Star of Wonder Read Free Page A

turned to look at the funny thing. They had begun to feed him small amounts of grain,
     and he had started to nibble on Lady’s hay. It was summer, and the time had come for Willie to give the girls some advice
     on the next step in Star’s upbringing. Ever since the day Willie had challenged the stallion at the horse show, the girls
     had realized that he knew much more about horses than they had ever suspected.
    “You know, it’s time for him to grow up a little more,” Willie said to the girls as they led Star around the paddock with
     Lady’s saddle on his back.
    “What do you mean, Willie?” asked Mary. “He’s growing every day. Look how big he’s getting!”
    “I mean, he’s got to grow up in his head. He’s got to get away from bein’ so attached to Lady.”
    “But, Willie, he’s only six months old,” Jody said. “He’s still nursing!”
    “I know he’s still nursin,’ but it’s high time he quit nursin’ and started eatin’ on his own. Lady’s milk won’t last forever,
     you know,” Willie replied, tugging on his earlobe.
    “Well, he has been eating on his own—he eats grain now, and a little hay, and he drinks water sometimes. He’ll stop nursing
     pretty soon,” Mary commented matter-of-factly.
    “But, Mary, he’s got to be weaned. I know you know what that word means, with all the horse books you have and that dictionary
     you’re always looking things up in,” Willie insisted.
    Mary stared at Willie speechlessly, until Jody interrupted the silence with a question.
    “Mare, what does he mean?”
    “Well, it means we have to separate Star from Lady, so her milk will dry up, and he’ll have to eat just grain and hay and
     drink water from now on.” Mary explained solemnly.
    “Separate them? But they’ll both go crazy! Remember that time Lady got stuck in the stable somehow while Star was in the paddock,
     and she almost broke the door down trying to get to him?!” Jody cried.
    “He was a lot younger then,” Willie said. “Now he’s older and even Lady knows he should be on his own. Haven’t you seen her
     pushin’ him away sometimes when he comes to nurse?”
    The girls looked at each other in silence, knowing it was true but not wanting to admit it.
    “But, Willie, what should we do? Do you have any ideas?” Jody asked.
    “Well,” Willie said, taking off his hat and scratching his head like he always did when he was thinking, “I reckon we could
     put Lady and Gypsy together out in the pasture like we always used to, and keep Star here in the paddock. You girls will have
     to keep him company until he gets used to the idea of not being with Lady.”
    “But he’s going to run around and cry like he did the day Lady was stuck in the stable,” Jody said, feeling like crying herself.
    “He will; I won’t lie to you,” Willie said, “and Lady will be upset too, even though she’s gettin’ tired of him nursin’ on
     her. I wish there was a place we could put Lady far enough away where they couldn’t hear each other hollerin,’ but the cow
     pasture’s as far as she can go.
    “It’s got to be done. They’ll be all right in a month or so, and then they can go back together again after Lady’s milk dries
     up, and they won’t be so attached to each other. And Jody’ll be able to ride Lady again without Star trailin’ along.”
    Mary and Jody looked at Star, who blinked at them with so much trust in his eyes, and at Lady, who was nibbling on her hay
     at the other end of the paddock. Jody sighed and then looked at Willie.
    “When should we start?” she asked in resignation.
    “Well, no sense puttin’ it off,” Willie said. “Today’s as good a day as any.”
    “Today?” Mary cried. “But, Willie, we haven’t even had a chance to get used to the idea!”
    “No point in waitin’ for that. You might never get used to it. You just have to do it. Now, Jody, get that saddle off Star
     and give me his lead rope. I don’t want you tryin’ to