Tompkin's School (For The Extraordinarily Talented Book 1) Read Free Page A

scoffed, “No-no-no-no, I can’t! They're just so...it’s just that…”
    “Come on, Izzy,” Lee said, while giving me the most heart wrenching looks yet, “it’ll be fine, I promise.”
    How could I say no to that? He was just too breathtakingly incredible that I seriously was just too taken away by how much he looked like a model to argue. Get a grip! I had to get one. This was definitely not like myself to just ignore all reason and be so head-over-heels for someone like this.
    Kain and Lee then took the lead as we all headed for the barns where they kept the riding gear. Kain saddled up his horse without any problems and was galloping around the pen before I even had my helmet on. Who knew that he actually liked horses at all, let alone was able to ride them? I sure didn't.
    “Okay, so I’ve already saddled your horse,” Lee began, as he stepped in close to me to tighten my helmet.
    A shiver ran through me as I felt his hand graze my cheek.
    “You’ll be riding Cherry, she’s the friendliest of all our horses and the kindest so she’ll treat ya right,” he smiled.
    He opened a gate and entered one of the stalls to bring out the demon. I had to focus if I was going to get through this. I had to concentrate on the mission, which was to survive and not fall off the towering giant.
    “Don’t fall. Stay on the saddle. Keep from flying off the giant,” I chanted to myself, pacing nervously over the hay that was strewn all over the barn.
    “You ready?" He called as he led something huge out of the stall.
    Behind him was a humongous, brownish-red colored horse that was beautiful, but super scary. I was just fine getting on top of a pyramid, but this was too much!
    Suddenly, the horse sneezed and blew her mane from her eyes and I instinctively took a step back.
    “Come here,” he laughed, “take my hand.”
    I obeyed him as he guided me inch by inch closer to my sure death. This mammoth was going to eat me alive!
    “Are you sure this thing doesn’t eat people?” I asked, looking up to see his amused face.
    “Don’t worry, okay?" He replied, “I promise you I wouldn't be leading you to this horse if she did.”
    “Are you sure?” I asked.
    “Scout’s honor,” he winked, “now, reach up and place your hand up here and put your right foot in this stirrup.”
    He showed me where to put my hand and then put his hands at my waist. I prepared myself to leap onto the horse and land, although I wasn’t too confident I would be successful. I hoped I wouldn’t embarrass myself too much.
    “Ready?" He asked.
    “No,” I answered.
    “Okay, one-two-” he counted off way too quickly, “three!”
    I let out a shocked scream as he helped my other leg sweep over the other side of the horse. But my foot never found the stirrup and I slid over the other side, screaming the whole way as I landed on my butt and covered in hay.
    Next time I was going to listen to my instincts!
    “Are you okay?" He asked, trying to hold back a laugh.
    “I’m fine,” I replied, sitting up and cleaning myself off.
    “Gonna give up already?" He asked, taunting me.
    I sighed.
    My insides wanted me to say yes, but I knew that that was not what I was going to do. Both Kain and I had inherited very stubborn characteristics and so I was definitely not going to give Lee the excuse to call me a quitter.
    “No,” I replied, standing up, “No, I’m not.”
    The second time around I finally got the concept and landed sturdily atop the horse’s back. It made me feel very tall and I smiled triumphantly.
    “Ready to go?” He asked, already atop a black steed.
    The feeling of triumph vanished as the realization that I had to get this big huge animal to walk set in. I didn’t want to ask how I should go about doing that, but it seemed inevitable.
    “Okay,” I said, “Walk! Walk, Cherry!”
    Obviously he couldn’t contain himself this time as he doubled over in laughter.
    “Make like a lightning and bolt!” I shouted, rolling my