The conversation with Kaitlin, Harper and Samantha had lasted for almost half an hour when a man entered to the stable and saw Molly and Penny. He was Mr. Nielsen, the farmer.
"I don’t believe that weird lady gave you free those two donkeys," the man said, pointing at Molly and Penny.
"No, but she gave me a discount," Miss Nielsen lied.
"Charlotte, I told you to get our money back for the donkeys we bought last time, don’t buy more. She didn't fool you with the 'females have the same strength as males' speech, did she?"
"Well, I..."
"I’ve always bought donkeys from that crazy woman. For some strange reason they are always female, but that didn't matter to me. In the beginning they all worked very well, there are Biscuit, Apple and Ebony as examples. But in recent times her donkeys are weak, noisy and very stubborn."
"Well, Biscuit has always been very noisy. She brays about anything. I think she was spoiled when she was a little foal. Ha ha!" Harper, Biscuit's real name, raised her head at Miss Nielsen's words and angrily turned her face away giving a "hmph!" noise.
"Don't change the subject," the farmer demanded. "She doesn't sell good donkeys anymore. And as a loyal customer, that woman should respect me and not sell me crap. I'll never buy from that chatterbox witch again."
"Well... you know we need donkeys, dad. Give those two a chance. The older one looks strong."
"But have you seen how skinny the little one is? Just look at her legs, they look like toothpicks."
"She's still very young. She's almost a baby."
“Kaitlin came here the same size and age, and she wasn't as skinny as her and she proved to be very productive.”
“She will grow up.”
"Mmmm... well, they will have a chance. But if that pair doesn't work, I personally will return them to that useless donkey breeder. I'm tired of giving donkeys to the tanner."
Molly and Penny didn't know what to think. On one hand they would not be killed for not working well, but on the other they would return with the evil Coachwoman.
"Anyway, your mother has dinner ready." The farmer and his daughter walked out of the barn together toward their house.
Then, Penny could smell something cooking in the Farmer's house. It was a wonderful smell and made her wish she could join the farmer. Alas, Penny, still in denial over her situation, was eager to join in.
"That smells wonderful, so when will they invite us in?" Penny asked.
Molly and the others looked at Penny.
"I’m sorry, Penny. But donkeys don't eat at the supper table," Samantha said.
"She’s right. It smells good to me too, but we don't get to eat it and we don't get to go in the house," continued Kaitlin. "In fact, it would look funny to see donkeys sitting at the supper table."
“Ha ha! Yes, indeed.” Samantha laughed trying to lighten the mood.
“To make things worse, Mrs. Nielsen cooked the most delicious-smelling meals in the world.” Harper said. “The first day I was here, Mrs. Nielsen made apple pie. When I smelled it, I thought I would die.”
“But luckily you get used to eating hay soon.” Samantha continued.
"But my cat got to the kitchen of my house, and sometimes we feed him leftovers from our meal." Penny said.
Molly glared at the three grown-up jennies before she asked to talk to Penny in private.
"Look Penny, we're not cats; we're donkeys. Donkeys live and sleep in the barn and eat hay and stuff like that," Molly said.
"But, it's not fair," Penny said. "Just because the bad woman turned us into donkeys doesn't mean we're not girls anymore."
"I know it ain't fair but they see us as donkeys, not girls. This is how donkeys live. As long as we're donkeys, we gotta live like donkeys."
Penny hung her ears as she felt the tears starting to flow.
"I guess so. I don't want to be here forever. I want to go home, eat supper and go back to school like a good girl. I'm sorry I was bad. Why won't anyone help us?"
“Hey, Penny!” Samantha shouted. “Don’t worry! You'll see that be a donkey isn't so bad. Besides, just because we gave being donkeys a try doesn't mean we're giving up on ever being humans again. Look, get close to this bale of hay and smell it."
Molly and Penny listened to her and were surprised that the hay didn't smell bad at all.
"You’re hungry and have to eat something. Come on, try some" Samantha said.
Reluctantly Molly and Penny began eating the hay. But they found soon that the hay tasted delicious and it was relaxing. The two young donkeys happily kept eating it while swishing their tails. Samantha, Kaitlin and Harper added them. They ate until they were full.
Molly and Penny had trouble sleeping that night. They couldn't get the hang of sleeping on straw as a quadruped and with lack of clothing. Penny couldn't stop thinking about how worried her mother must have been and that she may never see her again.
He had expected that (even though it had only been a day) by now someone would have rescued him.
Penny stood up, walked out of the pen and to the barn door. The farmer had closed it but Penny managed to get the door open with her mouth. She walked outside into the cool night and looked up at the star filled sky, seeing one star shining brighter than the rest. Penny recognized it from the stories her mother had told her – the Wishing Star! For the next several minutes, Penny contemplated her past, present and future.
"All I wanted was to have fun. Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Hee-haw!," Penny cried out to the Wishing Star. "Please, I just want go home. I'll promise be good. Hee-haw! Hee-haw! "
But the Star didn't seem to hear her. Penny hung her head and drooped her ears so low they touched the grass.