Pony Tails 15- Corey's Christmas Wish by Bonnie Bryant

Author:Bonnie Bryant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: YA, E
ISBN: 9781497653818
Publisher: Open Road Media Young Readers
Published: 2014-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

7 Oh Come, All Ye Parakeets

“Goober the skinny greyhound had a very clammy nose,” sang May to the tune of “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The Pony Tails were in the Jameses’ station wagon on the way to the animals’ Christmas party.

“Come on, Corey,” May said. “We’ve got to practice.” May had written Christmas songs to sing to the animals at the party.

“I’m not in the mood,” Corey said.

“You don’t like that song? Then we’ll sing ‘Oh Come, All Ye Parakeets,’” said May. To the tune of “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” May sang:

“Oh come, all ye parakeets,

Joyful and triumphant!”

Corey knew she was supposed to join in, but she couldn’t.

“You’ve got to practice, Corey,” said May.

“I’ll fake it,” said Corey glumly.

The station wagon headed down a road with bare maple trees on either side. It pulled up in a parking lot that was jammed with cars.

“CARL has a big crowd,” said Mrs. James.

Great, Corey thought, everyone in Willow Creek will be here for the engagement announcement.

“Who knew so many people would come?” said May. She sounded a little awed. But then she said, “Lucky them—they get to hear us sing.”

Jasmine collapsed into giggles. But Corey felt worse than ever. This was like being in a horror movie.

“I see your mother, Corey,” Mrs. James said. “She’s by the front door.”

Corey spotted her mother. She was wearing silver earrings and a silver pinecone pin on her collar. Next to her was Mr. Lee. They both looked very happy, which made Corey feel even worse.

May jumped out of the car and did a rock-and-roll dance. “It’s snoooowing,” she sang.

Corey got out and looked up. The snow was white and powdery.

“Yo ho ho and a barrel of snow,” sang May.

“Are you okay?” said Jasmine softly to Corey.

Corey swallowed. “Kind of.”

Jasmine put her arm around Corey.

Next thing Corey knew, May had her arm around her, too. “Hey,” May said. “What’s up?”

Corey nodded toward her mother and Mr. Lee. “I think they’re going to announce their engagement,” she whispered.

“Oh, man,” May whispered.

“We can handle it,” Jasmine whispered.

“No, we can’t,” whispered Corey.

“Yes, we can. We’re the Pony Tails,” said May.

Corey’s chin went up. She didn’t really believe that she could handle it, but she knew she had to try.

Holding hands, the Pony Tails stood at the back of the crowd.

Mr. Lee stepped to the microphone. “Welcome to this happy event,” he said.

May and Jasmine squeezed Corey’s hands even harder.

“This has been the most outstanding year in the history of CARL,” Mr. Lee said. He went on to tell how many cats, dogs, birds, gerbils, rabbits, and white mice CARL had saved.

Who else could make pets sound boring? Corey thought. She imagined Mr. Lee at the breakfast table making lists of all the things he was going to do that day.

Corey felt an elbow in her ribs and saw that May and Jasmine were smiling and waving to the crowd. Mr. Lee was saying, “And now Corey Takamura, May Grover, and Jasmine James will feed the animals.”

The girls uncovered the baskets that held the animal treats.

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