Keiko’s Pony Rescue

New Arrivals

The girls are fast asleep when Aunt Yumi wakes them up on their last morning at Cherry Blossom Farm. Keiko rubs her eyes, feeling tired from such a thrilling day the day before. Aunt Yumi says she has a surprise for them. And of course, Keiko should bring her sketchbook.

The girls get dressed, and head outside to the chicken coop. When they get there, they find a new sound. A high-pitched chirping sound is coming from a small box at the other end of the coop. Aunt Yumi turns to the girls, and tells them Marigold isn’t the only new mom around here. The chicks finally hatched last night!

Sure enough, five tiny, fuzzy, yellow chicks are snuggled in a heap of pine shavings. They’re bright against the brown, like little balls of butter. Aunt Yumi carefully lifts one chick and places it in Keiko’s open palm, and shows Keiko how to hold the wings in place against the chick’s body. One by one, each girl holds a soft chick in their hand.

When all the chicks are back in the box, Keiko glances up at her aunt. Is it time to feed the hens? Aunt Yumi shakes her head. Since it’s their last day, there’s something else she wants to show them. Aunt Yumi leads them past the barn to a tall tree where a treehouse is wedged. A rope ladder is dangling down the side.

Aunt Yumi describes how from the treehouse, you can see the whole farm. Maybe the girls would want to take a last look before they leave. And maybe Keiko wants to do a last sketch there.

Keiko reminds her aunt that she didn’t win the contest, and Aunt Yumi says that’s okay. She can try again next year. But she can’t give up on it so quickly. Skill takes practice.

And with that, the girls climb one by one into the treehouse to enjoy the beautiful farm.

Later that morning, after the girls milked Lulu and Buttercup for the last time, the four girls head to Grace’s farm to say goodbye to Marigold and Daisy. The ponies both trot right up to the fence and nuzzle the girls. Then, Keiko pulls out her sketchbook and tears out a single page. It’s the picture she drew of Marigold and Daisy, just after the filly was born. Keiko hands the drawing to Grace, who exclaims that it’s a wonderful drawing.

Keiko smiles as she watches Daisy trot around the paddock one last time. Her heart feels so full. She’s so happy to have people around who believe in her, like her best friends, Aunt Yumi, and Grace. And she knows she’ll remember this summer for a long time to come.