by Donna West
One day, Daddy asked Tommy, “Do you want a horse?”
“Oh yes, Daddy! Please!” Tommy said.
So Daddy spent all the next day in his workshop in the basement. He worked and worked. When he was done, he gave Tommy the horse he had made.
The horse was black all over. It had a thick stick body and a carved wooden head. It had a mouth and nostrils and ears. It had big, brown eyes, all carefully painted by Daddy.
“Thank you, Daddy!” Tommy said. “He’s pretty! I’m going to call him Tonka!”
Every day, Tommy rode Tonka to wonderful adventures in his back yard. Tommy was a knight in shining armor. He was an Indian on the plains. He was a cowboy on the range. He was a jockey at the races.
Tonka was the best horse in the world. He ate the greenest grass. He drank the freshest water. He slept on the sweetest straw.
When it was time for bed, Tommy put Tonka away in his toy chest in the basement.
Tonka waited patiently for tomorrow’s adventures.
But the day came when Tommy was too old to ride Tonka. It made him sad to leave Tonka in the toy chest and he promised he would never forget him.
Tommy grew up. He went to school and got a job. He married the woman he loved and had a child of his own. And he kept his promise to Tonka.
Tommy asked his daughter, Crissy, “Do you want a horse?”
“Oh yes, Daddy! Please!” Crissy said.
So Tommy took Tonka out of the old toy chest in his parents’ basement. He dusted Tonka off and painted him so that he looked brand new. Then he gave Tonka to Crissy.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Crissy said. “He’s pretty! What’s his name?”
Tommy said, “I used to call him Tonka. You can give him any name you like.”
Crissy said, “I’ll call him Tonka, too.”
Crissy rode Tonka to many fun and wonderful adventures in her back yard. Crissy was a princess. She was an Indian on the plains. She was a cowgirl on the range. She was a jockey at the races.
And Tonka was the best horse in the world.
the end.
Question Time
1. Who made Tommy’s wooden horse?
2. What did Tommy name his horse?
3. To whom did Tommy give his horse after he grew up?
