A snippet of Pony Stories, three of eighteen short stories
Illustrated by Leonardo Carrillo
2 Chores
“Why do I always have to make my bed? It will just get all
messed up again tonight. This doesn’t make any sense!” Annie kicked her shoes
and some dirty clothes under her bed and threw the covers over her pillow. Mama
called the family to breakfast. “Coming, Mama. Did you make cinnamon rolls
today? I’m starving.” She plopped into her chair and tickled baby Ella under the chin.
“Annie, will you help set the table?” Mama said.
Reluctantly she pushed herself from the chair and announced, “I
can hardly wait to go over to Eddie’s house to ride Midnight.”
Mama tapped the calendar where Annie’s name was written in the
corner of today’s date. “Did you remember that today it’s your turn to wash
dishes?”
“But, Mama, it’s Saturday and I wanted to go for a ride this
morning.” Annie’s lower lip stuck out as she set plates and silverware on the
table. “It’ll take forever to get over there,
now.”
***********************************************************
Illustration by Pricilla Corona
4 Little Lost Bird
“Peep! Peep, peep. Peep?”
A squeaky sound came through the bushes beside the barn and
Midnight pricked his ears to hear it better. Just then his rider, Annie, poured
oats into his feed bin, but he didn’t even look.
“Annie, I think someone is lost out there in the field someplace,” Midnight said.
Annie looked around. “I don’t see anything. Eat your breakfast now so we can go for a ride.”
“Peep? Peep, peep, peep.”
“Okay, but I still hear someone calling for help. I’ll eat fast.
I love my oats for breakfast. Will I get hay too?” Midnight tossed his head and
scooped up a bite of oats.
“Of course silly, but just a little. I’ll feed you more when we
get back from our ride. I want to go visit Mary and Ginger today.”
“That will be fun,” said Midnight with his mouth full. “But
first I want to see who is out in the field. I’m very worried. Can’t you hear
her calling?”
***********************************************************
Illustration by John Dowell
7 Mary gets a Pony
“Annie, you know I’m afraid of horses!” Mary Sellers grumbled,
pulling her thick, red hair back into a ponytail. “I can’t even pet
one.”
“Well, you’re in luck, because Midnight’s not a horse, he’s a
pony,” Annie said. She reached for Mary’s hand. “Besides that, you’ve known
Midnight for almost a year and you’ve never seen him do anything
horrible.”
“No. I guess not.” Still, Mary pulled her hand away and hung her
head. “I do love watching the horses and ponies at the playday. Sometimes I
think it would be fun to try.”
“Come on, then. I haven’t given up on this for six months, and we’re going to keep
doing this until you get over it. Take one step forward and stand real still.
Pretty soon you’ll feel his breath on you.”
2 Chores
“Why do I always have to make my bed? It will just get all
messed up again tonight. This doesn’t make any sense!” Annie kicked her shoes
and some dirty clothes under her bed and threw the covers over her pillow. Mama
called the family to breakfast. “Coming, Mama. Did you make cinnamon rolls
today? I’m starving.” She plopped into her chair and tickled baby Ella under the chin.
“Annie, will you help set the table?” Mama said.
Reluctantly she pushed herself from the chair and announced, “I
can hardly wait to go over to Eddie’s house to ride Midnight.”
Mama tapped the calendar where Annie’s name was written in the
corner of today’s date. “Did you remember that today it’s your turn to wash
dishes?”
“But, Mama, it’s Saturday and I wanted to go for a ride this
morning.” Annie’s lower lip stuck out as she set plates and silverware on the
table. “It’ll take forever to get over there,
now.”
***********************************************************
Illustration by Pricilla Corona
4 Little Lost Bird
“Peep! Peep, peep. Peep?”
A squeaky sound came through the bushes beside the barn and
Midnight pricked his ears to hear it better. Just then his rider, Annie, poured
oats into his feed bin, but he didn’t even look.
“Annie, I think someone is lost out there in the field someplace,” Midnight said.
Annie looked around. “I don’t see anything. Eat your breakfast now so we can go for a ride.”
“Peep? Peep, peep, peep.”
“Okay, but I still hear someone calling for help. I’ll eat fast.
I love my oats for breakfast. Will I get hay too?” Midnight tossed his head and
scooped up a bite of oats.
“Of course silly, but just a little. I’ll feed you more when we
get back from our ride. I want to go visit Mary and Ginger today.”
“That will be fun,” said Midnight with his mouth full. “But
first I want to see who is out in the field. I’m very worried. Can’t you hear
her calling?”
***********************************************************
Illustration by John Dowell
7 Mary gets a Pony
“Annie, you know I’m afraid of horses!” Mary Sellers grumbled,
pulling her thick, red hair back into a ponytail. “I can’t even pet
one.”
“Well, you’re in luck, because Midnight’s not a horse, he’s a
pony,” Annie said. She reached for Mary’s hand. “Besides that, you’ve known
Midnight for almost a year and you’ve never seen him do anything
horrible.”
“No. I guess not.” Still, Mary pulled her hand away and hung her
head. “I do love watching the horses and ponies at the playday. Sometimes I
think it would be fun to try.”
“Come on, then. I haven’t given up on this for six months, and we’re going to keep
doing this until you get over it. Take one step forward and stand real still.
Pretty soon you’ll feel his breath on you.”