(Childish story)

The morning is dark, the sun has not quite risen to the hill of ¨La Teresona¨, so that it can shine towards the valley. The cold of winter is felt with prolonged frosts and the least a man thinks about is leaving the warm bed … That is what men think, but not children and everyone is waiting for that particular day; It is the morning of Three Kings Day.

Like all children, Pablito left an old shoe, half deformed by prolonged use and by the slight deviation of the transverse arch of the left foot. For a long time, he was thinking about what he was going to ask of him, until at last he was convinced that a horse was the most important thing in the world.

With his crooked letters of whom he begins to write, the infant wrote a few lines:

“Dear Melchor, I behave well and take care of Juanito, on that he is loud and for that reason I want a horse, to take him to have a good time. Thank you”

That happy morning, making as little noise as possible, he withdrew the bar and half opened the door, waiting for a ray of light, but all he got was the icy morning wind. He closed the door and climbed back into the covers; he thought you could not hear the noise that horses make.

¨But what a fool I am, I thought, the horses must be in the corral, not next to my shoe. ¨

In those thoughts and wrapped in the warmth of his blanket, he fell asleep again. Suddenly he looked at himself taking a beautiful dark horse by the reins. It was his horse, and he was getting ready to take Juanito for a ride around town, so that everyone could admire the beautiful animal that the Holy Kings had left him.

Helped by his father, Pablito got on a good ¨charro¨ chair and Juanito was seated in front of him, so that with one hand he could hug his brother and with the other he would hold the rein firmly. As he did not reach the animal’s flanks, he spurred it against the belly, but the noble animal obeyed him, walking calmly, with its beautiful head held high and its tail suspended gallantly.

After advancing through the dusty streets of the ranch, Pablito spurred the animal on and at a light trot they left the town, to ride on the plain, among the old magueys and the fruitful nopales; As the steed passed, a coyote ran out with its tail between its legs and flocks of pigeons rose up at the sound of the horse’s strong hooves.

Suddenly, behind a tall garambullo a male came out, very smiling, showing ostentatiously his large teeth, showing off his height, as if challenging Pablito’s black steed, who caressed the neck of his horse and hugged Juanito tightly.  With a light touch of his heels, the boy ordered his horse to stand up on its hind legs, showing the daring male to have respect, to which the mule responded by withdrawing without humiliating himself, from the horse’s path.

The brothers continued on, it was a long time since the boy had seen, at the top of the hill, some adobe walls, that although people said it was an abandoned house, Pablito assured that it was an enchanted castle and now that he had such a formidable horse, it was time to check it out.The matter settled, the brothers began to climb, leading the horse along the well-marked bridle path. As they turned a bend in the road, a man on horseback, armed with a long stick, stood before the children, blocking their way.

– “Who are you looking for, kids? This is a private path.”

– “We’re going to get to the castle,” Pablito answered bravely.

– “Only if I allow it!” Said the man, brandishing the stick, with the intention of hitting the boy.

Responding to the attack, the horse repaired, scaring the other animal, which with a sudden movement threw the unsuspecting guard to the ground, to the delight of Pablito, who spurred his horse forward.

At that moment, a call from his father woke up the adventurous rider who, turning in all directions, was looking for his horse.

– “And my horse, Dad, is there?”

– “Look, Pablito, the horse that the Three Wise Men brought you,” he said, showing the boy a colorful wooden horse; on his seat was a pair of shiny new shoes.

Throughout the day he rode on his little wooden animal, doing incredible adventures, dominating enemies and conquering enchanted castles. That was a great day in Pablito’s life.

Sergio A. Amaya Santamaría
January 11, 2012
Ciudad Juárez, Chih.
December 20, 2020.
Playas de Rosarito, B. C.