Horse Dreams by Dandi Daley Mackall Read Free Book Online Page A

beautiful black stallion, a show horse that could win the Hamilton Royal Horse Show.
    My bedroom window opens onto our backyard. Sometimes at night after I finish praying for a horse, I imagine one coming to visit me. Tonight I picture myself opening my window and a black stallion cantering up and sticking his head in so I can pet him and kiss his soft muzzle.
    As I drift off to sleep, I can almost hear him nicker.

10

    Worry
    â€œI don’t see why we have to go through with this parent-teacher-principal meeting now that everybody in town knows Ellie really did see a spotted horse from her classroom,” Dad says. Mom is driving us to school for the dreaded meeting. Ethan is along for the ride.
    â€œI agree with Dad,” I say helpfully.
    â€œEllie,” Mom says, glancing into the rearview mirror for eye contact, “what did your teacher say when you asked her about the meeting?”
    â€œShe said Principal Fishpaw still wants to talk with us,” I mumble.
    â€œExactly,” she says.
    â€œWell,” Dad complains, “it makes a rotten ending to a perfect day.”
    â€œYou had a perfect day?” I ask. My day wasn’t perfect—not even close. A few kids congratulated me on catching the “ugly horse.” But even more people teased me about it. Plus, I forgot to write up my plan for the science experiment. So I’m already down five points.
    â€œYes. A perfect day,” Dad repeats. “Thanks to you, Ellie.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYou gave me hope .”
    Then I remember. “Your jingle! Did the soap people like it?”
    â€œThey loved it! We got the account.” Dad smiles at me from the front seat. “Couldn’t have done it without your rhyme.”
    â€œWay to go, Dad!”
    Ethan taps Dad’s shoulder and signs, Congratulations!
    â€œI knew you’d pull it off, Lenny,” Mom says. “That must have gone down finer than frog’s hair with your boss.”
    â€œI believe Ms. Warden was as happy as I’ve ever seen her,” Dad says. “The corners of her mouth turned up for a full three seconds. Moira Stevens, on the other hand, stormed out of the board room without a word. Quite surprising.”
    After what Colt told me about how much his mother wants that promotion, I’m not surprised at all.
    â€œI hardly see Moira anymore,” Mom says. She turns in to the school parking lot. “We chat on the phone sometimes. But all she talks about is that promotion. Does she realize she’ll have to be away from her family for weeks at a time if she gets that job?”
    Dad shrugs. “Speaking of being away, what’s up with Jeff Stevens? I haven’t seen Jeff around for weeks. I know he travels and whatnot . . .” Dad lowers his voice and stops signing, which makes me think something’s up at Colt’s house.
    Part of me wants to pray that Colt’s mom doesn’t get that promotion. Part of me wants to pray that my dad doesn’t get it either. I’d hate for him to be gone all the time.
    And this is one of the confusing things about praying. What if I’m praying my dad won’t get the promotion, but he’s praying he will?
    I ask God to watch out for Colt. I’ll let God figure out the rest.
    Dad tries to talk Mom out of the meeting at school right up to the second we knock on the principal’s office door.
    â€œMaybe I should wait here with Ethan?” he suggests.
    Ethan has already claimed the only folding chair in the hallway. He’s lost in his graphic novel.
    â€œYou’re being silly, Lenny,” Mom says, knocking again.
    The door cracks open. My principal sticks out his head. He frowns at us like he suspects we’re secretly here to rob the place.
    Finally he swings the door wide open and motions us to his inner office. No one goes to the Fishpaw inner office unless they’re in serious trouble. Three kids went in and