Child: Wow! It is so beautiful. What is the name?

Jody: Gabilan. It means Hawk.

Child: Can you ride him?

Jody: No! He is not even halter broke yet!

Narrator: For quite some time, questions were asked and more jealousy had been shown. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the students left the Tiflin area. Jody was glad when they had gone. He took the brush and currycomb from the wall, took down the barrier of the box stall and stepped cautiously in. He was glad to see the pony in its fullness, awaiting the moment he would actually touch it. Just then, the pony’s eyes glittered, and he edged around into kicking position.

Jody: So-o-o Boy! I’m ready to brush you but promise me you will not kick me.

Gabilan: Neigh!

Jody: Okay! Stay still please. Here I go.

Gabilan: Neigh!

Narrator: He began brushing the beautiful horse with the currycomb. He brushed, every stroke bringing out less and less hair. Jody curried and brushed until a pile of dead hair lay in the stall and until the ponyś coat had taken on a deep red shine. Every time Jody finished brushing, he thought it was not good enough and continued. He loved brushing the horse. 

Jody: You are like my child, you know that?

Narrator: Jody had finished brushing the pony after a while, and began braiding the ponyś hair into a dozen little pigtails. 

Jody: Aw! You look so cute with pigtails. You look like a nice horse. You look like a show horse. I hope that never happens to you though. I do not want that pain to be endured from thinking about that. 

Gabilan: Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!

Narrator: After that, he undid all of the pigtails and brushed out the hair again. He was so occupied that he did not hear his mother enter the barn. She was furious at first, but calmed down once watching Jody brush the pony.

Mother: Have you forgot the wood-box? It is not far off from dark and there is not a stick of wood in the house! The chickens are also not fed either!

Jody: I forgot, ma´am. I was too busy taking care of Gabilan, my pony.

Mother: Well, remember to do your chores after before it grows dark. I will be keeping an eye on you for you will probably forget loads of things.

Narrator: Saying this, the mom felt a curious rush of pride enveloping her. 

Jody: Can I have carrots from the kitchen for him?

Narrator: the mother had to think about this decision for a second.

Mother: Yes. 

Jody: Carrots keep the coat good!

Narrator: The mother left the barn with a smile on her face, knowing that her son is maturing into an adolescent. Jody went back to brushing the pony and also fed him carrots. 

Narrator: After that, Jody never had to wait until the triangle rang for breakfast to be served. It was his morning routine to get up before anyone else was up and go see Gabilan in the barn. He always heard the morning calls of the turkeys and the howling of the family dogs. These two sounds rung in his ears every morning. No matter how quickly or quietly he had come to the barn, Gabilan was already staring at him every morning.

Jody: I am ready to go see Gabilan!

Narrator: Jody was always so excited to enter the barn and see his beautiful pony awaiting his visit. Every morning, Jody would always brush the pony and feed him carrots. He would always refill the water as well.

Gabilan: Neigh! Neigh!

Jody: Do not wake up the rest!
Narrator: Jody would spend a long time caring to his needs. Jody would also like to torture himself by think Gabilan never existed and he never got him or that Gabilan was severely injured and would not survive. He also tortured himself by thinking of Gabilan and how mice have chewed his tail to a thin hair. He also loved to think about rats that chewed the saddle so much that there were huge holes in it. No matter how happy he was, Jody had all of these thoughts in his head to keep him sad.