Read Online High Hurdles Collection Two by Lauraine Snelling - Free Book Online

Mrs. Adams stopped at her side. “Check the perspective again on that frame. It’s off a bit.”
    DJ stared at the still life, then at her drawing. She erased the top line and squinted to see if hers followed the other angles. Lightly redrawing it, she checked again, using her pencil at a slant for both.
    â€œGood,” Mrs. Adams said with a nod and a pat on the shoulder. “If you have time after school one day, you could stay and catch up.” She smiled. “I know, you have to get to the Academy.”
    â€œI’ll try for Wednesday, if that’s okay with you.”
    â€œSure. You working on anything at home?”
    â€œI’ve drawn a couple of my new filly, Storm Clouds.” DJ turned on the stool, her heels hooked over the rung. “She is the cutest thing you ever saw. She hides behind her dam—that’s the mother. …”
    At DJ’s questioning eyebrow, Mrs. Adams nodded. “Thanks, you know I don’t know horse terms.”
    â€œ … and peeks around her hind legs, with the dam’s tail feathered over her face.”
    â€œAnd you drew that?”
    â€œA couple of times now. My aunt wants to show it to a friend of hers in Connecticut who owns some gift stores. They might want me to make copies for framing and others in note cards—you know, like Amy and I did at Christmas.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful. You know, if you could spend as much time with your art as you do with your horses, you’d …” She stepped back with a shrug. “I know, I know, but you can’t blame me for trying. You want to jump in the Olympics, and I want you designing the symbols.”
    â€œYeah.” But a glow warmed her stomach region.
    â€œYou want to bring one in to show me?”
    DJ shrugged. “Sure, I’ll bring it tomorrow. Why?”
    â€œWell, there’s a drawing teacher in San Francisco who has offered to take ten students for a weekend at her home and studio. She chooses them based on what she thinks of application drawings.”
    â€œTen? From all the high schools?” DJ shook her head. “No chance.”
    â€œBut you’ll bring it in and let me enter it if I think it has possibilities?”
    DJ shrugged again. “Why not? How much does it cost to enter?”
    â€œNothing but the postage, and I’ll spring for that.”
    â€œIt’s your dime.”
    â€œNothing goes for a dime anymore, DJ.” Mrs. Adams wandered off to the next student, leaving DJ concentrating on her still life.
    What chance did her foal drawing have when she couldn’t get the perspective right on a silly picture frame?
    On the way out of the classroom, she stopped at Mrs. Adams’ desk. “Do you know when the art weekend will be?” “No, why?”
    â€œWell … just in case … you know …” “In case she chooses you?”
    DJ nodded. “If it was a show weekend, I couldn’t go.” “When do your shows start?” “I think the first show is the last weekend in April.” “No problem. I’m sure this was earlier in the month.” “Okay, thanks.” DJ hustled and still was late for her PE class.

    When she got home from school, DJ felt like falling on the bed and sleeping the night away. Instead, she forced herself to get dressed and ride her bike to the Academy. Pedaling along beside Amy, DJ could feel the sweat start under her arms and on her forehead. At the stop sign, she stopped and leaned her head over the bars, fighting to catch her breath.
    â€œYou sure you shouldn’t have stayed home?”
    â€œNo … no … I’ll be okay.” A pain stabbed her right side. She rubbed her ribs, but the pain didn’t go away. Ignoring it, she pushed her pedal down and pealed out. Going downhill to the Academy drive was easier, and the pain disappeared. Parking her bike beside the barn, she headed to the