Sadie and Rosebud
By: Mary LaFleur Langdon
“Here’s your tea,” Sadie said, placing a cup full of juice in front of Rosebud. The pony whinnied and tried to slurp the juice from the plastic teacup.
“Oh, Rosebud, you’re making such a mess,” said Sadie with a giggle.
The little makeshift table with the tea set tumbled over. Rosebud whinnied again and shook her head. A purple straw hat slipped from her ears and a bright pink shawl hung lopsided around her neck.
Sadie fixed the table and picked up the tea set.
“C’mon Rosebud, I need to get you cleaned up.”
Sadie led the pony to her stall, removed the shawl, and brushed her. She gave Rosebud her favorite peppermint treat. Then she kissed her on the nose.
“Goodbye, Rosebud. I’ll see you later.”
That night, Sadie woke to a clattering sound. When she reached the kitchen, she burst into laughter. There was Rosebud with apple pie all over her nose and the broken pie plate on the floor. Rosebud whinnied when she saw Sadie.
“Wasn’t Rosebud funny last night?” Sadie asked her mother.
“Well, I’m not so sure funny is the right word. I’m sure her stall door was closed and latched last night. Did you open it again?” asked her mother.
“Oh, no. Do you think Rosebud opened it?”
“She’s a smart pony, but I’m not quite sure she could manage that.”
“Can I bring her an apple?” Sadie asked as she scooped up the last of her oatmeal.
“Yes, but please make sure you latch the stall door.”
The sand crunched under Sadie’s sneakers as she skipped down the dusty path to the barn. A colorful butterfly fluttered from among the garden flowers along the path when Sadie stopped to pluck a yellow daisy.
When she reached the barn, Sadie greeted Rosebud with a big smile. Rosebud whinnied loudly.
“Hi, good girl. I have a yummy apple for you.”
Rosebud eagerly munched the apple.
After the horses were fed, Sadie’s mother asked her to bring Rosebud out to the field. Rosebud trotted along behind Sadie as she skipped through the tall grass. Sadie danced among the wildflowers and Rosebud pranced around in circles.
Sadie dropped down and lay in the sweet smelling grass, the summer sun shining warmly on her face. She sang songs to the pony in a soft voice. While Rosebud munched on the sweet grass, her tail swished back and forth. A large bumblebee buzzed by lazily and settled on some purple clover. Lively, green grasshoppers hopped around Sadie, tickling her arms and legs.
Even though Rosebud was a pony, the two were the best of friends. At the end of the day, Sadie said goodnight to Rosebud, kissed her on the nose, and gave her a peppermint.
That evening, the whole family woke again to another clattering sound.
Upon entering the kitchen, they saw the pony standing there. This time she had a cookie hanging from her mouth. The cookie platter was on the floor in pieces with crumbled cookies everywhere. When Rosebud spotted Sadie, she walked up to her and nuzzled the top of her head.
Every night for the rest of the week, Sadie and her family found Rosebud in the kitchen munching on a different treat. Each time she greeted Sadie with a high-spirited whinny.
“I think Rosebud misses me at night,” Sadie said one evening at dinner.
“Well, what do you think we could do about that?” asked her mother.
“I could sleep with her in the barn,” Sadie said eagerly.
“That might help Rosebud, but it wouldn’t be too good for you.”
Sadie rested her cheek on her hand and sat silently. She pushed her food around her plate and then looked up excitedly.
“I know! If I can’t sleep in the barn, maybe I could bring her something from my room.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. Can you think of something extra special?”
“Hmmm.” Sadie thought for a moment. “How about my favorite stuffed pony and let’s see . . . how about a picture of me?”
“I know the perfect picture,” said her mother. “You go get the pony and I’ll get the picture.”
They went to the barn together. Rosebud moved excitedly back and forth in her stall. Sadie placed her stuffed pony where Rosebud could see it while her mother hung the picture on a nail.
“Goodnight, Rosebud,” Sadie said, patting Rosebud on the nose.
Rosebud shook her head.
The next time Sadie woke, it was morning. She ran down to the kitchen. No mess. No Rosebud. She raced out to the barn and there was Rosebud in her stall.
“Good girl, Rosebud,” said Sadie as she gave her a hug. “But I’m still wondering how you opened the doors.”
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2008 Anna Repp
Copyright © 2008 by Mary LaFleur Langdon