Fireworks night
not Nov 5th ... but the 5th of June!
Told by Margaret Hayles

It was a lovely peaceful summers night.
The stars were twinkling in the sky and the man in the moon was smiling!

Simon was out with friends and not expected back till late so I thought I'd have an early night. Just as I was climbing the stairs to go and rest my weary head I could hear fireworks exploding around the farm. I rushed down and grabbed my torch and went out to see what on earth was going on, only to find several young hooligans laughing and joking and chasing the ponies around the field. They were letting off rockets, sparklers and bangers.

I immediately rang the police, but in the mean time shouted at them to go away, but they took no notice. The ponies were absolutely terrified and galloped down the field and jumped the fence at the bottom and galloped away into the night, except... baby Wilko, who was only a couple of weeks old and was too tiny. He then stupidly galloped back up the field again amidst all the flashing and banging. Poor little baby was so, so frightened.

His Mother was frantic with worry down the other end and couldn't jump back to get him until suddenly just as the police arrived, there was one last enormous flash and bang. The sudden bang made his mother jump so high in the air, she was able to jump the fence back and the two were united again. The vandals all then ran for their lives to escape the police. It all quieten down and wilko snuggled up to his mum for the rest of the night.

The police caught the ruffians and a few weeks later they all had to
go to court and were sent to a young offenders prison ...

They certainly weren't laughing then ... But the ponies were!