Maxzyne and the Old Horse Theatre

“Look out!” Maxzyne shrieks. She jumps backward as the horse slams his front hooves back to the ground. He shakes his head and bares his teeth before giving a loud whinny. “Geez, we were just kidding, Caesar! Nobody meant to make fun of you.” She clutches the hat to her head as her stomach lurches half-digested fish sticks. “Hey, any chance he might be hungry?”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Again, the boy makes several soothing chirps and quickly grabs the reins. He pulls the leather straps taught and pats the horse on the flank. “Good boy. We go inside. Maybe she does know something about horses, eh? You want to eat, amigo?” With a flick of the reins and more strange clicks of his tongue, the young horseman leads Caesar toward one of the stone archways.

“You coming, High-rise?” The boy turns to her and waits. An impish grin again makes two perfect dimples in his tan cheeks. Maxzyne gives a nonchalant shrug before whipping the hat from her head and striding after them. She keeps a close eye on Caesar’s hooves as she walks, unzipping her backpack and stuffing the hat inside.