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May Story Contest


Britnie, Shadow, Angel, and Artemis's Adventures #6:
The house training Adventure
By: Britnie
Age: 12
                                                                             
Introduction to the characters
Britnie: A brave and adventurous girl
Shadow: A bay welsh Cob pony
Angel: A light brown with white colored Chihuahua
Artemis: A dark brown(blue)colored Chihuahua/rat terrier mix
                                                                             

  "Artemis! Bad dog!", Britnie exclaimed. Artemis, who was not house trained, had just stunk up the house. The little dog scurried away, along with Angel, who was scared when one of the dogs did something bad. Britnie sighed. Would Art EVER house train? She leaped forward, scooped Art up, and locked her in the dog cage her mom had got the other day. Artemis was basically a dog off the street. She had lived with her grandfather before Britnie, and being in a large pen outside all day, did nothing to help her with house training.
 "What am I going to do with you? Mama already threatened to make you live outside forever!", Britnie stared at the dog, who was wiggling her whole body, trying to make herself look cute so as to get out of the cage. Britnie all of a sudden wrinkled up her nose. The horrible smell of what Artemis had done finally reached her. She got a Wal-Mart bag, and paper towels, and disposed of the icky stuff. She threw the bag in the trash can outside.
  Britnie's mom came downstairs. "Art did it again?", She asked. Britnie nodded. Her mother sighed. "Well, I have some news. After all these years, we're headed down to Louisiana to visit. Your Dad finally talked me into it." Her mother announced. Britnie stared at her, speechless. Was she happy or sad? She had Shadow, why did they have to make that terribly long trip down there? But at the same time, it'd be great to breathe the hot, muggy air, eat delicious Crawfish, and enjoy some Louisiana days! "When are we leaving?" She finally managed. "As soon as possible." Her mother answered, "Ummm....okay. I'll go pack my bags."
  So, Britnie ran upstairs, grabbed a clothes bag she usually used, and started stuffing clothes and different objects in it. After minutes ticked by, Britnie dragged the bag from her room, and stared at the bottom of the stairs. Then she looked at the bag. Now she grinned to herself. Setting the bag on the floor in front of the first step, she hopped on the bag, and sat down. She pushed the bag forward, and with a lot of racket, flew down the stairs on top the bag! She managed to cling on, and at the bottom step, smashed into the wall by the stairs. "Oof." Her mother peeped around the corner, having a most puzzled look.  Then she did a lopsided smile and rolled her eyes. Britnie grinned. She stood up, and dragged her bag to the other luggage. "Okay, all ready to go!" She announced.
  Her dad grabbed several bags, and loaded them into the truck. "While your dad does that, we should get the horses ready." her mother said. "Okay. See ya there!" Britnie ran to Art's cage, and as soon as Art saw her, she started wiggling, making the cage vibrate. "Quit it Art!" The little dog had squatted. She had a problem with getting over excited and peeing. Britnie scowled, picked the dog up, set her on the floor, and then started searching for Angel. "Angel?" She looked under a table, and Angel was crouching. "Come on Angel!" Angel did a "doggy thing". Britnie crawled under the table, and pulled Angel out. "Come on! Let's go outside!" Britnie jumped up. Angel shook, and then, the three-some were headed out the door.

  "All set?" Britnie's mom asked. "Think so. Crete, Achilles, and Shadow are loaded up, along with water buckets, and hay net, for each. The traveling equipment is properly placed on them too." Britnie stated. "Okay then, I'll go to the house and trade places with your dad, and we're headed  on our road trip." Britnie then took off along the trail back to her house, Angel and Artemis tagging along. When Britnie reached the place, her mom was driving up. Her dad and mom traded places, and Britnie hopped in the correct truck; the one with her mom. Angel and Artemis jumped in, and Grail was in the back seat. She and her mom clicked their seat belts on, and onto the road they went.

  Two days later, at 2:00 A.M., they drove into their former home. The old house looked pretty ragged. "Home sweet home." Britnie said happily, stepping out of the truck. "Our home is back up north." Her mom muttered. Britnie skipped to the back of the trailed as her dad's truck drove in. Her brother was in the truck with her dad. Britnie undid the latch, and her dad rushed over to help put down the ramp.
  "Shadow! We're here!" Britnie announced to her pony, who was in the front, in a stallion stall; a specially formed stall for horses that were bad, or 'rowdy'. Shadow was the only one who sometimes kicked other horses, so his stall was that one. Britnie walked in, backed up Crete, and then lead him to her mother as she got out the truck. "Hold on! We just arrived!" Britnie's mother scolded. Britnie left her mom with Crete, and went back into the trailed to retrieve Shadow. Unfortunately, Achilles's trailer stall blocked his stall too. So, Britnie back Achilles out, and said to her brother, “Here, take your horse." He frowned at her, but took the lead rope. Finally, Britnie was able to get Shadow! The pony swung his head around and looked at her as she walked in beside him. "Hey boy!" Britnie sang happily as she untied him and led him out. As soon as they were near grass, Shadow lowered his head and began to graze.
  Before they knew it, a four-wheeler rushed down the road, and Britnie's grandmother and grandfather walked over to them. "What a surprise! I didn't know y'all were coming!" Her grandmother, known as Meme, said. "Surprise visit." Britnie grinned. "Of course!" Meme hugged her, and Britnie stood stock still. She did not get along with hugs. As Meme moved on, her grandfather took his turn to hug her. "Hey Sweet Pea!" Britnie's grandfather, known as Pop, said. "Hey Pop! Long time, no see!" Britnie grinned. Shadow was grazing at her side. In the distance, Britnie heard Art barking. "Jealous! I can't hug my family?" Meme scowled at Art. Artemis stared at her, and then began jumping up and down. "augh!" Meme pouted. Britnie giggled. Her dog easily got jealous when others were paid attention to. Even humans. "Where's Angel?" Britnie asked everyone.
  "Right here." Meme said while picking the Chihuahua up. Angel was spoiled; she knew Meme sneaked table food to her a LOT. Angel went as far as starving herself from her dog food so as to go over to Britnie's grandparents' house to get table food. "No giving Angel human food. she's on a diet." Britnie reminded her grandmother. "I know!" A retort was replied. "Well.....how's the fence? We need to let the horses get settled in for the night." Britnie announced. "I think it'll do for tonight." Pop said. "Okay." Britnie started off for the barn, with her mom and brother stalking behind.

   Britnie yawned and stared at the ceiling. Where was she? Oh YES! She was in Louisiana! Her mom had insisted they stayed in their house, and not at her grandparents'. "Art? Angel?" A gray head popped up. Britnie dug through the covers and soon found Angel, who stared at her lazily. "Come on! Let's go!" Britnie exclaimed. She flew down the stairs, her dogs hot on her heels.  Shadow raised his head when he heard a door slam shut, and an energetic, two-legged girl running to him with a halter. "Hey Shadow!" Britnie said merrily. The pony turned on his heels and took off. Britnie scowled.

  "Shadow's taking off this week. He deserves a vacation too." Britnie said. Her Dad had asked if she was going to ride Shadow. "Ah." Her Dad answered. Shadow DID deserve a vacation; imagine lugging a weird two-legged thing around all day? "Going visit Meme and Pop, okay?" Britnie said as she walked out the door. "Okay." Her Dad answered. "Angel, wanna go see Meme and Pop?" Britnie paused at the door, waiting for her Chihuahua. Art was already outside; she had shot out as soon as Britnie opened the door.
  Angel perked her ears up, and as if to answer, got all excited. "Okay, let's go!" Britnie hopped out the door, let Angel pass through, shut the door, and leaped; and soon, the three adventurers were soaring down the rode to Britnie's grandparent's house.

   And so, weeks passed, and as usual, the adventure continued; everyday, who could expect what'd happen? Britnie's brother caught a piglet, or more of a "hoglet". There were a 'domestic wild herd' of pigs in the woods that were not very far from where their house was. At this time right now, which was on the last day they were staying in Louisiana, Britnie spoke up to something she noticed. "Mama, Art hasn't used it once since we were here." "You're right." Her mom observed. "Do you think she might be house training?" Britnie asked. "Possibly." Her mom answered. "You know, this house hasn't had a dog in it for years; perhaps Art was smelling the floor of the other house, which the other dogs had accidents on, so was having accidents herself." She figured it out! Of course, now that she said it, Art would have a surprise.
 But, that never happened. In fact, when Britnie and her family were back in their home town, Art only used it a few times, accidentally. But everyone had accidents, right? Sure, of course! And so, that's the end to another great adventure.

Who knows what's in store for the unusual Adventurers? You are sure to find out soon!

Britnie, Shadow, Angel, and Artemis's Adventures #7: Adventure Mystery
There's an old folk tale that there's an old, haunted house in the woods on the Estate. Through this adventure. Britnie ends up doing something that most kids wouldn't. Find out in the next story.