I Express Myself Through Writing
Yellow Rose
For the last twelve years on July 26 Jesse Spring and his daughter Ally have been riding out in his Chevy , bringing with them a new yellow rose to replace the old one at the grave. Pulling up their arm sleeves in the heat of the Cheyenne, Wyoming summer, they found the single yellow rose marking her grave. They will take their time talking softly , trying to catch up on everything that’s happened since the last time they were there. Jesse talking about his last ride and how he made the 8 sec one last time. Ally telling stories of boys and how she wants to be a teacher.
Jesse and Mary Elizabeth had meet up in high school , two kids falling madly in love in no time. Jesse would pick up every morning to take her to school. They would take a few spins around the school before parking. Talking about teachers they loved , ones they hated and how they couldn’t wait for the annual Cheyenne rodeo to come around.
Freshman year came and went quickly . The following year Jesse asked Mary to the homecoming dance. Knowing that the yellow rose was her favorite, he bought her a dozen . It was from then on that the two of them would be inseparable. Many dates to the local movie theater and countless nights spent watching every rodeo around the area.
It was their junior year that Jesse took up his interest in riding horses . Having been raised on a farm he had plenty of time around horses and even broke a few for his father. It was something that he was great at and there was no doubt that riding would be his calling. He passes high school his senior year and was already a up and coming name on the local circuit.
Mary worked her way through high school , making every stop Jesse would make. Staying close to home she went to a near by college. After four years and many nights of up all nite cramming ,she finished top of her class. Having a teaching degree in her possession it was only a few short months until she found a job teaching a kindergarten class .
When not busy riding horses or teaching a class , the two of them during summer break would spend all their free time down at the beach. Along the Sloan’s Lake renting out a canoe and spending the day out on water.
After a cold winter came and passed , quickly summer was coming again and July meant that the annual Frontier Days was approaching . Jesse spent every day out at his parents farm riding from sun up till the night brought to much darkness for him to see.
Finally July 25th came and the date was here. Jesse had made it to the biggest rodeo around and making his name known was his goal. After helping out with the morning breakfast and a day of volunteering , Mary found a seat high up on the bleachers for the nites rodeo. Jesse would pull a horse named Mercy . The horse had the reputation that many young cowboys would fear. Having only ever been rode twice for the whole 8 sec . The gate pulled Jesse rode the beast with every turn it took. A brand new belt buckle was giving to the young cowboy who had gave the horse named Mercy his third defeat.
Fast forward few years ahead and many belt buckles later, the couple had gathered each of their small families in the small church up on the hill overlooking the cemetery. After saying their I do’s and spending a weekend away in the Bahamas the couple came back home to Cheyenne. After a couple of years of being married Mary was pregnant and expecting a daughter. Jesse was still riding , having now become a 2 time world champion. Many nights he spent away, calling every night to check on his wife.
Ally Spring was born on November 20th with her dad right there by her moms side. The small family lived out on a 2500 acre ranch . Jesse began to spend more time at home , helping out on his farm and watching his beautiful daughter grow. It was around Ally’s 5th Birthday that things started to change for the family. Mary had started to fill ill and spending more time at doctors.
Many doctor and specialist visits later it was discovered that Mary had heart disease and her time was being cut short. Jesse didn’t want to believe the news, wondering how the woman who had been so strong could be so easily defeated. July of the following year Mary succumbed to the disease.
Jesse stayed strong by knowing Mary would want him to go on with his life . Taking care of their sweet Ally and the farm. Jesse would think often of his “yellow rose” and the one night at the hospital when she told him that if she would leave the world that she wanted him to continue to ride. She said it’s always been in your blood and even if it’s just once , please tell me you will ride out one more time.
Two years passed and July 25th and Frontier days came again. Before the opening prayers a moment of silence was giving for Mary the wife of the legendary local world champion cowboy. After all the rides were rode the announcer told the crowd that this year there was a special attraction.
Out rode their local world champion riding for last time. After riding the 8 sec , Jesse took a couple more thorns before dismounting. From his pants he pulled out a yellow rose and gave the crowd a bow.
For the last twelve years on July 26 Jesse Spring and his daughter Ally have been riding out in his Chevy , bringing with them a new yellow rose to replace the old one at the grave. Pulling up their arm sleeves in the heat of the Cheyenne, Wyoming summer, they found the single yellow rose marking her grave. They will take their time talking softly , trying to catch up on everything that’s happened since the last time they were there. Jesse talking about his last ride and how he made the 8 sec one last time. Ally telling stories of boys and how she wants to be a teacher.
Jesse and Mary Elizabeth had meet up in high school , two kids falling madly in love in no time. Jesse would pick up every morning to take her to school. They would take a few spins around the school before parking. Talking about teachers they loved , ones they hated and how they couldn’t wait for the annual Cheyenne rodeo to come around.
Freshman year came and went quickly . The following year Jesse asked Mary to the homecoming dance. Knowing that the yellow rose was her favorite, he bought her a dozen . It was from then on that the two of them would be inseparable. Many dates to the local movie theater and countless nights spent watching every rodeo around the area.
It was their junior year that Jesse took up his interest in riding horses . Having been raised on a farm he had plenty of time around horses and even broke a few for his father. It was something that he was great at and there was no doubt that riding would be his calling. He passes high school his senior year and was already a up and coming name on the local circuit.
Mary worked her way through high school , making every stop Jesse would make. Staying close to home she went to a near by college. After four years and many nights of up all nite cramming ,she finished top of her class. Having a teaching degree in her possession it was only a few short months until she found a job teaching a kindergarten class .
When not busy riding horses or teaching a class , the two of them during summer break would spend all their free time down at the beach. Along the Sloan’s Lake renting out a canoe and spending the day out on water.
After a cold winter came and passed , quickly summer was coming again and July meant that the annual Frontier Days was approaching . Jesse spent every day out at his parents farm riding from sun up till the night brought to much darkness for him to see.
Finally July 25th came and the date was here. Jesse had made it to the biggest rodeo around and making his name known was his goal. After helping out with the morning breakfast and a day of volunteering , Mary found a seat high up on the bleachers for the nites rodeo. Jesse would pull a horse named Mercy . The horse had the reputation that many young cowboys would fear. Having only ever been rode twice for the whole 8 sec . The gate pulled Jesse rode the beast with every turn it took. A brand new belt buckle was giving to the young cowboy who had gave the horse named Mercy his third defeat.
Fast forward few years ahead and many belt buckles later, the couple had gathered each of their small families in the small church up on the hill overlooking the cemetery. After saying their I do’s and spending a weekend away in the Bahamas the couple came back home to Cheyenne. After a couple of years of being married Mary was pregnant and expecting a daughter. Jesse was still riding , having now become a 2 time world champion. Many nights he spent away, calling every night to check on his wife.
Ally Spring was born on November 20th with her dad right there by her moms side. The small family lived out on a 2500 acre ranch . Jesse began to spend more time at home , helping out on his farm and watching his beautiful daughter grow. It was around Ally’s 5th Birthday that things started to change for the family. Mary had started to fill ill and spending more time at doctors.
Many doctor and specialist visits later it was discovered that Mary had heart disease and her time was being cut short. Jesse didn’t want to believe the news, wondering how the woman who had been so strong could be so easily defeated. July of the following year Mary succumbed to the disease.
Jesse stayed strong by knowing Mary would want him to go on with his life . Taking care of their sweet Ally and the farm. Jesse would think often of his “yellow rose” and the one night at the hospital when she told him that if she would leave the world that she wanted him to continue to ride. She said it’s always been in your blood and even if it’s just once , please tell me you will ride out one more time.
Two years passed and July 25th and Frontier days came again. Before the opening prayers a moment of silence was giving for Mary the wife of the legendary local world champion cowboy. After all the rides were rode the announcer told the crowd that this year there was a special attraction.
Out rode their local world champion riding for last time. After riding the 8 sec , Jesse took a couple more thorns before dismounting. From his pants he pulled out a yellow rose and gave the crowd a bow.
46-50, M
