Ruby the Rocking Horse

It was a cold morning. Ruby opened her eyes from her night’s sleep and stretched her legs. Why is it so cold and noisy in here she thought to herself. She looked around in surprise. The green grass covered in dew drops greeted her, hello Ruby good morning. The morning sky was in golden orange hues, greeting the rising Sun, soft wind rustled the leaves of the Pine tree she was under. Ruby looked at herself; her pink floral dress was covered in dew, her pink mane pasted to her forehead, with one broken leg, she looked sad. Everything is so cold and so wet, she sneezed. Then the reality hit her. She was outside last night. She has slept near the road, on the sidewalk!

Ruby was so confused. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Oh my God, what happened to me? she thought in a panic. Have I sleepwalked last night or is this some kind of prank? She knew the kids loved her very much. She has known Daniel and Daisy forever. She could still remember the day their uncle brought Ruby to see little Daniel in hospital for the very first time. Along came little Daisy after few years. They loved playing with Ruby, and her job was to rock them; rock them to sleep when they were small, rock them for fun when they were bit older. The best part of Ruby’s day was to listen to the bedtime stories their mother read every night. Daniel and Daisy said good night to Ruby every night before she was tucked away in her little corner.

A loud honk brought Ruby back to reality. She looked around in panic. The sideroad where she stayed was narrow and there was a line of vehicles trying to pass through. Ruby sighed. She hated the sidewalk. It was wet, dirty, and full of broken furniture and other stuff.  She wanted to be in Daniel and Daisy’s room; it was warm, clean and neat, every toy had its place in their room, of cause, Ruby had her special corner, near the window!

Ruby looked around scanning her surroundings then sighed in relief. Lucky for her, she is few yards away from their home. She tried to move. But it was impossible with her broken leg. She whined in frustration. I wish I could walk, she thought. Oh Neverminded, I’ll wait until Daniel and Daisy go to school. They will see me and will take me inside.

An hour passed. The traffic has subsided now. The dew drops have dried out. The Sun looked majestic in the Sky. An occasional stranger came by to look at furniture on the sidewalk. Few even picked up Ruby. But she screamed in dismay. "Please, oh please don’t take me, I have a home." Fortunately, no one bothered to take Ruby home, thanks to her broken leg.

Few hours passed with a blink of an eye, and it was almost mid-day. There were no signs of Daniel and Daisy nor their parents. Maybe they are not well and not going to school today Ruby thought to herself. A line of ants slowly made their way on the Pine tree. There were few birds chatting and chirping on and off. Ruby was annoyed. Why can’t they keep quiet, she thought. Ruby loved the solitude she got to experience after everyone left for work. She had special status among toys and not even the toy soldiers in the kids’ room dared to upset Ruby.  “Hey folks can you keep it down"; Ruby tried to be polite. But the birds ignored Ruby and went on their merry way chirping. Ruby sighed; this is ridiculous, I hate to be on the sidewalk.

Just then a SUV pulled up the driveway on Ruby’s house. A man in full suit got off. Ruby was curious. Who is that? She thought. I haven’t seen him before. Suddenly, Ruby was startled by the movement on her leg. A tiny snail slowly trying to make its way on Ruby’s leg. She felt too tired to fight with the fellow. “Hey buddy please get off me. Find another thing to climb.” Ruby shook off the snail. There was a weather change in the horizon too; the blue Sky slowly covered itself with a grey cloak and a thunderstorm was brewing.

The strange man came out of the house. Ruby could hear him talking to someone on the phone. "Yes, the tenants have moved out. I got the keys. The place is open for inspection. Sure, I will make arrangements…" Ruby’s world shattered. Daniel, Daisy and their parents have left their home, and they have forgotten to take Ruby with them!

One by one rain drops started falling. It became a pouring rain in no time. Ruby the rocking horse was alone near the sidewalk, nowhere to go, no one to talk to, her tears slowly mixed with the rainwater and washed away…

*****************

It was a beautiful chilly morning. It has been two weeks since Ruby has started living on the grassy patch, on the sidewalk. She looked dusty and sad. Last two weeks have not been easy for Ruby. She was sad, and angry. She cried and cried then realised this is going to be her new reality. As heartbroken as she was, Ruby tried to make new friends. The birds said occasional “hello” to Ruby and stopped dropping things on her for fun. The ants talked to Ruby and shared their adventures with her; she even let Bob, the tiny snail to climbed on her for a pony ride.  Living in the sidewalk wasn’t as bad as she thought. Well, there was this one time she got toppled by a stranger who was on a scavenger furniture hunt. She was upside down for few days. But it is all good now. She felt like this is her own adventure!

 But in the back of her mind she knew, one day she will be taken to a recycling facility and will be crushed away. The birds told her the fate of the things live on the sidewalk; she has seen few monster trucks passing by too.  Ruby tried not think of it too much. Yes, it is sad and scary. But also, it is inevitable. So, why bother when she cannot do anything about it.

This was a morning like any other Ruby thought; cold and wet, with passing traffic and noise and the unnecessary fuss of the birds! (they never stop!). Ruby is used to all these things now; she has accepted her fate. Just then, a car pulled over to the driveway of her old house. Ruby wasn’t even curious. She could see a tiny little face glued to the window, looking at her with wonder filled eyes. The car stopped and two adults got off the car, and a small child jumped out of the back seat.

"Mum is this our new home?" the child asked. "Yei. I like it. Mum did you see what’s on the sidewalk?"

"Rose! Please stops running." Her mum looked concerned. "Don’t go near the road!"

"Mum, come with me, did you see the Pink pony? Mum, can I have it please?"

"Oh! Rose," her mum wasn't sure. "Look sweetheart, it is very dirty."

"Please, please, please mum? I like it very much."

Her mum sighed. "It has a broken rocker!"

The little girl, sat near Ruby on the grass and put her hand around it. "Are you hurt little pony?" she asked. "Do you like to come home with me?"

The parents looked at each other and then smiled in agreement.

Her dad knelt beside little Rose, "I think I can fix the broken rocker."

"And I can help you clean the pony," mum smiled.

Little Rose was elated. "Yei, let’s go home little pony" she said.

Ruby couldn’t believe her eyes.

 Just like that, Ruby the Rocking Horse found her new home.

The Pink Pony I found near the sidewalk during one of my daily walks. It inspired me to to write the story of Ruby the Rocking Horse