Pony Pals, Book 1 - I WANT A PONY

Chapter 8 The Best Medicine

Anna and Pam were right about the fifth-grade class at Wiggins Elementary. The teacher-Mr. Livingston-was nice, and the other kids in the fifth grade were okay, too. But Lulu Sanders had only one thing on her mind during her first week at Wiggins Elementary. Snow White. Every morning that week she got up at six o'clock. By six-thirty she was out of the house and riding an old bike she'd borrowed from Anna's older sister. She'd pedal

through the chilly early morning mist to the Crandals' barn. Lulu would run into the barn calling, "Morning. Snow White." The pony would show how happy she was to see Lulu by putting her head over the stall door and whinnying. After giving Snow White a fresh pale of water to drink, Lulu would muck out the pony's stall. Using a pitchfork, she removed the manure and the wet straw and put them in a wheelbarrow. Then she stacked the straw that wasn't soiled in a corner so she could sweep the floor. Lulu would then add pitchforks of fresh, dry straw to the stall. She wanted Snow White to have an extra comfortable stall while her leg was healing. Next, Lulu crushed up Snow White's pill and put them in her oats. She had to see that the pony ate all the oats so she'd get all the medicine. When Lulu was taking care of Snow

White, Pam was also in the barn doing her morning chores. Lulu's last two chores were to make sure there was hay and fresh water for Snow White to have during the day. When Pam and Lulu finished in the barn, they washed up in the tack room and rode bikes together to school. During the day, Dr. Crandal checked on Snow White. He'd take off the big bandage, see how the wound was healing, change the dressing, and put the bandage back on. After school each day Lulu did everything for Snow White that she'd done in the morning-all over again. But in the afternoon she also had time to groom Snow White and hand-walk her in the barn. Every day Snow White walked a little farther down the aisle between the stalls. Lulu made a chart to keep track of the chores she had to do for Snow White. Friday afternoon, as Lulu and Pam

turned their bikes onto Riddle road, Lulu screamed. "Snow White's outside! Look, Pam." They pumped hard on their bikes to get to the paddock as fast as they could. Pam's mother was leading Snow White slowly toward them. The twins sat on the paddock fence cheering Snow White on.

"Snow White!" Lulu shouted as she climbed over the fence and ran up to the pony. Snow White nuzzled Lulu. "Dr. Crandal is so impressed with her progress that we thought she should get some fresh air and a little walk today," Mrs. Crandal said as she smiled at Lulu. "I also thought it would be a nice surprise for you." She handed Lulu the lead rope and gave her a hug around the shoulders. "You've given Snow White the best medicine in the world, Lulu. T.L.C. Do you know what T.L.C. stands for?" "Tender Loving Care," Lulu said. Mrs. Crandal nodded. "That's right. Dr. Crandal says he's never seen a leg wound heal so fast. You've done a super job of nursing, Lulu. Snow White's about ready to go home." Lulu suddenly felt all the happiness drain out of her. "Go home?" she whispered. "You mean back to Mr. Baxter?" "Snow White is his pony," Mrs. Crandal

said. "I'm sure he'll let you visit her. After all, you saved her life." "He probably wishes Snow White died," Pam said, "so Lulu would have to pay and he wouldn't have to spend all his money." "Noe Pam," Mrs. Crandal said, "be fair. According to your father, Mr. Baxter's been under a lot of pressure lately." Lulu could hear Pam and her mother talking, but she wasn't paying any attention to what they said. She was looking into Snow White's eyes. "I'll still take care of you, Snow White," she whispered. "I promise. I'll find a way." "Acorn! Acorn!" Jack and Jill were shouting. Lulu saw that Anna and her Shetland pony were coming off Pony Pal Trail. The twins raced one another to open the paddock gate. Lightning whinned as she ran along the fence of the side paddock. She was getting Acorn, too. Snow White snorted, but not happily. "It's okay, Snow White," Lulu said. "Lightning and Acorn are your pals."

Mrs. Crandal said Anna should put Acorn in the side paddock with Lightning. "Until they get used to Snow White and she gets used to them," she said. "Especially since Snow White has an injury." Mrs. Crandal went back to the animal clinic to finish her day's work. The twins joined Lightning and Acorn in the side paddock. And the three friends sat in a row on the paddock fence near Snow White. "This is the first time out ponies are together," Anna said. "Even though they're in different paddocks you can see them all at once. Three ponies. Three girls. Six Pony Pals." "Five Pony Pals," Lulu said. "I can't pretend that Snow White is mine anymore. She's going back to the Baxters." Pam jumped off the fence and shouted, "It isn't fair." She put her hands on her hips and faced Anna and Lulu. "Mr. Baxter doesn't want a pony and doesn't have time to take care of her. Lulu wants a pony and

does have time to take care of her. The fair thing is that Lulu should have the pony." "Especially because she saved Snow White's life," Anna said. "Yourr both acting like Snow White is Mr. Baxter's pony," Lulu said. "But really she is Rema's pony." A car pulled into the driveway. Lulu figured it was someone going to the animal clinic, but Pam recognized the car. "He's here," she said. "Who?" Lulu and Anna asked. "Mr. Baxter," Pam answered. "And there's someone with him." Lulu jumped down from the fence and stood next to Snow White like she was the pony's bodyguard. She watched Mr. Baxter and a woman get out of the car. As soon as the woman saw Snow White she ran ahead of Mr. Baxter calling, "Snow White. Oh poor Snow White." Snow White turned toward the voice and

whinned. Lulu knew by the happy sound of the whinny and the curl of the pony's lips that Snow White liked the woman. "Are you the girl who saved Snow White's life?" the woman asked. "Yes," Lulu said. The woman had tears in her eyes. "I'm Mrs. Baxter," she said. "We're so grateful. Rema's been worried sick about Snow White. We've all been so worried." Lulu noticed that Mr. Baxter didn't even say hello to Snow White. He just looked at the big bandage and shook his head in disgust. Mrs. Crandal joined the group at the paddock fence. After she introduced herself, she explained to the Baxters that Snow White could go home. She told them, "In another week the bandage will be removed. But you must understand that it will be months before she's as strong and limber as she was before the accident." Lulu noticed that Mr. Baxter's face got

that angry look again. "So, she still needs a lot of care," he said. Mrs. Crandal agreed. "The vet should check her every day until the bandage is off. After that she'll need leg soaks. And, of course, regular exercise." Mrs. Baxter turned to her husband. "We're at work all day. And the fence needs to be replaced." "Maybe you should leave Snow White here," Pam said. Mr. Baxter shook his head. "Boarding an animal is expensive." "Lulu's been taking care of Snow White for free," Mrs. Crandal explained. "And doing a wonderful job. We're only charging you for medical care and food." "I love ponies and I know a lot about them from when I lived in England," Lulu said. She stroked Snow White's neck. Snow White lovingly nuzzled Lulu's shoulder. "Lulu knew as much about ponies as I do and I grew up with them," Pam said.

The Baxters looked at one another and nodded in agreement. "We'll leave Snow White here for another three weeks," Mrs. Baxter said. The Pony Pals cheered-and hugged Snow White.