Issue 10.2 Spring 2015

10.2 cover image

 

Artist Statement:

For my pieces Meeting Michael Kelket and The Jumper Classic I wanted the reader to feel all of the emotions I felt while I experienced these moments and the emotions I still feel today.

The Jumper Classic was both a huge letdown to me and also a traumatic experience, as I was unable to compete in a competition that meant the world to me and a fellow competitor lost her teammate, friend, and companion. I wanted to convey the heat of the moment, and a clear scene that the reader could follow even if they did not understand the sport and its terms.

Meeting Michael Kelket was a different experience altogether, but one I will never forget. I had the chance to achieve all my hopes and dreams, but the cost was too much. I had to choose between my dreams and my values, and I wanted to portray how I was treated like a piece of meat while being compared to the girl that my favorite Olympian was when she was my age.

 

Meeting Michael Kelket

 

Katie Morris

 


I threw a grin at Thomas as we sped down the long road just out of Lexington. He gave me a concerned look and said, “Are you sure about this Katie?” I nodded at him and wiggled in my seat, today was the day I was meeting Michael Kelket. I sipped on my blueberry Icee, and thought about our first meeting. I remembered first meeting him at the racetrack while I was explaining which horse to bet on to my roommate, Catherine. We were at Keeneland Racetrack, all gussied up for scholarship day. I was wearing a blue side-boob dress that showed a lot of leg when the wind blew, hoping to catch the eye of the many frat guys who milled around. Catherine didn’t know much about horses, and I was telling her why I would bet on the bay horse over the sleek chestnut when Michael approached me.


“Excuse me miss, but I would bet on the other bay.” He said to me as I turned to look at him. He was a bit taller than me, and had the iciest blue eyes I had ever seen. His face was tan and weathered, and he was probably twenty years older than me. I crossed my arms self-consciously and replied, “No, I don’t think so. Look at his conformation. His right shoulder is off.” As I said this I could tell he was analyzing me, taking me in. He extended his hand to me and introduced himself as Michael Kelket. It didn’t dawn on me then, who I was talking to about a horse having better conformation. I relaxed a bit, smiled at him, and introduced myself.  With a knowing grin he said, “Katie Vanderbilt, huh? So you’re the Grassroots Champion.” I gaped at him for a second, and quickly recovered. “Yeah, I’m a zone five rider. I’m from Illinois.” I explained my training history for a few minutes and he nodded at me and said, “I’m with a couple of my younger riders now, here’s my card. You should come out to my barn this weekend to see my facility.” As he walked away Catherine looked at me and said, “Jeeze, everyone knows you Katie.” I grinned back at her, and we walked out to go watch the next race.

 

“Katie!” Thomas snapped me out of my memory. “Sorry Thomas, it’s just up ahead over that bend,” I said nervously. “Thomas do I look okay? I mean, like not like too good but good?”

 

 “Katie you look fine. Do you want me to wait outside? What if he’s a creep or something? Here take my knife.” Thomas reached over and put it in my lap. I let out a quick laugh, and said, “Thomas he’s my size almost, and for Christ sake he’s an Olympic rider. He’s not a creep.” I left the knife on the seat, and slid out of the Jeep. “I’ll be here, text me in an hour so I know you’re not dead,” he called after me.

 

I straightened my tuff rider jacket that I had won from the previous horse show and the wind blasted me.

 

“Well there goes my hair,” I muttered. I quickly sought refuge and pulled open the barn door. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I walked into the center aisle spotting Michael grooming a striking mare. When he noticed me he quickly abandoned the horse and greeted me. “You have a very nice facility,” I politely said to him as he shook my hand. “Yeah, it’s pretty great Katie. You would love it here. I’ve built up a small, but wealthy client base. See this horse here?” He pointed at the mare he had been grooming, “Her name is Love Story, and I’m to sell her soon. She’s worth about $250,000 now.” I tried to keep my jaw from falling to my feet and stupidly said, “She looks nice.”

 

His eyes gleamed as he smiled at me, and then he showed me a few of the other horses in the barn. As he showed me each horse I relaxed a bit, this was a man who genuinely cared for his charges. We talked about the horses for a while as the wind howled outside. He brought me back to Love Story and said, “You know if I wasn’t selling her so soon she could’ve been yours to ride.” I stared at him as he continued, “I could teach you a lot of things Katie, and I’ve seen you ride at the horse park. You need to ditch the Murphy’s and come ride for me.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he continued, “You would need to quit school of course, but it would be worth it. Just think, I could bring you up quickly and you’d be able to stay in Florida for the winters, riding every day. Grand Prix’s in a year if you would switch to jumpers, and of course you’d still be able to win the hunter derbies. Professional status for you would be easily attainable, just think of all the money you could make!” He stopped talking as a skinny brunette girl walked in. “Ah, Charlotte this is Katie Vanderbilt. She’s touring the barn,” he said to her curtly. Charlotte immediately put her head down, muttered a greeting, and shuffled off to finish grooming Love Story. I guessed she was a groom or worker of his, I didn’t recognize her as a rider.

 

Michael then led me into what seemed to be his tack room and closed the door behind us. He motioned for me to sit on the tack trunk in front of him, and he sat across from me. I looked at the shelves behind him, filled with trophies and metals from huge Grand Prix wins. I also saw magazine covers with Michael on them, and after nodding appreciatively I returned my attention to him. He grinned at me and said, “Well, what do you think?” My head reeled a bit, he had just laid out my dreams in front of me and he knew it. Everything I had ever wanted, and all I had to do was say yes. I thought for a moment, listening to the wind.
 It would have been so easy to just say yes, but something in the back of my mind made me hold firm so instead I slowly said, “That seems like an awfully generous offer. What’s in it for you? Surely you don’t want to just help me out, what’s your price Michael?” His smile was roguish and he said, “I know you’re a different kind of girl than most of the girls you ride against, and you’re smart too.” I looked into his blue eyes questioningly and asked, “What do you mean?” He got up and sat on the trunk next to me and spoke a bit quieter, “Take Charlotte out there for instance. Her family has loads of money, but she’s a timid girl. I don’t want a timid girl; I know you’re not afraid. I also know you would do anything to ride, which is why you’re grooming for two rival barns.” He cut me off when I tried to deny it and said, “I know who you are. I know how hard you’re working just to make things work and this is why I am offering you this chance. You’re a tough little girl, and that’s what I want.” He slid his hand over my thigh as he said it, and I all but jumped out of my skin. I took a breath, I needed to text Thomas.

 

 He continued talking then, and I panicked inside but still smiled. I had to do this carefully if I was to keep my reputation as an honest rider, and I kicked myself for thinking this was a casual meeting. He leaned closer as he explained, “So I know you’re probably thinking you’ll get some bad reputation for this, but don’t worry this is only between you and me. You’re the only girl I’ll be with. No one has to know, unless you want them to.” I tried to look calm, I really tried. I could feel the tears welling up, and I feigned interest in one of his bridles to give me an excuse to look away. When I had myself under control again I looked him straight in the eye, got up, and sat on the trunk across from him. I really needed to text Thomas but I was too scared to even pull my phone out.

 

 I had no idea how much time had passed. Michael acted like I hadn’t moved, and continued on, “I’m sure you know Edwina Tops Alexander,” he paused. I did, she was my favorite Olympic rider. “Well I actually used to ride with her. You know what’s funny; you remind me a lot of her when she was your age.” I listened intently; there was something else he was getting at here. “She and I worked in Holland for a bit, but what really impressed me was how driven she was. The first thing she ever said to me was, “See that man over there? I’m gonna fuck him till he lets me ride his horses.”” I just about died inside as he told me this, but he kept going, “That woman is crazy, but it’s kind of funny because she did fuck her way to the top, which is why she’s with her husband now.” My stomach had worked itself into a knot by then, and I felt like I was going to pass out.

 

I slowly got up from the tack trunk and gave Michael the sexiest smile I could manage. He got up as well, and my feet felt like lead bricks as I walked until I was standing close enough to reach out and touch him. I stuck my hand out then, and he shook it with a frown on his face. I somehow forced myself to say, “Thank you for sharing your stories with me Michael, and I will think about your offer. My head is a little full from everything, but I will text you and let you know soon.” He opened the tack room door, and I saw Charlotte all but drop the brush she was using. I couldn’t even look her in the eye as Michael led me through the barn, my cheeks were aflame. He paused with his hand on the barn door and said to me, “I really hope you’ll think about it Katie, you could be an exceptional rider.” I quickly thanked him and forced myself to walk calmly out the door. As soon as he shut it I shakily walked to Thomas’s Jeep, and he ran out to open the door for me and hissed, “What the hell Katie, you didn’t even text me back, it’s been two and a half hours.” As I opened my mouth to reply I threw up blue icee all over his tire.

 

 

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