Children

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Puppy Dogs, Ponies and Rainbows



Once there was a puppy dog named Bingo. He lived on a farm with a quiet little pony named Pepper. The two were very good friends. They ran all day in the golden sun. Then they rested in the evening under the great apple tree as the golden sun went to bed just beyond the meadow.

Now on this farm there also lived a pretty little girl named Camma. Oh, how Bingo and Pepper loved this little girl. Sometimes Camma's dad would lift her high on Pepper's back. With Bingo at his side the two best friends proudly rode Camma around the barnyard.

One day the golden sun didn't come out to play with Bingo and Pepper. Together they stood under the great apple tree as rain fell in their lovely meadow. Bingo looked up at Pepper and said "Oh, Pepper, what are we to do, there is no golden sun to run with us?"

Now Pepper being older and wiser turned to his friend and said, "All is not lost Bingo, for sometimes a glorious and wonderful thing happens. When the golden sun pushes the ran away, a beautiful ribbon of color will appear in the sky, it's called a rainbow."

Now Bingo got very excited, he had never seen a rainbow before. He danced around saying "Oh, I want to see it, I want to see it." Pepper smiled and said, "Now, Now, Now, … we must be patient and wait for the golden sun to return."

Just then, what do think happened? Yes, the golden sun started pushing his way through the clouds and chased the rain away.

Bingo was very excited now, he poked his head out from under the great apple tree and said, "Come on Pepper, let's go, let's go." Pepper snickered at him and said "patience my friend, we can watch for the rainbow from here."

They searched the sky for sign of their rainbow. Just then, Pepper said, "Look! Down by the end of the meadow!"

Bingo looked to see the arch of beautiful colors, the blue, the green, the purple, the red and yellow. It stretched from one corner of the meadow all the way into the wooded area that lay beyond the fence. Bingo wanted to dance and play in the brilliant colors. Pepper snickered at Bingo, "Hold on my friend, you can't touch the rainbow, no one has ever touched the rainbow."

'Well,' Bingo thought to himself, 'I want to be the first to ever touch the rainbow.' Bingo pleaded with Pepper "Oh, Pepper can't we try, can't we at least get closer? Can't we at least find where it ends? Oh, please, Pepper, please?"

Pepper snorted and pawed the ground; he didn't think it was a wise idea to go off chasing rainbows. But he had to admit, he had never found the end of the rainbow before and it did sound like fun.

Pepper tuned to his little friend Bingo and said, "You stay close by me, those woods can be a dangerous place. We must be very careful." Bingo started dancing on his hind legs with excitement. "Oh, Pepper, we'll be careful, come on let's go, let's go." He said.

So the two crept off and went through the opening in the fence just on the other side of the great apple tree. They followed the tree line down to where the rainbow disappeared into the woods. Pepper and Bingo then turned and went into the woods. Bingo kept his eye on the rainbow, trying hard to follow it. The woods were very dark and Pepper was afraid they might get lost.

Suddenly Bingo let out a loud YELP! Pepper stopped, danger, he thought. He snorted and stomped at the ground. Bingo started growling and snarling his teeth at it. Pepper looked for the danger that had hurt his friend. There on the ground in front of them was a porcupine; it's razor sharp needles staring up at them. Bingo had stepped on the porcupine and hurt his paw. The porcupine frozen with fear rolled himself into a ball.

Pepper called to Bingo, "Let's get out of here, there could be more of them. Bingo! Leave it alone let's go, NOW!" Bingo turned and followed Pepper away from the porcupine. But in all the excitement Pepper wasn't sure which way to go. The two friends were now lost in the woods. Bingo kept looking for the rainbow; maybe they could follow it back to the farm. But the rainbow was gone now and the rain had started falling again.

Bingo stopped with a jolt, his ears perked high on his head. Pepper raised his head high and smelled the air. There was trouble. Bingo called to Pepper, "Do you hear that?" Pepper nodded. "Pepper, that sounds like Camma. Oh, Pepper do you think something is wrong at the farm?" Pepper listened again, "yes, my friend that is Camma, and I think there is trouble at the farm. Quick my friend, we must follow the sound it will lead us out of here."

Pepper and Bingo quickly made their way through the woods following the sound of Camma's voice. They went back through the opening in the fence and ran as fast as they could toward the barn. They clearly heard Camma calling their names. "Pepper…Bingo"

As they ran up to the gate Camma's dad had a very worried look on his face. Pepper wondered what could be wrong. Camma began cheering as Pepper and Bingo slowed to a walk. It was then Pepper realized Camma and her dad were worried about them. After all they had never left the meadow before and it was time for Camma to have her ride around the barnyard.

That evening as Pepper and Bingo lay under the great apple tree. They watched the golden sun go to bed, and they promised to never sneak out of the meadow again.

THE END

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