Maxzyne and the Old Horse Theatre

The slim stranger frowns and points. “Then you helped yourself to someone else’s horse!” he crows.

“Whaaat? You mean, like, stole him?” She gasps. “Why would I steal a horse? We live in a condo!”

For once, the boy looks uncertain. “Condo?”

“Yeah.” She points above her head. “You know. High-rise in the sky? Fifty-seven flights of stairs? Now that would be animal abuse! They don’t even let dogs on the lobby elevators in my building. They have to take the freight elevator instead. And I don’t think that’s big enough for him.” She points at the horse, unable to hold back a grin. Just thinking about Caesar riding in her building’s freight elevator up to meet her shocked parents makes her giggle. She claps a hand over her mouth, nearly giving herself the hiccups.

The boy suddenly smiles back, revealing two perfect dimples in his cheeks. He’s kinda cute when he smiles. She is immediately annoyed with herself for thinking such a silly thing and fights the urge to blush. The two of them look at Caesar. Glancing from the horse to each other, they both start to laugh.

“Floor twenty-one, please,” Maxzyne requests as she steps forward. This time, she is careful not to step in a manure pile. She pretends to push an elevator button. “After you, please.” She sweeps her arm toward the horse.