Co-Co Magic's POV
I glanced over at the stall beside me. Sand Dune was sleeping peacefully. We were the only two mares, come to think of it, the only horses on the Dream Farm. I am a racehorse. Sand is a pleasure horse. Life here at Dream Farm is pretty easy. I train in the morning, and graze with Sand out in the pastures afterwards. At night we come into the barn and sleep. Most of the time, usually on weekends, I have races scheduled. I love to win. Okay, enough about me, this is the story. The story of my son, Grand Champion.
It all started on a weekend. Everything was peaceful, as usual. Margie, my human, was talking to her father outside of my stall.
"Marge, I've found a really good stud for Co-Co Magic." At that I got really interested. I always knew they had planned to breed me, but I didn't know when. "Why do we need a stud now?" Margie asked glancing at me calmly. I nickered and she smiled in return.
"Because, we are running out of money. This stud could throw a wonderful foal that could win us major money." "The word 'could' seems to be very popular with this stallion, Dad." Her father sighed. "He's a great champion actually. The price is high though." Margie turned around and looked at her father. "Then we would just be wasting money." "Well, the owner seems to like Sand…a lot. She will give us a free breeding if we give her Sand." Margie's face fell. I felt my heart skip a beat. Give away my best friend? Just so I could have some foal? No. They couldn't get rid of her just for me. "How can you do that?" Margie cried. Her father wore a grim expression. "I'm only asking you to give up a mare so we can keep Co-Co." Margie was about to cry. I desperately wanted to comfort her. "Dad…you're asking me to give up a friendship." Margie then turned and looked at Sand in her stall. She was being her lazy old self, sleeping. "Marge, I know you love her. But right now it's give Sand up, or give the whole farm up." Margie nodded her head. "Let me think about it." Her father nodded in return and walked off. Margie grabbed a saddle and bridle real quick from a hook by my stall. She unlatched the door and threw the saddle onto my back. It startled me and I half-reared nervously. Margie realized she had upset me and rubbed her hand over my shoulder soothingly. "It's okay girl. I'm sorry." I snorted n return, but accepted the bit as she hurriedly held it up to my mouth. I wasn't used to workouts in the afternoon, but I felt excitement run through my spine as Margie hauled herself onto my back. "C'mon Co-Co. Maybe a fast gallop on the track will help." Margie kicked my sides gently and I began walking out of the barn and towards the beautiful track of Dream Farm. Margie opened the latch and I walked in. She steered me into the starting gates and then made sure the gates opened only a few seconds later. I was a little tired from my previous workout, but I knew I needed to run hard, for Margie. I flew past the quarter mile post, then the half-mile, the 3 quarters of a mile, and finally across the finish line. Margie looked at her watch. "Wow, record time girl." I neighed. Margie's voice was a little strained, and I knew her face was tear stained. Margie leaned over my neck and patted me. Her touch was warm and gentle. If only she wasn't going through such a hard decision's pressure. With a sigh Margie cooled me off and then we walked back to the stables. I had decided to tell Sand right after I was untacked and in my stall about her being sold. Margie finished with me and walked over to her dad and nodded. He put an arm around her and they walked into the house. I glanced at Sand, who was now awake. She was cheerful. I really didn't want to ruin her spirits, so I put off telling her. The guilt was rising though.
Later that night Margie entered the barn. I knew she wasn't supposed to be here normally this time of night. But I was glad to see her. Her face was still tear stained. She patted Sand and began slowly and unclear. "They're coming tomorrow old girl. You'll be gone and he'll take your place." I nickered and Sand gave me an uncertain look. "Sand, I'm so sorry. I'll never forget you." Margie said. She wrapped her arms around Sand's neck and began crying. Sand tried to comfort her. Margie finally pulled herself together and left without saying good night. Sand turned to me. "What does she mean, 'goodbye forever'?" I sighed; there was no avoiding this now. "Sand…you're being given away tomorrow." Sand's eyes held a look of pure shock. "What? Why?" I sighed again. This would be the worst part. "Because…Margie's dad made a deal with someone. If they give you away they can get a free breeding…for me." Sand took it all in for a moment. "So I'm leaving just so you can have a foal?" I nodded. Sand could tell I felt really bad. "Well…I hope you have a good foal." She said. And with that she turned around and quit speaking. Oh, I knew this was all my fault somehow! Curse my ability to gallop fast. Maybe if I hadn't have been so 'great' they would sell me instead. I sighed. There was no way out of this.