Read Online Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter - Free Book Online

pig—swish—it was gone. He was stumbling and falling, still hoping to grab it and hang on. No one had any better luck.
    One time Justin thought Don might get hold, but the pig scrambled wildly away from the chase. Then finally a girl dashed for the pig and fell down with one of the pig’s feet caught under her chest. She hugged him to her and became the winner.
    Justin, hot, sweaty, and dusty, had neverhad so much fun. He counted his ribbons: one white, third place; one red, second place; and one first place, blue. He knew Grandpa was proud of him, but he wondered, What will Evelyn say when she sees these?
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    Justin walked through the crowds at the fairgrounds with Grandpa, his chest swelling with happiness. Now he would see the cowboys he had heard so much about in action.
    Grandpa guided him through the surging crowd. A tall cowboy hat and high-heeled boots made his slim grandpa look even taller. With a feeling of pride, Justin hitched up his jeans, glad he had brought his cowboy belt with the silver buckle. He wished he had a cowboy hat.
    The smells of barbecue, baked beans, and popcorn tempted the crowd. Grandpa ordered barbecued ribs for Justin and a hot link sandwich for himself while Justin ordered tall cold drinks for them both.
    All over the arena colorful bannerssplashed: BILL PICKETT COWBOY RODEO SHOW . Justin whispered, “Grandpa, is there another Bill Pickett?”
    Grandpa smiled, “Oh, no. Cowboys today, knowing what a good showman William Pickett was, name their show after him.”
    Cowboy music got the crowd in a mood for action. First cowboys on lively horses galloped around the arena. Then two clowns ran in. One was a lady dressed in a long skirt and pantalettes. Suddenly a voice over a speaker said, “Howdy, partners. Welcome! The famous Bill Pickett Rodeo is about to get under way. Cowboys and cowgirls will ride, rope, and bulldog. You ready, partners?”
    The crowd roared, “Ready!”
    Suddenly a bull shot out of a gate like a silver bullet, a cowboy on his back. At first Justin was so scared he couldn’t look. The crowd roared its satisfaction. Justin finally peeked through his fingers. The cowboy was still riding. The bull was bucking, pitching, rocking, and rolling. The rider still stayed on, squeezing, hugging,and holding that bull with his legs. Then the bull moved like it was waltzing, and the rider fell to the ground.
    Instantly the bull turned and plunged at the rider. Justin screamed, “Watch out!” The clowns rushed in, waving banners of cloth to distract the bull. The bull ran away into the corral.
    The next event was the lady clown riding a bull. She seemed hardly able to hang on. The bull tossed her about. Her hat and wig came off. Then her dress came off and Justin knew that it was no lady at all. Everybody laughed.
    â€œLadies and gentlemen,” the voice over the speaker called. “Give the rider a hand. That’s Rooster. He’s not a clown, but one of our best ‘pickup men.’ Let’s hear it for Rooster, partners.”
    â€œWhat are ‘pickup men,’ Grandpa?” Justin asked.
    â€œThey’re men who rescue fallen cowboys, or pick them off horses so they won’t get trampled.”
    The cheering was interrupted. “Now, partners, we have the best broncobustersince Jesse Stahl, who rode Glasseye. Watch this cowboy from Laredo, Texas,” the announcer said. “He will ride a bronco that’s as hot as cayenne pepper and as explosive as a volcano.”
    â€œThink he’ll be as good as Jesse Stahl, Grandpa?” Justin asked.
    Before his grandpa answered, the rider came out on a bucking horse between Rooster and another pickup man. The horse streaked into the arena jumping, spinning, and shaking. With its head down it bucked high in the air. The rider stayed on. The horse pitched, plunged, jumped high, twisting in midair. Still the rider stayed without holding on to the saddle