The Lost Pony of Riverdale by Amanda Wills

Author:Amanda Wills
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horses, ponies, animal stories, riding horses, horse stories, books for girls, age 10 upwards, horse adventures, pony books, pony books for girls
Publisher: Amanda Wills

Chapter 17

This time Poppy was prepared when she turned up at the old people’s flats and walked straight bang into Mrs Parker.

“You’re back, I see,” said the warden, who was wearing a fitted Royal blue suit with hefty shoulder pads that matched her newly blue-rinsed hair.

“Yes, I certainly am,” said Poppy firmly. She’d decided that morning to take no nonsense from the old battleaxe. “So is Tory in?”

Mrs Parker was taken aback by the girl’s assertiveness. “Well, I dare say she is as her ladyship hasn’t stepped foot outside her flat for the last week. She even missed her card night on Friday. Not that it was any loss. I convinced everyone to try a few hands of bridge instead of that dreadful poker she insists on playing. So much more appropriate,” she sniffed.

“She’s not ill is she?” asked Poppy, lines of concern furrowing her forehead.

“No, she’s not ill, but she’s not herself,” conceded Mrs Parker. “Not that she’ll tell me what’s wrong, of course. Says I shouldn’t stick my nose in, I ask you. Perhaps you’ll have more luck.”

Poppy headed down the corridor towards Tory’s front door. She knocked and waited. She heard the volume of the television being turned down and the sound of shuffling. She rehearsed her apology one last time.

Tory opened the door. “Ah, Poppy. Come in.” Poppy felt that the welcome was more muted than before and she cursed herself for her behaviour. After all, her friend had only been trying to help. She started gabbling an apology but Tory held up a hand to silence her.

“It’s alright, pet. Everyone says things they don’t mean every now and then. The fact that you’ve come to say sorry is enough for me. Let’s forget it ever happened.”

Flushed with gratitude, Poppy realised that she could learn a lot from Tory. She sat down and they chatted about the weather and school and Poppy told Tory about the cat-like animal they had seen the previous day.

Tory wasn’t surprised. “I’ve never seen any big cats myself, but it’s true that people used to have leopards and panthers in private collections. Then local councils decided they needed licences to keep them and I dare say a few were released into the wild. I bet Charlie’s pleased.”

“You’re not wrong there. He’s beyond excited. He hasn’t stopped talking about it, and now he’s convinced he’s going to be front page news in the Herald. He’ll be unbearable,” said Poppy, not minding in the least.

She thought of Caroline staring mindlessly out of the kitchen window and remembered why she had come. “Tory, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Is it Cloud?”

“No. Actually I want to ask your advice about Caroline.”

Tory raised her eyebrows. This was a turn up for the books. “What’s the matter, pet?”

“You were right and I’m sorry again for storming off. I’ve noticed Caroline hasn’t been herself and since the day you came to lunch she’s been even worse. The house is a tip, she’s feeding us non-stop junk food and I keep finding her just staring out of the window.

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