Blue Ribbon Champ by Marsha Hubler

Author:Marsha Hubler [Marsha Hubler ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780310429357
Publisher: Zonderkidz

Chapter nine

Skye looked through an ocean of tears, struggling to focus on the Keystone Stables van at the far end of the lot. The evening sun, still beating down mercilessly, drenched her with a wave of hot, sticky air. She ripped off her mobcap, stuffed it in her apron pocket, and bunched her long flowing skirt into a tight wad. Wiping her eyes, she raced toward the van, weaving in and out of a maze of parked cars. I have never felt so lame, her heart cried. My life is ruined!

Reaching the van, she grabbed the door handle and pulled hard.

Locked!

Skye’s layers of clothing choked her frantic body, forcing sweat to ooze from her forehead and join the waterfall of tears. Adding that to the cloud of embarrassment that hung heavily over her only made Skye angrier. A charge of hot temper shot through her from head to toe. Again, she grabbed the handle and yanked and yanked. Somehow, it just had to yield to her persistent force.

“You stupid door!” she screamed. She flopped against the van window, buried her face in her arms, and started to cry again.

“Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said as she gently touched the girl’s shoulder.

Skye looked into her foster mother’s gentle, blue eyes, fell into her arms, and sobbed uncontrollably.

“I hate him,” Skye cried. “I know it’s wrong, but I do.”

Mrs. Chambers caressed Skye in arms of tender love. Not a word was spoken while Skye wept bitterly.

Finally, Mrs. Chambers said, “Let’s talk.” Holding her foster daughter at arm’s length, she gently brushed the tears from Skye’s face. “I think you could use some tissues too.”

She unlocked the van, and the two climbed in. Mrs. Chambers idled the engine and turned on the air conditioner. Reaching under the seat, she pulled out a tissue pack and handed it to Skye. “Here, honey,” she said softly.

Skye emptied her nose into a handful of tissues. Cool air blew straight into Skye’s face, squelching her hot temper along with the van’s oppressive heat.

“Mom, w-why do I-I feel like this?” Skye sputtered. “I don’t want to, but I can’t help it.”

“Let me ask you a few questions. Okay?” Mrs. Chambers said.

“Okay.” Skye wiped her runny nose.

“Why do you hurt so badly right now?”

Skye cleared out her brain and rehashed the last five horrible minutes of her life. “Because everybody in the whole church laughed at me.” She sniffled and wiped her nose again.

“I know that’s how you feel, Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said, “but let’s take a closer look at what just happened. What did you do that made everyone laugh at you?”

Skye replayed the whole ugly scene in her mind again. “Uh—well—nothing. I didn’t have a chance to do anything.”

“Honey, perhaps your feelings about Joey have you thinking amiss.”

Silence.

“Now, put yourself in the audience, and tell me who or what everyone laughed at.”

Skye’s mind moved to the front pew where she could get a good look at Joey knocking on her door.

“Well?” Mrs. Chambers asked softly.

“Well, if they were laughing at Joey, I kind of let him down.

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