Indigo Rider
YA short story
By Amandah T. Blackwell
Here's an excerpt from my YA short story "Indigo Rider." It's a heartwarming story about a Carrie Mulligan, a 15 year old girl who makes an unlikely friend in a fiery horse. Through working with Indigo, she learns that she's not the only one who's misunderstood. Carrie also becomes more trusting and realizes her grandparents are pretty hip and wise and love her more than she knows.
Indigo Rider
It’ssummer and 15-year-old Carrie Mulligan is being shipped to her grandparents inCave Creek, Arizona. They moved there 10 years ago from Houston, Texas andbuilt a custom home on Sunrise Ranch Road. Carrie visited them a few times butcouldn’t stand the desert; she preferred being near the ocean. Her mother wasbeing melodramatic by sending her away. Carrie’s going through the rebelliousteenage years, and her mother doesn’t have time to deal with it. What else isnew?
Carrieloves the “City of Angels” aka Los Angeles and is bummed to leave for thesummer. She may be rebellious but she’s actually more mature than most adultsshe knows. Her father’s never around because he’s the manager of thealternative/indie band Written in Stone. Shedoesn’t know who chose the name, but the music isn’t bad. Carrie met the bandand hung out with them in the studio a few times – that was cool. She thoughtabout going into music because she has a decent voice, but she’s passionateabout art. Her paintings have won state and national awards. She’s mostly anabstract painter, but paints “real life” now and then.
Thefamily doesn’t spend much time together because Carrie’s parents havehigh-powered careers. She plans to move out when she’s 18 years-old but hasn’ttold her mom and dad. Going to her grandparents does have a silver lining –Carrie will be able to go horseback riding. She wasn’t about to let her motherknow she was looking forward to getting back on a horse. She wouldn’t give herthe satisfaction.
“Carrie,get a move on because we’re headed to the airport in 15 minutes,” said Marie.
“Mom,why do I have to go to grandma and grandpa’s?” asked Carrie.
“BecauseI’m going to be traveling a lot for work this summer and your father’s on theroad. Now quit complaining and finish packing, the car will be here anyminute,” said Marie.
“Don’tthink about taking off on your grandparents. They’ll keep a close watch onyou,” said Marie. Carrie ignored her mother and continued packing. A horn blewfrom outside. “That’s the car, hurry up,” shouted Marie. She left the room andran down stairs.
Carrie’sride to LAX was on time. She would be in the hot Arizona desert in no time. Shedidn’t understand why people moved to Arizona and then complained about theheat. Hello! It’s the desert – it’s supposed to be hot. One time while Carriewas visiting her grandparents, their friend Florence was complaining about theheat. Carrie suggested Florence move to Northern Arizona where it was cooler.Her mother almost died of embarrassment and wanted to strangle her. Carrie’sgrandfather winked at her, a sign that he agreed with her. He always saidFlorence was a natural complainer. Truth be told, Carrie was looking forward toseeing her grandparents. She liked her grandfather because he was a straightshooter, a natural cowboy. He told it how it was and Carrierespected that. He never put on airs to please others. Grandma was a strong,gentle woman and a great cook. The horn blew again.
“Carrie, come on let’s go,”yelled Marie.
“Coming,” yelled Carrie. It’s off to the Valley of the Sun.
YA short story
By Amandah T. Blackwell
Here's an excerpt from my YA short story "Indigo Rider." It's a heartwarming story about a Carrie Mulligan, a 15 year old girl who makes an unlikely friend in a fiery horse. Through working with Indigo, she learns that she's not the only one who's misunderstood. Carrie also becomes more trusting and realizes her grandparents are pretty hip and wise and love her more than she knows.
Indigo Rider
It’ssummer and 15-year-old Carrie Mulligan is being shipped to her grandparents inCave Creek, Arizona. They moved there 10 years ago from Houston, Texas andbuilt a custom home on Sunrise Ranch Road. Carrie visited them a few times butcouldn’t stand the desert; she preferred being near the ocean. Her mother wasbeing melodramatic by sending her away. Carrie’s going through the rebelliousteenage years, and her mother doesn’t have time to deal with it. What else isnew?
Carrieloves the “City of Angels” aka Los Angeles and is bummed to leave for thesummer. She may be rebellious but she’s actually more mature than most adultsshe knows. Her father’s never around because he’s the manager of thealternative/indie band Written in Stone. Shedoesn’t know who chose the name, but the music isn’t bad. Carrie met the bandand hung out with them in the studio a few times – that was cool. She thoughtabout going into music because she has a decent voice, but she’s passionateabout art. Her paintings have won state and national awards. She’s mostly anabstract painter, but paints “real life” now and then.
Thefamily doesn’t spend much time together because Carrie’s parents havehigh-powered careers. She plans to move out when she’s 18 years-old but hasn’ttold her mom and dad. Going to her grandparents does have a silver lining –Carrie will be able to go horseback riding. She wasn’t about to let her motherknow she was looking forward to getting back on a horse. She wouldn’t give herthe satisfaction.
“Carrie,get a move on because we’re headed to the airport in 15 minutes,” said Marie.
“Mom,why do I have to go to grandma and grandpa’s?” asked Carrie.
“BecauseI’m going to be traveling a lot for work this summer and your father’s on theroad. Now quit complaining and finish packing, the car will be here anyminute,” said Marie.
“Don’tthink about taking off on your grandparents. They’ll keep a close watch onyou,” said Marie. Carrie ignored her mother and continued packing. A horn blewfrom outside. “That’s the car, hurry up,” shouted Marie. She left the room andran down stairs.
Carrie’sride to LAX was on time. She would be in the hot Arizona desert in no time. Shedidn’t understand why people moved to Arizona and then complained about theheat. Hello! It’s the desert – it’s supposed to be hot. One time while Carriewas visiting her grandparents, their friend Florence was complaining about theheat. Carrie suggested Florence move to Northern Arizona where it was cooler.Her mother almost died of embarrassment and wanted to strangle her. Carrie’sgrandfather winked at her, a sign that he agreed with her. He always saidFlorence was a natural complainer. Truth be told, Carrie was looking forward toseeing her grandparents. She liked her grandfather because he was a straightshooter, a natural cowboy. He told it how it was and Carrierespected that. He never put on airs to please others. Grandma was a strong,gentle woman and a great cook. The horn blew again.
“Carrie, come on let’s go,”yelled Marie.
“Coming,” yelled Carrie. It’s off to the Valley of the Sun.
