The Tale Page #3

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in grace, please?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Mom, can I say it?

Raymond!

Of course you can.

Bless us...

- Lord.

- ...Lord,

and these gifts that

we're about to eat.

And thank you for

the friends and family

that are gathered here

with us,

and keep us safe...

Adult Jennifer:

How do people change?

When I was a child,

I was obsessed

with changing myself.

Now I don't even remember

how I got here.

Or who I used to be.

( liquid pouring )

Jennifer:

Wow, look at you.

Woman:

You know, it's funny.

I don't remember anything

of what I learned,

riding-wise, from Mrs. G.

But I remember

learning discipline.

Yeah, me too.

Her idea that

you enduring pain

makes you better.

You know I, um,

I kept my horse there

after that summer.

Oh, you were lucky.

You got more time with her.

Yeah.

My parents, they never

would have let me stay.

I was an only child,

so they watched me like a hawk.

Well, I was one of five,

so they barely noticed

- if I wasn't there.

- ( both laugh )

You know, I found some

photos from that summer.

- Oh, great.

- Thought you might

like to see them.

Do you ever see Mrs. G

at riding events or...?

Oh, I saw Franny

a few years back. I--

- You did?

- Yeah.

She said something

about Mrs. G.

Oh, look how beautiful.

There's some great ones

of Franny, too.

But I couldn't seem

to find any of you.

You were such a tiny

little thing,

so much smaller

than Franny and I.

- Was I?

- You almost looked

like a little boy.

- What?

- So afraid

that you barely said

two words.

( vehicle approaches,

engine turns off )

( brake ratchets,

car doors open and close )

Huh.

Mother:

I didn't know you were here.

"Hello, Mother."

"Hello, Jennifer."

Looking for pictures

from '73.

Not in that book. Here.

Oh. Yeah.

Look at me.

No, no, no, that's later.

That's '75.

You were already 15

here in this picture.

Let me show you 13.

There.

That's 13.

I was so little.

Yeah.

( both panting )

Adult Jennifer:

Why are you telling

this story, Jenny?

I always wanted

to have a story to tell,

but nothing ever happened

to me before.

Ah-- It's hot.

Be careful.

Don't tell anyone.

It's our secret.

- Mom, can I say it?

- Raymond!

Raymond:

Bless us, Lord,

and these gifts

that we're about to eat.

Thank you for friends...

Young Jennifer:

I'd like to begin this story

by telling you something

so beautiful.

( knock on door,

door opens )

Wakey-wakey!

Time to run.

Meet outside

in 10 minutes.

No stragglers.

( door closes )

Young Jennifer:

She was the most beautiful

woman I had ever met.

Every girl wanted

to be just like her.

Becky and Franny did.

I did.

Mrs. G.

Good morning.

We'll be running every morning

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