Dinky Hooves knew she was different to the other foals in her class, but she just didn’t understand why. I mean, Dinky had the same look as the other foals; she was the right size for her age, so why was she treated so differently? It couldn’t be because she was a unicorn; there were 4 other unicorns also in her class. The answer was because Dinky just couldn’t understand certain things as well as the others. When in class, she would always get work that was too hard for her, even though everyone else seemed to finish it in no time. Miss Cheerilee had told her that she just needed a little boost to catch up with everyone else, but no matter what she tried, she just couldn’t seem to grasp it. This made Dinky sad and sometimes even cry, because she wanted to be smart like everyone else. I would have said like the rest of her friends, but the thing was, Dinky didn’t have any friends.
Whenever she would go up to her classmates during recess and ask if she could join in their games, they would just stare at her as if she just said something horrible. Most times, they would then continue on with their games, taking no further notice of little Dinky, but sometimes, sometimes they would tease her. “Stupid” “Retarded” and “Idiot” was the most common insults directed at Dinky, and she hated it. All she ever wanted was to have 1 friend, nothing more, so why were they teasing her so much? If it all became too much for Dinky, she would run off and cry softly under the shelter of the big willow tree until classes began. You might be thinking, why didn’t she tell Cheerilee? Dinky might not be all that smart, but she knows what a tattle tale is, and she also knows that if she told of her tormenters, the teasing would only increase.
Actually, you remember before when I said that Dinky didn’t have any friends, I was wrong. She does have one, mummy.
Derpy Hooves was in Dinky’s eyes, the best mummy who ever existed. They couldn’t be more alike, they both had grey coats and lovely blonde manes, and they shared all the same interests. The only difference was, Derpy was a Pegasus and Dinky was a unicorn. The days they spent together were the best moments in Dinky’s life. When Dinky would get home from school and be greeted by those reassuring yellow eyes and a loving smile, she would forget her troubles. She still couldn’t tell mummy about her teasing at school, because she was afraid mummy would become worried, and she didn’t want to see mummy sad.
Dinky and Derpy would do everything together, play games, draw pictures, and mummy’s favourite, bake muffins. Dinky didn’t care what they did, as long as they did it together. Mummy didn’t care that Dinky was different, she loved Dinky just the way she was, and Dinky loved mummy with all her heart.
Dinky’s favourite place to play was by the big lake near the forest. It was always so quiet, and there was never anyone else around, apart from the fluffy animals, like the squirrels and the birds. It was her and mummy’s special place, where they could do whatever their hearts desired. Dinky loved to sit by the lake with mummy, and together they would see how many fish they could spot. One time, Dinky saw over 20 fish! They would also play tag and catch and roll around in the grass. Dinky would always be sad when they would have to leave to go home, but she knew she would come back soon, and that made Dinky happy again.
Dinky also loved to bake muffins with mummy, mummy absolutely loved muffins. Dinky would help mummy stir all the ingredients in the big bowl with the big spoon, flour would go everywhere and make everything white, sometimes she would get it all over mummy, Dinky would laugh, and eventually mummy would too. After all the ingredients were all mixed together, came Dinky’s favourite part, licking the spoon. Mummy always let Dinky lick the spoon because the mix was so tasty, mummy was so generous to Dinky. When the muffins were ready, Dinky would have to wait a few minutes before eating one, because they were so hot. But the wait was always worth it, because mummy’s muffins were always so scrumptious. Dinky’s favourite muffins were the blueberry ones, because Dinky loved fruit. So combining Mummy’s muffins with the fruit made them that much nicer.
Sadly however, no matter how much fun Dinky and Derpy had together, it would have to end eventually, and Dinky would have to go back to school.
Today was worse for Dinky than it ever has been. Apart from the usual teasing, a large group of big boys had taken something Dinky loves very much, her picture of mummy. Dinky has always carried this picture of mummy around with her in her backpack, because when she cries, it makes her feel better knowing mummy is there. But today, during lunch, while her bag was on the floor, the boys took it, and yanked the picture out. The picture is framed and very fragile, which makes it very precious to Dinky. The boys don’t care though, they just want to make Dinky cry again. Soon enough, however, the inevitable occurs.
Dinky is trying desperately to get it back, but because the boys are almost double her size, she can’t. To make matters worse, the group are playing piggy in the middle, with Dinky being the little, defenceless victim of their game. Now close to tears, and in a fit of anger, Dinky charges at the boy who currently has the picture, head-butting him hard in the stomach. Surprised, the boy let go of the picture, sending it plummeting to the ground. Dinky could only watch in horror as it fell to the floor, smashing the glass into a million tiny pieces.
Realising what they have done, the group of boys flee, leaving poor little Dinky crying hard on the floor over the loss of her favourite possession. Having no idea what to do, Dinky picks up the now ripped picture, and leaving what is left of the frame on the ground, runs out of the schoolyard, towards the place that she loves so much.
Derpy is now getting extremely scared, after getting a personal visit from a worried Cheerilee telling her that Dinky didn’t turn up for classes after lunch and that the other foals said they saw her run off into the forest. She is petrified, since it will soon be getting dark, and she can’t bear to think of little Dinky out there on her own, cold and scared. She has no idea of where her little girl could have gone. She told everyone that she knew to keep an eye out for her, but no one has said they’ve seen her. Why would she run off like that? So, starting the cry fully now, Derpy collapses onto the couch and looks over the pictures her and Dinky drew together. And that’s when it hits her, because her favourite picture of them all, of Dinky’s favourite place, is showing the answer right to her face.
Sitting by the lake, with her legs gently kicking the water, Dinky is thinking about what made the other foals hate her so much and the thought of it makes her tear up again. It was dark now, and Dinky was scared. She didn’t like the scary sounds of the forest, and hated that mummy was not here to protect her. ”I bet mummy’s super scared for me now” Dinky thinks to herself. She hates to think of mummy sad and crying, which in turn, causes her to start crying again. Just then she hears a sound, a cracking branch, a rustling of leaves, and now extremely petrified, Dinky rolls up into a tight ball, to protect her from the monster. Shivering and crying, Dinky barely hears the frantic sound of her name being called. “DINKY” she hears it now. “DINKY” she hears it again, louder now. “Mummy?” she thinks to herself. “DINKY,” yes that is definitely mummy’s voice. Unfurling herself from her protective ball, Dinky gets up and runs towards the source of her mummy’s voice. “MUMMY!” she screams, hoping to get a response.
“Oh my, Dinky!” Derpy is standing by the edge of the forest, but even though it is dark, she can clearly see her beloved daughter running towards her. So she runs too. They connect in the middle of the field, Dinky jumping into mummy’s awaiting arms, both are crying.
“Dinky, you had me so worried, don’t you ever do anything like that that again!” Derpy says between sobs.
Dinky, also crying, replies "Mummy, I’m so sorry, but I only did it because I was scared and wanted to go somewhere that I would be happy.”
Derpy, confused, asks “What do you mean scared, what happened?
Dinky doesn’t answer, just says “Mummy? Why am I different?”
And with that, Derpy starts crying fresh tears. “Dinky, you are not different, your super special.”
“How?” replies Dinky
“Because you are the best daughter a mummy could ask for.” Derpy then hugs Dinky harder than ever before.
Dinky, smiling now, returns the hug, holding on as if her life depended on it, and hoping she will never ever have to let go.