Schooling Horse by Bonnie Bryant Page A

“You’ve discussed this with Max?”
    “Yes,” Lisa said. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”
    “Well, no, I suppose not.” Mr. Atwood was also looking a little ruffled. “What did Max advise?”
    “He feels the same way I do.” Lisa pulled herself up straighter and took a deep breath. “Mom, Dad, it’s hardfor me to tell you this, but neither Max nor I think that Milky’s a good horse for me.”
    Her parents looked at each other and burst out laughing. Lisa felt exceptionally annoyed. After all she’d been through that week, they thought it was funny?
    “Milky is a horse!” said Lisa’s mother.
    “Well, of course,” Lisa said. “What did you think he was, a pony?”
    “A boy,” her mother said, between chuckles. “We thought he was a boy. From your school. A crush, maybe.”
    “A boy named Milky?”
    Mr. Atwood shrugged. “They all have such weird names these days. Besides, when I was a boy, I had a friend we called Cheese. Milky’s not too far a stretch.”
    “Why would I be spending all my time with a boy?” Lisa asked. She liked being around boys—some of them—but really, it sounded like a waste of a week.
    “I don’t know,” her mother said, more seriously now. “We’re glad you’re not. You had us worried for a moment there. So, what’s the problem with this horse?”
    Lisa realized that her parents might not be recognizing the nickname Milky. “It’s Au Lait,” she said. “The Thoroughbred? Remember?”
    “I don’t see what the problem is,” her father said. “If you’re not getting along with him, ride a different horse. Max has got a stableful, hasn’t he? Is he trying to make you ride this one?”
    “No,” Lisa said. She finally realized that her parentsreally didn’t know what she was talking about. “I thought you were—I mean—I thought you wanted to buy him for me.”
    Lisa’s father shook his head. “Max lets you ride whenever you want,” he said. “Why would we go to all the trouble of getting you one?”
    “Sweetie.” Lisa’s mother reached for her hand. “Why did you think we were getting you a horse?”
    Lisa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So this whole horrible week had been for nothing! Suddenly it did strike her as funny, sort of. She shook her head. “I heard you talking to Max on the phone,” she told her mother. “I didn’t mean to hear, but I did. You were asking him if something had arrived, and it sounded like you meant it to be a secret, and that was the afternoon that Milky arrived at the barn. So I thought he was the secret.”
    Mrs. Atwood patted Lisa’s hand. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, dear, though I guess you can’t be too disappointed if you don’t like the horse anyway.”
    “I guess not,” Lisa said.
    Her mother grinned. “I’ll tell you what the secret is, even though it’s still not ready. You’ll love it! I’ve ordered you a new show jacket. Max said you’d probably be riding in some competitions early next year, so I got him to help me pick out exactly the right kind of jacket—you know, a good brand, well made, the right style. Max said navy blue pinstripes are considered very correct right now, and I thought that would contrast beautifully with Prancer’sred fur. Max ordered it from a catalog, but it hasn’t come in yet. Won’t that be wonderful?”
    “Sure.” Lisa felt a little bewildered. Trust her mother to think of horses in terms of clothes! Still, it was very sweet of her to buy Lisa a new coat and to go to so much trouble to be sure it was a good one. “I bet it’ll be a super coat,” she said. “Thank you.”
    “We want the best for you, Lisa,” said her father. He picked his book back off the floor.
    “Weren’t you … Weren’t you thinking about getting me a horse at all? You wanted to that one time.”
    Her parents looked at her quizzically. “Now that we know more about horses, it seems like a lot of bother,” said her father. “Doesn’t Max let you ride