have a feeling the old Colonel’s been waiting for years to get that old cat for something, and this just gave him a good
excuse! Now, we’d better get Walter cleaned up and in his cage, and we have to make sure the top is secure!”
So Walter was placed lovingly in his bed of straw with full bowls of food and water, and as the girls watched quietly, he
settled into a corner, ruffled his fuzzy breast, tucked his tired head behind his wing, and fell fast asleep.
8
Circus Act
IN THE SPAN of just a few weeks, Walter’ wings had developed so that he could fly effortlessly around Lucky Foot Stable. His
favorite resting spot was on the top board of Lady’s stall, close to the Colonel. It was almost as if he knew the old white
rooster had saved his life, and he seemed content and happy to be one of the family. Now when Mary and Jody rode their bikes
to the stable at the crack of dawn on weekend mornings, the first thing they did was to free Walter from his cage.
On one such warm and sunny morning, the girls met in the stable early as usual. After feeding and grooming Star and releasing
Walter—who immediately flew to his roosting spot and began preening his feathers—they went to sit under the weeping willow
tree in the middle of the big pasture and talk about their plans for the day.
“Mare, it’s such a nice morning, and you know we haven’t ridden since Lady and Star were separated,” Jody hinted as they watched
Lady and Gypsy graze peacefully with the cows.
“I know, it seemed like she was too upset before, and we didn’t want her to see Star. What do you think she would do if she
saw him now?”
“I don’t know, Mare, I still don’t think they should see each other, at least not until Willie says it’s OK. So we can’t ride
past Lucky Foot, and the only way to ride off the farm is past Lucky Foot,” Jody moaned.
“That means we can’t go to Secret Place, or the Piney Wood, or even the field where the Christmas trees are.”
The girls sat in perplexed silence, watching the ponies swat flies with their tails.
“Mary, I have an idea!” Jody suddenly said. “Why don’t we practice our circus act right here in the pasture? The cows could
be our audience!”
“Not bad, not bad,” Mary said thoughtfully. “Let’s ask the ponies what they think. Gypsy! Ladabucks!
Do you want to practice our circus act today?”
The girls laughed when Lady snorted loudly and Gypsy shook her head, just as though they had understood the question.
“Lady thinks the cows are too stupid to appreciate our death-defying trick riding!” Mary chuckled.
“And Gypsy is just lazy!” Jody added. “But I think it’s a good idea. Cows are a better audience than nothing, I guess. And
we do need the practice.”
Mary and Jody weren’t practicing for a real circus, of course. But they had come up with a real circus act anyway, and it
had been a long time since they had worked on it.
“Let’s run to the stable and get our helmets and the bridles. And we can say hello to Star and make sure Walter isn’t getting
attacked again,” Mary said, jumping up from the grass. “Be right back, Lad and Gypsy!”
The girls were back in the pasture with the necessary equipment almost before the ponies knew they were gone. Bridles and
helmets were put on in a jiffy, and the girls mounted up bareback. It was time for the circus act to begin!
As Mary and Jody cantered around the pasture to warm up, the cows continued to graze peacefully, unaware of the exciting events
about to transpire. Of course, Mary decided it was her job to get their attention. She reined Gypsy to a halt in the center
of the pasture and stood on the cooperative pony’s back, her sneakered feet planted firmly on the generous flesh on either
side of the mare’s backbone. Jody giggled as she watched from a seated position on Lady.
Holding the bridle reins in one hand and gesturing grandly with the other, Mary addressed her
excuse! Now, we’d better get Walter cleaned up and in his cage, and we have to make sure the top is secure!”
So Walter was placed lovingly in his bed of straw with full bowls of food and water, and as the girls watched quietly, he
settled into a corner, ruffled his fuzzy breast, tucked his tired head behind his wing, and fell fast asleep.
8
Circus Act
IN THE SPAN of just a few weeks, Walter’ wings had developed so that he could fly effortlessly around Lucky Foot Stable. His
favorite resting spot was on the top board of Lady’s stall, close to the Colonel. It was almost as if he knew the old white
rooster had saved his life, and he seemed content and happy to be one of the family. Now when Mary and Jody rode their bikes
to the stable at the crack of dawn on weekend mornings, the first thing they did was to free Walter from his cage.
On one such warm and sunny morning, the girls met in the stable early as usual. After feeding and grooming Star and releasing
Walter—who immediately flew to his roosting spot and began preening his feathers—they went to sit under the weeping willow
tree in the middle of the big pasture and talk about their plans for the day.
“Mare, it’s such a nice morning, and you know we haven’t ridden since Lady and Star were separated,” Jody hinted as they watched
Lady and Gypsy graze peacefully with the cows.
“I know, it seemed like she was too upset before, and we didn’t want her to see Star. What do you think she would do if she
saw him now?”
“I don’t know, Mare, I still don’t think they should see each other, at least not until Willie says it’s OK. So we can’t ride
past Lucky Foot, and the only way to ride off the farm is past Lucky Foot,” Jody moaned.
“That means we can’t go to Secret Place, or the Piney Wood, or even the field where the Christmas trees are.”
The girls sat in perplexed silence, watching the ponies swat flies with their tails.
“Mary, I have an idea!” Jody suddenly said. “Why don’t we practice our circus act right here in the pasture? The cows could
be our audience!”
“Not bad, not bad,” Mary said thoughtfully. “Let’s ask the ponies what they think. Gypsy! Ladabucks!
Do you want to practice our circus act today?”
The girls laughed when Lady snorted loudly and Gypsy shook her head, just as though they had understood the question.
“Lady thinks the cows are too stupid to appreciate our death-defying trick riding!” Mary chuckled.
“And Gypsy is just lazy!” Jody added. “But I think it’s a good idea. Cows are a better audience than nothing, I guess. And
we do need the practice.”
Mary and Jody weren’t practicing for a real circus, of course. But they had come up with a real circus act anyway, and it
had been a long time since they had worked on it.
“Let’s run to the stable and get our helmets and the bridles. And we can say hello to Star and make sure Walter isn’t getting
attacked again,” Mary said, jumping up from the grass. “Be right back, Lad and Gypsy!”
The girls were back in the pasture with the necessary equipment almost before the ponies knew they were gone. Bridles and
helmets were put on in a jiffy, and the girls mounted up bareback. It was time for the circus act to begin!
As Mary and Jody cantered around the pasture to warm up, the cows continued to graze peacefully, unaware of the exciting events
about to transpire. Of course, Mary decided it was her job to get their attention. She reined Gypsy to a halt in the center
of the pasture and stood on the cooperative pony’s back, her sneakered feet planted firmly on the generous flesh on either
side of the mare’s backbone. Jody giggled as she watched from a seated position on Lady.
Holding the bridle reins in one hand and gesturing grandly with the other, Mary addressed her
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