30 WHITE HORSES

I was a pothead during my school days. What started as a show off back in 7th grade quickly became a habit by the 9th grade. I smoked very heavily during those days. So much so that the line between reality and illusion began to blur under the influence of marijuana.

I was in my 12th grade. The exams are nearing and everyone is busy preparing for the upcoming board examination. For me, I was busy collecting the remaining marijuana plants to stock myself up for the long and dry winter months. 

By November, the examination for classes 9 and 11 began. This means the teachers are occupied with the ongoing examination and we have a lot of window to flunk classes and go light up some blunts. 

Over the summer days, I managed to stash a good amount of hash. So, one day a friend of mine came to school with a packet of cigarettes. I gave him some of my hash and he gave me half of his cigarettes.

Cigarettes are a rare commodity. Excited, I hurried home. I have a quiet spot overlooking the whole Jakar valley on the way to my house. I sat there and smoked until I finished every cigarettes.

Usually, a cigarette would be enough for a person to get high for the day. Not me, I had a heavy lunch and I haven't smoked a proper hash for more than a week. I must have sat there for like 5 or 6 hours. I was high as a cloud. I only realized it was time to go when it started getting cold. Winter is Bumthang is brutal. As soon as the sun sets, chill sets in real quick. 

High and dry, I slowly ascended towards my house. I was smoked out of my senses. As I walked up lazily. I saw about 30 milk white horses trotting ahead of me in a very gracious line. Few weeks ago, about 10 sneaked into our pasture and gobbled up every inch of the grass that was saved for the winter for our cows. 

The 30 white horses looked very dazzling. They all looked fit and fine. I have never seen this many white horses. Anyhow, I wanted to chase them away. So, I started running after them. But as soon I reached near them, they all freaked and ran even faster. I must find a way to catch up to them and then chased them back the way I came. I picked up whatever I can throw and stared hurling sticks and stones at them, trying to get them to change direction and run back where they came from. 

So I kept chasing but I was never able to get all the horses. Tired and out of breath, I reached right in front of my house. I was able to chase most of the horses except for 3 horses. 

I ran around trying to get the last remaining horses to go back the way they came. By this time, it is getting dark. I saw my mother, milking the cow right by the front lawn. 

Right infront of her I chased all the horses. I was frustrated and tired but I was determined. I picked every stone and sticks I could find and hurled at the horses. Soon, I ran out of breath and totally exhausted, I gave up. 

The horses started to walk past our house and I just looked at them, defeated. As these three horses walked away, all the other horses came running after that and now all the horses are walking past our house. If we let it be, they will definitely come late at night and devour everything in the garden and the lawns. So, I asked my mom "Mom, we should do something about these horses. They will eat all the grasses around here."

My mom replied "What horse?"

I looked back and saw nothing. Not even a single horse was in sight.

Next morning, as I walked to school, I checked the road, which is a newly paved dirt road, for foot prints of horses. I saw no foot prints of horses except my own foot prints and the stones and sticks I hurled at the "horses" the day before.