Free Stray Horse by Bonnie Bryant

and out of—I don’t know. Out of whack, I guess,” Carole said. “Is everything okay?”
    “Everything’s okay,” Lisa said. “The only thing that’s going on is PJ. Oh, right, well, there is something else.” She paused and stared at the bridle for a few seconds.
    “Yes?” said Carole.
    “My parents are getting a divorce. Dad left last night and I didn’t have a chance to tell him all the things I’ve been doing with PJ.”
    Carole and Stevie’s eyes widened and they stared at their friend in shock. Lisa didn’t seem to register that anything was wrong, and she calmly resumed rubbing the bridle in her lap.

S TEVIE OPENED HER mouth to speak, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. She was overwhelmed with feelings, none of them expressible.
Divorce.
What a horrible word. What a horrible thought. Parents deciding they didn’t love each other anymore. Leaving, breaking up, changing. What would it be like if it happened to her? But it wasn’t happening to her, it was happening to Lisa, and it was almost unimaginable. And all the while, Lisa was just sitting there, rubbing a bridle until the old leather began to shine.
    “There, I’m done with this bridle,” said Lisa, standing up to put the tack in its place. “Nothing like cleaning tack to clear the mind, is there? Now, what comes next?” Shesat back down on the bench. “I think we’ve done all the tack in here, but if I remember correctly, the driving tack is up in the loft. You know, I think PJ is not only going to be a fine school horse, but my guess—and my guesses about these kinds of things are usually right on target—is that he’s going to be a fine driving horse, too. I mean, can’t you just see that sweet boy pulling a cart or even a carriage of some kind? I wonder if Max is interested in getting into competitive driving more than he has been? Remember, we’ve tried it a couple of times and it’s really very different from riding, though driving is still horses and that’s what matters.”
    Driving? Carriages? What is Lisa talking about?
Stevie asked herself.
    “Well, I guess the first thing we’re going to have to do is get PJ used to a saddle again. I mean, with all those scratches, it’s probably been a while since he’s been under saddle, and Judy says that his swollen leg is going to keep him out of the ring for another couple of weeks. Maybe there’s still time to clean that driving tack. Maybe I should be getting home.”
    “Maybe,” Carole said. “I bet your mother would like to have you with her at this time.”
    “I left the house early again,” Lisa said. “I mean, I left a note and all, not that that kept my parents from freakingout yesterday when I left a perfectly nice note. They said something about wanting to see me. Well, if they want to see me, they always know where to find me. It’s either here or at CARL. I’ve got a lot of work to do. People count on me, you know. I guess I mean really that horses and other animals count on me, at least at CARL.”
    There was a pause in the flood of words and Stevie had the feeling there must be something to say, but she was still tongue-tied.
    “So you’re going home now?” Carole asked. It sounded more like a suggestion than a question.
    “Okay,” said Lisa. Without another word, she walked out of the room.
    Stevie and Carole listened while their friend picked up her backpack and took her jacket out of her cubby. They heard her even steps retreating down the aisle.
    “Divorce?” Stevie said, for the first time able to speak the word out loud.
    “I guess,” said Carole.
    “Well, she seems to be taking it pretty well,” Stevie said.
    Carole regarded her quizzically.
    “You mean she isn’t?” Stevie asked.
    “I don’t think so,” said Carole. “Look, we’re her best friends in the whole world. She was with us for what, like, three hours before she finally told us. She announced itlike she was telling us they were having chicken for