Bamboozle

Know Your Words

bamboozle-to deceive, fool or trick someone by underhanded methods. It is used to describe the act of misleading.

Sometimes judgement is a bamboozle agent to the mind….

Darlene had a feeling that going to the party for the Retired Polo Pony Association (RPPA), was dangerous territory. She knew she would want to adopt a Polo Pony, and she also knew that Mrs. Worthington, her beloved westie, would opine that this was trouble. Limelight work was MW’s obsession and she had no bandwidth for sharing it.

Nevertheless, Trent had convinced Darlene attending the event, which would take place at the Tart Farm, would be worthwhile. It was sponsored by the Tart sisters: Prudence, Beatrice and Alice. Fortunately, nominative determinism had not befallen them, as they were all kind, giving and determined to provide ‘sweet joy’ for retiring Polo Ponies. They had even planted daisies all about their farm. A nod to the meaning of daisies: new beginnings, joy and cheerfulness. As people arrived, Prudence taught everyone how to make daisy chains and suggested they put a daisy in their hair. Darlene, feeling like she looked ridiculous with the daisy pushed against her ear, whispered to Trent, “I don’t think I look like a serious bidder with this in my hair….I’ll weave it into a chain and make a necklace…” “You are going to bid?” Trent was surprised by this proclamation…. he missed the whole daisy wearing self-confidence issue….

The party was casual in theme…picnic tables in the paddock, twinkle lights in the trees and music playing in the background. Cocktails, mocktails and heavy and light appetizers were served. The Tart sisters gave a presentation on an outdoor screen. Darlene thought it all felt like a drive-in movie, without boxed candy. The sisters spoke about the importance of fostering a second life for retired Polo Ponies and how their brilliance continued off of the pitch.

There were levels of support one could offer. Full horse adoption down to monthly feed donations. It was important to continue to give the ponies excellent care and stimulation. The ponies would be showcased to the crowd and bidding, or queries were welcome. Darlene got her bid card ready. She knew she was going to sponsor monthly carrot bushels at the very least, for one pony… Mrs. Worthington would never have to know….

Trent decided he was going to pull daisy petals with the mantra ‘feed donations carrot bushel donations’…to see which one he would choose. He loved driving by the Tart farm and seeing the retired ponies…knowing some of his ponies would someday be welcomed on the farm.

As the ponies were brought out Alice commentated, offering descriptions of ages of the ponies, years of play, wins, owners, travel history, etc.

These Polo Ponies had a life on the go and now it was time for something different.

When Darlene saw the oldest Polo Pony come out, she thought it was perhaps a mule. She looked at Trent and said “No way is that an authentic Polo Pony. I think someone slipped that girl in the line as a way to showcase the other ponies. Not nice. Bad Form. I’m not buying it….”

The horse was a dapple grey with a bit of a sway back and a very slow walk. Her head was low…She looks kinda like Eeyore. She just needs the bow tied to her tail…is what Darlene was thinking. Trent looked at the horse and wondered if it was maybe not feeling well. “ Hummm Well, maybe she’s got indigestion…horses sometimes move very slowly when they have indigestion problems…love the dapple grey with the white face…maybe she was really something one time, Dar…you never know…” Darlene tried to consider this…but she remained suspicious and watched as Beatrice started to saddle the horse.

Beatrice got in the saddle, held her microphone and started her sales pitch. “This fine dapple Pony is a sweet dream. She’s calm (Darlene thought depressed would best describe the vibe the pony was extending) She is very stable and responsive to reining. You couldn’t have a more reliable ride and a nature of no spooking. This girl never spooks. She will respond to a click of the tongue but I don’t want to showcase that at the moment as Alice is signaling for everyone to get to a picnic table and we will play a soft game of Polo with our current adoptable Ponies so you can all have a look at performances.” 13 Ponies were available so a soft mock game of a 6 player team against a 7 player team ensued.

“Look who is number 13….Eeyore….” Darlene mused as she caught a glimpse of the number on the back of Beatrice’s vest.

The ponies moved up and down the pitch with beauty and athletic attributes: speed, agility, responsiveness. It was beautiful to watch and difficult to single out which one might be the best one. They were all stellar with one exception…the sway back grey pony sauntered down the pitch as, admittedly, Beatrice talked to one of the patrons, but still the dapple pony looked well….like Eeyore….

Darlene stared out to the pitch. She tried not to, but she fell in love with the dapple. She fell in love with her apparent shortcomings and tired state of mind…her saunter, her ‘unspookable let it be laissez faire’. Darlene imagined welcoming the dapple into her family of two….and how MW would just have to learn to share the love….

As she was daydreaming about this addition to her family, a sudden announcement was made that someone in the audience had made a substantial bid and contribution for the whole lot of horses. This someone was developing a therapy program for teens with PTSD. Alice was gasping into the microphone, expressing thanks and surprise at this turn of events. The crowd cheered and clapped and whistled….

By this time Beatrice and Eeyore were at the far end of the pitch. Beatrice couldn’t quite make out the reason for all the cheers, so she adjusted herself in the saddle and clicked two times.

Dapple Eeyore turned herself into the most beautiful galloping Polo Pony as she swiftly pounded down the pitch toward the picnic tables. Her head was high, nostrils flaring, her dapple chest strong, her mane flowing….it was unbelievable….

Alice held the microphone to her mouth for one final expression of thanks, but first, with an emotion filled voice she shouted “Look everyone look at our champion, Bamboozle, galloping this way….she’s going to make a most excellent therapist for your students….you might have been fooled, or even bamboozled, by her slow gait but she’s the most amazing girl…..slow as molasses and fast as lightening…..depending on what you ask her to do!”

After Darlene came to….well she didn’t faint, but it was an unbelievable metamorphosis…. anyway she pulled out her sponsor card and purchased 12 months of carrot bushels for ‘Bamboozle’...and then she walked over to crown the pony with her daisy chain necklace…and she imagined Bamboozle saying

Thanks for noticin me….