Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) by Mary Karlik Page B

each of the farm animals. Shelves lined up in rows perpendicular to the feed sacks. Kelsey and Austin walked down the aisle separating the shelves from the feed. It was surreal to look at all the animal stuff and realize that it was a part of her life now.
    Austin smiled and said, “You look a little dazed.”
    “It’s like I’m in
Wonder-Oz-wartz.
I’m Dorothy, Alice, and Harry all rolled up in one. I’ve been plucked from one world and tossed in another.” She stopped in front of a display of ropes and chains. On another shelf were tags and giant jars of medicine. “I don’t know what any of this stuff is.” She picked up a nylon harness. “I mean, I know these are probably some kind of animal containment devices…”
    “Animal containment devices?” He took the thing from her. “This is a halter. And this particular one is for a horse.”
    “How do you know it’s for a horse?”
    He cupped one of the straps in his hand and let the rest of the halter dangle. “It’s shaped like a horse’s head. But if you’re not sure, read the tag.”
    Kelsey shook her head. “I can’t believe Dad knows all this stuff.”
    “It’s not that hard. You’ll get it in no time.”
    She picked up a fluorescent tag from a hook. “What are these?”
    “Ear tags. We use them on cows and such.”
    Kelsey gave a shudder. “You poke them in their ears?”
    Austin shook his head. “It’s not that bad. You wear dangle earrings, right? What’s the dif?”
    “But I knew what was I was doing.”
    “Crazy, isn’t it? You purposely put a hole in your ears.”
    Kelsey hung the tag back on the peg. “But I had a choice.”
    The screen door squeaked and Kelsey turned to see her mom coming through carrying a push broom. Now there was a sight her friends would never believe. Maggie Quinn, former president of the Junior League, working in a feed store. Normally her mom wore her hair parted on the side, straight, just below the jaw—just like every other mom at St. Monica’s. Today, she had it tucked under a Hill Feed ball cap. J. Crew sweaters and pearls were her mom’s style, but she was wearing an old T-shirt and faded jeans. Still, she had a way of looking sophisticated no matter what she wore.
    Mom leaned the broom against the counter. “Hi, Kelsey, Austin. We we’re just finishing up in the back room. We’re going to Uncle Jack’s for dinner. Austin, you’re welcome to come.”
    He held his bandaged hand close to his chest. “Thank you, Mrs. Quinn, but I’d better pass. My mom will be expecting me.” He glanced around the store. “Is Jack in the back?’
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll just go see what I can help with.” Austin headed toward the back of the store.
    Kelsey noticed dark circles under Mom’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
    “Just a little tired.” She gave a weak smile, but Kelsey caught a slight quiver in her chin.
    For the first time, Kelsey saw her mother’s optimistic outlook waver. Maybe Mom wasn’t as excited about the move as she seemed. After all, she’d had to give up Junior League, St. Monica’s altar society, St. Vincent de Paul, and whatever else she did with her free time. “You look like you could use a break. What can I do for you?”
    Mom raised her brows, no doubt in shock that Kelsey was being cooperative. “If you’d sweep the floor I can…”
    “Sit down and rest.” Kelsey picked up the broom. “Really, I got it.”
    “Thanks. I’ll go check on Ryan and McKenzie. They’re tagging new inventory.”
    Kelsey had never used a push broom in her life, or any other broom for that matter, but how hard could it be?’
    She pushed the broom across the floor. It took her about five minutes to figure out short quick strokes worked much better to gather the dirt. By the time she’d finished she had several little piles of dirt throughout the store. She leaned the broom handle against the wall and went in search of a dustpan. Her arms felt like lead. Who’d have thought sweeping could be