Gypsy Girl and Horse Lovin' Boys Read Free Page A

Capuchin monkey on my shoulder, Noah was front and center with several girls and a boy all about the same age sitting around him. I smiled when our eyes met and I was also suddenly hyper-aware of his presence as I played the part of gypsy girl.
    I waited for the next cue with Peppy. Perched on my shoulder, the monkey groomed my hair. Usually I didn’t mind him picking through it, but I didn’t want them to think there was anything living on my head. Waving Peppy’s hands away, I nervously kept an eye on Noah and his crew. His friends watched my mom’s performance. Noah kept glancing at me and every time he did, my heart would flutter. The girl sitting beside him looked at him and then at me. Her arm slid across his lap to hold his hand. He moved her hand away and said something in her ear. Completely miffed, the girl stopped and gave me the evil eye after that.
    “
And
Peppy came to rescue poor Millie … ,” Mom said, giving me the evil eye as well.
    Oh man, I missed my cue. Shaking my head to pay attention, I tugged Peppy’s leash. He crawled down my arm and monkey waddled to Millie with the little wagon. Once the bird was on the stand, he pulled the wagon away. I paid closer attention to Mom after that.
    When the show was over, I sold stuffed Peppy and Millie toys and books written by my mom while she visited with members of the audience and let them meet the monkey and the macaw.
    Noah lingered with his friends. The flirty girl attempted to hang on him while he continued to dismiss her. When the crowd finally cleared and Mom was putting Millie away, Noah finally approached with his friends.
    “Your mom is really fun to watch. She even looks like a real life gypsy. That was a really cool show.” He beamed at me and many of his friends agreed.
    “Thank you.” I felt a little overwhelmed with the group of kids my age standing around me. However, the dark haired girl glaring at me was getting under my skin.
    “We’re all going to the carnival rides. Can you come?” Noah asked.
    “I need to help my mom put things away and change first. I could meet up with you shortly.”
    “Do you have a phone?” Noah asked.
    I nodded and hopped onto the stage to run inside to my turret bedroom that I shared with Cessie. I hadn’t needed my phone all day. Hopefully it had enough battery. When I finally found it buried in a drawer, I messed with my contacts so I could add his number as I rejoined Noah and his friends. Some of them had left and he was patiently listening to Cessie while she talked his ear off.
    “Sera! He says we can meet his horse before the fair opens tomorrow,” Cessie squealed.
    I forced a smile on my face. “That’s great.” It took great effort to force enthusiasm in my voice. I probably failed even though I tried.
    I had just enough battery to add Noah’s number. Of course he had a fancy Smartphone. Everyone usually did except for me. My phone was a basic slider. There were times that I felt as if we were real life gypsies. Always a bit behind everyone else. I sighed.
    “So text me when you’re ready to find us.”
    I nodded and Noah left with the other boy.
    I ran back in to plug in my phone before rushing through the clean up list and I still had to take care of Peppy.
    “You were really good today, especially during the last show.” I gave him a piece of banana. “Thanks for not making a fool out of me. At least not yet, because I know you’ll do it.” I handed him some pieces of apple before changing into my real clothes. I smoothed out the Hello Kitty T-shirt relishing the feel of the soft stretchy material. I pulled on a pair of basketball shorts over my boots. The boots would take too much time to change. After grabbing my carnival wristband that was good all week, I unplugged my phone and ran for my life, jumping off the stage. I was almost free.
    “I’m going on rides with some new friends,” I yelled, jogging to the walkway, not giving Mom a chance to answer. I texted Noah as I