Leg it Larry - Footprints Theatre

Steve visited school again and told us a story, based on the Bible story called "The Prodigal Son", of Larry a little horse who lived in the countryside but wanted to go the city and see where and how other people lived. He decided to take some of the green grass with him to share with the city folk.
Along the way he met Ricky Rat who told him to be careful about the people he meets. Larry met Loretta, a beautiful horse who asked Larry if she could have some of his grass. Larry told Loretta and her friends that they could have as much grass as they wanted. Soon Larry's grass had all gone and he felt alone and sad.
Larry soon became hungry and joined the rodeo to earn some money by letting cowboys ride on his back. He would throw the cowboys off his back and the crowds would cheer. Larry became famous but he missed the green grass of home. Ricky Rat said to Larry that he needed to stop throwing the cowboys from his back and that the crowd wouldn't like him and they would boo him. Larry did this and sure enough the rodeo boss sent Larry away and put him out to grass. Larry wasn't out of work long as he ended up working pulling heavy carts day in and day out, back and forth to the village.
Larry became thinner and thinner and very tired, he couldn't get comfy as he was tied up in the stable at night. One night Ricky Rat came to see how Larry was and Ricky told him he needed to get away or he would die from no food and doing lots of work. Larry told the rat that he couldn't escape as he was tied up with the big heavy rope around his leg. Ricky agreed to help Larry escape by nibbling through the rope, which is what happened. Larry was free, he said goodbye to Ricky Rat and set off back over the mountains and home to the countryside and his family. Larry was met by his Dad Harry who welcomed him home. Larry said sorry to his dad for leaving and taking some of the grass with him. Dad Harry was so pleased his lost son had returned safe and well, that he decided to throw a big party to welcome Larry home. Not everyone was happy about the party. Larry's Big Brother Barry was cross that while Larry was away having fun in the city with his new friends Barry had to do his own work and Larry's too."Why should he be given a party? He went away and left all the hard work for me to do." Barry told Dad Harry, so Larry promised Barry that he would work even harder than before now he was home. The Family continued to work hard together and lived happily ever after.