i have SO MANY sugar cubes for you at home…. just follow me there ;)

I snuffle the grass below me, the short green blades tickling my pink nose. The breeze ruffles through my mane, and I lay down for a roll. The crisp autumn air is cold on my belly as I scratch my back, but it feels nice. I stand up, and shake myself off. Then I notice a small figure in the bushes. What could that be? I carefully step forward, my mismatched ears twitching at every sound. The figure moves, and I freeze. Suddenly, it moves towards me, out of the bushes, revealing a young human boy. His mane is short and black, and he looks cold. He looks at me, eyes big, his small body trembling with… excitement? Why is he excited to see me? I give him a sniff and a huff, to ask him why he’s here. He just laughs, and pets between my ears. That feels nice. I close my eyes and let out a sigh, and when I open them, he’s holding a bell tied to a long ribbon in one hand, and a sugar cube in the other. Ahhh, that’s what this is. The elders in the herd told me stories of the claiming process, how if a human tied a bell in your mane and it stayed in during the winter round up, they got to take you home. I was familiar with the stories, and seeing my friends acquire ribbons then disappear after the round up. The elders said it was nice to have a family of your own, a warm shelter, yummy grain every day. I had never been so keen on the idea, but this boy… I wouldn’t mind spending more time with him. Especially if he has more sugar cubes… I lower my head, and hold still, barely daring to breathe, as he weaves the bell into my mane.

I can’t believe my eyes when the chestnut splash stallion starts to approach me. Before I know it, he’s standing in front of me,and I’m reaching out to scratch between his ears. He closes his eyes, and I giggle. I find the bell ribbon I had shoved in my pocket, and fish out a sugar cube for the pony.

“Here boy,” I talk soothingly as I hand him the sugar cube, and carefully tie the bell into his mane. Man, his mane was super long. It nearly dragged through the stubbly grass. What a stark contrast to his short poofy tail. I grab my phone from my back pocket to take a picture to send to my older sister, Amy Lou. Getting the stallion and his bell in frame, I hit the capture button, and send it off to Amy. As the text sends, my phone makes a quiet whoosh, and the stallion jumps. 

“Easy boy, you’re okay!” I giggle as he looks worriedly at my phone. I hold it out to him to show him it’s not scary, and he reaches out to sniff it, just as Amy Lou texts me back. Ding! The pony jumps back, and I chuckle again. 

“You’re a jumpy one, aren’t you bud?” He huffs in response, nibbling at the grass, as if saying, “I meant to do that. I’m not scared of some silly black noise box.” I check the text from Amy Lou. OMG he’s adorable. You need to bring him home!!!! I text back, I’m trying! XD.

This time, the stallion only flinched at the whoosh sound. So he’s jumpy, but learns quickly. That’s good. 

“Alright boy,” I say as I hand him one last sugar cube. “You be good and keep that bell in for me. And Amy Lou. She would love you. Just like I already do.” He gives me an inquisitive whinny, and I scratch him between the ears again. “I gotta go work on homework now. But hopefully I'll see you soon. All you gotta do is keep that bell in your mane!”