A New Beginning Read Free Page A

Katy. Hi, Freema,” Lily greeted her friends.
    â€œHi, Lily. This is my cousin, Adjoa,” Freema explained. “She just moved here and is going to be in our class.”
    Adjoa was tall with shiny black hair, an oval face, and big brown eyes, just like Freema.
    Lily smiled at her. “Welcome to our school, Adjoa.”
    â€œThanks,” Adjoa said shyly.
    â€œDid you help out at Greengates this weekend?” Katy asked Lily as they walked into the school grounds.
    Lily nodded. “It was great. I had an extra-long ride on Bandit. Janie let me take her up to the woods by myself.”
    â€œCool!” Katy said.
    â€œDo you like riding?” Adjoa asked Lily.
    â€œIt’s my favorite thing in the whole world!” Lily replied. “How about you?”
    â€œAdjoa loves ponies, too!” Freema said. She nudged her cousin. “Tell Lily about your pony.”
    Lily’s eyes widened. “You’ve got your own pony? You’re so lucky! What’s its name?”
    â€œPixie. She’s gorgeous and I love her to pieces,” Adjoa said. “You can come over one night after school and meet her if you like.”
    â€œThanks. I’d love to,” Lily said, beaming.
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    In the classroom, Lily took her usual seat next to Katy. She put her bag on the floor, so that Storm could jump out.
    Storm gave himself a shake and then trotted off to sniff around the room.
    Mr. Poke took attendance. “And just before we begin,” he said, looking up, “I’d like to welcome Adjoa Hardiker to the class.”
    Adjoa smiled shyly as everyone clapped, including Lily.
    A few minutes later, Lily was leaning over to watch Storm. She smiled to herself as the tiny puppy weaved in and out of the desks, his sandy tail wagging.
    A voice called out, but Lily was engrossed by Storm’s cute antics.
    â€œLily Benson, can you stop daydreaming and take out your history book, please?” the teacher’s sarcastic voice said. Mr. Poke had a bald head with a fuzzy rim of hair around his ears. He had a way of looking down his nose when he was annoyed.
    Lily’s head snapped up. “Sorry, sir.”
    â€œLooks like old Poker Face got out of bed on the wrong side—again,” Katy commented. Adjoa and Freema, who sat nearby, giggled.
    Lily turned around and grinned at them.
    â€œOkay, class. I’d like you to begin work on your projects, please. Quietly, if possible!” Mr. Poke ordered.
    They were doing the Tudors. Lily was making a collage of Queen Elizabeth I. “I think I’ll do her lace ruffle today. I need to get some pieces of paper and stuff from the art cabinet,” she said to Katy, who was bent over writing in her notebook.
    â€œCan we have a little more work and a little less talking, Lily Benson?” Mr. Poke drawled.
    â€œYes, sir.” Lily felt herself turning pink as she got up and went to the cabinet. I wasn’t even doing anything , she thought.
    Storm padded over to her. “Are you all right, Lily? You look hot,” he woofed.
    â€œI’m fine. Not like some people,” Lily murmured, glancing back at the grumpy teacher.
    She pulled the cabinet’s handle, but it seemed to have gotten stuck. Grasping it more firmly, she pulled again, but the door still wouldn’t budge.
    â€œI will help,” Storm yapped eagerly.
    Lily saw Mr. Poke coming over with a frown on his face. “Uh-oh, you’d better be quick, Storm. Looks like Poker Face is on the war path,” she whispered.
    Lily felt an odd, warm tingling down her spine as gold sparks ignited in Storm’s sandy coat, and the tips of his ears and tail fizzed with power. Something strange was going to happen.
    Raising one big sandy front paw, Storm sent a shower of bright golden sparks whooshing toward the cabinet. With a faint crackle they sank into the wood. For a moment nothing happened and Lily thought Storm’s magic hadn’t