"Mom! Come on over here! I wanna pony ride! Come on, Mom!" Caitlin ran over to the dusty carnival ring where a dozen or so tired-looking ponies trudged around, carrying children ranging in expression from ecstatic to bored silly. Her harried looking mother followed over, gave the little old man running the pony rides three tickets, and proudly watched as her daughter was hoisted on a decrepit little black mare. "What a great little rider you are, Sweetie! Hold on tight!" Her mother started taking pictures. "Giddyup! Giddy UP!" Caitlin flapped the reins and slapped her legs against the little mare's shaggy sides, but the pony only continued her weary plod. "Come on, GIDDYUP! Don't you know what that means? Mom, this pony's no fun; I wanna better pony!" Caitlin's whiny voice seemed to at least get the mare's attention, for at "better pony", she pinned her ears flat back and gave her head a little toss. …show more content…
Caitlin jumped off, leaving the pony where she stood. "Mom, I wanna better pony ride, that black one's too slow!" The old gentleman in charge of the ponies went over to the little mare, and spoke some soothing words quietly in her ear. Turning to Caitlin, he said, "Diablesa here is a very good pony; she is just a little old and tired. See this brand?" He pointed to an odd, star -shaped brand on the pony's neck. "She's from a special place; she knows all about children, good and bad. You should be nice to