Pit Pony by Joyce Barkhouse Read Free Book Online Page A

you spent at the stables wasn’t a waste, after all.”
    Before Willie could reply, a nurse came and told them they should go.
    Nellie kissed her father. “We’ll come next Sunday, if we can,” she promised.
    â€œGood,” said her father. He gave a little moan of pain and closed his eyes. When they got outside, Willie asked, “Do you really think Pa will get better?”
    â€œYes, I do. And he’s so pleased and proud you went to work,” said Nellie.
    Willie didn’t say anything. If he could get to be a driver, maybe he would work until Christmas and go back to school in January. Maybe he wouldn’t miss his grade. He could study hard and catch up.
    When Willie and Nellie arrived at Sunny Row, they saw a horse and wagon tethered to the hitching post at the entry of the lane. Willie stopped short.
    â€œThat mare looks like old Topsy,” he exclaimed. He ran over to the black horse with the sway back and rubbed her nose. “Yes, it really is Topsy!” he shouted with joy.
    He ran ahead and burst into the kitchen. There was Charley, sitting on the couch next to the warm stove, talking to Grandma as if he’d known her all his life. Grandma was laughing. Grandma hadn’t laughed since the day of the accident.
    Before Willie could say hello, Sara came bouncing up to him with a big, orange pumpkin in her arms.
    â€œLook, Willie, look! Mister Charley gave us some pumpkins! Now me and you and Maggie can make pumpkin grinners for Hallowe’en! I never had a pumpkin grinner before in my whole life!”
    Grandma spoke up from her rocking chair. “Hush, Sara. Remember it is the Sabbath Day.”
    Sara said, “Yes, today is the Sabbath but tomorrow is Monday, and it’s Hallowe’en. We can make grinners as soon as we get home from school, can’t we, Grandma? We know how to do it, don’t we, Maggie?”
    â€œYes, but we have to let Nellie cut the cover around the stem,” said Maggie in her quiet way. She hugged her pumpkin. Her smile was almost as wide as Sara’s.
    â€œThen you take a big spoon and take out all the insides,” said Sara.
    John, who had his leg in its wooden splints propped up on a chair, grinned at them. “And then you give Nellie all the insides to make pumpkin pie. And then you give me all the seeds to roast in the oven,” he teased.
    Everybody laughed.
    Nellie took off her coat and hung it on a peg. “Won’t you stay for supper?” she invited Charley.
    â€œThanks, but I have to get home before dark,” he said. “I just wanted to stay long enough to see Willie. How are you making out in the mine, lad?”
    â€œIt’s all right,” said Willie. “I get paid tomorrow. Then Grandma can have tea.”
    â€œGood boy,” said Charley.
    â€œAnd I’m gettin’ a chance to try out as a driver. Gem is down there. I might get a chance to drive her.”
    â€œThat’s just great!” exclaimed Charley as he picked up his cap to take his departure.
    â€œPlease come back. I want to have a real visit with you,” begged Willie.
    â€œThank you. I’ll have to get permission from my cranky sister first,” said Charley, chuckling as he went out the door.
    * * *
    Each night now, Willie borrowed the tin alarm clock from Nellie. He asked her to make up his lunch before she went to bed. By getting up very early, he hoped to avoid Simon on his way to work.
    The only heat in the house came from the coal-burning stove in the kitchen. Overnight, the fire went out. In winter sometimes, even the water in the teakettle froze solid.
    On the last day in October, Willie shivered, with cold as he crawled out of bed. John still had to sleep downstairs in the parlour. Willie lit his candle and crept down the steep, narrow stairway. He gobbled a bowl of cold oatmeal porridge and went out into the dark morning. He hurried along by himself, whistling to keep up his