It was a serious risk.  After the cake incident,  not even the power of a prolonged pout and a bushel of crocodile tears  was enough to get Meadowlark to relent on the "no desserts for a week" punishment she had laid down.  It was a punishment that Erin had gleefully helped to subvert almost as soon as Meadowlark had walked out the door. She couldn't help it. Her heart turned to melted butter every time that filly smiled at her. 