July 2009 Story Contest

The Prodigal Pony by Alyssa & Cocoa  age 9

Sunshine the pony stood in the paddock watching the sun. “Sunshine!” called a voice. It was Brook her owner. Sunshine stayed put. “There you are! You’re supposed to come when I call”. Gracie and Rainbow have already started eating dinner. Gracie was Sunshine’s Mom, and Rainbow was Sunshine’s twin sister. Dinner? Sunshine bolted towards the shed. Her Mom was trying to make Rainbow save some food for her. Sunshine gobbled down the food but it didn’t fill her rumbling stomach. Sunshine looked at Brook hopefully. “Okay”, smiled Brook. “but just this once”.

When Sunshine was full she went to sleep looking at the sunset. Nothing is better than being a pony she thought. When Sunshine awoke the next morning she saw Brook and her Mom coming towards the paddock. “Brook, you knew we couldn’t keep Gracie’s foals. The pony shelter will take good care of them”. Before Sunshine knew what was happening she was inside a trailer with Rainbow. “Mommy, mommy” they called. “Goodbye girls”, Gracie called after them.

They drove for about 15 minutes. Then the car came to a stop.  Brook took Sunshine into a small, quiet part of the barn. Sunshine could see a person sitting at a desk where people came and went. Brook talked to the lady at the desk and then left without her.

One day the woman at the desk with a man and his daughter walked over to Sunshine’s stall. “Is this the one you want Nancy?” asked the man. “Yes” said Nancy. Then Sunshine was getting led towards Nancy. “This is Sunshine” said the woman. “She’s a Palomino. You can pat her if you like”. Just then Nancy hit her on the back. Sunshine snorted and stomped her hoof. “Here, pat her like this” said the woman. Just as Sunshine began to relax Nancy was getting ready to leave, and to Sunshine’s surprise she was going with them. Sunshine was going to a new home with Nancy. This time Sunshine wasn’t afraid of the trailer. It wasn’t long till they came to a stop. Sunshine looked out the window. She saw a pretty white house. Red flowers were along the dirt path to the house. Sunshine was sure she would like living there.

As soon as Nancy put Sunshine in the paddock, she said “Welcome to your new” – suddenly, Sunshine saw a barking dog running towards her. “Brownie” said Nancy. “You leave Sunshine alone”. It didn’t help. Just what I need, thought Sunshine. A barking dog that is trying to herd me. Brownie growled. Sunshine galloped around the field looking for a hiding place. Nancy finally caught Brownie and was bringing him inside the house. “Don’t worry Sunshine” Nancy called. “I’ll take care of Brownie and then I’ll bring you dinner”. Goodness thought Sunshine. Will it be like this every day at my new home? Sunshine soon learned to avoid Brownie.

Her home was like this. A paddock attached to the barn. Nancy left the barn door open so Sunshine could go outside she wanted. There were three parts of the barn: Sunshine’s sleeping room, her grooming and cleaning room, and her eating room. The grooming and cleaning room was electric so Sunshine could get brushed and get clean whenever she wanted.

Nancy had put a pink rhinestone halter on Sunshine with her name on it. Sunshine grew and added weight to her body. She was sleek and pretty and Nancy’s friends often made a big fuss over her. As the weeks went by, Sunshine grew to love herself even more. She spent most of her time in the grooming and cleaning room so she would look good. If Sunshine didn’t like the food she was given, she would sniff it and then walk away. If someone were petting her coat the wrong way she would toss her head and prance off. When Nancy rode her and they came to a muddy spot Sunshine would turn around and trot all the way back to the barn.

The summer turned to fall and Nancy walked out the door each morning for school. Sunshine missed Nancy but she soon got used to being alone. What did she need Nancy for after all? Sunshine discovered there were ways to get Brownie in trouble. Whenever Brownie was around, even if he ignored her, Sunshine would kick her food bucket over on top of Brownie. He would bark and growl at her. Nancy or her Mom and Dad would come running and put Brownie in a fenced off part of the paddock.

Sunshine hardly ever went in the paddock. She didn’t like to get her shiny coat dirty. She didn’t like the cold and she hated the rain. The sun was nice but she could feel it just fine through the barn windows.  She often watched as Brownie rolled around in dirt and mud puddles. Why does he do that she wondered. Sunshine snorted and went into her sleeping room. I’m too good for that she thought. Nancy and her family are lucky to have an animal like me, not just that silly dog.

The next morning Sunshine stood watching Nancy and her family put stuff in their car. Then Nancy came to get Sunshine. “We’re going on a picnic,” Nancy whispered. Nancy put Sunshine in a trailer and climbed into the car. As they drove Sunshine saw Brownie starring at her through the car window. Oh great she thought. This is not going to be fun with him around. After a few more minutes Sunshine got bored of making faces at Brownie. She decided to look out the window. The car stopped and Nancy came to take Sunshine out. “Let’s go exploring,” said Nancy.

Nancy and Sunshine collected rocks until it was time to eat. Nancy gave Sunshine an apple for lunch. Sunshine waited to see what would happen next. Nancy put her back in the trailer. “I can’t lead you and catch butterflies at the same time.” As Nancy ran off, Sunshine watched as Brownie chased his tail and rolled in mud puddles. “I have to go home with that?”

Then Sunshine made a plan to run away from her family. “I don’t need them,” she thought. Sunshine put her plan into action when Nancy came to let her out before they left. Before Nancy could clip on the lead Sunshine dashed into the forest. Nancy followed calling her name franticly. Soon Nancy was joined by her parents, all calling for Sunshine. Sunshine stayed put. She didn’t want them to find her yet. She would come out in a few more minuets. “Nancy, we have to go now. It’s getting dark out,” said her Dad. “We can’t leave Sunshine here” exclaimed Nancy. “We can put posters up in town,” said her Dad. Sunshine saw the look on Nancy’s face and smiled. Suddenly the family got into their car and left!

Sunshine came out of the forest, looking for food. She found some bread crust and half an egg. Sunshine wanted to walk away but she was hungry. Sunshine then realized she was thirsty. She could hear a stream so she followed the sound. By the time she reached the stream it was dark out. Sunshine’s legs heart, her coat was matted and she shivered in the cold. She longed to be back in the warm barn. She had been wrong about running away. Sunshine found a spot under a tree to sleep. In the night she heard scary noises. Days passed and Sunshine grew weaker. Her coat was a mess and her legs heart. She decided to go back to Nancy. Back to the ones who cared for her. She would not be picky or be mean to Nancy. She would even make friends with Brownie.

Sunshine was tired, but she kept on walking. Sunshine heard cars and remembered a highway on the way to the picnic. Then Sunshine dashed across the highway. Suddenly she was surrounded by cars. She looked up just in time to see a car heading straight for her! Then everything went black. Sunshine’s side was pounding and it hurt too much to open her eyes.

Then she heard a kind voice. “That car drove right into you.  You’re lucky to still be alive.  There’s no vet in town so I’ll do my best to take care of you.  My name is Mrs. Marsh.”   Then Sunshine felt a soft mattress underneath her.  Then she let herself fall into a deep sleep. 

It was not until the second day that Sunshine stayed awake long enough to walk around.  Sunshine had felt the soft hands put cream on her, but today she got her first look at her new friend.  Mrs. Marsh had a smooth round face.  She had blue eyes and black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail.  Her hands were smooth too.  “I’m glad to see you awake.  I had just about given up on you,” she said.   Mrs. Marsh rubbed the blaze on her face.  Sunshine was still tired so she went back to sleep. 

After a few more days, Sunshine was as good as new.  She ate every meal she was given, remembering the days in the woods with no food at all.  Sunshine was glad that her name was on her halter, so Mrs. Marsh wouldn’t call her anything else.  The winter days passed by and Sunshine grew more attached to Mrs. Marsh.  She missed Nancy and she was sad she hadn’t been kinder to her. 

One day Mrs. Marsh rode Sunshine while she delivered papers.  When they came up to the last house it looked familiar.  Mrs. Marsh rang the doorbell and Nancy cried “Sunshine!” “How do you know Sunshine?”   Then Nancy told the story of how Sunshine ran away.  Then Mrs. Marsh gave Sunshine to Nancy.  She was back home! 

As the weeks passed Sunshine found herself a best friend, Brownie!  They often played tricks on Nancy and her family.  Sunshine was back where she belonged!      

The End