Kickass and Pony Silver by Bill Stokes

Photo by Bill Stokes

By Bill Stokes

Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper uses “Derby Day” as a reminder that for an amazingly long period in his developing life he was at the mercy of an arrogant, narcissistic member of the horse family, specifically a pony named Silver who may have been named after the Lone Ranger’s mighty steed but had the attitude of a snapping turtle.

If relating to an animal is an influence in youthful character development, the keeper is lucky he did not end up in prison as a menace to society.

Of course, the keeper has written about his “Silver” experiences, even using a Silver photo on the cover of one of his books—”Hi-ho Silver Anyway.” (Amazon or from him at billstokesauthor.com)

But even after so many years, when the Derby jogs his horsy memories, he wonders how it could have been that an ornery little pony made decisions for him relating to travel speed and directions- “Hang on, boy I have decided that we’re headed home NOW and we’re going at a racehorse gallop!”