It was Linda, and she was coming across the paddock.

"Just saying good night to Zeras," said Shara.

"Don't be so stupid!" said Linda.

"Its not stupid," said Shara, "Ponies understand it when we talk to them."

"Go away!"

"No. I'm not doing any harm! I'm allowed to talk to your pony!"

"No you're not!"

Linda pushed Shara back, against the hedge. It was a hawthorn, and several sharp spikes dug into Shara's back. She started to cry.

"Its not fair! All I want to do is say goodnight to her. You can't stop me doing that!"

Linda raised the stick in her hand and came towards Shara, who turned and started to walk away.

"Go on, run to Dad," said Linda, "Cry-baby!"

Shara walked back to the house. She wiped her eyes clear of tears so her parents wouldn't see that she had been crying. She didn't tell Dad what had happened because she knew he would tell her to stay away from the pony and she didn't want that. "Why" she thought, "Don't Mum and Dad understand? They think Linda's being kind to her pony, but they don't understand. I know what's going on but they won't listen to me. Its not fair!"

She went upstairs to her bedroom and lay on her bed for a while. All around her, pinned to the walls, were pictures of horses and ponies. The calendar featured one for every month. The ornaments were decorated with them. Even her best jersey (she called it that anyway) had a pony's head knitted into the front. Linda's bedroom was totally different. All she had on her walls were pictures of men with no shirts on, and pop stars.

And Shara was still thinking about how unfair things were when she had tea, and afterwards, when she was doing her homework, and then when she was lying in bed with the light out. She prayed like mad for a pony while she lay in the dark, and hoped that God cared enough about her to give her one. She knew God always answered prayers, but HE didn't always say Yes. Maybe He would say Yes to this prayer?

"You made all the ponies in the world," she said to God, "There must be one for me?"