No matter how many times he witnessed the event, he always looked upon it as a miracle. And make no mistake,<i>this </i>was an event of spectacular proportions. A new life was taking place right before his very eyes. And his teenaged son, Jakob, was playing a major part in the process, having watched and learned through the years. Not many in life, after all, could claim to have knelt by a pregnant horse, ready and able to assist her if needed.<br/><br/>Raymond Sanheim’s favorite mare, Buttercup, however, appeared to be in no such need of any aid. Still, he watched with a fond smile on his face as his son was rapt in awe as her foal slowly emerged, her placenta still visible on parts of her offspring. He clucked as the foal emerged fully, gently shaking its head as if waking from a dream. Leaving its mother’s womb, perhaps it felt as if it’d just been roused from a dream, a rather pleasant one at that.<br/><br/>Buttercup was already up and nuzzling her newborn, who casually lounged on the straw, clearly in no rush to get on with its day. Raymond knew that that’s exactly what the mother wanted: to get out there in the fresh air and have her young get accustomed to its new legs. And numerous other things. Jakob soon stood next to his father in the stall, matching him grin-for-grin. “So what is it?” Raymond inquired. “Boy or girl?”<br/><br/>His son blinked, accompanied by a goofy grin. “Dang, I forgot to check,” he sheepishly remarked.<br/><br/>Holding him back, Raymond stated, “Never mind, we can check later. You, young man, have to come up with a name for the young ‘un.”<br/><br/>“Me? Why me?” Jakob asked, surprised at the honor.<br/><br/>“Why not you?” Raymond retorted. “You were there in case she needed help, so you get to come up with a name.” Anticipating his son’s thoughts, he quickly added, “And it doesn’t matter one iota that she required no assistance. Just take your time with that name. Observe the horse and its habits and personality. You’d be surprised what kinda stuff pops into your head by just watching it.”<br/><br/>By now, the pair had left the barn and were outside, leaning against the wooden enclosure. Sure enough, mama’s nagging always produced results. Buttercup and her timid yet inquisitive foal sauntered into the field. The latter’s head seemed to be on a swivel, as it glanced left and right, taking in its surroundings and whatever various scents the breeze chose to blow its way. In Raymond’s view, the young horse did not in any way regret leaving the coziness of the barn’s stall behind.<br/><br/>“Is that how Buttercup was named?” Jakob asked, smiling warmly.<br/><br/>His father shot him a quick, sideways glance. “You<i>know </i>how Buttercup was named, Jake,” he gently accused, returning his son’s smile.<br/><br/>The son shrugged, and then said, “I don’t mind hearing it again.”<br/><br/>Raymond tousled his hair, just prior to elaborating. “Your mother named her after a favorite character from a favorite movie.” A grunt, followed by, “I actually opted for Vizzini, but of course, my vote wasn’t even considered. Not even close. Said she wasn’t about to name a treasured horse after<i>Mr. Inconceivable </i>himself.” They both knowingly laughed, followed by a comfortable silence between them.<br/><br/>Unsurprisingly, Jakob was the first to break that comfortable silence. “Do you miss her, Dad?”<br/><br/>“Every day,” he said, sans any hesitation whatsoever. “Every single day.”<br/><br/>As the comfortable silence returned, Raymond stared with equal parts love and envy at Buttercup and her now energetic, equine protégé, while they pranced and frolicked about in the field of green.