A Horse's Best Friend by Dandi Daley Mackall

Author:Dandi Daley Mackall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Animals, JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Horses
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2018-10-08T16:00:00+00:00

To Be . . . or Not to Be . . . a Friend

After the lizard show, Miss Pento chats with Mom. We kids check out the rest of Lizzy’s lizards.

Simon says, “You’ve made these cages into home. No wonder lizards no more roam.”

“Thanks, Simon,” Lizzy says. “I should have told your class how much help you’ve been with the lizards.”

“Simon!” Tamson shouts. She points at a cage. “This lizard looks just like you.”

Lizzy moves between Tamson and Simon. “They’re both handsome,” she says. “Simon was a big help collecting these lizards. I don’t think anyone else could have found a Great Plains Earless around here. And he found it twice!”

“That’s because my brother has so much in common with lizards,” Austin says.

Tamson adds, “And roly-polies!” She laughs harder than everybody else put together.

I don’t laugh. But I don’t speak up for Simon either.

Simon shuffles away. No rhyme this time.

I watch as he wanders off toward the pasture. Something about the way his shoulders slump and his head hangs down reminds me of Lucky when the Mustang herd ran off and left her alone.

In my mind, I ask God to do something to make Simon feel better. But I know I should do something too.

While my classmates hover around the lizard village and ask Lizzy questions, I walk toward the pasture. But I stop when I get close. I don’t think Simon sees me.

Simon climbs the fence and sits on the top rung. He wipes his glasses on his sleeve.

Chief walks up and lays his head on Simon’s lap.

Simon jerks, and I’m afraid he’ll fall. But he catches himself. Then he pats Chief on the head.

I know Chief doesn’t like that kind of a pat. But he stays there anyway.

Chief is a way better friend than I am.

I climb up and sit beside Simon. He smiles at me, and I feel rotten.

“Chief is my best friend.” I sigh. “Sometimes it feels like he’s my only friend.”

Simon frowns at me. “Really?”

“Really.” I reach over and scratch Chief’s cheek. “I wish Chief could come to school with me.”

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