Grown Ups

"Come on Dutch"  I yelled.  "Nikki & Brownie are right behind us!"

I was grown up now.  Me & Nikki are neighbors.  Every morning we would bring our horses, Brownie & Dutch, out to the field to race.  Right now I was in the lead.

"Come on Dutch," I said gently.  "Just to the top of the hill." As if that quarter horse had heard me, she went a little faster.  By now Nikki & Brownie were right beside us!  I carefully reached over & poked Nikki in the shoulder.  She poked me back.  I laughed & turned my attention back to Dutch.  We were almost there!  I leaned forward.  Dutch could feel that I had given her the strength she needed.  She trudged forward.  but Brownie was already in front & had reached the top of the hill.  "Uh Man!" I cried.

When I reached the top of the hill, I dismounted.  I gave Dutch a pat.  Then I held Dutch's reins & waited for Nikki.  She did the same & we walked down the hill.  When we had untacked our horses, me & Nikki went into the field.  "This is for beating me," I said.  I tackled Nikki & we rumbled in the grass.  I thought, I don't feel like a grownup.  I feel like a child.  We stopped tackling each other & laid on the grass, looking up at the sun.  The sun hurt my eyes.  Then I noticed some things have solutions.  If the sun hurts your eyes, wear sunglasses.  And if Brownie & Nikki beat me, I'll practice with Dutch and finally beat them.  A smile crept on my face.  Tomorrow, just wait till tomorrow...

Later the same day I was eating lunch with Nikki.  "I'm going outside," I said.  Before I could even reach the door, Nikki stopped me.  "You don't have to practice," she said.  "You know Dutch is faster than Brownie.  I just gave her extra sweet feed."  I was relieved.  "Let's go ride the horses for fun," I said.  "Sure" said Nikki.

We went outside.  I had sneaked an apple for Dutch.  I hope Nikki didn't notice.  When we got inside the barn, we split up.  I went into the tack room to get the tack for both of the horses while Nikki groomed them.  When I got into the barn with the tack, Nikki was already grooming Dutch.  She always grooms Brownie first.

"Done." she said, throwing the hoof pick into the bin.  "Let's get them tacked up."  Me & Nikki finished tacking in two minutes.  We got their reins & headed into the field.  When we started to trot, we heard a siren.  Well, not just A siren.  A police siren!  We stopped as the car rolled into the gravel.  Me & Nikki galloped to it.  A little man came out of the car.  He had a police outfit on.  "Mr. Linder," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here," started Mr. Linder, "to tell you that you still don't have enough money to pay for those horses."

"Oh yeah, I forgot," said Nikki.

"You will have to sell them if you can't pay for them in two weeks."

"Oh no!" I said,  "You can't take them!"

"Two weeks." said Mr. Lender.  "Remember."  And just like that, the little man was gone.

Right when he left, I said, "We have to rob a bank."

"WHAT?" said Nikki, "We can't do that!"

"We have to save our horses," I said.

"Ok, but how do we get in?" asked Nikki?

"Use the horses to get in and use a paperclip to open the door.  We can take the rottweilers for pets.  It's easy."

"Ok," said Nikki.  "I don't know how you talked me into this."  So me & Nikki planned that we would rob the bank tonight.

The only thing I heard on our way to the bank was the horses hooves clopping on the pavement & Nikki complaining.  "I feel like a child," she had grumbled.  "We are grown ups, right?"

"Yes" I said every time she asked.  Every few minutes I would feel nervous.  Then I would bend down and pat Dutches neck and say "for the horses."  When we finally reached the bank I was really nervous.  What if we got caught?  We would go to jail.  I pushed the thought to the back of my mind.  I looked up at the bank. In the dark it looked creepy.  "Let's go," I said, pulling out a paperclip.  Me & Nikki dismounted then tied the horses to a pole.  I sticked the paperclip into the door and opened it.  We were in.  Suddenly dogs started barking & ran toward us.  "Rottweilers! Halt!" I said gently.  The dogs slowly crept toward me then stopped. A big rottweiler came over and started licking me.  "Nikki" I said quietly, "I want to take this one."  But Nikki didn't hear me.  She was being licked to death by a huge German Shepard.  "I...want...to...take...this one." she said.   "Ok," I said. "We have to find the money."  We crept through dark corridors with Banker the rottweiler & Buddy the German Shepard.  Finally, we reached a door with a big lock.  "This must be the door," I said.  I reached in the bag & got out 2 hammers.  I gave one to Nikki.  We started banging on the lock.  In twenty minutes it opened.  We crept inside.  Money was everywhere!

"Grab a sack & put it in my bag," I told Nikki.  She grabbed one.  I put it in my bag.  "Let's go" I said.  We went through the corridors with Banker & Buddy still behind us.  When we reached the outside, four hands reached out & grabbed us.  I recognized the face of Mr. Linder.  One other police man was with us.  "You're going to court," snarled the other police man.  This can't be happening. I thought.

Then I heard a loud bark & Banker and Buddy were biting the police men's legs.  "OWWWW" they yelled, "Get off dumb mutts!"  But the dogs wouldn't give up.  All the way to the police car, the dogs stayed.  "Just let us take the dogs & horses with us" me & Nikki begged.  "Fine." said the police officers.  "At least we have a trailer"  Me & Nikki got the horses & brought them up the ramp.  I took off Dutches' bridle & stuff and Brownie's too.  We got into the police car with Banker & Buddy.  I knew we were busted.

Me & Nikki were sitting on the cold, hard chairs of court.  I was petting Banker's head.  Nikki wouldn't let go of Buddy, as if he was a protection shield.  We will be ok. I told myself.  We will be ok.  The sound of shrill whinnies split the air.  I knew it was Dutch & Brownie.  They missed us.  I sniffed, then wiped my nose with my sleeve.  Then the judge banged his hammer on the desk.  "Order!  Order!" he yelled.  Me & Nikki slumped in our seat.  Many people turned to look at us.

"We are here to announce that Nicole F & Jackie W have robbed a bank for no reason." said the judge.

"But we do have a reason!" yelled Nikki.

"What would that be?" asked the judge.

"We stole money because we wanted to keep our horses." we both blurted out.

Mr. Linder was about to say something, but the other police man said, "Why didn't you say so?  You can have some money."

"But they didn't pay for their horses, Randy" said Mr. Linder.  "Who cares?" asked Randy.  "They deserve money if they robbed a bank just to save their horses."

The judge slammed his hammer on the table.  "They are free of guilt!"

"YES!!!" Me & Nikki yelled.  Banker & Buddy barked.  I heard Dutch & Brownie whinny outside.  I danced around the court.  Everyone stared at me.  I was too excited to be embarrassed.  "Can we go now?" I asked the judge.  "Yes." he said.  Me & Nikki ran out of the court house with Buddy & Banker barking excitedly behind us.  We got the horses out of the trailer & galloped bareback.  Banker & Buddy were always in front of us.  "What if we have to rob another bank?" I asked.

"We can do it," said Nikki, "because we are grown ups."

I smiled.

THE END

The Adventures of Penny, Mary & Black: The Big Race

Jackie came running into the paddock.  "LOOK!" she yelled.  "It's a letter for Black!"

Black and the horses came running.  "Here, read it!"  said Jackie.  

It said,

Dear Black,

     We are having a race on, September 16, 2010.  

"That's after tomorrow!" squealed Penny.

"Keep reading, Black," said Mary.

So Black went on...

We know that you are a fast horse.  We would like for you to come and compete.  We will be running for four hours, starting at 1:00 in the afternoon and ending at 5:00.  If you want to compete, please come to Easy Street in Owings.  We will start there.  No rider allowed!

From Horse Racing Company

Black looked up while Jackie tucked the paper in her bag.  "Well, I had better start packing," said Black.

"Why?" asked Penny.

"Because I want to do the race!" said Black.

"But Black, you wouldn't do this to me!" complained Jackie.

"What am I doing to you?" asked Black.

"I want to race with you but the rules are No Rider Allowed!" she started sobbing.  

"But Jackie, it's only four hours!" cried Penny.  Jackie stopped sobbing.  

"Ok, Black, promise me you can win the race!" pleaded Jackie

"Alright!" said Black.  "But you have to promise me that you will help me pack."

"ok" said Jackie.  She turned to Penny & Mary.  "You guys are going to have to help me get stuff out of the attic."

"Ok" the girls replied back.  Black was already in his stall. "I had better say goodbye to this stall" he said.

Penny walked in, "The race is only for four hours!"

"Oh right!" said Black.  

"Black!  Black!" called Jackie & Mary from the attic.  

"What?" Black yelled back.

"Get some carrots from the refrigerator!"  

"Ok," he said.  He went into the kitchen.  His hooves made a clip clop sound on the hardwood floor.  "This is easy peasy!" he said as he opened the refrigerator door.  Then PLOP!  All the food tumbled out.  "HELP!" yelled Black.

Mary, Penny & Jackie ran into the kitchen.  "OH BLACK!" they all yelled.  "It was an accident," he said, as they helped him to his feet.  "So this is why my mom told me never to invite a horse into the house!" said Jackie.  

"Black!" they screamed as he stood up.  "You look like a food salad!"  He sure did.  He had ketchup with salad sticking to his body.  Milk was in his mane.  "We have to hose you off" said Jackie.

"No!" yelled Black.

"We have to wash you off anyways before the race," said Penny.  

"Can we go in the field and do it?" asked Black.  "Sure" said the girls.

They washed him off.  "Guys, it's getting late," said Mary.  "We had better get to bed," said Penny.  

"Lets..."Jackie paused to yawn, "let's go to bed"  They went to their stalls.  "Goodnight" said Jackie as she went into her room.  

The next morning they were all in the field.  "Ok Black, go around three times," said Jackie.  Black was on the lead rope.  He was prancing around not tired at all.  

"Ok, I think you're ready!" said Penny.  

"Really?" asked Black as he stopped.  

"Really!  We think you're the fastest horse in the universe."

"Gee thanks guys!" said Black sheepishly.  

"All right, let's have lunch," said Jackie.  While they were eating, Black asked, "Are you guys going to watch me race?"  Nobody said a word.  Penny broke the silence, "I think we can, right Mare?"

"I think so!  Jackie do you think..." she stopped mid sentence.  Jackie was sobbing again with Black nuzzling her cheek.  "It's ok!" he said.  Penny came over.

"Like I told you," said Penny. "It's only for four hours!"

"I'm not upset about that!" she cried.

"Then why are you crying?" they all yelled.  "I can't come to the race!" she said.  "I have a whole bunch of papers to do and I can't come!"  She started crying again.  "Jackie, said Black, "you don't have to go through this just because you can't see me!"  Penny, Mary & Jackie just stared at him.  "WOW," they said.  "You've never been that considerate to us."

"Well, I guess I just learned that I don't have to be dumb."  He caught a quick glimpse of Penny.  She was blushing.  "So who wants dessert?" yelled Jackie.  "ME!" they all cried!

Jackie gave all three of them four sugar cubes each.  "Tomorrow is the big day!" said Jackie.  "Time to hit the sack."  They went into their stalls and said goodnight.  

The next morning Jackie was helping Black get groomed.  After he was sleek black, "I'm ready," he said.  So at 1:00 they were off.  Jackie was riding Mary because she didn't want to get Black's hair dirty.  When they got there Black started to groan.  "Oh no.  Brono is here!"

"Who's Brono?" the girls asked.  "Before I came to you guys I was a racing horse. Brono raced against me.  Only one time did I win.   I also broke my leg racing him."  He shook his head.  

"You broke your leg?" screamed Mary?  "Yeah.  You want to see Brono?" he asked them.  The girls slowly nodded.  "Ok, that's him!" he said pointing his muzzle at the big strong lookin' horse.  He was bigger than Black and I think it would be okay if you thought he was fat.  He had brown streaks that went all the way across his body.  Jackie, Penny and Mary turned to Black.  But he wasn't looking at them.  Penny went beside him to see what he was lookin' at.  When she saw what he was looking at she started to giggle.  

ALL RACE HORSES REPORT TO THE RACE TRACK!  ALL RACE HORSES REPORT TO THE RACE TRACK!

"Ok, see you guys after the race."  He raced the other horses to the starting line.  

On your mark, get set, GO!

The sound of thundering hooves beat the ground.  "Oh and I forgot to tell you guys..." said Jackie.

"What?" they asked.

"I finished that paper work.  That's why I was able to come."

"Oh that's great!" said Mary & Penny.  Then the loud speaker was on again...

BRONO AND BLACK IN THE LEAD!  NO!  MILKSHAKE IS CATCHING UP!

"Who's Milkshake?" asked Jackie.  

"I'm guessing that she's Black's girlfriend, maybe?" said Mary.

The loudspeaker was on again...

THREE HORSES IN THE LEAD!  WOW!  THIS IS HISTORY! LET'S PUT THE SOUND ON THE HORSES SHALL WE?

They heard Milkshake say "Hi Boys."  Brono & Black stared lovingly at the beautiful pinto.  Then suddenly Black lost his footing.  He tumbled to the ground.  Brono & Milkshake were in the lead!  Black got steadily to his feet.  He looked at the figures of Brono & Milkshake.  He thought about Jackie, Penny & Mary.  The thought about the trophy.  He started to gallop.  Not a normal gallop.  A very, very, very fast gallop.  He caught up with Milkshake & Brono.  Instead of being left behind with Brono, Milkshake came up with Black. Jackie, Mary & Penny were screaming at the top of their lungs.  As Brono slowed down, all the other horses came thundering past.  "I wanted that girl," he murmured from under his breath.  The loud speaker was on again...

AND IT'S AND IT'S...Mary, Penny and Jackie pleaded it was Black. IT'S A TIE! shouted the loud speaker. "YES!" the girls yelled!  They went over to greet Black & Milkshake.  They were nuzzling noses.  Someone came over & gave them both a trophy.  "We knew you could do it!" said the girls as they ran over.  Jackie flung her arms over Black's neck.  "Good job, Black!" she gave him a kiss on the nose.  "Not in front of Milkshake," he murmured.  Jackie went over to Milkshake.  "Congratulations!" she said as she patted her nose.  Suddenly Milkshake's owner called her.  "Master calls," she said.  

Black turned to her, "So I guess this is to say bye."  

"Yeah," said Milkshake.  "But I think we'll see each other again.  Where do you live?"

"At Whitestone Farm."

"Ok, I'll see you around." she galloped off.  

When they got home, Jackie put the trophy on the trophy shelf.  When they got in their stalls Black said, "I'm going to visit Milkshake."

"Yep" whispered Penny, "he's still his normal self.

The End.

Dogs

Dogs are friendly animals.  So let me tell you a folk tale story about a dog. 

There was a dog, and his name was Red.  All the other dogs laughed at him for his color.  They were all brown.  Red, the red dog, was very sad.  The brown dogs didn't play with him.  To tell you, this story is like what Martin Luther King did.  What do you know about him? 

So back to Red.  He sighed and ran away.  He talked to himself, "Why can't I be like them?"

A sudden loe voice said, "You are different because that's how you are special."  Red looked up.

"Who are you?" he asked. 

"I'm your future human, Red"  Now Red could make out a man's voice.  The man said, "Go tell those dogs that you are special just the way you are."
And Red did just that.  The other dogs listened, then broke into howls. 

"We'll let you play!" said one.  "Yeah, we will" said another. 

That's how dogs came to be different colors.  And for Red, well he sure did get that future human.  And a whole new family too.

The End

Moral:  You are special no matter how big or small.

The Diary of a Dog Ball

Ok, let's face it.  I'm a ball.  I get thrown around and dogs chew on me.  But I realy have a perpose.  I'll show you.

Sunday:  dogs chew on me
Monday:  dogs chew on me
Tuesday:  dogs chew on me

Alright.  I guess that isn't much.  But check out the other days.  I'm realy usefull now.

Wensday:  kids throw me
Thursday:  kids throw me
Friday:  kids throw me

Ok.  I'm not much.  Just a ball.  But here are some interesting facts.  I don't eat.  I do drink.  I drink the saliva that dogs leave on me.  It's discasting right?  I'm getting old.  I'm a chewed up ball.  Oh, here comes the humans.  Look what they got.  Another ball.  Let's go check it out.

The ball said that it was an old timer to.  The kids found it outside.  I told him it was Monday.  Oh no!  I just remembered.  The dogs day to chew on us!  Ruff, ruff!  Augh!  Ok, I'm back.  Jeez those dogs are slobery!

My Family

Everyone has a family of humans.  Mom, Dad, sister, brother.  That's what everyone has.  But sometimes you can add to your family by picking out an animal.  I have 2 dogs and a cat and two gerbils.  This is the story of my family. 

Before I was born Mom and Dad went and got Reno! (He's the cat)  His mom was my Grandma's cat.  They bought Reno.  When they moved to Michigan they got Coda.   Then Gus.  He was a tiny puppy when we got him.  Now he's huge!  Then they had me.  When I was two, my Uncle John came and said he wanted another dob.   He took Gus.  Four or five years later, Uncle John came back with Gus.  He gave him to us.  A couple months later a friend of ours wanted a black lab for his birthday.  So we gave him Gus.  Coda and Reno had the house to themselves.

Coda Girl

You see, Gus is very protective so if friends were around, he could bight them.  So they gave him back.  So Gus is with us!

I love to just lay down next to all of them and cuddle.  I play cat atack with Reno.  Hold his paw as long as you can before he bights you!  I just love our whole family!

The End

P.S.  Gus thinks he's a singer!  He howls every time my dad plays his horn!

The Diary of a Little Sister

Hi.  My name is Josie.  I'm 6 years old.  I can be nosy.  Like right now.  Oh, I'm going to see what my sister is doing.  I'm peeking in our room.  Then I come nose to nose with Jackiezilla!  It's not a good thing.  If your lucky, she might be in a good mood.  But she wasn't. 

GET OUT!!!!

Ow, my eardrums hurt!  I'm going to get breakfast.  Oh great, now my big sister is bossiing me around.  Do this, do that, uh she's so mean!

Oh here's my little brother.  We like to make forts together.  Let's go make one on the couch.  Oh great Jackie's reading a book.  I guess no fort there.  Let's do it here.

**Five Minutes Later**

It's all finished!  Yay!  Oh no Jackie's coming.  She knocked it over!  My life can be so menacing!

The Adventures of Penny, Mary & Black: The Surprise Party

It was a speical day.  Penny's birthday!  Penny was asking everyone if they thought it was a specal day by everyone said no.  But Penny never new they were tricking her! 

"I almost told her!" said Black, as they grouped up. 

"Me to!" exclaimed Jackie. 

"I didn't" said Mary quietly.  "I only said 'Oh yeh I almost forgot I have to go to the library.'"  They all started giggling.

"Perfect trick!" said Jackie. "But wait a minute" thought Jackie.  "We haven't got her a present!"

"Or a cake!" cried Mary! 

"Oh no! This is bad!" said Black.

"Don't worry" said Jackie.  "We'll think of something before her party."

"Her party!" exclaimed Black.  "You never told me she invited us to a party!"

"Well, I got an invite..."

"But..." interrupted Mary, "we need to get her something right now!"

"Okay. okay." Jackie finally agreed.  "Let's go."  She flung her leg over Black's back.

"Hey, I didn't say you could ride me!"

"Too bad!" Jackie snapped back at Black.  They started to go. 

"Just a little grass?" begged Mary. 

"No! No! No!" Jackie & Black said together. 

"Oh all right." she finally gave in.  When they got to the store, Jackie got two lead ropes out of her bag.

"What are those for?" questioned Black & Mary.

"For you guys." she responded.

"You mean..."

"Yes!" Jackie exclaimed.

"No" moaned Mary & Black.

"Yes!" Jackie said as she put the lead ropes over their necks and tied them to a post.   "I'll go and get her a present while you guys stay put."  She turned to Black, "that includes you!"

"Uh..." murmured Black.  She went into the store.  When she got in a shocking sight almost made her puke.  There was Penny at the check out line.  Jackie quietly sneaked around her.  She went to the horse ile. Hmmmm....she thought.  This one is perfect.  She held it in one arm while searching for some money to give to the cashier.  While she was looking for money she didn't notice Penny who was trotting around come and try to identify what the present was.

"What's the present?" she asked.

Startled, Jackie looked up.  "Umm...Nothing" she said trying to hide the present.

"I know you have someth--" Suddenly Black and Mary came to the rescue.  "She said Nothing!" they both yelled.  Jackie hoped on Black's back and they were off.  They didn't even stop to pay!

"Hey!" yelled the cashier, "You need to pay!"  But the gang paid no attention.  They galloped across the plains until they got  to their barn. 

"Whoe, that was close!" said Mary.

"Ok we have the present and I think she already has a cake so...."

"What! What!" Black & Mary started yelling.

"We can go to the party!" she exclaimed! 

"Alright then let's go!" They yelled together.

Right before Jackie hopped on Black's back she asked "Can I ride you there?"

"No!" said Black.  "Just kidding" Black said before Jackie could turn around. 

"Just get it over with!" said Mary. 

"Get on already," said Black.

"Ok ok" said Jackie as she climbed on.  She clicked. 

"I don't need those horse signals you know" yelled Black.

"Just getting you started," said Jackie.

"Let's go" urged Mary.

"Ok the directions say we need to go to teh paddock!"  she looked up. She looked surprised. 

"That's right by this barn!" yelled Mary.

"Where's Black?" asked Jackie.  They looked out of the barn.  He was already half way to the paddock.

"Come on!" he yelled at them.

"We're coming!" they yelled back. 

"Ok, I guess I have to ride you," said Jackie. 

"That's fine with me," said Mary.  And they were off.  They finally got there. 

"I guess it's a surprise party!" said Black. 

"That's what it is you dummy!" exclaimed Mary.

"I am not a dummy!" said Black. 

"This is what happened last Halloween," said Mary.

"Well you were the joker!" said Black.

"Yes but that's not a good excuse!"

"Well I don't care!" yelled Black.

"Well I fou--"

"WILL YOU TWO STOP IT?!" screamed Jackie.  The two froze.  "This is for Penny and your acting like this!" she said.  "Come on, we have to find that cake."

"Ok" murmered Mary & Black. 

"Here it is!" exclaimed Jackie.  It had a carrot icing on top and green icing around the sides for leaves.

"It's beautiful" said Mary!  All of a sudden Penny walked in.  The gang went under the table.

"I guess no one is coming," sighed Penny.  Then without warning, they jumped out from under the table.

"Surprise" they yelled.

"Whoe!" said Penny.  "You guys scared me!"

"Well are we going to open presents or what?" asked Black.

"You bet ya!" Penny went and opened their present.  "Wow" she said, as she looked at it. "My favorite color!" she added. She looked at the beautiful blanket. "Um...Jackie can you help me pick it up?"

"Sure" said Jackie.  She put it on Penny's back. 

"So who wants cake?" asked Penny.

ME!

The End