‘The Colt That Didn’t Belong’

“NO, no,” said the girl in the red cape with a hood. “My grandmother is afraid of large animals. She had a bad experience with a big bad wolf.”

The colt looked around nervously. “Are there wolves around here?”

“There sure are. You better be careful.” The little girl pointed to a trail. “Take this trail and it will get you out of the woods.”

The colt trotted down the trail as fast as he could. He came to a road. He followed its path until he came to a small brick house. He knocked at the door with his hoof. A strange-looking creature opened the door. The colt stared at its peculiar nose.

“What are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a little pig before?” the creature asked.

“I’m sorry, sir. No, I have not. As you can see, I’m a bit different looking myself.”

“Well, what do you want then?” the little pig asked.

“I was hoping I could come and live here with you.” The colt tried to step into the house.

WHAM! The door slammed on his leg. The little pig yelled through the door, “No, no. Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin.”

Then he poked his head out the window. “Sorry,” he said. “Ever since we had that trouble with the big bad wolf, I’ve been nervous about strangers. But you can’t live here. My two foolish brothers have moved in. And three’s a crowd in this tiny house.”

The colt hung his head. “Nobody wants me. Not my father, not the little girl in the red cape, not even this little pig. Where do I belong?”

*

Wednesday: Will the colt find his place?

This story will be on The Times’ website at latimes.com/kids.