Free Magic Ponies: A Special Wish by Sue Bentley Page B

muck heaps, don’t you?’
    ‘Well, yes,’ Marcie admitted. ‘But I like the smell of horses and there’s other stuff to do that’s lots of fun. It’s all part of looking after your pony.’
    Jessica widened her eyes incredulously. ‘Fun? I’d rather hang upside down in custard. I’ll stick to my computer games, thanks.’
    ‘Right.’ Marcie didn’t know quite what else to say. A small wave of loneliness washed over her and she realized that she was missing Lara more than ever.
    The rest of the day seemed to drag on forever and Marcie was relieved when the bell went for the end of lessons. The moment Miss Slater dismissed the class she grabbed her school bag and raced outside to meet her mum.
    ‘Did Dad text you?’ she asked eagerly as they drove home.
    Mrs Locket shook her head. ‘There’s no news yet. You’ll have to be patient for once. Although I know that’s not your strong point!’ she said, laughing.
    Marcie grinned. ‘Impatient? Me?!’
    When they got home, Marcie skipped upstairs to change out of her school clothes. She was just doing up her jeans, when she heard the front door. Her dad was home! Dashing out of her room, she shot back down the stairs, two steps at a time.
    ‘Hi, Dad!’ Marcie sang, looking up at him excitedly. She stopped; why did he have such a serious look on his face? Today was a good day for all of them!
    ‘Hello, love.’ Mr Locket hung up his jacket and then ran his fingers through his short brown hair. ‘Where’s your mum?’
    ‘Um… in the kitchen making supper, I think,’ Marcie said, starting to feel that something was wrong.
    She went and stood next to her mum as Dad sat down at the table and began speaking. ‘I’m afraid it’s bad news. We were all called into a meeting late this afternoon, and told that the company’s closing down,’ he explained. ‘I’m going to have to find another job. And to be honest, as things are at the moment, that could take some time.’
    ‘Oh dear. That’s quite a shock.’ Mrs Locket sank on to a kitchen chair next to her husband and took his hand. ‘Well, we’ll manage. We’ll just have to make cutbacks,’ she decided firmly.
    Marcie’s heart sank. Something as expensive as a pony would definitely be one of the cutbacks her mum was talking about. But she bit her lip as she looked at Dad. He seemed pale and tense, although he was trying hard to put on a brave face. She felt really bad for him.
    Marcie went and gave both of her parents a hug. ‘I’m really sorry about your job, Dad. And I can wait a bit longer for my pony.’
    ‘Thanks, love. That’s my grown-up girl.’ Her dad hugged her back and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. ‘And don’t you worry. You mum and I will work this out.’
    Marcie nodded. She could tell that they had lots to talk about. ‘I think I’ll… um… go and sit in the garden… or something,’ she said.
    Her mum nodded absently.
    Marcie went outside and trudged down to the paddock. She sighed as she thought that it could be empty for quite a while. If only Lara was here. Marcie could have gone over to her house for a long comforting talk.

    Suddenly, there was a movement from over near the old shed.
    Marcie’s eyes widened in surprise as a dapple-grey pony with a darker grey mane and tail appeared from behind it and began walking towards her.
    ‘Can you help me, please?’ it asked in a velvety neigh.

Chapter
TWO
    ‘Oh!’ Marcie did a double take.
    She swallowed hard as she gazed at the pony in utter astonishment. What was going on? Had her mum and dad bought it as a surprise?
    But how could they have done, when her dad had just lost his job?
    Marcie couldn’t work out why there was a pony in her paddock. And her imagination was obviously working overtime, because she’d just imagined that it had spoken to her!
    As the pony leaned forward, Marcie reached a hand towards it. It had a short elegant head with a slightly dished nose and unusually large eyes. They were a