The Magical Pony (copyright 1994, Mitch Summers - my pen name)

[Tim]

There once was a land far, far away. A very strange land it was. To get to this land one would have to travel over the great mountains called there and across the wide river called here. The place of the very strange land was called today. In the land of today was a most beautiful young girl. And this beautiful young girl had a most wonderful pony. The pony was her best friend. They would play together sometimes day and night and night and day. Then one day the pony was not there.

The beautiful young girl looked all over today and then ran to the river called here. The water of the river ran by, oh, ever so fast. She had no way to cross the river called here. She sat down in the very tall green grass and began to cry. Soon the day became night and the stars began to appear in the sky. With tears in her eyes she did wish a wish on the biggest and brightest star of the sky. Now, the beautiful young girl was tired from all the looking she had done. So she lay her head down and closed her eyes.

Soon morning did arrive and she could feel the warmth of the early morning sun. Slowly she opened her eye and then the other. And oh what a surprise she did have. She was in a place she had not been before. She knew not where or how she could have got there. Slowly she raised her head off the ground. It was then that she noticed the grass was not the same as before. Instead of being green and tall it was short and orange. She looked all about and saw many different strange things. The sky was not blue, oh, no it was not. The sky was purple, a most wonderful kind of purple it was. And the tall trees were not tall anymore. When she stood to her feet she could see right over them. Yes, now she was taller than ever before.

“Hello most beautiful young girl,” a voice did say. The most beautiful young girl turned so very quickly to see who it was. She turned to the left and then to the right and then all around and around and around she did turn. She was now very dizzy from turning round and round that she fell to the ground. Now, she was not frightened, nor even scared she was just a little bit sick. You would be too, if you hand turned around and around and around until you fell to the ground.

After a few moments and a little time had passed she stood once more to her feet to see. And, just what do you think she did see. No, it was not the orange grass nor was it the purple sky. She saw the river called here and it was not as wide as before. Then out of nowhere came the voice again.

“Hello most beautiful young girl, how are you on this day?” the voice did say.

“Who said that, where are you?” she did say.

“I’m over here and I’m over there, but if you look just right you will see me anywhere,” the voice did say.
Now the most beautiful young girl was becoming so very mad. She did not want to play any game. So she sat down and said, “If you do not tell me who you are and why I am here, then I shall not speak to you anymore.”

“Oh please do not say that, I am your friend,” the voice did say.

“If you are my friend then tell me please, where am I and what place is this?” She did say.

Then out from behind the trees stepped a most wonderful pony. It was the strangest looking pony she had ever seen before. The pony stood about three feet tall. It was pink with blue polka dots the size of a tea cup saucer. The mane and tail were of yellow like that of gold. It was a very strange pony, oh yes it surely was.

Slowly the strange pony walked over to where the most beautiful girl was sitting. The strange pony walked until it was right in front of her. Then, slowly, it lowered its head while kneeling on both front legs. Gracefully it bowed before the most beautiful young girl. The girl looked into the eyes of the strange pony, such a golden color they were. And in the corner of one eye there was a golden tear. Then the most beautiful young girl reached out with her hand and pets the head of the strange pony.

“I am sorry strange pony,” she did say, “I am just so very afraid.” Then, the strange pony stood upon its feet, smiled, and can you guess what it did say? “There is no need to be afraid, most beautiful young girl,” the strange pony did say. “I am a magical pony and am here to help you through the day.”

Now, the most beautiful young girl did not understand. Why, was she in this very odd land and of so many very odd colors too? The sky of a majestic color purple, the strange, short orange colored grass, and the trees were shorter than her and the river was not wide anymore.

“Where are we, and what place is this?” she said to the very strange pony.

The strange pony said, “this is the land of never before unless you have been here once before. It is where people come to learn many new things. Some people come here to learn to say hello, others learn to say good-bye, and others learn to say “what is your name?” After a while in this land, of never before, people learn that other people are just as afraid as you or I and even us.”

Then the strange pony looked up to the most beautiful young girl and did say, “Hi! My name is New and Different.” Now this did puzzle the most beautiful young girl. She did not understand at all. Then suddenly and swiftly the pony did leap. And do you know what, the strange pony was on the other side of the river called here and stood next to the mountains called there. Yet something was new and different about the strange pony. The pony was no longer pink with blue polka dots anymore.

Now the girl was at first a little confused and a little frightened. Then she looked over the river called here and said, “Hello, are you new and different?” The strange pony, which was now all red and with bright green stripes said, “No, I am Never Been Here Before and I need to go to there.”

Now this confused the most beautiful young girl even more. First the pony was New and Different and now it is Never Been Here Before. Now, she was on one side of the river called Here, in the land called Today, and the strange pony was not the same. No, it was on the other side of the river called Here next to the mountains called There. She started to think and think and think and think some more. When she looked up she saw another strange pony standing next to Never Been Here Before.

“Hello, most beautiful young girl. My name is Have Been Here Before,” the other strange pony said. The most beautiful young girl did not know what to say or even think. Then out of nowhere another pony did appear. The most beautiful young girl asked, “And, who are you?” The pony did say, Been Here once Before,” how are you today. Now the most beautiful young girl was only a little confused. For, now there was not just one magical pony there were now three. There was Never Been Here Before, there was Have Already Been Here Before and there was Been Here Once Before.

The three ponies did not look the same and were very different. They stood across the river called Here and next to the mountains called There, and then all three ponies just disappeared. The most beautiful young girl looked about and then looked once more. Then before was a different pony. This pony was like none of the other three. This pony was all three mixed into one. “And just who are you?” she asked the pony. The pony looked into her eyes and said, “Don’t you remember me? I am, Was Here Yesterday, and I am back to see you again today.”

Now the most beautiful young girl began to laugh and laugh. You see she remembered who Was Here Yesterday was. You see it was the same place and the same pony, it was just a different day. It was Wednesday.