At last it was time for the big party. The little horse trotted alongside Lou and Pete. He held his tail high. He pricked his ears forward. He looked with wide eyes first at one side then the other until they were seated at a table on the patio.

There were party hats to wear, noise makers, confetti. The little horse looked around him shyly. When Lou and Pete got up to fill their plates the little horse went with them. He trotted up and down the long buffet tables laden with food. What amazing foods there were—lobster tails and shrimp and roast beef. Fish of every kind. Fruits he had never seen before. Beautiful rolls, crackers and cheeses. And best of all, there was a fountain of chocolate with strawberries, grapes, and chunks of pound cake to dip in the streams of chocolate. The little horse tried everything!

The little horse even had a sip of champagne from Pete’s glass. It made him feel a little tipsy and bolder than ever. He wandered across the buffet tables in amazement, marveling at the beauty of the carved melons. He hid behind a watermelon and peeked out at the crowd. He galloped up and down the white and red table clothes. What a wonderful end to his vacation, he thought.

All through dinner a band played wonderful music and sang songs in a language the little horse did not understand. He vowed to study languages when he got home to his au pair.

After dinner the people began to dance. Young and old, big and small, everyone enjoyed the music and the warm night. The little horse tried to copy the dance steps he saw people doing, but it was much harder with four feet than with two. He gave a snort and a little buck and galloped back to the table. Lou and Pete were laughing at him. The little horse laughed too.

Then it was Midnight! The New Year! Fire works shot up from the beach. Green ones, red ones, white ones, with streamers. But where was the little horse? He had fallen asleep at the table, with his head hanging into the chocolate puddles on Lou’s dessert plate.