A look at the seal. Where did $300 in 01' Ambrois's hand. you find this treasure?" "You sure you told him I'd s "It belongs to O' Ambrois." settle for $75, Sophie? This is 'A Hr s "You must go right this min- too much."- rsee n ute and buy it from him." "No, this one belonged to is Horses are very much like in Louisiana. His owners were eyes on Magnolia, she said to Finding him combing the in France. No way. So'he's glad people. Some people, very few, famous horse people who had her father, "Papa, you can keep beautiful red hair. of Magnolia, to have it back." claim they can talk to horses, escaped Nazi Germany in 1940 the rest. This one is mine." .without saying a word, she ."Well, tell him much obliged. empathize with them, under- with all their horses. If you "Well, you. have good taste played the latest Mozart piece, 'll play for him during upper stand their moods and even came to visit them you would and an eye for expesive horse as best as she could. one night." talk to them. They are known thinkyou were in France. Itwas flesh. You can make her a Ambroie stopped combing "And.every night when you as horse whisperers. a very kind, gentle place where champion, Sophie." and, with a great bigtear in feed Mgnlia, I'll playa con- don't know -about that. good manners were cherished "I don't care about that. I his eye and a big smile on-his cert for you and for Magnolia. I'm more earth bound. I know and hspitality reigned as in all want her to be rmine." lips, said, "Why child, you are ould you like that?" you can train them to obey The next three years proved a genius. That is the best that "Yes'm and par-t-cular- commands, to come to you the South, with horse people a heavenly bliss for Sophie old fiddle ever sounded." Even Magnolia. She got a good ear when you whistle, to follow a especrally. and for Magnolia. The horse the horse was fflicted. or music I see that in her eyes jockey's commands. But talk The first horse born in "cap- and Sophie were inseparable, "Ambrois, I never had a when you play." to a horse? No, I do't think tivity" was a spectacular colt, ad were more like sisters. -fiddle that sounded so like it. So for the next year, Sophie so. It's just I've got too much which they named Magnolia, Many nights they ate supper It had to be mine in another would.play her Stradivarius for commonsense. I don't buy it. I after the flower of the South, together. They took rides in the life.Whre did this one come th servants, her family, and never have. aid because the biggest Mag- dark woods. Sophie trained her from?" the guest of honor,tMagnolia. So, why do you suppose I nolia tree bloomed jUst exactly into a prize-winning jumper, "We played fiddle on our awoke with a beautiful horse in front of the barn door. and she saw that Magnolia was plantation and when the Yan- Part II story ringing in my mind? Theirlittledaughter, Sophie, meant to be a racer. She had -kees came through we hid One day, Ol'Ambrios saw Maybe, I'm wrong. was born with a great gift, car- -inhuman speed and responded the horses in the black piney that Magnolia was fretful and The horse I write about is a ing for horses. She was nine, well to commands. woods and the fiddles under unhappy. Sophie tried every- famous horse, now. Not when active, precocious, a talented at found the house. That was a bad thing. Nothing worked. I.krew him, thogh. He was violinist and accomplished To that end, they found an the house. That was a b knewhim,though. He was vionist and accomplished old retired trainer inthe bayou. idea cause they burned the "Whatshe need is a pal," born in a genteel, back behind horse woman. His name was Old Ambrois. house down on top of the cases said Ambrose. the bayous .hrse plantation The first time she laid her Pgeon French and oviolins. Thi one beon the She got us, don't many He spoke Pigeon French and of violins. This one be on th a broken down English, and bottom and he was scarred more fit in here." when he had to, spoke English but he survived, and sounded "No, chile, nature done clearly. And as he whispered to like he do now. All smooth and caught up to her. She needs Sophie when introduced, "And mellow." a horse pal. And I knows jus Slliibro ,ug.h CounN. horse whisperer." He prodded "Ambrois, I know this is a where to get one. A friend of DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES her with his riding whip. She family treasure, but you are mine has a little gray hoss. loved him almost immediately. not treating it good, and I-really She ain't never gimme no prize REQUESTS FOR BIDS He was small and had a spark- fel that this ol' violin is mine hoss, just a friendly little hoss ANDIOR PROPOSALS ly face. He also played a violin, from another life. I really do. to keep Magnolia company. I'll though. He played it rudely, It's mine." go git her. Pay 'bout $500. Itll Hillsborough County will receive sealed bids and/.or proposals for banging it around, abusing it. i, be worth it." the following, until the stted date and time when they will be On day she felt like playing p le i hisd' lba i he little horse was about publicly opndayse et M he lplaying possible in this ol' life back in half the size of Magnolia but publicly opened. Magnolia a Mozart she learned the bayou. Maybe, little Sophie Magnolia took s o her immedi- OCTOBER 22, 2006 2:00 P.M. that day. The violin was beaten may be, but chil', it's the only ately. took to her ame was Tristan,mmedi- P-0443-06 (DV) up, but when she drew the bow thing of valu I got and, I' d was et a riend S -GUARDRAILS DETAIL J THRIEBEAM ASSEMBLY over the strings the sweetest admit it, haven't anm and was pretty and friendly. In sounds came out. She took "How much do you want? eve-rything withthelittlehorse. Some or all of the above -bid(s) may have Pre-Bid Conferences. t t into the sunshine and a your price? I gotmy own eam Information on these and other Requests for Bids, along with examied it very closely. money in the bank in Natchez. While their friendship blos- Bid/Proposal results may be accessed via the following: (1) the "Papa! Come quick! I think Don't be bashful." somed, theywere preparing Internet at ww.hillsboroughcounty.org/procurementservices, or I found a Stradivarius." "Oh, now, lemme see." He Manoa for the Kentuck (2) by-coming to the Department of Procurement Services office He came running for he'd sat on a rock, took a swig and Derby. It looked like Magno- located at the address listed below. had the'biggest collection of started to make figures in the lia would be a favorite, a big Stradivarius violins in Europe. sand. When he as finished he favorite. Minority and women owned firms will be afforded a full oppor- Excited and out of breath finise he favorite. Minority andwomn owned.firmswil be affrded a ful oppor Excited and out of breath, had a long column of figures, Then an incident tqok place tunity to participate -in these matters and will not be sbject to he took it into his trembling but he forgot he couldn't add. in the barn when Magnolia discrimination on the basisof race, sex, color or national origin. hands. He ran the bow on the Het rubbed hwhite grzzled w ot ri dirng w ith Sophie. Questions regarding the above projects may be directed to Hillsbor- string. He smiled. He .took a jaw. How much be that lil' Someone busted in andabused ough County Board of Commissioners, Department of Procurement large magnifying glass out of Sophie?" Toonewith a board anda Services, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 18th FI., County Center, Tampa his pocket and turned it up- She quickly did the addi- -whip. Tristan a card outofhe Florida, 33602, (813) 272-5790, durng regular business hours. side down so that the sunrays tion. wits, ran away. She went into shone on he inh id wits, ran away. She went into 9/22/061T shone on the inside. "aCome to $140m" she whis- the depths of the black piney "There. It IS a Stradivarius tled. woods. S"Owee ... that much for an- She was lost. Not even 01' old out of tune fiddle. Tell you Ambrois could track her down. what, give me $100." They took Magnolia into the "Sound fair to me. Lemme woods, hoping they could sense go check with Poppa." each other. Nothing. Magnolia With a look of fear,. Am- fell apart. She. wouldn't eat, brois rethought the figure. "Me sleep, listen to the violin or thinks it too much, perhaps, anything. She dropped out of maybe $75." the Kentucky Derby. Sophie raced into the wait- Detrmined to flush her out ing arms of her father who had of the deep dark Piney woods, overheard the negotiation and Sophie took her best tracking was beamng. horse and her violin and she "Well done, Sophie. You plunged into the woods. On the sure you aren't a Yankee car- seventh day, she heard a noise, petbagger?" and there in the clearing was "Is it too much??" she Tristan looking sad and beat asked. down. She sat down on a log "No dear, it's too little. Here, and played her a love song. She take this money, it's $300, seemed to be animated. and we are stealing it, but "Come on lil' girl, big ole' that fiddle belbngs to me, so Magnolia is waiting for you." we're putting it back where it She took Tristan home. belongs." Great was the joy in the stable. Sophie ran and pressed the Sophie played and everybody danced and all was finally Anywhere at Anytime well, but Magnolia would never race again, afraid that Tristan would run away again. One day, as poppa was discussing this phenomenon S UNITED with Ol'Ambrois, he stood up in front of the fire. C B "Count, Sir, you being French and all, you should un- 2 I derstand what has happened Certificate#102 here. It's love sire. They're 2 bot-h female, but they in love. 253-2424 Frenchie, you do know- that happens, right?" LA GACETA/Friday, September 22, 2006/Page 15