Read Online Friendly Foal by Dandi Daley Mackall - Free Book Online Page A

lady a call.” Pat looked more like herself again.
    I wanted to go home and start in on Amigo, but I couldn’t make Pat wait any longer. I picked up the phone.
    â€œI hear tell you’re housing a Mini for a spell,” Pat said as I dialed my number.
    â€œYeah. He’s beautiful. But he doesn’t trust me yet,” I admitted.
    The phone rang once.
    â€œWell, I suppose it’s not that all-fired important, what with him leaving so soon and all.”
    My insides went cold. “What do you mean, Pat?”
    â€œI ran in to Mrs. Cracker last night. Over at A-Mart. Checkout line. I know, I know. I wasn’t going to shop at the Spidell empire, but I needed those little bitty carrots already chopped and in the bag for—”
    â€œPat, what did she say about Amigo?”
    â€œShe was just saying how Sal and that Mini didn’t take to each other.”
    Someone answered the phone. Dad. “Hello?”
    I hung up. “And? What else did Mrs. Cracker say?”
    Finally Pat looked at me. Her smile faded. “I’m sorry, Winnie. I didn’t think I was telling you anything you didn’t already know. Mrs. Cracker said she’s tying a big RETURN TO SENDER sign around that Mini’s neck and shipping him back on the first boat to Argentina.”

I stood there, clutching the disconnected phone. Back to Argentina?
    I couldn’t let that happen. That poor little horse had been through enough. “I’ve got to go,” I said, getting up.
    â€œWinnie? What about Hawk? My twit?” Pat’s worried voice brought me back.
    â€œI’m sorry. I forgot. Give me a minute. I’ll call home.”
    Dad answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
    â€œHi, Dad. It’s me.”
    â€œOh. Winnie.” He sounded like I was the last person he wanted to speak to.
    â€œUm . . . I need to get Hawk’s number in Florida. It’s on the—”
    â€œI’ll get Lizzy.” The phone clunked.
    Then it clunked again. “Winnie?”
    â€œHi, Lizzy. What’s wrong with Dad? Golf-buddy problems?”
    â€œMore like invention-buddy problems. Madeline said she’d be here a couple of hours ago.”
    In the background I heard Dad shout, “Tell her to get off the phone! Madeline may be trying to call again.”
    â€œThe phone rang, and somebody hung up on Dad,” Lizzy explained. “Dad thinks it was Madeline.”
    â€œThat was me. Sorry.”
    â€œPoor Dad.” Lizzy sighed through the phone line. “Have to admit . . . I thought it might be Geri.”
    â€œYou still haven’t heard from her?” I felt myself getting mad at Geri all over again.
    â€œNo. I kind of thought she’d show up this morning.”
    Pat paced by, reminding me why I’d called home. Lizzy gave me Hawk’s number, and I made her promise to hold on to Sal if she showed up before I got there.
    Pat dialed Florida, then handed the phone back to me.
    â€œShe might not even be there,” I said while the phone rang. “She’s been showing Towaco in Florida horse shows, so—”
    â€œHello?” It was Hawk’s dad.
    â€œUh . . .”
    â€œHello?” he said louder. “Who is this?”
    â€œIt’s me, Mr. Hawkins. Winnie Willis. Can I talk to Hawk? Please?” My telephone voice is even worse than my regular voice. I hate it.
    Hawk got on and started right in about her New Year’s Eve party. I would have loved to listen to how great it was going to be, but Pat was waiting.
    I explained about the help line e-mails, then read them to Hawk over the phone.
    The first one was from a kid whose big brother kept telling him that he had too many birds. Big Brother said it was bad for the birds and bad for Little Brother.
    â€œTell the bird owner there is no such thing as too many birds. And that he’d be better off with loads of feathered friends,”