Mia and the Sleepy Pony
The sun was going down behind the hill. Mia stood at the fence and watched the sky turn pink. The grass smelled sweet. A pony walked slowly across the field toward her.
The pony's name was Clover. Her coat was brown and soft. She stopped right at the fence. Mia reached out her hand. Clover's nose was warm and tickled her palm.
"Hello, Clover," Mia whispered. Clover blinked her big dark eyes. She made a low, rumbly sound. It was not loud. It was the kind of sound that means *I see you.*
Mia wanted to give Clover something. She looked in her pocket. She found half an apple from lunch. She held it flat on her hand. Clover took it gently with her lips.
The wind blew soft and cool. Clover chewed the apple slowly. Then she rested her head near Mia's shoulder. They stood there together. The field was quiet. A bird sang one last song.
Mia's mom called from the house. "Time to come in, Mia." Mia patted Clover's neck one more time. "Goodnight, Clover," she said. Clover walked back across the field, slow and easy.
Inside, Mia's room was warm. She climbed into bed. She could still feel Clover's soft nose on her hand. She closed her eyes. She thought about the pony, safe in the field, falling asleep under the stars.
And Mia fell asleep too, dreaming of brown ponies and pink skies and the quiet, gentle end of the day.
The end. Sleep well.