Helping Hands Read Free

get used to his trailer. He didn’t like going in or out, either. Maybe Babe can help us out. Josh, bring her over here.”
    â€œMe?” I ask.
    â€œI don’t think Gus is going to help, do you?”
    I swallow hard and hope David doesn’t realize how nervous I am. Babe watches me carefully as I untie her lead. “Just don’t bite me, okay?” I whisper. Once she’s untied, I walk her to the trailer, and her hooves
clip-clop
on the asphalt behind me. She smells horsey: dusty and sweaty, with a hint of hay and Mom’s basil. Suddenly, she head-butts me right in the middle of my back and almost sends me crashing to the ground.
    â€œWhat the heck are you kids up to?” Gus shouts from across the parking lot. “I already got that one out.”
    â€œBuster shakes every time that dude yells,” David says, annoyed. “It’s okay, buddy, look, here comes Babe.”
    I hand him her lead and rub my back. “Careful. She thinks she’s a goat.”
    â€œYeah, I saw that,” David says. “I think she likes you.”
    David leads Babe back into the trailer. The two ponies nuzzle each other’s necks, and Buster lets out a big sigh.
    â€œOkay then,” David says. “Let’s try this again.” He clicks his tongue. “That’s it, Buster. Just do like Babe is doing. Easy does it.”
    And sure enough, David manages to coax Buster to follow in Babe’s footsteps and back out of the trailer. “Good boy, Buster! That wasn’t so bad now, was it?”
    Buster snorts and looks around the parking lot, taking everything in: the corral, the back of the store, the Dumpster, and the line of excited kids sitting with Jules, their parents standing behind them. He keeps looking back to Babe, as if he wants her to tell him that everything is going to be okay.
    I understand the feeling totally.
    Buster has a small white star of fur on his forehead and a white patch on his muzzle, like Babe’s. His coat is a pretty combination of reddish-brown and white patches, but it’s matted down and dirty. His white legs are splattered with dried mud and manure. I was hoping that Buster would be younger and perkier than Babe, but he’s even more of a mess.
    David notices, too.
    â€œHey buddy,” he says, touching the pony’s tangled mane. “When was the last time you were groomed?” He pats Buster on the head and the pony shies a bit. “It’s okay, we’ll take care of you.”
    David tells me to lead Babe into the pipe corral, and he follows right behind with Buster. The waiting kids clap, and Sophie starts singing her pony song again.
    â€œThank you. Thank you.” David bows to the crowd and hams it up. “I’m a certified horse genius, if I do say so myself.”
    â€œHa,” I say. “I wouldn’t go that far, but you don’t completely stink at pony handling.” I punch his shoulder, not too hard, just friendly. This could have been a nightmare without his help.
    â€œOw, ow, ow!” David rubs his shoulder and fakes that he’s in pain. “You’re just jealous of my amazing horse-taming skills.”
    I try to smile because he’s just teasing, but the truth is I
am
jealous. It’s like David was born to deal with these ponies. Jules is a natural with rabbits—that’s why we call her the Bunny Whisperer. At Dr. Mac’s clinic, Maggie’s in charge of dogs, Sunita is the cat expert, and Brenna, well, she’s the nature girl who connects with all the wild critters. I like animals, too, but I don’t have special skills the way they do. In fact, I’m not sure I should be a Vet Volunteer at all.
    Gus slams the back door of the trailer closed. Buster startles and pulls at his lead rope.
    â€œWhoa there, buddy,” David says. “Everything’s fine.” Buster relaxes as David pets his neck. “You should have seen me with