Lonnie’s Birthday

Lonnie sneaked down the stairs, across the hallway to the front door, and opened it without making a noise.  He carefully closed the door behind him and jumped off the porch. 

“Now, let’s see what the big secret in the barn is,” he said in a whisper.  “I bet there’s nothing there.  I bet they forgot about my birthday.”

As Lonnie got to the barn door, he nearly stepped on Roscoe, the barn cat.  Both Lonnie and Roscoe jumped back.  Somehow Lonnie did not scream.  “Boy, that was close!” he thought to himself.

Once in the barn, he moved easily from one horse stall to another.  The family’s four horses were in their stalls, each looking sleepier than the others.  Lonnie quickly reached the fifth stall.  He hoped that his birthday dream, a small pony, would be there.  But no, no pony.

Lonnie sneaked back into the house, up the stairs, and back into his bedroom.  Hot tears burned in his eyes as he lay down on his pillow.  “Don’t cry!” he said to himself.  It didn’t stop him.  He buried his head in the pillow, so no one could hear him.

From the door Mom and Dad watched. “Don’t you think we better tell him that the pony will be delivered tomorrow?  After all, today was his birthday.” Mom said.

“No, he will appreciate it more when it comes if he doesn’t think he is getting his dream.  Let’s go back to bed.  He has sneaked out five nights in a row, and I’m tired from watching him each night!”

The next day Lonnie could not hide his sadness.  Mom and Dad did not mention Lonnie’s sad face but instead talked about the horse doctor coming right after breakfast.  “Lonnie, I want you to be at the barn to help Doc Jansen and me.  Okay?”

“Yes, sir.  I’ll be there.”

When Doc Jansen arrived, Lonnie didn’t even notice the horse trailer behind the vet’s pick-up truck.  Suddenly Dad and Dr. Jansen called to Lonnie to come to the back of the trailer. 

“Lonnie, Doc has a problem that might need your help.”

The doctor opened the horse trailer and guided a little pony down the ramp and into the bright sunshine.  “Lonnie boy, do you think you might be able to suggest a place that this little pony could stay?  He doesn’t have a home anywhere.”

Lonnie looked at Doc Jansen, then at Dad, then back to Doc Jansen.  The two men smiled and nodded at Lonnie.  “Do you mean it?  Can he stay here?”

Dad said, “I hope so, Lonnie, since he’s yours!”