The Western Tractor
sa pamamagitan ng Kornez
What do you get if you tumawid a cowboy who lives in the west, and a traktor that he thinks is a horse?
Let's find out.
Chapter 1: Ivan
“Get your ugly lug off my lawn!” A farmer shouted at a man who was trying to lead his tupa off of the farmers property.
“I will count to three, if they not off, I'll turn 'em into pillows!” The farmer shouted holding up his shot gun.
The shepherd quickly had his tupa away in an instant.
“Hey kid!” The farmer shouted.
“Yeah?” The shepherd asked nervously.
“That was fun, come back again sometime, it gets rather boring over here,” sinabi The farmer.
“Uh, sure,” sinabi the shepherd a bit puzzled sa pamamagitan ng the farmers sudden friendliness.
He quickly moved his tupa out of sight.
“Hope I didn't spook him too hard, wouldn't want a boy to be scared of a grump like me,” sinabi the farmer to himself. “Quite the nice kid, sure I scared him, but he'll be back.”
The shepherd was there the susunod araw and so was the farmer.
“Your just in time kid,” sinabi he.
“Your not gonna shoot me?” The shepherd asked uneasily.
“Stay off mah lawn and no bullet will touch you,” sinabi the farmer.
The shepherd just nodded.
“Now go before I shoot till the cows come home,” sinabi the farmer.
“What's your name?” The shepherd asked.
“They call me Ivan,” sinabi the farmer.
“You can call me Will,” sinabi the shepherd.
“Huh, Will the shepherd,” Muttered Ivan.
“Well, I'll see you around,” sinabi Will walking away.
As soon as he was gone Ivan fired his gun at a Canadian goose.
“Why do I feel like I'm going to like this kid?” He asked himself.
He kicked a kettle and then stared at his mais stalks.
“Bah, this place needs a trim, I don't know where to find a horse,” He muttered to himself.
Chapter 2: The tractor
“What no good lowdown rats been eating mah corn?” Ivan shouted.
Will was walking sa pamamagitan ng just in time to see Ivan raving and ranting at what was left of his corn.
“Must have been bugs and geese,” sinabi Will.
“What in tar-nation?” Ivan asked spinning around.
“Hi Ivan,” sinabi Will.
“What's going Will?” Replied Ivan quietly.
He blinked.
“I sound like a softy, what you doing on my lawn, get off!” Ivan shouted.
Will couldn't help but smile, Ivan might have been pagganap big and bad, but he had a friendly heart.
“I wanted to see if you needed a hand,” sinabi Will.
Ivan looked surprised.
“Do you know how to harvest corn?” He asked.
'Yeah,” Will replied.
“Well, you can grab what's left and take it tahanan with you, but don't tell anyone I gave them to you, I is no ladies man,” sinabi Ivan.
“Not a soul,” sinabi Will.
Will began to harvest what was left of Ivan's precious corn, as he did he looked back at Ivan who was watching. When Will was done, Ivan took a stalk from him.
“Pay your taxes,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
“You sly varmint,” Grinned Will.
“Get going kid,” sinabi Ivan.
The susunod araw Will came running to Ivan's ranch.
“Why the rush kid, did yer house burn down?” Ivan asked.
“No, come see what I found,” sinabi Will gasping.
Ivan followed Will to a empty junkyard. In the very center was a tractor. Ivan walked up to it and looked it over.
“What a pretty horse,” sinabi he.
Will blinked.
“It's a tractor,” He said.
“Where I come from, its called a horse, so a horse it shall be,” sinabi Ivan.
He looked at the speed gauge.
“She's a fast one, thirty five miles per hour,” sinabi he.
Ivan looked at Will.
“Where's the manager of this place, I want it,” He said.
They soon were towing Ivan's 'horse' to his ranch. After they set it down he chased all the crew off his lawn. He told Will he'd have it snorting sa pamamagitan ng araw break. When Will came back the susunod araw he heard Ivan.
“Yee haw, look at me go!” Ivan shouted speeding past Will.
He turned and drove up to Will. He turned the noise of the engine down to a silent hum.
“Works like a glove,” sinabi he.
“Used,” Will said.
“Works like a smooth machine,” sinabi Ivan.
“Used,” sinabi Will grinning.
Ivan gave a shout.
“Works like a horse, is that taken?” Asked he.
“Yup,” Replied Will.
“Aaaagh, what does it work like then?” He asked.
“Like a friendship,” sinabi Will.
Ivan sat and looked at the traktor then at Will.
“Works like a horses friendship and a farmers dignity,” sinabi he.
Will rolled his eyes.
“Well, I'll be driving this horse over my grass, it needs it,” sinabi Ivan.
He turned up the engine and spun around and with a 'yee haw' he sped off to his ranch.
Chapter 3: Its a horse!
Every time Will came by, there was Ivan speeding around like a kid who just got his drivers license. Yeah, he was nuts. He drove over to Will.
“Come on, I want to ipakita her off to the other farmers,” sinabi he.
He looked at my surprised look.
“Of course I'll let you come along, what am I, a moron?” He asked.
I jumped on the back.
“Hold on back there, I don't want you to flying like a overzealous sisiw ng gansa on first day,” sinabi he.
The traktor gave a lurch and we shot away from his ranch.
“Look at me, I'm riding a horse, a horse, a horse, look at me I'm riding a horse, the tamest thing you'd ever laid eyes on,” He sang.
I chuckled to myself.
He stopped at a farm.
“Hey Judd!”He shouted.
Judd looked up.
“Check out mah horse,” Boasted Ivan.
“Nice tractor,” sinabi Judd.
Ivan threw an empty can of pineapple at Judd.
“Its a horse, you arrogant insect!” He growled.
Judd took a step back, I guess he was trying to imagine Ivan on a horse.
“Now that I think of it, yes, it is a horse,” sinabi he.
Ivan tossed him a box of Hershey's.
“Don't tell anyone I gave you those, I'm no ladies man,” sinabi he.
“Oh I won't,” sinabi Judd.
We shot away.
“Hey Marley, check out my horse!” Ivan shouted.
Marley looked out of his house window.
“Nice tractor,” He said.
“You blind baboon, its a horse!” Shouted Ivan.
“Okay Ivan, its a horse, no need to be so vulgar,” sinabi Marley.
“Quit pagganap blind and I'll think about it,” sinabi Ivan.
He tossed Marley a case with glasses inside.
“Don't tell anyone I gave you those, I”m no ladies man,” sinabi Ivan.
Marley nodded then shut the window. We went to all kinds of farms and the majority sinabi Ivan's horse was a tractor, each time he'd call them something funny. After they admitted it was a horse, he'd give them a treat of kendi or something sugary and tell them the same thing he told the others. Something tells me, that he was a ladies man, he just wouldn't admit it. The moment of truth came when we stopped at a pretty looking house.
“I'll be back,” sinabi he.
He walked up to the door and knocked. The door opened to reveal a young girl.
“Like my horse?” He asked pointing.
“Yes, its very strong looking,” sinabi the girl.
“Is Marie here?” Ivan asked.
“She is,” sinabi the girl.
A much taller girl cam to the door. Ivan removed his hat and stared at her quietly.
“I found a horse today,” sinabi he.
Marie looked at the 'horse' then at Ivan in a tumawid way.
“Its a TRACTOR, Ivan, quit spreading lies and tell the truth for once,” Marie yelled.
She slammed the door in his face.
Ivan quietly put his hat back on and slowly walked back like his whole world had been shattered. He looked up at Will.
“I am no ladies man,” sinabi he quietly.
“I see that,” sinabi Will.
“Marie is a long story, a story that never began,” sinabi Ivan quietly.
He drove back to his ranch, he never showed off. Ivan parked the traktor and turned to Will.
“Go home,” He said.
And then he left me standing there.
“For crying out loud, its a traktor horse!” Yelled Ivan the susunod araw to some passerby.
“Nice horse Ivan,” sinabi Will.
“Don't you ever come back!” Ivan shouted then turned to me.
“Thank ya Will, your a man with some sense,” sinabi he.
“Who was that anyway?” Will asked.
“Some guy who wanted mah land and I took my horse and snorted in his eye,” Replied Ivan.
“You drove off the government?” Asked Will.
“Yeah, never liked the suit guys anyhow,” sinabi Ivan.
“They'll be back,” sinabi I.
“And I'll drive them off again, this is my land, I have a shot gun and rights,” Ivan said.
“They have tanks,” sinabi I.
“You mean the ones that shoot shells?” Gasped Ivan.
“Yup,” I said.
“Eh, they can try,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
We drove back to Marie's manor.
Ivan knocked.
Marie barley opened the door, she opened it at a crack then slammed it.
“Marie Wait!” Shouted Ivan.
“I'm sorry, about last night, your right, its just a tractor, but to me its a horse, because of were I come from,” sinabi Ivan.
“Coming from a land of lunatics and liars!” Marie shouted from the interior of the house.
Something thumped against the door. Ivan walked back to his tractor. The door opened.
“IVAN!” Marie shouted.
Ivan froze then turned and stared at Marie.
“Miss Marie,” sinabi Ivan removing his hat.
“If, and I mean 'if' your seriously sorry for telling a lie, you can turn yourself around and you tell all the others that, that traktor and you are a buffoon,” sinabi Marie.
“A buffoon eh,” Muttered Ivan.
He looked up at Marie.
“Why bother destroying my honor over such a stupid joke?” He asked.
“What honor?” Marie asked as she slammed the door.
Ivan looked back at me.
“No ladies man, nope, not at all,” He said.
“What's with her?” Asked I.
“She's not like Ivan, who loves a laugh and a little fun, she's stubborn and holds a grudge,” sinabi Ivan.
“I noticed,” sinabi I.
“I pag-ibig the fuel this horse guzzles, its amazing,” Ivan sinabi the susunod day.
“Did the government guy, yeah he did, threatened they'd take the place right out from under me,” sinabi Ivan.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Put up a fight, I inherited and actually bought this land, they won't get it back,” sinabi Ivan.
“I sure hope so,” sinabi I.
Chapter 4: Ivan vs the government
Ivan sat staring at the bank employee with a look of contempt.
“The government and the bank wants that land you have there Ivan, why don't you just take the money and go?” The employee asked.
Ivan put his hands on the table, leaned pasulong and looked a the man square in the eye.
“Look mister suit, you can go to your employers whom you sold your soul to for money and can weep, wail, and rant about me all you want, but get this, that land, is mine and not you nor anything else in this universe can take it away from me, get the idea?” Ivan asked in a calm but serious tone.
The bank guy stared aback at him with wide eyes.
“Yeah,” He sinabi shakily. “I get the idea.”
Ivan stood up.
“Let's go Will, we're finished here,” sinabi he.
As soon as we were outside the building Ivan exploded in laughter.
“Aw yeah, I showed them, I showed them!” He shouted.
“They'll probably bring the cavalry,” sinabi I.
“Let them,” Chuckled Ivan.
He looked at me.
“Will, when a farmers property is being threatened, its not just his problem, its the whole farming communities problem,” sinabi he.
“You don't mean-” I started.
“Yes Will, all the other farmers know how hard I toil on that farm, they'll all jump in,” sinabi Ivan.
“And Marie?” I asked.
Ivan shrugged.
“She'll stand on the sidelines,” He said.
There they were the susunod morning all the farmers with tier guns.
“You don't usually let us onto your land Ivan, so this must be important,” sinabi Judd.
“Well savor your chance, it may be the last farm land you'll ever see,” Ivan sinabi pagkarga his gun.
Marie came and everyone except Ivan removed their hats.
“What are you up to Ivan?” She asked.
“Defending the honor and dignity of ones farm,” Ivan replied.
“From what?” Asked Marie.
“The government,” sinabi a farmer.
Marie scoffed.
“You've been lying again haven't you?” Marie asked.
“Great, here she goes again,” Ivan groaned under his breath.
“You see that tractor?” Marie snapped pointing at Ivan's horse.
“Yeah, its Ivan's horse, what about it?” Judd asked.
“Its a traktor you nit wits!” Marie shouted.
“He's been full out, full blown, bold face, lying to you,” sinabi she.
“When it comes to the government its no lying matter,” sinabi Marley.
“The government doesn't want this land, hasn't wanted it in years,” sinabi Marie.
“Exactly why they send me this,” sinabi Ivan pulling out a sheet of paper.
He tried to give it to Marie but she didn't move, she stared at him with eyes of mapait hatred.
“Fine I'll read it,” Ivan muttered.
“You have one day, to evict your houses take whatever belongs to you personally. The diggers will be there soon,” Read he.
“It goes on a bit more,” sinabi Ivan.
“Refusal to cooperate will result in death as we have also sent troops, in case you are still there.” Ivan read.
He looked at Marie.
“I'm not lying this time Marie, in fact I never did lie to you, I only asked for a little fun, the only lie you have is the one that you keep telling yourself everyday, that Ivan is a crook and deserves to be shunned, true I do deserve to be shunned, but that's not why I'm here, I'm here to protect my tahanan and if you can't fathom that then please, get off my lawn,” sinabi he.
Marie just stared.
Ivan picked up his gun and aimed it at her, so did the others.
“I don't want to force you off Marie, I'm asking you gently,” Ivan said.
Marie still didn't move. Ivan shot the ground.
“I'm no ladies man Marie, please leave,” sinabi he.
“No, your not a man at all, your a sniveling coward hiding behind a gun and a lie!” Shouted Marie.
She turned and stormed away.
“Marie and I met some time nakaraan at a school,” sinabi Ivan.
I turned.
“She was a smart one, one who knew how to tell the difference between a mansanas and a tomato,” Ivan said.
“What happened?” I asked.
Ivan looked at me.
“Life Will, life happened,” sinabi he.
We heard the droning of machines in the distance. Out lookout did hand signals to Ivan.
“Three dump trucks, four back hoes, a cement track and a nice large legion of soldiers,” sinabi Ivan.
The man did madami signals.
“Make that five backhoes, and a scoop, two of them,” Ivan said.
“Sounds thrilling,” sinabi I.
“Tell me about it,” Ivan chuckled.
He turned to his friends.
“Boys, we may or we may not, live through this, if we do live through this, I have a nice stash of cider in the cellar,” sinabi Ivan.
The farmers cheered. Ivan held up his hand and the farmers fell silent.
“However, if we all die defending this land, well, lets make it worth remembering,” sinabi he.
Soon we were ready, mga baril in hand and eyes peeled.
“What kind of cider do you have?” Judd asked.
“The kind that's rememberable,” Replied Ivan.
“Oh, I pag-ibig that stuff,” sinabi Marley.
“Focus guys, here thy come!” The lookout shouted.
Ivan jumped out with his gun in hand.
“Ivan,” sinabi the guy in the suit.
“We gently told you to leave, now do we have to force you out?” He asked.
“Me, force me out, sir, your gonna have to force them out,” sinabi Ivan.
“Them?” Asked the man in the suit.
All the other farmers popped out with their mga baril in hand.
“Mister suit, this is our land, and now I'm askin' nicely, get off my lawn,” sinabi Ivan.
The guy in the suit sighed.
“I tried.” sinabi he.
“This isn't your land anyways, this is Gods,” sinabi Ivan.
“Fire.” sinabi the guy in the suit.
Ivan jumped for cover as bullets rained down. We fought back and we fought hard, we Nawawala quiet a few farmers. Ivan jumped on his horse and with Will driving shot soldiers.
“With a bang, bang here, and a bang bang there, old mic Ivan had a farm, e, I, e, I o!” Ivan sang.
One of the soldiers shot a basuka under them and they flew forwards. We should have died but somehow we lived. The horse exploded.
“You know, now that I look at it, it is just a lawn mower,” sinabi Ivan.
“Really, I hadn't noticed,” sinabi I.
“But if there is one thing I still am, its a farmer!” Ivan shouted.
He shot a soldier. The farmers cheered as whatever was left of the legion and construction vehicles drove away.
Chapter 5: Marie
When Marie met Ivan she was a blooming young lady who never knew adventure in her entire career. Ivan's imagination and wisecracking attitude brought Marie to a world of farming and grumpy farmers. Marie helped Ivan tend to his farm, back then, he let anyone step on his lawn, he didn't mind. But Marie secretly despised Ivan's imagination since he liked to create things into a practical joke. She confronted him one araw when he had his eye on a ed tractor, she told him to stop being stupid and look at reality. Ivan told her out of humor that he loved her madami then the tractor. She thought he was lying, but as Ivan would reveal years later, she was the one living in the lie, the lie that there is no such thing as adventure in the real world. She abandoned Ivan and he became cold. Until Will came that is. Today Ivan walks to Marie's manor to face her one last time.
“How much do you bet?” Ivan asked.
“I bet thirty she'll slam the door in your face,” sinabi I.
“Let's give it a shot,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
He walked up to the door and took a breath.
“This is it Ivan, moment of truth,” He muttered.
He knocked. He knocked again then the door slowly opened. It wasn't closed. To Will's surprise Ivan rushed in.
“Will get a doctor!” He shouted from the inside of the house.
I shot to the nearest office I could find and we came running.
“Well it seems you caught her just in time, she'll live,” sinabi the doctor emerging from the room.
“Could someone explain what happened?” I asked.
“Will, she tried to hang herself,” sinabi Ivan.
I blinked.
“That goodness we came, any longer and she'd be gone,” sinabi Ivan.
“Ivan?” Marie's voice rang out from the kama room.
Ivan opened the door slowly. Marie was sitting up and gently touching her neck.
“You hated me,” sinabi she.
“I only hated the lie you told yourself,” sinabi Ivan.
“But there really is adventure out there, right?” Asked Marie.
“If you accept the path God ordained for you, then yes,” sinabi Ivan.
Marie looked up at Ivan.
“I'm so sorry Ivan, truly I am, I thought you were Nawawala when really, it was me, trapped in a box of rules and regulations and full of bitterness,” sinabi Marie.
“Your forgiven Marie,” Ivan said.
Marie stood.
“I'll be a good farmer, have some imagination, I'll do my best,” sinabi She.
Ivan put a hand on Marie's shoulder.
“Marie, your wonderful just the way you are, but if you wish to learn creativity you must chose whether or not you were ibingiay it,” sinabi Ivan.
“I want to be creative like you Ivan,” sinabi Marie.
Ivan laughed.
“I'm just a farmer Marie, there's nothing special about that, I just like making up things to pass the time,” He said.
“Can I be your wife?” Marie blurted.
Ivan blinked.
“I am no longer a ladies man Marie,” sinabi Ivan.
“Well to me, you are,” sinabi Marie.
Marie had broken out of her shell and finally came to realize that life had its adventures. The wedding was wonderful and all the farmers were there. Ivan never did get another horse, but he did open up his cellar. Today Will still visits them. Ivan is still as cranky as ever about his lawn and Marie is as sweet as a dove. But if there is something you and I both know, its that Ivan....was always, always, a ladies man.
The end.
sa pamamagitan ng Kornez
What do you get if you tumawid a cowboy who lives in the west, and a traktor that he thinks is a horse?
Let's find out.
Chapter 1: Ivan
“Get your ugly lug off my lawn!” A farmer shouted at a man who was trying to lead his tupa off of the farmers property.
“I will count to three, if they not off, I'll turn 'em into pillows!” The farmer shouted holding up his shot gun.
The shepherd quickly had his tupa away in an instant.
“Hey kid!” The farmer shouted.
“Yeah?” The shepherd asked nervously.
“That was fun, come back again sometime, it gets rather boring over here,” sinabi The farmer.
“Uh, sure,” sinabi the shepherd a bit puzzled sa pamamagitan ng the farmers sudden friendliness.
He quickly moved his tupa out of sight.
“Hope I didn't spook him too hard, wouldn't want a boy to be scared of a grump like me,” sinabi the farmer to himself. “Quite the nice kid, sure I scared him, but he'll be back.”
The shepherd was there the susunod araw and so was the farmer.
“Your just in time kid,” sinabi he.
“Your not gonna shoot me?” The shepherd asked uneasily.
“Stay off mah lawn and no bullet will touch you,” sinabi the farmer.
The shepherd just nodded.
“Now go before I shoot till the cows come home,” sinabi the farmer.
“What's your name?” The shepherd asked.
“They call me Ivan,” sinabi the farmer.
“You can call me Will,” sinabi the shepherd.
“Huh, Will the shepherd,” Muttered Ivan.
“Well, I'll see you around,” sinabi Will walking away.
As soon as he was gone Ivan fired his gun at a Canadian goose.
“Why do I feel like I'm going to like this kid?” He asked himself.
He kicked a kettle and then stared at his mais stalks.
“Bah, this place needs a trim, I don't know where to find a horse,” He muttered to himself.
Chapter 2: The tractor
“What no good lowdown rats been eating mah corn?” Ivan shouted.
Will was walking sa pamamagitan ng just in time to see Ivan raving and ranting at what was left of his corn.
“Must have been bugs and geese,” sinabi Will.
“What in tar-nation?” Ivan asked spinning around.
“Hi Ivan,” sinabi Will.
“What's going Will?” Replied Ivan quietly.
He blinked.
“I sound like a softy, what you doing on my lawn, get off!” Ivan shouted.
Will couldn't help but smile, Ivan might have been pagganap big and bad, but he had a friendly heart.
“I wanted to see if you needed a hand,” sinabi Will.
Ivan looked surprised.
“Do you know how to harvest corn?” He asked.
'Yeah,” Will replied.
“Well, you can grab what's left and take it tahanan with you, but don't tell anyone I gave them to you, I is no ladies man,” sinabi Ivan.
“Not a soul,” sinabi Will.
Will began to harvest what was left of Ivan's precious corn, as he did he looked back at Ivan who was watching. When Will was done, Ivan took a stalk from him.
“Pay your taxes,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
“You sly varmint,” Grinned Will.
“Get going kid,” sinabi Ivan.
The susunod araw Will came running to Ivan's ranch.
“Why the rush kid, did yer house burn down?” Ivan asked.
“No, come see what I found,” sinabi Will gasping.
Ivan followed Will to a empty junkyard. In the very center was a tractor. Ivan walked up to it and looked it over.
“What a pretty horse,” sinabi he.
Will blinked.
“It's a tractor,” He said.
“Where I come from, its called a horse, so a horse it shall be,” sinabi Ivan.
He looked at the speed gauge.
“She's a fast one, thirty five miles per hour,” sinabi he.
Ivan looked at Will.
“Where's the manager of this place, I want it,” He said.
They soon were towing Ivan's 'horse' to his ranch. After they set it down he chased all the crew off his lawn. He told Will he'd have it snorting sa pamamagitan ng araw break. When Will came back the susunod araw he heard Ivan.
“Yee haw, look at me go!” Ivan shouted speeding past Will.
He turned and drove up to Will. He turned the noise of the engine down to a silent hum.
“Works like a glove,” sinabi he.
“Used,” Will said.
“Works like a smooth machine,” sinabi Ivan.
“Used,” sinabi Will grinning.
Ivan gave a shout.
“Works like a horse, is that taken?” Asked he.
“Yup,” Replied Will.
“Aaaagh, what does it work like then?” He asked.
“Like a friendship,” sinabi Will.
Ivan sat and looked at the traktor then at Will.
“Works like a horses friendship and a farmers dignity,” sinabi he.
Will rolled his eyes.
“Well, I'll be driving this horse over my grass, it needs it,” sinabi Ivan.
He turned up the engine and spun around and with a 'yee haw' he sped off to his ranch.
Chapter 3: Its a horse!
Every time Will came by, there was Ivan speeding around like a kid who just got his drivers license. Yeah, he was nuts. He drove over to Will.
“Come on, I want to ipakita her off to the other farmers,” sinabi he.
He looked at my surprised look.
“Of course I'll let you come along, what am I, a moron?” He asked.
I jumped on the back.
“Hold on back there, I don't want you to flying like a overzealous sisiw ng gansa on first day,” sinabi he.
The traktor gave a lurch and we shot away from his ranch.
“Look at me, I'm riding a horse, a horse, a horse, look at me I'm riding a horse, the tamest thing you'd ever laid eyes on,” He sang.
I chuckled to myself.
He stopped at a farm.
“Hey Judd!”He shouted.
Judd looked up.
“Check out mah horse,” Boasted Ivan.
“Nice tractor,” sinabi Judd.
Ivan threw an empty can of pineapple at Judd.
“Its a horse, you arrogant insect!” He growled.
Judd took a step back, I guess he was trying to imagine Ivan on a horse.
“Now that I think of it, yes, it is a horse,” sinabi he.
Ivan tossed him a box of Hershey's.
“Don't tell anyone I gave you those, I'm no ladies man,” sinabi he.
“Oh I won't,” sinabi Judd.
We shot away.
“Hey Marley, check out my horse!” Ivan shouted.
Marley looked out of his house window.
“Nice tractor,” He said.
“You blind baboon, its a horse!” Shouted Ivan.
“Okay Ivan, its a horse, no need to be so vulgar,” sinabi Marley.
“Quit pagganap blind and I'll think about it,” sinabi Ivan.
He tossed Marley a case with glasses inside.
“Don't tell anyone I gave you those, I”m no ladies man,” sinabi Ivan.
Marley nodded then shut the window. We went to all kinds of farms and the majority sinabi Ivan's horse was a tractor, each time he'd call them something funny. After they admitted it was a horse, he'd give them a treat of kendi or something sugary and tell them the same thing he told the others. Something tells me, that he was a ladies man, he just wouldn't admit it. The moment of truth came when we stopped at a pretty looking house.
“I'll be back,” sinabi he.
He walked up to the door and knocked. The door opened to reveal a young girl.
“Like my horse?” He asked pointing.
“Yes, its very strong looking,” sinabi the girl.
“Is Marie here?” Ivan asked.
“She is,” sinabi the girl.
A much taller girl cam to the door. Ivan removed his hat and stared at her quietly.
“I found a horse today,” sinabi he.
Marie looked at the 'horse' then at Ivan in a tumawid way.
“Its a TRACTOR, Ivan, quit spreading lies and tell the truth for once,” Marie yelled.
She slammed the door in his face.
Ivan quietly put his hat back on and slowly walked back like his whole world had been shattered. He looked up at Will.
“I am no ladies man,” sinabi he quietly.
“I see that,” sinabi Will.
“Marie is a long story, a story that never began,” sinabi Ivan quietly.
He drove back to his ranch, he never showed off. Ivan parked the traktor and turned to Will.
“Go home,” He said.
And then he left me standing there.
“For crying out loud, its a traktor horse!” Yelled Ivan the susunod araw to some passerby.
“Nice horse Ivan,” sinabi Will.
“Don't you ever come back!” Ivan shouted then turned to me.
“Thank ya Will, your a man with some sense,” sinabi he.
“Who was that anyway?” Will asked.
“Some guy who wanted mah land and I took my horse and snorted in his eye,” Replied Ivan.
“You drove off the government?” Asked Will.
“Yeah, never liked the suit guys anyhow,” sinabi Ivan.
“They'll be back,” sinabi I.
“And I'll drive them off again, this is my land, I have a shot gun and rights,” Ivan said.
“They have tanks,” sinabi I.
“You mean the ones that shoot shells?” Gasped Ivan.
“Yup,” I said.
“Eh, they can try,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
We drove back to Marie's manor.
Ivan knocked.
Marie barley opened the door, she opened it at a crack then slammed it.
“Marie Wait!” Shouted Ivan.
“I'm sorry, about last night, your right, its just a tractor, but to me its a horse, because of were I come from,” sinabi Ivan.
“Coming from a land of lunatics and liars!” Marie shouted from the interior of the house.
Something thumped against the door. Ivan walked back to his tractor. The door opened.
“IVAN!” Marie shouted.
Ivan froze then turned and stared at Marie.
“Miss Marie,” sinabi Ivan removing his hat.
“If, and I mean 'if' your seriously sorry for telling a lie, you can turn yourself around and you tell all the others that, that traktor and you are a buffoon,” sinabi Marie.
“A buffoon eh,” Muttered Ivan.
He looked up at Marie.
“Why bother destroying my honor over such a stupid joke?” He asked.
“What honor?” Marie asked as she slammed the door.
Ivan looked back at me.
“No ladies man, nope, not at all,” He said.
“What's with her?” Asked I.
“She's not like Ivan, who loves a laugh and a little fun, she's stubborn and holds a grudge,” sinabi Ivan.
“I noticed,” sinabi I.
“I pag-ibig the fuel this horse guzzles, its amazing,” Ivan sinabi the susunod day.
“Did the government guy, yeah he did, threatened they'd take the place right out from under me,” sinabi Ivan.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Put up a fight, I inherited and actually bought this land, they won't get it back,” sinabi Ivan.
“I sure hope so,” sinabi I.
Chapter 4: Ivan vs the government
Ivan sat staring at the bank employee with a look of contempt.
“The government and the bank wants that land you have there Ivan, why don't you just take the money and go?” The employee asked.
Ivan put his hands on the table, leaned pasulong and looked a the man square in the eye.
“Look mister suit, you can go to your employers whom you sold your soul to for money and can weep, wail, and rant about me all you want, but get this, that land, is mine and not you nor anything else in this universe can take it away from me, get the idea?” Ivan asked in a calm but serious tone.
The bank guy stared aback at him with wide eyes.
“Yeah,” He sinabi shakily. “I get the idea.”
Ivan stood up.
“Let's go Will, we're finished here,” sinabi he.
As soon as we were outside the building Ivan exploded in laughter.
“Aw yeah, I showed them, I showed them!” He shouted.
“They'll probably bring the cavalry,” sinabi I.
“Let them,” Chuckled Ivan.
He looked at me.
“Will, when a farmers property is being threatened, its not just his problem, its the whole farming communities problem,” sinabi he.
“You don't mean-” I started.
“Yes Will, all the other farmers know how hard I toil on that farm, they'll all jump in,” sinabi Ivan.
“And Marie?” I asked.
Ivan shrugged.
“She'll stand on the sidelines,” He said.
There they were the susunod morning all the farmers with tier guns.
“You don't usually let us onto your land Ivan, so this must be important,” sinabi Judd.
“Well savor your chance, it may be the last farm land you'll ever see,” Ivan sinabi pagkarga his gun.
Marie came and everyone except Ivan removed their hats.
“What are you up to Ivan?” She asked.
“Defending the honor and dignity of ones farm,” Ivan replied.
“From what?” Asked Marie.
“The government,” sinabi a farmer.
Marie scoffed.
“You've been lying again haven't you?” Marie asked.
“Great, here she goes again,” Ivan groaned under his breath.
“You see that tractor?” Marie snapped pointing at Ivan's horse.
“Yeah, its Ivan's horse, what about it?” Judd asked.
“Its a traktor you nit wits!” Marie shouted.
“He's been full out, full blown, bold face, lying to you,” sinabi she.
“When it comes to the government its no lying matter,” sinabi Marley.
“The government doesn't want this land, hasn't wanted it in years,” sinabi Marie.
“Exactly why they send me this,” sinabi Ivan pulling out a sheet of paper.
He tried to give it to Marie but she didn't move, she stared at him with eyes of mapait hatred.
“Fine I'll read it,” Ivan muttered.
“You have one day, to evict your houses take whatever belongs to you personally. The diggers will be there soon,” Read he.
“It goes on a bit more,” sinabi Ivan.
“Refusal to cooperate will result in death as we have also sent troops, in case you are still there.” Ivan read.
He looked at Marie.
“I'm not lying this time Marie, in fact I never did lie to you, I only asked for a little fun, the only lie you have is the one that you keep telling yourself everyday, that Ivan is a crook and deserves to be shunned, true I do deserve to be shunned, but that's not why I'm here, I'm here to protect my tahanan and if you can't fathom that then please, get off my lawn,” sinabi he.
Marie just stared.
Ivan picked up his gun and aimed it at her, so did the others.
“I don't want to force you off Marie, I'm asking you gently,” Ivan said.
Marie still didn't move. Ivan shot the ground.
“I'm no ladies man Marie, please leave,” sinabi he.
“No, your not a man at all, your a sniveling coward hiding behind a gun and a lie!” Shouted Marie.
She turned and stormed away.
“Marie and I met some time nakaraan at a school,” sinabi Ivan.
I turned.
“She was a smart one, one who knew how to tell the difference between a mansanas and a tomato,” Ivan said.
“What happened?” I asked.
Ivan looked at me.
“Life Will, life happened,” sinabi he.
We heard the droning of machines in the distance. Out lookout did hand signals to Ivan.
“Three dump trucks, four back hoes, a cement track and a nice large legion of soldiers,” sinabi Ivan.
The man did madami signals.
“Make that five backhoes, and a scoop, two of them,” Ivan said.
“Sounds thrilling,” sinabi I.
“Tell me about it,” Ivan chuckled.
He turned to his friends.
“Boys, we may or we may not, live through this, if we do live through this, I have a nice stash of cider in the cellar,” sinabi Ivan.
The farmers cheered. Ivan held up his hand and the farmers fell silent.
“However, if we all die defending this land, well, lets make it worth remembering,” sinabi he.
Soon we were ready, mga baril in hand and eyes peeled.
“What kind of cider do you have?” Judd asked.
“The kind that's rememberable,” Replied Ivan.
“Oh, I pag-ibig that stuff,” sinabi Marley.
“Focus guys, here thy come!” The lookout shouted.
Ivan jumped out with his gun in hand.
“Ivan,” sinabi the guy in the suit.
“We gently told you to leave, now do we have to force you out?” He asked.
“Me, force me out, sir, your gonna have to force them out,” sinabi Ivan.
“Them?” Asked the man in the suit.
All the other farmers popped out with their mga baril in hand.
“Mister suit, this is our land, and now I'm askin' nicely, get off my lawn,” sinabi Ivan.
The guy in the suit sighed.
“I tried.” sinabi he.
“This isn't your land anyways, this is Gods,” sinabi Ivan.
“Fire.” sinabi the guy in the suit.
Ivan jumped for cover as bullets rained down. We fought back and we fought hard, we Nawawala quiet a few farmers. Ivan jumped on his horse and with Will driving shot soldiers.
“With a bang, bang here, and a bang bang there, old mic Ivan had a farm, e, I, e, I o!” Ivan sang.
One of the soldiers shot a basuka under them and they flew forwards. We should have died but somehow we lived. The horse exploded.
“You know, now that I look at it, it is just a lawn mower,” sinabi Ivan.
“Really, I hadn't noticed,” sinabi I.
“But if there is one thing I still am, its a farmer!” Ivan shouted.
He shot a soldier. The farmers cheered as whatever was left of the legion and construction vehicles drove away.
Chapter 5: Marie
When Marie met Ivan she was a blooming young lady who never knew adventure in her entire career. Ivan's imagination and wisecracking attitude brought Marie to a world of farming and grumpy farmers. Marie helped Ivan tend to his farm, back then, he let anyone step on his lawn, he didn't mind. But Marie secretly despised Ivan's imagination since he liked to create things into a practical joke. She confronted him one araw when he had his eye on a ed tractor, she told him to stop being stupid and look at reality. Ivan told her out of humor that he loved her madami then the tractor. She thought he was lying, but as Ivan would reveal years later, she was the one living in the lie, the lie that there is no such thing as adventure in the real world. She abandoned Ivan and he became cold. Until Will came that is. Today Ivan walks to Marie's manor to face her one last time.
“How much do you bet?” Ivan asked.
“I bet thirty she'll slam the door in your face,” sinabi I.
“Let's give it a shot,” sinabi Ivan grinning.
He walked up to the door and took a breath.
“This is it Ivan, moment of truth,” He muttered.
He knocked. He knocked again then the door slowly opened. It wasn't closed. To Will's surprise Ivan rushed in.
“Will get a doctor!” He shouted from the inside of the house.
I shot to the nearest office I could find and we came running.
“Well it seems you caught her just in time, she'll live,” sinabi the doctor emerging from the room.
“Could someone explain what happened?” I asked.
“Will, she tried to hang herself,” sinabi Ivan.
I blinked.
“That goodness we came, any longer and she'd be gone,” sinabi Ivan.
“Ivan?” Marie's voice rang out from the kama room.
Ivan opened the door slowly. Marie was sitting up and gently touching her neck.
“You hated me,” sinabi she.
“I only hated the lie you told yourself,” sinabi Ivan.
“But there really is adventure out there, right?” Asked Marie.
“If you accept the path God ordained for you, then yes,” sinabi Ivan.
Marie looked up at Ivan.
“I'm so sorry Ivan, truly I am, I thought you were Nawawala when really, it was me, trapped in a box of rules and regulations and full of bitterness,” sinabi Marie.
“Your forgiven Marie,” Ivan said.
Marie stood.
“I'll be a good farmer, have some imagination, I'll do my best,” sinabi She.
Ivan put a hand on Marie's shoulder.
“Marie, your wonderful just the way you are, but if you wish to learn creativity you must chose whether or not you were ibingiay it,” sinabi Ivan.
“I want to be creative like you Ivan,” sinabi Marie.
Ivan laughed.
“I'm just a farmer Marie, there's nothing special about that, I just like making up things to pass the time,” He said.
“Can I be your wife?” Marie blurted.
Ivan blinked.
“I am no longer a ladies man Marie,” sinabi Ivan.
“Well to me, you are,” sinabi Marie.
Marie had broken out of her shell and finally came to realize that life had its adventures. The wedding was wonderful and all the farmers were there. Ivan never did get another horse, but he did open up his cellar. Today Will still visits them. Ivan is still as cranky as ever about his lawn and Marie is as sweet as a dove. But if there is something you and I both know, its that Ivan....was always, always, a ladies man.
The end.