Read Online Eager Star by Dandi Daley Mackall - Free Book Online

Dumpty detective! ‘He was pushed!’” He burst out laughing.
    My breath came in ragged spurts as I led Star to his stall. My heart pounded in my ears. “Nice to know I’m not totally invisible!” I stormed to the grain bin, afraid of what else I might say. Okay, God, I prayed as I dipped up a scoopful of oats. I could bite like a Mustang. Don’t let me go off on Grant.
    By the time I finished graining the horses, I’d at least given up the notion of biting.
    Grant had stopped laughing. “Sorry. Really. That day in the field, I should have come back to see if you were okay. It’s just—I didn’t want to lose to Brian and—”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t want to lose.” Lizzy would have hated the edge in my voice. Mom too.
    â€œI’m sorry, okay? And that Humpty Dumpty stuff was great—the only laugh we’ve had in Brumby’s boring class.”
    I would have guessed he loved Brumby and English. “It is pretty boring, isn’t it?” I risked a glance at him, and he grinned.
    â€œWhich reminds me, I have homework! I missed one on Haven’s quiz. I should have memorized her notes.” He walked toward the barn door.
    I followed him. “You mean that stuff about life goals and how long you expect to live and stuff?” Smooth, Winnie! Can you say stuff one more time? “I don’t think she’s going to grade that stuff.” Great! You can say stuff one more time.
    â€œNever know.” We stepped outside. We’d been in the barn long enough that the night had grown black except for a handful of stars. “Besides,” Grant continued, “it’s her first impression of us. Life science is a big class for me. I might want to become a surgeon. I should have studied more.”
    I shook my head. Grant Baines was about as opposite from Catman Coolidge as you can get. Dr. Baines, the surgeon, and Catman Coolidge, the telegraph operator.
    I walked him through the yard, and he kept going. Then he turned back. In the dark, he looked like a shadow. “Bye, Winnie. See you tomorrow!”
    See invisible me tomorrow? Wouldn’t that be something!

Friday morning I left home later than planned. I’d ridden Nickers at dawn, fed Towaco and Eager Star, and mucked the barn before getting dressed for school. But what slowed me down was writing in my private journal after breakfast:
    Herd behavior in kids at AMS makes it almost impossible for a new person to break in. Still, individual members of the popular herd may act different when they’re away from the pack. Take Grant, the head stallion of the popular group. Last night he almost acted like a regular guy. If Summer or Brian had been here, I doubt if Grant would have wasted his time on a straggling scrub like me.
    I wheeled my bike into the rack, then spotted Summer and Grant’s herd on the steps, blocking traffic so kids had to squeeze around them to get inside.
    Great! I’d have to walk right by the herd. What if Grant had already told everybody about my backward ride on Nickers? Summer would love that!
    Laughter erupted from their group, no doubt at my expense.
    I climbed the steps, pretending not to see or hear them. See no evil. Hear no ev—
    â€œWinnie!” Grant shouted.
    I glanced behind me, as if there might be another Winnie on the steps.
    â€œCome here!” Grant motioned me into the herd.
    Swallowing what felt like sandpaper, I joined them, wishing I’d spent more than two seconds on my hair. I wore jeans; they wore shorts. I needed a new top so I wouldn’t have to repeat in the same week. Summer probably didn’t repeat her clothes the whole year.
    â€œHow’s Towaco?” Hawk moved over so I could stand next to her.
    â€œHe’s good.” Loosen up, Winnie girl! Just a herd of horses. You like horses.
    Hawk’s shorts matched her peacock shirt. “Grant told us you are training his horse.”
    I