It was a usual Popham Beach summer vacation day. Ellen and her best friend Abbie Hazeltine decided that it should not be wasted. They would hook up Rico to the cart and go to the village for an ice cream. There was only one problem was Ellen's brother Fred. He was always such a nuisance. When ever the girls wanted to go for a ride he would say no, just to be mean.
The girls put their heads together and decided on a plan built around the pony's propensity to wrinkly up the skin on his back whenever he saw a whip. Ellen's grandmother was taking care of them for the day while her parents went to the city of Bath to visit with relatives.
Putting on their most innocent looks, the girls went to find Eloise’s grandmother Nellie. They found her on the front porch enjoying the beautiful view of the ocean. The white sanded beach spread out before them. The ocean was blue and calm with small waves lapping the shore. White seagulls soared in the sky and dove for their meal of mackerel.
Ellen approached her grandmother. “Nanna,” she said. “We just went up to the barn to see Rico. It’s just awful. He has welts on his back where Fred beat him. Do come and see for yourself.”
Getting up from her rocker Nanna accompanied them to the barn. Nanna had no idea th plan was now infull swing. Abbie stood by Rico’s head with a whip in her hand, while Ellen took her grandmother to the rear of the pony. When Nanna was in position, AbbieBecky cautiously raised the whip in her hand just enough for Rico to see it. Sure enough the pony wrinkled up the skin on his back at the sight of it.
“Are you sure these are welts?” Ellen’s grandmother asked.
“Yes, Nanna. Isn’t it terrible?” Ellen replied, turning her head away from her grandmother to be sure she was not seen smiling.
“We’ll see about this right now.” Nanna was indignant, and had no idea what the girls were up to.
Returning to the house with the girls walking innocently behind her, she called out, “Fred, come here this instant!” When Fred appeared, she grabbed him by one ear. “What have you done to that poor, innocent little pony? Go to the tower room at once and stay there until your parents return.”
“But Nanna, I haven’t been near Rico today,” Fred wailed.
“Not another word, young man,” Nanna replied. “I saw the welts myself.”
Fred knew at once what the girls had done and glared at them, his face beet red, as he slowly made his way up the stairs to the tower room, while Ellen and Abbie turned innocent faces in his direction.
Once Fred was safely out of the way, Ellen and Abbie quickly hooked up the cart and drove down the driveway with Rico trotting happily on his way. As they passed the house they glanced up at the tower room where Fred stood red-faced in the window. Laughing, they waved to him as they drove triumphantly away down the road towards Popham.
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