Read A New Beginning Online

Authors: Sue Bentley

A New Beginning (5 page)

BOOK: A New Beginning
4.62Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
“You are welcome,” Storm woofed as the final gold sparks faded from his thick sandy fur.
Lily quickly climbed out of the ditch. She stood up as Adjoa pulled Pixie to a halt a couple of feet away. “Watch out for this ditch. You can hardly see it. I . . . er . . . nearly just slipped right into . . .” she blustered. Lily racked her brain for an explanation that didn't involve Storm, but Adjoa wasn't listening.
Her new friend's eyes were red and puffy. It was obvious that Adjoa had been crying. Lily felt sad for her friend. What could be wrong?
Lily held Tinka by her reins and listened with growing dismay to what Adjoa had to say.
“The farmer who we rent Pixie's field from is selling it and we can't find another field nearby. Mom and Dad say it would cost too much to put her into stables where she'd be cared for, and so we might have to sell her,” Adjoa said tearfully.
“Oh no! That's terrible,” Lily exclaimed, putting one arm around her friend.
She knew it was expensive to have a pony looked after by a stable. But it was awful to think of Adjoa losing her beloved pony.
Beside her Pixie gave a friendly blow and dipped her head to nuzzle Storm gently. The tiny puppy was lying on his back in the grass with all four legs in the air, showing his fat pale tummy. For once, Lily felt too upset for Adjoa to smile at his playful antics.
An idea came to her. She was going to talk to her parents.
Chapter SEVEN
“I'm sorry, Lily. But my answer has to be the same,” Mrs. Benson said.
They were all sitting in the kitchen on Saturday evening. Storm was lying down next to Lily's chair, invisible to everyone except her, as usual. Lily had just finished explaining about Pixie in the hope that her parents might be willing to buy the pony.
“I agree with your mom,” Mr. Benson said. “Looking after a pony is a big responsibility. We're just not sure this is the right time for you to take that on.”
“But it is, Dad! I'd be the best pony owner ever!” Lily said in her best pleading voice. “And if we bought Pixie, Adjoa could still see her whenever she wanted.”
Her dad smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. “I'm sorry, honey. I feel bad for Adjoa, too, but the subject's closed.”
“That's what I thought you'd say,” Lily said, sighing heavily.
All that evening and throughout Sunday, Adjoa and Pixie were on Lily's mind. On Monday, when she and Storm walked to school, they met up with Katy and Freema, but Adjoa wasn't with them.
“Where's Adjoa?” Lily asked.
“She's not coming in today. My aunt says she's got an upset tummy,” Freema explained.
“I know
why
Adjoa's tummy is upset. It's because she's so worried about what's going to happen to Pixie,” Lily said sadly.
Freema and Katy nodded.
When they reached the coatroom, Lily hung back and let her friends go into school ahead of her. “I wish I could think of a way to help Adjoa keep Pixie,” she whispered to Storm. “But I've already tried Mom and Dad. I don't know what else I can do.”
Storm whined softly in sympathy and then his big midnight-blue eyes lit up. “You could talk to the lady who runs the riding stables,” he suggested.
“Janie? I can't see what good that would do,” Lily said, frowning.
Storm barked encouragingly, wagging his tail and dancing around her feet in circles. Lily smiled. “Well, okay then, if you're that sure it'll help. We'll stop over there tonight after school. Uh-oh! Watch out! Mr. Poke just came in. We'd better go into class!” she hissed out of the side of her mouth.
 
Back home after school, Lily quickly changed into her jeans and T-shirt, before running downstairs. She found her mom in the kitchen. “Could you give me a ride over to Greengates, please?” she asked.
Her mom looked surprised. “Don't you get enough of that place on the weekends? Why do you want to go over there now?”
Lily thought quickly. “Tinka was sick on Saturday. I wanted to check and see if she's any better,” she lied.
Mrs. Benson smiled. “That's nice of you. You're a sweet person, Lily Benson.”
Lily blushed, feeling a little guilty. But there was no way she could tell her mom that it was Storm's suggestion to go and talk to Janie. Anyway, it was true that she was always happy to see Tinka and all the other ponies. “So can I have a ride?” she asked.
Her mom nodded. “We'll go now. I have to go to the supermarket, so I can drop you off at Greengates and then pick you up on my way back.”
Lily sat in the back of the car, with Storm on her lap as they drove there. She got out of the car at Greengates's main entrance. “Thanks for the ride, Mom. I'll see you later.”
As soon as her mom had driven away, Lily went into the yard. Storm trotted purposefully at her heels, invisible as usual.
She could see Janie sitting at her computer through the office window.
Lily paused, feeling uncertain. “Well, here I am. But I'm still not sure why! What am I supposed to say to her?” she whispered to Storm.
The puppy's luminous midnight-blue eyes looked even brighter than usual. “I think you should tell Janie about how Pixie needs a home,” he woofed.
Lily frowned. “But there's no point. Greengates isn't a stable. It's a riding school. And anyway, Janie doesn't have room for any extra ponies. All the loose boxes are full.”
Storm pricked his ears. “Not all of them.”
Lily blinked as she realized what Storm was hinting at. “You're right! Bandit's not here anymore.”
Storm nodded, looking very pleased with himself.
Before Lily could ask him anything else, Janie came out into the yard. “Lily? This is a nice surprise. What can I do for you?” she said.
“I . . . um . . .” Lily bit her lip, feeling herself blushing as she struggled to find the right words to say. Now that she was here, her mind seemed to have gone completely blank.
Chapter EIGHT
Storm gave a gentle woof and as Lily looked down into his sparkling midnight-blue eyes, she felt herself starting to calm down.
Lily took a deep breath and suddenly it all came pouring out. “I . . . um . . . wanted to ask you something. I've got a friend named Adjoa who's got a pony named Pixie. She's very sweet-natured, but the farmer who owns her field is selling it. And I thought, well, I was hoping—”
Janie smiled. “Whoa! Slow down a bit. Let's go into my office, Lily. I could use a break from working on my accounts. We'll have a cold drink and you can tell me all about it.”
A few minutes later, Lily sat sipping her apple juice as Janie tapped her fingers on the desk thoughtfully.
“So what you're really asking is for me to put Pixie into the stable?” she said to Lily.
Lily nodded, feeling encouraged by Janie's calmness and willingness to listen. Everything seemed to have slotted into place and become clear in her mind. Now Lily knew exactly what to say.
“What about if Pixie lives here
and
works as one of the riding school ponies? Adjoa would have to agree, but I think she'd do anything if it meant she could keep Pixie. She'd still own her, so she'd help look after her and pay for Pixie's food and bedding and stuff. But it probably wouldn't cost anywhere near as much as a normal stable.”
“You seem to have this all worked out,” Janie said.
“I do!” Lily said firmly.
“Hmm. It could work. We've had arrangements like this in the past and we are a pony short now that Bandit's gone. But I'd have to try Pixie out before I decided that she was right for Greengates. She'd have to be gentle, friendly, and dependable.”
“Oh, she is! She's perfect. Should I ask Adjoa's parents to call you and set up a meeting?” Lily asked eagerly.
Janie nodded, smiling. “Yes. You're one determined young lady, Lily Benson.”
“That's what my dad says!” Lily beamed at Janie as she got up. “Thanks so much, Janie. Is it okay if I go and see Tinka and the other ponies? I have just enough time before Mom picks me up.”
“Of course it is. I'll leave you to it. I'd better get back to these accounts.”
Lily and Storm spent twenty minutes with the ponies before going back to the riding stable's entrance. Mrs. Benson had just arrived and was waiting to pick her up.
On the way home in the back of the car, Lily stroked Storm's floppy sandy ears. “You had this all worked out, didn't you,” she said softly.
Storm nodded. “But I could not have done it all by myself. It was you who spoke to Janie. You did it, Lily.”
Lily felt a warm glow of pride. It felt good to have helped her friend. “I can't wait to tell Adjoa all about it. I'm going to call her as soon as I get home.”
BOOK: A New Beginning
4.62Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Alien Games by Claudia Rose
A Is for Apple by Kate Johnson
Mirror by Graham Masterton
Cloud Nine by James M. Cain
Stranger in Paradise by McIntyre, Amanda
o 35b0a02a46796a4f by deba schrott
Heiress by Susan May Warren