A New Beginning Read Online Free PDF Page A

Adjoa could still see her whenever she wanted.”
    Her dad smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. “I’m sorry, honey. I feel bad for Adjoa, too, but the subject’s closed.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought you’d say,” Lily said, sighing heavily.
    All that evening and throughout Sunday, Adjoa and Pixie were on Lily’s mind. On Monday, when she and Storm walked to school, they met up with Katy and Freema, but Adjoa wasn’t with them.
    â€œWhere’s Adjoa?” Lily asked.
    â€œShe’s not coming in today. My aunt says she’s got an upset tummy,” Freema explained.
    â€œI know why Adjoa’s tummy is upset. It’s because she’s so worried about what’s going to happen to Pixie,” Lily said sadly.
    Freema and Katy nodded.
    When they reached the coatroom, Lily hung back and let her friends go into school ahead of her. “I wish I could think of a way to help Adjoa keep Pixie,” she whispered to Storm. “But I’ve already tried Mom and Dad. I don’t know what else I can do.”
    Storm whined softly in sympathy and then his big midnight-blue eyes lit up. “You could talk to the lady who runs the riding stables,” he suggested.
    â€œJanie? I can’t see what good that would do,” Lily said, frowning.

    Storm barked encouragingly, wagging his tail and dancing around her feet in circles. Lily smiled. “Well, okay then, if you’re that sure it’ll help. We’ll stop over there tonight after school. Uh-oh! Watch out! Mr. Poke just came in. We’d better go into class!” she hissed out of the side of her mouth.
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    Back home after school, Lily quickly changed into her jeans and T-shirt, before running downstairs. She found her mom in the kitchen. “Could you give me a ride over to Greengates, please?” she asked.
    Her mom looked surprised. “Don’t you get enough of that place on the weekends? Why do you want to go over there now?”
    Lily thought quickly. “Tinka was sick on Saturday. I wanted to check and see if she’s any better,” she lied.
    Mrs. Benson smiled. “That’s nice of you. You’re a sweet person, Lily Benson.”
    Lily blushed, feeling a little guilty. But there was no way she could tell her mom that it was Storm’s suggestion to go and talk to Janie. Anyway, it was true that she was always happy to see Tinka and all the other ponies. “So can I have a ride?” she asked.
    Her mom nodded. “We’ll go now. I have to go to the supermarket, so I can drop you off at Greengates and then pick you up on my way back.”
    Lily sat in the back of the car, with Storm on her lap as they drove there. She got out of the car at Greengates’s main entrance. “Thanks for the ride, Mom. I’ll see you later.”
    As soon as her mom had driven away, Lily went into the yard. Storm trotted purposefully at her heels, invisible as usual.
    She could see Janie sitting at her computer through the office window.
    Lily paused, feeling uncertain. “Well, here I am. But I’m still not sure why! What am I supposed to say to her?” she whispered to Storm.
    The puppy’s luminous midnight-blue eyes looked even brighter than usual. “I think you should tell Janie about how Pixie needs a home,” he woofed.
    Lily frowned. “But there’s no point. Greengates isn’t a stable. It’s a riding school. And anyway, Janie doesn’t have room for any extra ponies. All the loose boxes are full.”

    Storm pricked his ears. “Not all of them.”
    Lily blinked as she realized what Storm was hinting at. “You’re right! Bandit’s not here anymore.”
    Storm nodded, looking very pleased with himself.
    Before Lily could ask him anything else, Janie came out into the yard. “Lily? This is a nice surprise. What can I do for you?” she said.
    â€œI . . . um . . .” Lily bit