"THANK YOU 

       DADDY"

ANNIE LOVED HORSES! All colors, all kinds. They were so BEAUTIFUL. She longed for one of her own. Horses were not allowed where she lived but that did not keep           her from wanting one EVERY Christmas.

Christmas was getting closer.

Time to start asking for a pony. 

One Saturday morning Annie's dad was reading the newspaper in the living room. Annie was reading the "Pets For Sale" portion of the paper. She saw the following: 

Pinto pony for sale.  Six months old.  Vet checked. 

Shots up-to-date.  $100

"There it is," Annie thought!

"Just what I want. 

 A BEAUTIFUL PINTO

 PONY!"    

      Annie looked up at her dad.  All 

      she could see was the back of the         newspaper.  

     "Should she interrupt him while he        is reading,"she wondered?

"Dad, May I tell you   something?"

"Yes,"said dad.

"This paper has a pinto pony for sale.  I would love to have one for Christmas. I've wanted a pony for so long."

"Well, I know you have," said dad. "I think I might get you a 

little pinto 

this 

year."

Annie could hardly believe what she heard!

"Really, dad?  I can really have a little pinto?"

"Yes," said dad.  "I will get you a little pinto this year." 

Annie could hardly hold back 

her excitement! 

"Mama, mama, daddy said he would get me a little Pinto for Christmas, can you believe it? There is one in the paper for sale!" 

Annie wondered why

her mother was 

grinning at her.

Forgetting that thought,

she immediately began making plans for taking care of her pony. She dreamed of 

all the fun she was going to have with her little Pinto!

She imagined riding him through 

the woods, 

over brooks and streams, 

riding him to school and

sharing rides with her friends.

 Maybe she could even ride him at the beach..  

"What fun I am going to have," 

 she told herself!  

Well....it is now Christmas eve.  

Annie is so excited she can hardly sleep.  

"Where is my alarm clock?  I've got to set it. 

If I DO fall asleep, this will make sure I get up EARLY!  I can't wait to see my little Pinto!"

Annie JUMPED out of bed! Running to the living room she found everything was quiet. Everyone else was still sleeping.  The Christmas tree had been left on all night. The bright colored lights were so pretty in the darkened room. In the early morning quietness, Annie found it easy to day dream about her pony.

CLANG!!

                RING!! 

RING !!

    CLANG!!!!

She ran to the window and looked outside.  No pony there!  Then, to the 

back door.  No pony 

              there!

 "Hum......Daddy must have kept him in someone's barn

  for the night. After all," she thought,  

                            "It WOULD have been cruel to                                    leave him out in the                                               cold all night.  

                             THAT must be what he did.  

                             I will just have to wait for                                                     daddy to bring him

                                           to me."            

"Merry Christmas, Annie," mother said, 

 as she came into the room.  

"Are you excited?"

"Oh, yes, mama. I can hardly wait for 

 everyone to get up so we can celebrate 

 Christmas.  I can't wait to see 

 my little pony!"  

 Once again, Annie noticed 

 her mother grinning.