the thoroughbred stable after my practice and found her homed the second to the last stall on the right, a quiet corner with no neighbors on her left or right. She quietly knickered to greet me and I longed to go inside and run my hand along her beautiful back but I stood outside. She was so sweet! Her endless, deep brown eyes blinked gently at mine and we exchanged hellos, blowing softly into each other’s faces. Her tail swished happily, the only sound in the warm, homey darkness. When I reached through the heavy walnut bars to stroke her nuzzle, she pushed longingly against my hand, soaking up the contact.

She was so incredibly soft! I have never felt anything like it in my whole life. Not just felt, or velvet, or the finest baby hair. I can’t describe it. Thrills shot through my fingertips and I couldn’t stop rubbing her, feeling the soft dips along her nose, playing against the prickles of her whiskers. She swished her tail and stared sweetly into my eyes, just a lonely little filly who had hot racing blood pulsing through the delicate veins just below her blissfully velvet fur.

I gave her a cube of sugar and Trepha licked it right up, then proceeded to cover my palms, wrists, and fingers in affectionate horse kisses. Oh, Trepha. I wonder whatever became of you, the pedigree filly with the sweet eyes and velvety black coat. You would have loved her, Levi. She started my dream to own my own horse someday.

Your star,

Rigel