brooklyn!

yesterday when papa picked up polly after school he gave her a bag of baby carrots but he said don’t eat them, they’re for a friend. what friend, polly asked. wait & see, papa said. they walked right past the record store & didn't go in! don't you wanna look at the records papa, polly asked. not today scout, we're going to the park.

they had to take the subway & when they got to the park polly saw all the horse & carriages lined up across the street! papa went up to a lady in a top hat who was brushing a big grey horse with black hair & black spots. this is cassidy, papa told polly, she works as a waitress in the club.

and this is her horse, brooklyn...

polly got so excited she didn't know what to say! pleased to meet you she whispered, but she couldn't stop looking at this giant horse. would you like to pet him polly, cassidy asked. papa lifted her up & she pulled off her mitten so she could touch his neck. brooklyn felt warm & soft & strong. papa put her on the horse & suddenly she was riding him even though brooklyn was just standing there. polly put her arms round his neck & hugged him. he felt like a big strong dog. his hair was thick & rough.

polly asked doesn’t the street hurt his feet because he has to walk so much? no he has shoes just like you & me, cassidy said. papa put her down & cassidy made brooklyn bend his knee & show polly his hoof. you can touch it if you want, cassidy said. the horseshoe was made of rubber & felt like a tire.

did you bring some carrots? cassidy asked. brooklyn loves carrots.

polly had almost forgotten. they’re in my pocket, she said & showed them to her. cassidy laughed & said ok put some in the palm of your hand & hold your fingers out straight… polly was scared because brooklyn looked like he could bite off her whole arm if he wanted to. his head was almost as big as polly! but brooklyn picked up the carrots with his lips & it felt like a big wet furry kiss that made polly laugh because it tickled. polly could hear him crunch the carrots & that was funny too.

polly asked if brooklyn was a vegetarian. Oh yeah, cassidy said. horses are super-vegie. brooklyn eats oats & apples & carrots & straw. then cassidy got some tourists who wanted a ride so she had to go. but she said polly could come visit brooklyn anytime she wanted to. cassidy said brooklyn liked her, she could tell.

polly was thrilled, it was the greatest wednesday ever. did that horse really like me, she asked papa as they walked back to the subway.

i think so, papa said. i mean, he ate the carrots & all. let’s find someplace to wash your hands.