Rebecca Wants a Pony!By Sage Autumn Winkler

Rebecca Juliet Sephora is seven years old. Her birthday is August 4th.Thats three days away. For Rebecca’s birthday, she wants a pony more thananything in the world.

Right now, Rebecca is making a birthday list at the kitchen table nextto her mom on her mom’s brand-new sewing machine. Rebecca’s mom ownsa “sewing, knitting and much more” shop downtown. She makes lot of thingsat home and sometimes she gives them as presents to Rebecca. Rebecca’sdad is a cook. He owns “Sephora Serves You right.” He cooks all the meals athome too because her mom would burn their food and the house. Mom’ssewing machine is light pink with bright white polka-dots. Those wereRebecca’s favorite colors, but Rebecca’s favorite thing is ponies. Rebeccahas been wanting a pony ever since last month when she visited hergrandparents in Los Angeles, Nevada. Rebecca lives in Houston, Texas. Hergrandparents gave her a “Horses and Ponies” magazine when she was therevisiting them.

“Can I have a lollipop?” asked her little sister Charlotte Katie Sephora.“Not right now,” said her mother while she was still sewing.“But I really want one,” Charlotte said whining.“Charlotte if you keep asking you will have to go to your room,” her

mom said about to start getting mad.“Fine,” Charlotte said.Charlotte and her twin Jack Luke or Jack Sephora were both six

years old. They just learned how to speak and she knows her mother wishedthey hadn't. I get it. Last night, Charlotte came in and said she would screamif I didn’t let her sleep with me. I didn’t want to take that chance so I let herstay.

Jack isn't bad. He does what he’s told and doesn't whine. The onlything he does is steal. He loves stealing from me because he knows mom anddad think I would be lying but I know I‘m too perfect to lie. I don’t tell on him

as much now because I know that would cause me not to get my pony formy birthday.

I finished writing my list with sparkly bright pink marker on perfectplain white paper. It only took me one minute.

“A new record,” I said. Charlotte came running next to me.“Thats because you only wrote one thing,” she exclaimed.“Nice counting but I already knew that,” I exclaimed. Charlotte ran out

of the room.“Thank you Sweetie for not being so mean to Charlotte,” my mom said

putting her hand on my shoulder.“Thank you,” I said using my super big smile. I ran to my room and put the paper on my bed. I looked at the clock

to see what time it was. It was already 7:30 pm. That means I had to go tobed in 30 minutes. My bedtime is 8:00. I hate it when I have little time to getready when I haven't even had dinner yet. I took out my soft and squishypony pj’s. There my favorite pj’s ever. When I finished getting my pj’s on, Iwent out to the kitchen.

“Dinner,” my dad yelled. I could smell the seasons soaking into thesizzling steak. I also could hear my brother and sister running down thestairs as fast as they could to get the best seet. I sat in the seat and by thetime they got there, they didn’t even notice me. They were too busy fightingabout who gets the seat. But I could see that Jack had just saw me.

“Never mind. You can have the seat,” he finally said.“Thanks,” Charlotte said. Jack sat next to me.“What? Really? How come Rebecca gets that seat?” she said very mad,

while she sat down on the other side of Jack.“Because I got here first,” I answered.“Not cool Rebecca! Not cool!”“Girls and Boys, dinner is served,” my dad sang cheerfully.“So,” Mom said. “ How was everyone's day?”Jack and I said nothing. But like Charlotte always does, she went all

blabber mouth talking about her new notebook, and how it was so specialto her.

“Christina gave it to me because I...” I cut Charlotte off.

“I can’t wait for my birthday!” I almost yelled. Everyone stared at melike I was supposed to say something else or I said a horrible thing.

“Thats very nice Rebecca,” my mom answered. “Charlotte what were

you saying?” I can’t believe that! Does she know Charlotte talks too much?“Did you know that the biggest snake in the world is a …” I interrupted

Charlotte again.“For my birthday I have been thinking very hard on what I want. I have

even made a one page list on what I want. I have been thinking about acertain animal for our house. Perhaps you could look at it and see if it’sreasonable,” I said trying to use some of my best vocabulary.

“Yes I do agree we could use a pet but, I don’t think we are ready fora pet yet,” my mom said. What was she saying? Did she want me to get mad?Does she even love me? Well of course she loves me. That was a littleoverboard.

(middle) …...............

The next day, Charlotte and I were going to do some makeovers. Momwas letting us because last summer I went to the beauty parlor with mycousin Jackie. She’s awesome! She’s seventeen. I walked out of my room andinto Charlotte’s room.

“Charlotte! Are you ready?” I asked.“Yep,” she answered.We walked into the playroom and I took out all the supplies we

needed. I sat down on the floor with Charlotte.“So, can you help me with something?” I asked while I layed out some

nail polish colors and lip gloss.“What do you need?” she said as she took the blue nail polish and light

pink lip gloss.“I need you and Jack to help me give hints to mom and dad about

getting a pony for my birthday.” I exclaimed.“What? A pony? Okay, but only if I can ride it whenever I want.” she

said excited while making me promise.“Fine.” I told her not really promising.

…................

I heard Charlotte and Jack talking and talking and talking. Later, I

could hear mom and dad talking about getting me a doll! I don’t want adoll! The only exception was a glass, china doll from Japan! Of Course Iwon't get one but what about a pony! I was terrified! This was impossible!What could I do? I couldn't think! I couldn't talk! I was getting very dizzy. WasI going blind? I don’t feel so well. My legs were wobbly. I started to sweatand I couldn't breathe. I was shivering and I was so scared. I could only getone thing out of my mouth.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed, running in my room andjumping flat face on my bed.

“Rebecca!” my parents screamed running in my room.“Are you okay Rebecca?” my mom yelled.“Are you hurt?” my dad yelled louder.“No,” I mumbled turning my head to look and them.“Then what happened?” my mother asked looking worried.“I just... I just...” I didn’t know what to say. I couldn't tell them I was

snooping on their conversation.“You just what Rebecca?” my dad said getting a little mad.“I thought a spider was about to bite me and jump on me.” I blurted

out, unsure of what I had said.“Honey, that got your father and I very worried. There was no need to

scream like that.” my mom said calmly but strict.“I’m sorry.” I mumbled. I felt ridiculous. Why did I do that? Getting a doll

wasn't that bad of a deal. Why did I had to scream!?

…................

I hope I get a pony! I hope I get a pony! I hope I get a pony! Ugg! I’mnever gonna get a pony! I’m never gonna get a pony! I’m never gonna get apony! It’s all my parents fault because they won't get me one and mybirthdays tomorrow!

I have an idea! I ran out of the playroom. Up all 15 stairs. Down thehall, and to the right. And right into my bedroom. I opened a box that heldmy “Horse and Pony” magazine.

“How could they not get that I want a pony now?” I said joyfully. I cutout a picture of my favorite pony on page 56. It was a brilliant plan. I raninto my parents bedroom and taped the picture in the TV. I ran back to theplayroom to watch some TV in the light pink chair with white polka-dots.

“Now all I have to do is sit and wait,” I exclaimed thankfully.

…..............

Today was the day. Everyone was here to celebrate me.“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday

dear Rebecca! Happy birthday to you!” cheered my parents, twins, Jackie,and Mimi my grandma.

“Happy birthday Darlin,” replied Mimi.“Time for presents!” Jackie said almost in a yell clapping her hands

together. She handed me a box wrapped with silver wrapping paper.“This is from me,” she said. I opened the beautiful paper.“Wow! Thank you! A glass china doll from Japan! How did you get it?” I

asked.“I purchased it from my summer trip to Tokyo,” she replied.“Wow! Thank you!” I answered.“Here,” Mimi said as she gave me something little wrapped in gold

wrapping paper. I tore it apart.“Nice! Two tickets to the big pony fiesta show!” I yelled.“Calm down Sweetie” mom said. She handed me a blue box.“This is from Charlotte and Jack”. I opened the blue paper and to my

surprise I found some more dolls.“Twin glass china dolls from Japan!” I yelled again.“Jackie helped us get it,” Jack replied.“Thank you,” I told them. And then my hands started to sweat. I was

scared about what my parents got me. Oh no. I can’t live if I don’t get apony. I will cry and drown in tears. What would happen? I can’t live anotherfull year without a pony. I would be a disaster. What if I fell out of my seatin surprise and everyone was laughing? On my birthday I should get what Iwant! Dad started to handed me a large box that was light pink with whitepolka-dots on it. I don’t think a live pony could fit in there! Well on secondthought, I did tell Charlotte it didn’t have to be a real pony. Maybe it was apony coloring book? But I want a huggable pony! One that understands mewhen no one else does! One that can help me through my bad nightmares!

“Are you okay Rebecca?” my dad asked.“Fine. Why?”“You look like you just got the worst birthday present in the world or

you didn’t get what you wanted”.“Oh, well I loved all my presents. Hehe, uhhh... I guess I should open your

present to me now?” I said as I started open the present. I gulped. “A box?” Isaid.

“Open it,” my dad replied. I opened it very carefully and quickly..“Ahh!” I screamed. “A huge stuffed animal pony!” I could not believe

that! I was full of jubilation. I guess I could hug this pony. And it couldunderstand me when no-one else does. And it could help me get through mynightmares in bed.

“Happy birthday Rebecca!” everyone yelled.

The End