Gunpowder and Tea Cakes: My Journey with Felicity

I tell Felicity I’d like to learn as much as I can. I may not have another chance. So for the next hour or so, I ride Midnight around the pasture. Every minute is fantastic. With Felicity’s guidance, Midnight and I begin to communicate with each other. And by the time the sun sets, I feel much more comfortable on Midnight, and I think she likes me, too.

The groom leads our hoses back to the stable, but Felicity and I linger in the pasture. I feel incredibly happy. The sky is streaked with orange and purple, and I’m in 1775, and I just went horseback riding.

I tell Felicity how amazing the experience was. I explain that I love animals, and I’ve always wanted to learn how to ride a horse. Felicity is a good teacher. Felicity says that her mother is always telling her not to be so impatient. The only time she can be patient is when she’s working with a horse! I tell Felicity that working with horses is a gift. Perhaps she should become a horse trainer.

Felicity responds that horse training isn’t proper for a young lady. I feel silly. For a moment I forgot that Felicity doesn’t have the same options I have in my time. She continues that she thought she wouldn’t like learning how to pour tea and dance a minuet. But now, she likes those things. That doesn’t mean she likes being outdoors any less.

I tell Felicity that someday, I want to learn as much as I can about animals. One day, I want to have a job taking care of them of them when they’re sick or hurt. I’m not sure if they have actual veterinarians in 1775. But it’ll take lots of hard work.

I want to encourage Felicity, but I’m afraid I’m making a big mess of it. I tell her that I truly believe that as time goes by, girls will be able to do more and more things. But it will take brave and smart girls like us to lead the way. We can’t give up on our dreams.

Felicity smiles, and says she won’t. And I promise myself that I will go to veterinary school one day. I won’t complain about how hard the classes or homework are. I’ll be enjoying every opportunity Felicity couldn’t even imagine.

As it gets dark, we decide to go back to the house. And so we walk back arm-in-arm, dreaming our dreams.