Chasing Gold by Catherine Hapka

Author:Catherine Hapka
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

“Urgh,” Haley grunted as her phone buzzed in her pocket. She set aside the wide, square-headed shovel she’d been using to chip away at the dried chicken manure on the henhouse floor. Mr. Broom had gone off to dump the tractor bucket, which he and Haley had filled with yet another load of soiled bedding. Outside in the attached pen, Haley could hear the chickens clucking and burbling irritably, clearly wondering why the door into their house was shut. It was after six thirty already, and they would be wanting to roost soon.

Peeling off one glove, she carefully fished the phone out and hit the button to answer it. She stepped outside, taking in a breath of welcome fresh air.

“Hello?” she said.

“Are you sure you’re not coming? Ems and I are at her house getting dressed. We’re leaving in like ten minutes.”

Haley sighed. She didn’t need to check the readout to know who it was. Tracey sounded hopeful, as if she might actually be expecting Haley to change her mind and come to the dance.

She wouldn’t think that if she could see me—or smell me—right now, Haley thought, glancing down at herself. Her jeans, shirt, and skin were spattered with ick, and a thin layer of the dust that always seemed to hang around chickens covered her from head to boot.

“Sorry, still can’t,” she told Tracey. “You guys have fun, though. I want to hear everything tomorrow.”

“For sure.” Tracey hesitated. “So you’re still coming to my party, though, right?”

“Of course,” Haley answered, not allowing any impatience to creep into her voice.

“Cool. So you’re really not coming tonight?” Tracey sounded as if she still couldn’t quite believe it.

“Really.” Haley could hear the sound of the tractor heading back her way. Her stomach rumbled, complaining about her delayed dinner. “Look, I have to go. Have a great time, okay?”

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