Hi! My name is Nicole Buckley. I am 5' 2" tall and ten years old. I live in a town called Billysburg in the country Markey. My mom's family has lived here for generations. I am homeschooled. Our street has ice cream and pickle stores. The pickles and ice cream cones are only a nickel. I like to go to a store and get one or the other when I am done with my school work because Mom says they don't mix.

More than anything else in the world I want a pony of my own. My mom works at a stable like her mother before her. Sometimes I do my school work at the stables when my mom is cleaning stalls. Also, I sometimes get to ride the horses. There is this special horse I ride but he is very tall. Mom is afraid I will fall off. She prefers that I ride a pony because it's not as far to the ground. There are no ponies to ride at the barn.

When we are not at the barn, we are at home. Mom only works 3 days a week now because I might have a baby brother or sister soon. We can't afford a pony with a new baby coming. For now I just can't wait for a brother or sister but I would rather have a pony.

Mr. Field's son has a pony. He was gone to sell it. But he changed his mind and is giving it to his dad. The pony is not happy because he is being used as a cart pony. Three weeks ago he ran away on my street.

That Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny. I thought it would be a good day to go trail riding. Mom had told me I could go trail riding once a week on one of the horses at the barn. But, mom has to go to the doctor's. Dad thinks she's going to have the baby in the car. So my day of trail riding is ruined and Dad has to drive Mom to the doctor's. One of the neighbors agreed to babysit me.

"But I'm almost 11, Dad. I can take care of myself." I said.

Dad said, "You're too young to be at the house at by yourself."

So I had to go to the neighbors. I am glad I got to go to the neighbors that have younger children. It's almost like I'm babysitting them instead of them babysitting me.

It's after lunch and Mom and Dad still haven't returned. Then as I was looking out the window I saw this black pony. It was flying down the street. It looked like Mr. S.' pony. I ran out to the street.

The black pony stopped right in front of me. There was lead trailing from his halter. I grabbed the lead. There was a name on the noseband of the halter. It was Lightning. I knew Mr. S' pony's name was Lightning. I knew where Mr. S lives. I told the babysitter I was going to ride the pony to Mr. S' house. She told me to wear a helmet.

I grabbed my helmet and put it on. I threw the lead over the pony's neck and attached it to the other side of the halter. Now I had reins. Holding the reins, with my hands on the pony's withers, I through my right leg over the pony's back and hopped on. As soon as I was on the pony took off at a choppy fast trot, flying down the rode. At the corner, I finally got control to turn the pony right to get to Mr. S' house. At the end of the street was the big light green house that belongs to Mr. S. I stopped the pony in front of the house and ground tied him. I went up to the door and rang the bell. Mr. S was home. Mr. S looked beyond me and saw the pony.

"Aye, you found my pony," He exclaimed.

He told me how Lightning escaped. He tore down his stall. Mr. S thought he was down on Billysburg street. They couldn't catch him and gave up exhausted.

Mr. S. grapped the pony's lead. The pony resisted because he didn't want to be a cart pony again.

I said, "He needs someone to ride him. He took off on my a couple of times."

Mr. S. said, "Yes, he does. But who will work him?"

I replied, "I could if I could ask my mom."

Mr. S. said, "That would work. How about a month of pulling the cart and a month of riding?"

I countered, "I still have to ask my mom. Would he stay here?"

Mr. S. replied, "I don't know. He likes to be with other horses."

I said, "I could ask my mom about the stable where she works."

"Ask your mom then."

I said, "Mr. S. can I take the pony home with me to show my family?"

"Yes, you may."

So I rode the pony home. My dad was home!

I asked, "Why are you home and not Momma?"

He answered, "She had the baby."

I asked, " Is it a girl or a boy?"

He answered, "It was a girl!"

I exclaimed, "Yeah! A girl!"

Looking beyond me, Dad asked, "Where did that pony come from?"

I said, "Mr. S. wants to know if I can take care of him every other month. He needs somebody who will pay attention to him instead of working in the field all the time."

Dad said as he dialed the phone, "OK, we have to call your mom to see if that is OK."

While he dialed the phone, the pony tried to get loose.

I went outside and got him.

Dad came out and said, "Mom says it's OK!"

Mom came home in 3 days. We were so busy trying to name the baby that we didn't have much time for Lightning. Momma said Keisha. I said Nala. Dad said Laura. Then he said, "Wait a minute that's Mom's name!"

So he thought of a different one, Rene'. We finally all agreed.

Now we could get back to Lightning (the pony). Mom said, "We need to get a little saddle and pony bridle for this pony. But next month he'll be Mr. S' to work in the field for a month."

I said, "OK, but where are we going to find a little saddle and bridle?"

Mom replied, "We can get them at the feed store."

We looked and we found them. When we took them home, they fit. I got to ride the next day. The pony was happy.

It's great having a pony of my own.