Mother Mare's Foal Tales

One fine evening on the Pie's rock farm, Maud was spending her free time playing with her favorite golden rock.  She trotted around the rock in circles, semi-circles, and even figure eights, and was almost delighted when it stayed perfectly still.

However, as she was returning home with the golden rock balanced on her head, her hoof caught on a root raised above the soil.  The beloved rock flew through the air and landed in the well.

"No..."  Maud said in a slow, monotonous voice.  She stared at the well with a blank expression.  "I would give everything that I have in the world for my rock..."

Her gaze started to fall once she gave up hope on her rock returning when she spied another rock sitting by the well.

"Oh.  Hi."

She picked up the new rock and put it on her head where the other rock had been, then resumed her journey home.

When she sat down for dinner with the family, her father commented on her new companion.

"What happened to your golden rock?"

"It fell down the well, so I got a new one."  She slid her plate in front of the rock.  "He's hungry."

Her father nodded and resumed his meal.

Maud stood up slowly, which was rather sudden for her.  "Rock is tired.  I'm taking him to bed."

Her father nodded again.  "You're excused."

She carried the rock upstairs, set him on her pillow, and went to sleep.  She had a wonderful dream where she was a rock surrounded by smaller rocks that adored her.

The next morning, Maud set the rock on her desk while she began to write a poem.

"Open the door, Rock.

Open the door to my heart, Rock.

And forget about the golden rock

Because now you're my rock."

She looked at the rock, which did not look back at her, or anything else for that matter.

"I dedicate this poem to you."  She slid the paper over to it.

The rock didn't take it.

"Do you not like my poem?"

The rock said nothing.

"I wrote it for you, though."

The rock remained still.

Maud sighed and turned away.  Her foreleg bumped against the desk and the rock tumbled off.  It hit the ground with a light thud.

"Oh, no.  I'm sorry."  She stepped off the chair and leaned down to examine the uninjured rock.  "That was an accident."

She felt a little guilty, so she lowered her head and kissed the top of the rock.  Nothing extraordinary happened, but she smiled nonetheless.

"I'm glad you forgive me.  Let's go."

And so she scooped up the rock and put it on top of her head, where it would always have a second home, its first being in her heart.