The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Author:Walter Farley [Farley, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-80492-1
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

TRAINING BEGINS

12

Alec’s feet scraped beneath his desk. He fidgeted with the pencil in his hand. The paper in front of him was blank. He couldn’t think about geometry at a time like this. His eyes again went to the clock on the side of the wall—12:15. Another fifteen minutes and he’d be on his way! His gaze shifted to the huge calendar hanging over the blackboard—April first! He had waited so long for that date, and now it was here. Today, after months of preparation, they were to break the Black to bridle and saddle, start the real training of the Black, even though no word had yet reached them from the Middle East concerning the stallion’s pedigree. Henry had written two more letters in the last few months.

Alec saw the teacher looking at him, so his gaze dropped to the paper in front of him. The minutes crept by as slowly as all the months of waiting. He couldn’t stand this much longer—he’d just have to go!

Suddenly the bell rang, and like a sprinter off on his marks, Alec leaped for the door. He had it opened and was out in the corridor before the rest of the class had started to move. He ran down the hall, heard an authoritative voice tell him to stop, but kept running. Nor did he stop when he reached the street. He ran until he was too tired to go farther, then slowed down to a fast walk.

He rushed into the house and threw his books on the couch. His mother had lunch ready. He sat down to eat, but he was too excited. He looked up at his mother. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I’m not hungry today,” he said. His mother looked at him. She saw the high flush of excitement on his face.

“Something important going on?” she asked.

“Kinda, Mom,” Alec answered as he finished a glass of milk. “I won’t be home until dinner. I’ll make up for my lunch then!” He ran out of the house. His mother stood in the doorway and watched him as he tore down the street.

Alec found Henry nervously pacing up and down in front of the barn. “Hello, Henry!” he called.

“Hello, son,” Henry replied, taking the pipe from his mouth. “Nice warm day for it.” He looked up at the sun high overhead.

Alec saw the stallion out in the field. “How does he feel today?”

“He’s been pretty frisky all morning. Guess the warm weather is making him feel pretty good, too,” answered Henry.

They watched the Black for a few minutes. Then Henry said, “Well, son, we might as well get started. Feel okay?”

“Sure. What’s the difference riding the Black with a saddle or without one?”

Henry knocked the ashes from his pipe. “All depends on the horse, but let’s get going. I picked up an old saddle in New York yesterday. It isn’t so good, but it’ll do the trick until we get him on a track and can use mine.” Henry walked toward the barn.

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