The horses neigh. They are pacing restlessly in their stalls.
Anna walks across the yard to the stables. The blue hairband slips down a little with every step. Until it gets caught on a dark blonde curl.
In the stable, Anna runs from one box to the next. Until she discovers the two empty stalls. The white horse is not there, nor is the brown one with the white patch on its forehead. It smells of fresh hay.
Anna goes into one of the empty stalls. It must be the white horse’s stall. A few of his hairs are hanging on the wall of the stall. Anna looks at the floor and steps over the straw one foot at a time. She avoids the horse droppings. When she reaches the dark blue drinking trough, she presses the silver steel tongue. The bowl fills with water. Anna puts her hands in it.
From a distance, the sound of clattering hooves becomes louder and louder. Anna flinches. She hadn’t even noticed him. He takes the blue hairband from the curl and brushes the hair back together from behind.
Now the returning horses are neighing too. The horses in the stalls are getting louder. Neighing and pawing with their hooves.
Anna can hear her mother getting off her horse outside and turning on the squeaky tap at the washing area in front of the stable.
