Several mornings later Maggie heard her parents talking in the
kitchen. Dad said, "Well, you know she wants a pony."
"Yes," said Mom. "But I didn't think you'd spend so much money without
discussing it."
"You buy what you want," he shot back. "And this was what I want."
They stopped talking when Maggie entered the room.
"Time for breakfast," said Mom. "Maggie, please wash up and set the
table."
They started breakfast. Then Dad said, "Maggie, I bought something
special yesterday. I think you're going to like it."
"A pony?" she asked eagerly.
"I'm not telling," he said, grinning. "But it's coming today ... in a
truck."
"Fred," Mom scolded. "Don't get her all excited. She might be
disappointed."
"But _I'm_ excited," he said with a broad grin. "I just had to say
something."
After breakfast Maggie sat on the front step watching the driveway. I
wonder what color my pony will be, she thought. I wonder what its eyes
will be like. I wonder if Dad bought me a saddle.
Hours later, a blue truck turned into their driveway. It was big
enough to haul about six or seven cows. The truck stopped in the front
of the house, and a man with a beard got out. Corky barked at him.
"Corky, stop," Maggie demanded, and she ran toward the truck. "Is my
pony in there?"