Alice-Miranda Shows the Way Read Online Free PDF Page B

ponies and their riders.
    â€˜Hello,’ Alice-Miranda called and waved.
    â€˜Hello,’ the small girl who had first spotted them called back. ‘Who are you?’
    Alice-Miranda slid down from the saddle andwalked Bonaparte over to where the group was standing. She undid the strap on her helmet and took it off.
    â€˜My name’s Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones. And that’s my friend, Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill, but she prefers Millie.’
    â€˜Hi,’ Millie called and waved. She dismounted too and pulled the reins over Chops’s head.
    â€˜Geez, listen to you two with your posh names and your posh-lookin’ ponies. I suppose you’re probably related to the Queen too,’ a tall boy sneered.
    â€˜No, Aunty Gee’s not a blood relative but she is Mummy’s godmother,’ Alice-Miranda replied.
    The boy rolled his eyes.
    â€˜What’s your name?’ Alice-Miranda asked him.
    â€˜If you must know, Miss Nosey, I’m Pete and he’s Robbie and he’s Jim and that’s Lola and Fern and Rory and Stephen and Indigo and Nick and Ellie.’ He pointed at them all one by one. ‘And that little pest there –’ he waved a finger at the chubby girl – ‘is Ivy.’
    She poked her tongue out at him. ‘Am not a pest!’ Ivy was holding a tatty doll. It had matted hair and was missing an arm.
    â€˜I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to remember all your names straight away.’ Alice-Miranda looked at Ivy and her doll. ‘You must love her a lot.’
    The small child nodded.
    â€˜What are the ponies called?’ Ivy asked.
    â€˜He’s Bonaparte,’ Alice-Miranda replied, ‘and that’s Chops.’
    â€˜What a daft name for a horse,’ Pete scoffed. ‘In’t that a brand of dog food?’
    â€˜So what if it is?’ Millie retorted.
    â€˜I’m getting a pony,’ Ivy said.
    â€˜No, you’re not,’ Pete snapped. ‘Where are we gonna put a pony? All the rides round here are mechanical. You know how much Alf hates havin’ more mouths to feed.’
    At the mention of the name ‘Alf’, a suffocating silence fell over the group. Alice-Miranda wondered if he was in charge of the carnival, and why his name had such an effect.
    â€˜Can we play?’ Alice-Miranda asked as she glanced around and spied the scuffed football that the boy called Rory was holding.
    â€˜What do you think?’ Pete asked the other kids. ‘Should we let the poshos play? Reckon they’re any good?’
    â€˜Oh, I’m afraid I’m not,’ Alice-Miranda said, ‘but Millie’s fantastic.’
    â€˜All right, let’s pick the teams again. Rory, you can be the captain for the Rangers and I’m the captain for the Stars. I’m going first. I want Robbie.’ Pete pointed at the boy with dark curls.
    â€˜Stephen.’ Rory pointed at a kid with closely cropped blond hair.
    â€˜I want li’l Jimmy,’ Pete continued.
    Rory pointed. ‘Nick.’
    â€˜Hey, what about the girls?’ Indigo called out. ‘It’s not fair. You always pick the boys first.’
    â€˜Indigo, you’re with us.’ Pete pointed at her and she smiled.
    â€˜Lola,’ said Rory.
    â€˜Fern,’ said Pete.
    â€˜Ellie,’ said Rory.
    â€˜Red.’ Pete pointed at Millie.
    Millie rolled her eyes. ‘My name’s Millie.’
    â€˜Yeah, whatever,’ Pete replied. ‘I’m calling you Red.’
    â€˜Alice-whatever-your-name-is,’ said Rory.
    â€˜What about me?’ Ivy whined.
    Rory shook his head. ‘No, the teams are even. You can’t play.’
    â€˜That’s not fair!’ Ivy stamped her foot and threw her doll on the ground. ‘I’m going to tell my dad on you, Rory.’
    Rory relented. ‘All right, you can be the ref,