As a little girl, I moved a lot.  I lived in many different houses and went to many different schools.  One time I counted and I had gone to over 20 different schools!  That is a whole lot!  I didn’t like to move to new houses or to new schools.  In fact, I was always afraid when I had my first day at a new school.  I was pretty shy and had a hard time making new friends.  I was scared to talk to people that I didn’t know.  I thought the other kids would not like me because I was the “new kid.”  It seemed like just when I made a new friend, I would move away again and go to a different school and have to start all over. 

One day when I was 11, I moved to a ranch.  There were cows, ducks, horses, rabbits, and sometimes pigs and goats.  But my favorite animals were the horses.  I took a class and learned how to take care of horses.  You have to clean their hooves and brush their manes.  They really are a lot of work.  I also learned how to ride.  My favorite horse was named Polka Dot.  She was brown and white and had lots of spots.  She was called an Appaloosa. 

Everyday after school, I would hurry home and do my chores and homework as fast as I could.  Then I could go and ride Polka Dot.  She was a great friend to me.  When I rode her, I could talk to her and tell her anything.  She would always keep my secrets.  I could sing as loud as I wanted and she didn’t laugh at me.  I felt very safe with her.  My favorite thing to do was to run her.  She could gallop so fast.  I loved to feel the wind on my face and in my hair.  No one could catch us.  I was so free.  I would never have to have my first day at a new school.  I would never have to move again.  I would never have to be the “new kid.”  Polka Dot was my friend.