#18 - Holiday Hijinks

“C’mon Twister!” Brook Baxter urged her small overo colt to walk up the steps of her front porch. The foal nuzzled the blue steps, pink nose brushing back and forth against the wood. Brook laughed as Twister suddenly jumped up all three steps in one leap, landing with a hollow thump on his owner’s porch. The Loshenka huffed and nuzzled into his owner’s side, and she stroked his sparse mane, which was already starting to shed out. The front door of the house suddenly swung open, revealing Brook’s mother, standing with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised.

“What exactly are you two doing?” She asked, gaze shifting from Brook to the spindly colt. Brook shifted her weight from foot to foot, grinning sheepishly.

“I was gonna bring Twister inside- just for a moment! I just wanted to cuddle with him without freezing.” A cold gust of winter air blew around them, sending snowflakes into the house through the open door. Twister let out a little nicker, startled by the cold air. Brook gave her most convincing puppy eyes, and her mom’s gaze softened. 

“Fine. But he does NOT go on the furniture.”

“Deal.” 

With a sigh, Brook’s mom stepped out of the doorway, allowing her daughter and the foal to venture into the house. Twister’s slender hooves clomped against the rug-covered floor, knocking snow and mud off with every step. Brook winced, and hoped her mom didn’t notice. Twister stopped short and let out a huff as he turned the corner and saw the Baxter’s cat, Spade, cleaning himself on the kitchen table. 

“Hey Spade, come say hi to Twister!” Brook invited. The black cat looked up, a skeptical look on his face. However, he leapt off the table towards the small Loshenka, causing him to startle. 

“You’re okay. This is your brother!” Brook said with a laugh as the black cat rubbed himself against Twister’s velvet nose. Suddenly, an unmistakable sound came from the living room TV.

“The Price Is Right is on!” Brook’s mom exclaimed, and her and Brook rushed into the living room, Spade and Twister trailing behind. Spade was well used to this routine: one of the humans said something about The Price Is Right, then the whole family flocked to the living room to cuddle up on the couch and watch the game show together. This meant he got LOTS of pets, and sometimes a piece of popcorn or two. Brook’s mom took her normal spot on the couch, eyes locked on the TV. Brook glaced from her, to Twister, to the couch. Deciding to test her luck, she settled into the corner of the couch, and quietly patted the cushion next to her. Spade jumped up and curled up on her lap, purring contentedly. Twister regarded the situation for a brief second before following the cat’s lead. Brook’s mom opened her mouth to complain, but as Twister layed down with a soft sigh of contentment, her eyes softened. Brook smiled and cuddled closer to her foal, the sounds of the Price Is Right blending together in the background as she dozed off to sleep.

A FEW HOURS LATER:

“You are NEVER bringing a horse in the house ever again. Look at all this mud!” Brook’s mother exclaimed as Brook refreshed the mop water for a third time. Brook had been mopping the floor for almost a half hour, and she hadn’t even started on the couch cushions.

“Y’know mom… you might be right.” Brook said. Her mom laughed, and walked into the kitchen to grab another mop to help her daughter.