THE FAVORITE PONY ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
Long, long ago a roving merry-go-round made its way to a castle in the clouds. Kids would line up to ride Strawberry, the very pink pony.
All the ponies were painted bright colors—all, that is, except for Imagination. Even though Imagination was carved out of fine white wood, kids still avoided her.
At night when the moon shone upon the ponies they seemed to come to life. "My paint has rubbed off from so many kids riding me," they'd say, as if the chips in their paint were badges of honor.
This bothered Imagination, but she wasn't going to feel sorry for herself. She tried to be kind to the other ponies, but they were only concerned with their own popularity. "Being popular is not so important," Imagination thought to herself. "Maybe I'm destined for some one special. That's it!"
Imagination decided that she would save herself for someone special.
One night a halo surrounded the moon as Imagination looked up wistfully: "I wish a prince would come here to ride on me."
In time the Royal Entourage came to the carnival and stopped at the merry-go-round. Sure enough the Tiny Prince ran to Imagination and jumped on the saddle.
It was no wonder the Tiny Prince picked the unpainted pony. Imagination looked clean and pure compared to the other ponies with their chipped paint and discarded gum in their manes.
The Tiny Prince was delighted to ride Imagination and asked for another turn when the music stopped. The painted ponies were shocked the Prince didn't choose to ride any of them.
Word spread throughout the Kingdom that the Prince had ridden the white pony—that the painted ponies were no longer the favorites. Imagination was now the favorite pony on the Merry-go-round.
©1997 Stefan des Lauriers