The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson Page B

walk.”
    He shook his head. “I’d prefer to walk. I need the exercise.”
    â€œDo you want any company?” Lucy offered hopefully.
    â€œI need you to stay home and help Grandma and me,” Mama told her.
    Lucy frowned but didn’t say anything.
    â€œMaybe next time,” George said gently.
    â€œYes, maybe next time.” Mama’s voice was firm.
    â€œYou didn’t invite little old me to go to town with you, George,” Veronica said in a sugary voice.
    George looked taken aback by this. “Well, I—I suppose I assumed you wouldn’t want to walk out in the snow.”
    â€œYou know me too well.” She made a pouting face. “You’re right about walking in the snow. I don’t have the right sort of shoes.”
    â€œMama could loan you her work boots,” Lucy suggested.
    Mama looked as if she was about to choke, but Veronica just laughed. “Really, now, Lucy, can you imagine me in your mama’s work boots?”
    â€œOf course not.” Mama began clearing the table. “What a ridiculous idea.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure they’re just fine for you,” Veronica said apologetically. “You need sturdy boots to work on a farm.”
    Mama excused herself. As she went through the swinging door, Lucy felt pretty sure she wouldn’t come back out again.
    â€œI do wish there was some other way to get to town,” Veronica said to George. “Do you suppose there’s a taxi that could come and fetch us?”
    Grandma chuckled. “Not in Maple Grove.” She picked up the bread basket and butter dish and excused herself to the kitchen too.
    â€œIf I had a pony,” Lucy told Veronica, “I’d let you ride it to town.”
    â€œMe on a pony?” Veronica giggled. “Now that would be a sight to see. I’ve never been on a horse in my entire life.”
    â€œWhat if you needed to ride a horse to be in a movie?” Lucy asked.
    â€œWell, then I wouldn’t be in that particular movie.” Veronica nudged George with her elbow. “I’ll bet you don’t know how to ride a horse either, do you?”
    â€œNow there’s a bet you would surely lose,” he told her.
    â€œWell.” She looked impressed. “You are just full of surprises, aren’t you, Georgie Porgie?”
    Lucy pressed her lips together as she remembered his ideas for fixing the old car. That would probably surprise Veronica too. Instead of saying anything about this, Lucy began to help clear her side of the table.
    â€œShe just gets to me,” Mama was quietly saying to Grandma as Lucy came in. But seeing Lucy, Mama stopped talking.
    â€œDid I say something wrong, Mama?” Lucy set the dishes by the sink and peered up into Mama’s face.
    â€œOh, it was silly of you to think Veronica would wear my old boots . . . that’s all.”
    â€œAnd to think she’d walk to town,” Grandma added with a half smile. “Well, that’s not very realistic.”
    Lucy shrugged. “She might walk to town . . . if it wasn’t so cold and snowy out.” The dining room was empty when she went back to get the last of the dishes. She was just about to return to the kitchen when she overheard Veronica talking to George in the front room.
    â€œOh, come on, George,” Veronica was saying sweetly. “Just use the telephone to call and find out about your silly old car. That way you can stay here and keep me company. We can play games or listen to the radio or just visit.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I already planned to go to town.”
    â€œBut it’s so quiet and lonely when you’re not in the house,” she protested.
    â€œLike I said, you’re welcome to join me.”
    â€œYou know I don’t want to do that. Oh, Georgie Porgie, you’re just a big meanie,” she teased, “but I’ll come up with a way to get back at you.