Comet

by Andie J Fessey

  “Oh, did you see anything good?”

  “Yeah! There was a Laurel and Hardy movie, a Flash Gordon story…” Jimmy began.

  “I wish they’d never keep ending like that,” Barbara interrupted.

  “Like what?” Jimmy asked.

  “You know, where you have to wait until the next time to see what’s going to happen,” she answered.

  “That’s why they’re called cliff-hangers silly,” Jimmy said, “we know Flash will get away from danger in the next one.”

  “There was also a new detective one, a couple of cartoons and a cowboy movie,” Samuel added.

  “Sounds grand,” the old man said.

  “Are you alright our Dan?” Robert asked, noticing he was quieter than usual, not engaging once in their conversations since they boarded the cart.

  He sat leaning against the wooden side, staring over the edge of the horizontal slats.

  “You never asked me,” he replied, without turning his gaze away.

  Looking puzzled, Robert stared questioningly around the other children sat in the cart, receiving only shrugs of shoulders as responses.

  Staring over his shoulder, Archie cast a quick glance at the young boy sat with the brace on his leg.

  Bless him.

  “Asked you what Dan?” Barbara asked, moving closer to him.

  “Before, you never asked me,” he replied.

  Exchanging glances with Robert, Barbara felt her cheeks begin to blush.

  “Oh, you mean when we were asking what we wanted to be when we grow up?” She asked, turning to face Daniel as the answer came to her.

  Not looking away from staring over the edge of the cart, Daniel nodded his head, continuing to watch the wheels trundling over the cobbled street.

  “Ah, we’re sorry our Dan,” Robert said, “we didn’t mean to miss you out.”

  “That’s right Dan, we were going to ask you when we spotted Archie and Comet,” Wally said, making his way to him from the opposite side of the cart.

  Eavesdropping on the children’s conversation, Archie pulled back on Comet’s leather reins, bringing him to a stop.

  “Well, seeing as it was old Archie’s fault you never had the chance to tell everybody what you want to be when you grow up, is it alright if I ask you?”

  Looking up from where he sat, Daniel nodded at the old man.

  “Well young man, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Archie asked.

  “You’ll all laugh,” Daniel replied.

  “Now, come on, you’re keeping an old idiot in suspense over here. Please tell us and we promise we’ll not laugh, won’t we?” He replied, looking in turn at each of the children sat in his cart.

  They all nodded their heads in unison.

  “Why would we laugh our Danny?” Frank asked.

  “It can’t be any worse than special agent Jimmy sat over there,” Wally said, indicating to Jimmy, smiling broadly at them.

  “I want,” Daniel said, “I want to be a cowboy.”

  The other children looked to one and other in silence, not having to glance at the brace around his leg.

  “But there’re no cowboys over here,” Jimmy said, “you’d have to go over to the Wild West to be one.”

  Robert cast him a look, suggesting the other boy be quiet.

  “Well, I just want to ride horses,” Daniel said.

  “Oh, well there’s something you could do like that over here, without having to go across to America,” Archie said with a smile, “and any roads, your arms would be tired after swimming across the Atlantic Ocean.”

  “What is that Mister Archie?” Daniel asked giggling, staring at the old man.

  “Well young man, you could always be a jockey if you wanted.”

  Thinking about this for a few moments, Daniel nodded his head.

  “Yes, that’s what I want to be,” Daniel stated firmly, “I want to be a jockey.”

  “Well I know Comet here is no race horse and it’s a lot different sitting on a cart behind him, rather than jumping fences at the likes of Aintree. But why don’t you come sit next to old Archie here and I’ll show you how to take the reins?”

  “Can I, Mister Archie?” Daniel asked, a huge smile appearing on his face as he turned to his eldest brother, “Can I our Robert?”

  “Of course, you can Dan, if Archie says it’s okay?” Robert said, crossing to him to help him to his feet.

  “That’s what I’ve just said isn’t it? Now bring our young jockey over here.” Archie said, adjusting himself on the seat.

  After making their way to the front of the cart, Robert placed his hands under his brother’s armpits and gently hoisted him up into Archie’s arms.

  “You’ve a bit of muscle on you haven’t yer?” Archie asked, surprised at the ease Robert lifted his younger brother up.

  “It’s all the boxing and stuff he does Mister Archie,” Daniel said.

  “It’s a wonder the Nelsons would try and pick a fight with you then if you’re a boxer?” Archie asked, helping Daniel settle into the seat.

  “I don’t really like to fight outside of the ring Archie,” Robert replied, “and anyway, anybody who has to use their fists away from there, is an idiot.”

  “That’s a very mature and sensible approach to fighting young man,” Archie said, smiling in his direction.

  “It’s usually bullies who start fights anyway and I hate bullies,” Robert said.

  “I think that’s why Robert wants to be a policeman when he grows up,” Barbara said.

  “Oh, a policeman is it you want to be?” Archie asked.

  Robert nodded his head in affirmation.

  “Well then, young man,” he said, turning to Daniel, “we’d best make sure we don’t go too fast or we may end up getting arrested.”

  The children in the back of the cart laughed and Daniel smiled, as Archie placed the heavy leather reins carefully into his hands.

  “It’s heavy Mister Archie,” he said with awe in his voice, looking at the huge horse from behind, attached to the other end of the reins he held.

  “It has to be son, because Comet is a big fella after all isn’t he?” Archie said, more a statement than a question.

  “How big is he Archie?” Wally asked, leaning over the wooden front of the cart.

  “You can see how big he is, look, he’s there in front of us, see, big black thing pulling the cart, you can’t miss him!” Archie said, followed by a chuckle.

  “I mean how tall is he?” Wally asked.

  “Ohh, well you should’ve said,” Archie replied, “by my reckoning, just over eighteen hands tall is Comet, give or take a bit on account of his shoes.”

  “Har Har Archie, how tall is he?” Wally repeated.

  “I’ve told you, just over eighteen hands.”

  Wally turned and looked at the others, who were grinning and talking amongst themselves.

  “Archie is telling you the truth Wally,” Barbara said, having overheard a bit of the conversation.

  “What?”

  “I said, Archie is telling you the truth,” she said, smiling at the confused look upon his face.

  Continuing to smile, Archie showed Daniel how to indicate to Comet if they wanted to go a bit faster.

  “But what do you mean hands?” Wally asked.

  Leaning backwards, Archie extended his forefinger away from his thumb, creating an ‘L’ shape with his wrinkled fingers.

  “A hand,” he said, returning his stare to the road ahead.

  “A hand?” Wally asked, the same confused expression set upon his face.

  “Our Rosalind told me about it. It’s how you measure how tall a horse is, isn’t that right Archie?” Barbara asked.

  “Aye love,” Archie answered, “but do you know where to measure it up to?”

  Looking at the horse pulling the cart, Barbara shook her head.

  “Comet’s head?” She ventured.

  “No sweetheart, but you’re close,” Archie replied, “do you kn
ow what withers are?”

  Moving to the front of the cart, the other children listened in on the conversation.

  Barbara shook her head at the same time as Wally.

  “Well, you can’t really make them out with all of his tack on, but do you see Comets shoulders?”

  As one, the children looked at the huge withers of Comet, moving rhythmically as they traversed along the street.

  “They’re big, I think,” George said, watching the movements of the horse, as it continued its progression forwards, pulling the cart with ease.

  “They certainly are,” Archie said, “Comet here stands at over eighteen hands, which is large even for a big old horse like Comet.”

  Captivated at his words, the children looked at Archie.

  “There are bigger horses than Comet of course, but Comet is a bit of a mixed-up bugger.”

  “What do you mean Archie?” Jimmy asked, finding himself a comfortable space near the front of the cart.

  “Well, you see, the biggest horses, work horses if you like, are Shires and Clydesdales and Comet here is a bit of a mix of both of them.”

  “What does that mean Archie?” Maisie asked, leaning forward, hanging on to his words.

  “Well, we’ve a good few minutes before we reach where we’re going, so if you children are in the mood for a history lesson?” Archie asked.

  “Don’t like history,” Jack muttered, sitting back into the cart, his back against the wooden frame.

  “Oi,” Robert said, nudging him slightly with his elbow, “don’t be ignorant.”

  “Sorry Archie,” Jack said.

  “No offence taken lad,” Archie said, without looking around, but with a smile upon his face, “I’m not good or keen on all of what’s happened before stuff myself either. I think we should make good of what we’ve right here and now and make it good for those coming after us. Can’t do anything much about the poor buggers who went before us.”

  Content he had not upset Archie, Jack smiled before re-joining the other children, listening to Archie regaling them with the story of Comet’s heritage.

  “He’s about thirteen years old is Comet, about as old as the lot of you I expect?” Archie asked.

  “Robert’s the oldest out of all of us,” Barbara said with an air of pride, gazing at Robert, sat with his back to her.

  “His Dam and Sire were from…” Archie said, before realising the children would not have a clue what he meant.

  “Sorry, his ma and da,” he continued, “were of two different breeds by all accounts as I said, a bit of Shire and a bit of Clydesdale. Well, according to what his previous owner told me.”

  “Why did they sell him Archie, he’s really lovely?” Maisie asked.

  “Aye, he’s that alright,” Archie answered, looking at the huge animal in front of him.

  “Well any roads, there wasn’t much call for big horses like Comet as we led up to the war. What with most of the army and what have you becoming mechanised, on top of there being harder rules if you wanted to buy any livestock feed, people either didn’t need to, or couldn’t keep big horses like him.”

  “What happened to the big horses Mister Archie?” Daniel asked, continuing to gaze intently in front of them, holding tightly onto the reins.

  Archie thought about this for a moment, not wanting to upset the children, most of all the little one sat next to him, with tales of the Knackers yard.

  “Most of ‘em ended up on ships to the likes of Australia and New Zealand.”

  “Really?” Wally asked.

  “Yup, really,” Archie replied.

  Well, I’m not completely lying.

  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland and sent throughout the world, including to Australia and New Zealand, where they became known as ‘the breed that built Australia’.

  “So, Comet’s last family had to sell him?” Frank asked.

  “Yup. They’d a big farm and lots of land up Lancashire way and they loved Comet like he was a son to them. But they fell on hard times, like people sadly do, so they had to sell him.

  “Luckily for Comet and for me too, I had asked around if anybody knew of anyone who may have a big horse for sale, as my last horse was really unwell and I knew he didn’t have much time left.”

  “I am sorry Mr Archie,” Daniel said, without taking his gaze away from the road ahead.

  Feeling truly touched and humbled, Archie patted the young boy lightly on his shoulder.

  “No need for you to be sorry young man, old Father Time catches up with all of us eventually and it was Sovereign’s time to go meet up with his Ma and Da up in horse heaven.”

  “Do horses really go to heaven Archie?” Maisie asked.

  “Of course, they do love, like all animals do. There is a place in heaven for all of them like there is for all of us.”

  “But they don’t go to church and pray though do they Archie?” Wally asked.

  “Well,” Archie said, helping Daniel adjust his grip on the reins, “when Jesus was born there were a few animals in the stable wasn’t there? I think animals have as much right to be in church as people have.”

  Pausing for a moment, he let the children digest it before he continued.

  “I go to Church myself all of the time. Every Sunday without fail, if you want to find old Archie, you’ll find him sat there on a pew in Christ Church come rain or shine. Listening to the good vicar and praying to the almighty.”

  The children sat totally enraptured by him.

  Daniel on the other hand, felt too excited at being in control of the reins, to pay any thought to listening whole heartedly to the conversation going on around him.

  “And do you know what I do when I get back home to Comet here?”

  The children shook their heads in unison.

  “I pull up a chair in the yard, or if it’s raining, in his stable, and sit there next to him and repeat to him exactly what the good vicar at Christ Church said to his congregation.”

  The children sat there speechless, until Jimmy spoke up.

  “Are you joking with us Archie?” He asked.

  Archie didn’t have the heart to tell them, even though he did attend Christ Church each Sunday without fail, he usually spent the time afterwards, after popping home to ensure Comet remained fine, sat in the Volley playing dominoes with Albert.

  But, I do talk to Comet about God and things all the time, so what’s the harm?

  “Nope,” he continued, “Comet here is a good boy and likes to know what Father Boyle has been talking about, so I let him know when I get home.”

  “Wow,” the only response any of the children uttered.

  They continued their journey for another ten minutes, before a man walking along the pavement from the opposite direction waved at Archie.

  Politely taking the reins from Daniels grip, Archie brought the cart to a stop on the road alongside where the man stood waiting.

  “Alright Micky, how’s tricks?” Archie called to the other man, bracing himself against the brisk breeze billowing around him.

  “Ah, not too bad Archie,” the man replied, leaves from one of the nearby trees, swirling in a maelstrom around his figure.

  “Keeping you busy down there at the docks, are they?” Archie asked

  “Thankfully so mate, that’s the reason why I stopped you actually.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “You dealing in little chimney sweeps or something these days?” Micky said with a giggle, looking at the cart load of children.

  Archie looked at the little boy sat next to him, carefully and purposefully holding onto the reins passed to him, without letting him know he had placed the carts brake on.

  Just in case.

  “These? Why this here is the first of my new apprentices. The rest of these lovely ‘uns in the back are waiting their turn, aren’t you?”

  Sat at the front of the cart now, leaning over to where Archie sat, the other ch
ildren nodded their heads as one.

  “Looks like you’ve a right good labour force there Archie mate,” Micky said, smiling, “anyway, it may be worth yer while to pop down to the Dock Road later, when Bert is on the gate.”

  Archie looked at him with a stare and quick gesture of his head towards the children, indicating to be careful what he says.

  “Yeah, Bert was saying he’s not seen you for ages, so if yer could pop over to see him I think he’d be happy.” Micky said, a knowing look upon his face.

  “I’ll certainly be doing that later, when I finish my rounds, cheers Micky,” Archie replied, before politely instructing the children to seat themselves as the cart moved off.

  It took a few more minutes before they reached the junction at Moor Lane, Archie pulling the cart to a stop and turning to the children.

  “End of the line me dears, I’m off to Little Crosby now and unless yer want to spend the rest of the day walking next to the cart and helping old Archie throw scrap into it, you’d best be off and play,” he said, a huge smile upon his face.

  “Thank you so much for the ride Archie,” Maisie said.

  “Yeah, thanks Archie,” Robert added, jumping from the rear of the cart onto the pavement.

  “I’m amazed at how much weight Comet can pull, he’s not even broken a sweat!” he exclaimed, giving the mammoth horse a stroke, before holding his arms out to take hold of Daniel and helping him to the ground.

  “Oh, believe you me, Comet could pull a tank if he had to,” Archie said, laughing good naturedly.

  “Never!” Samuel said, struggling to climb from the cart.

  Wally and Jimmy, already on the pavement now, seeing how much their bulky friend struggled, grabbed him by the arms and helped him to the ground.

  “Tis true I tell you!” Archie answered, with a hearty laugh, “I tell you what. Here is one more nugget of a story for yer, before old Archie and Comet here get on our way.”

  He loved to tell stories, especially to these children from Harrowby Street. He had known them to be nothing more than good children and that was a pleasure in his eyes in this day and age.

  The children gathered around him as he stepped from the cart, double-checking Comets tack still lay secure.

  “What is that?” Barbara asked, as Archie adjusted the huge leather collar upon Comets neck.