Red Bell Rings

Ed held his breath as the roan mare snuffled his hand, licking up the rest of the cookie crumbs. Sky stood back, giving the two space. Ed giggled softly, both at the feeling of the velvety nose on his palm and the excitement and adrenaline coursing through his body. This was it. This was his chance. To claim a Teddy Cob. 

“There you go girl. Did you get it all?” The boy murmured . The mare’s large ears swiveled towards his voice, and she stepped closer to him, which he rewarded with another cookie. After she finished that one, he pulled his bell and ribbon out of his backpack. The mare pricked her ears at the soft jingling of the bell, but she stayed put as the boy began to braid the bell into her mane. He tightly wove her soft mane with the ribbon, securing the bell firmly in place. As he reached the end of her mane, he began knotting the ribbon around the lock of hair, fastening the bell in place even tighter. The mare nickered, as if she knew he was almost done. Ed grinned at the mare’s gentle sounds, and he ran his hands through the unbraided section of her mane. 

“What do you think about coming home with me, huh? Yeah, that sounds nice. Unlimited cookies. All you gotta do is keep this bell in your mane, okay?” Ed could hear the anxiety in his voice, and hoped the mare didn’t pick up on it. But, of course, she did. And in response, she pushed her forehead softly into the boy’s chest. He took in a sharp breath, then realized what she was doing, and giggled, wrapping his arms around her petite head. Sky grinned, and snuck a picture of them with her cellphone. The pair stayed like that for more minutes than Sky could count, before they gently broke apart. Sky checked her watch, and grimaced. 

“Hey Eddy. We gotta head home bud. Elmer needs dinner and his meds.” She spoke softly, not wanting to break the magic between the boy and pony. Ed looked at her, and she could see the heartbreak in his eyes. God, she hoped this pony would come home with them next week. But only time would tell.