The Apple Thief

Mom loved apples. She liked to bake pie. She liked to put them in oatmeal. She liked to eat them right off the tree.
Mom and Maria lived on a farm. They had horses and cows. They had a lot of land. One day, she planted an apple tree. “Now, we can have fresh apples,” she told Maria.
First, the tree had flowers. Then it had little green apples. Finally, the apples were red and ripe. “Tomorrow, we will pick them,” said Mom.
But the next morning, all the apples were gone. “Did you pick the apples?” Mom asked Maria.
“No,” said Maria.
“Then where are they?”
They looked and looked. Then, they saw their black pony. She was lying down. Her tummy was swollen. She looked very full. “Look who ate the apples!” said Mom.