Keiko’s Pony Rescue

Keiko’s Confession

After the girls pack up their sleeping bags, they reluctantly head back to Cherry Blossom Farm to help with the morning chores. They’ll go back after breakfast to get a full report on the ponies from Dr. Brooks. The girls complete their chores hurriedly and tear through their breakfast, eager to get back to Marigold.

When they get back to Grace’s farm, Dr. Brooks says he has good news and bad news. Daisy is a healthy eighty pound foal with a great appetite. And Marigold is tired, but doing just fine. But, Daisy was born with tendon problems in her legs. Newborn foals should be able to get around on their own within a few hours. But it’s been longer than that, and she still isn’t walking. Her leg tendons are contracted, meaning they’re at the wrong angle for walking. It’s a common problem, but if it isn’t corrected, she may need surgery.

Keiko gasps. Surgery is bad news. Aunt Yumi explains that surgeries are expensive, and Grace already has enough to worry about with her mom being ill. Keiko looks carefully at the foal. She’s glad to see Daisy standing next to her mother, but she can see what Dr. Brooks means about her front legs. They look stiff, at odd angles. She asks what they can do to help.

Dr. Brooks says he’ll put splints on her legs to hold them in the correct position about eight hours a day. Then Daisy will need to do carefully controlled exercises. Maybe the girls can help with that. All four girls express that they’d love to help.

The next morning, Uncle Henry takes the girls to the farmers market to sell Cherry Blossom Farm’s eggs, butter, flowers, and vegetables while Daisy is being treated by Dr. Brooks. Uncle Henry sets up his table and the girls stock it. Keiko is fascinated by all the things for sale at other booths, like cheese, milk, lavender, honey, and homemade jams.

Jasmine sets up flowers in front of the sign, and comments that it looks like a painting. Keiko agrees, the arrangement is lovely. The thought crosses her mind that she’d love to draw them, and her shoulders slump. Jasmine, noticing what happened, asks Keiko if she’s worried about Daisy. Keiko shakes her head. Although she is worried about Daisy, and thinking about that makes her art contest feel less important, and telling her friends seems a little less scary.

Keiko hesitates, but then blurts that she didn’t win the art contest. Madison immediately consoles Keiko. She knew how much Keiko wanted to win. The other two girls are very sympathetic, too. Sofia asks if that’s why she hasn’t been drawing as much lately. Keiko nods, and says she’s sorry for letting them down.

Jasmine says that Keiko didn’t let them down. Keiko is an amazing artist. Just because she didn’t win this contest doesn’t mean she’ll never have her art in a museum. In fact, all three girls agree that Keiko will be a famous artist someday, as long as she doesn’t give up on herself.

Relief floods Keiko. She’s so happy she finally told her friends the truth. They’re not disappointed in her at all. Their support helped her actually feel more confident about her artwork.

By the time the market ended, the girls picked out a small bag of oats and a few ripe, red apples for Marigold, and a soft brush for Daisy. Keiko is smiling at her friends as they leave. Just telling them about the contest made her feel so much better. Now they can focus on Daisy. Will she ever learn to walk?

As soon as they get back to the farms, the girls rush over to Grace’s farm. They find Daisy standing awkwardly, with splints attached to her front legs. They look like large bandages. Dr. Brooks demonstrates a few safe ways to encourage the foal to walk back and forth across the paddock. The girls need to be gentle, but firm. Daisy might refuse to move at first, but it’s important to get Daisy walking as much as possible to strengthen her muscles. She can lean against the girls if needed, but the goal is to try to get her to keep walking unless she’s really in pain.

After Dr. Brooks leaves, Keiko pulls on the lead around Daisy’s neck. But Daisy doesn’t budge. Keiko, in dismay, wonders aloud how to get her to exercise if she doesn’t move. Jasmine is concerned, too. The four girls think about what to do, but they’re stumped. Keiko doesn’t want to force Daisy to walk, but they know she needs exercise. What can they do to get Daisy to walk?