Free Sammi and Dusty by Jessie Williams Page A

Silky the cat! She made her way around everyone, rubbing herself against their legs and purring.
    ‘Oh! We haven’t got a treat for Silky,’ said Asha.
    ‘Don’t worry about that,’ said Bea. ‘One of the cream cakes tipped off a tray near the barn, and guess who licked up the cream?’
    ‘That’s all right then!’ giggled Asha. ‘We wouldn’t want you to miss out, Silky!’
    Rory reached for a big slice of pork pie. ‘Ah, this takes me back,’ he said, after munching a big bite. ‘I remember the early days, when we first opened the farm to visitors. It was a glorious summer, hardly rained at all! And there was old Mrs Davies who used to make chutney to go with the pies. Delicious, it was – we used to sell pots and pots of it.’
    ‘I remember that chutney,’ agreed Kerry. ‘She was famous for it! Such a pity she moved away.’
    Just then, Stanley the pony came over and butted Kerry with his soft nose. ‘Hello, Stanley!’ she greeted him. ‘I expect you remember your first days here too, don’t you?’ She began to explain to everyone what happened. ‘He was really lonely because his owner had died, and he’d been left on his own in his field,’ she said. ‘He was on his own here too, when he first came to us, and he hated it every time I left him – he’d call and call until I was out of sight. So I decided to come and eat my sandwiches with him at lunch time, to keep him happy.’
    ‘That must have been before Dusty arrived then,’ said Jack.
    ‘Oh yes, it was,’ said Kerry. ‘Dusty made a big difference to him. He might have seemed grumpy to us, but Stanley didn’t mind. They soon became great friends!’
    Sammi listened, then smiled. ‘You see,’ he said to everyone. ‘Dusty always useful. He help Stanley, and he help me.’
    Kerry laughed. ‘That’s true, Sammi! And I’m sure that with you next to him, he could become even more useful – he could start giving children donkey rides!’
    ‘I like that,’ declared Sammi. ‘Yes, I think that very good idea.’
    ‘I think you’re forgetting something,’ said Rory quietly.
    The picnic suddenly fell silent. Of course. Dusty might never get a chance to be so useful. This might be City Farm’s last day. Sammi felt a wave of sadness. Asha put her slice of cake back down on her plate, and looked glum. Jack frowned, and laid his head on his knees.
    ‘Now, come on, everyone,’ said Bea brightly. ‘This won’t do. Let’s take it a day at a time. Who knows what will happen? We’re having a lovely picnic and there are still some delicious cream cakes waiting to be eaten.’
    ‘Well said, Bea!’ said Kerry. ‘You can pass me one of those cakes, please!’
    They were all so busy chatting and eating that they didn’t notice what was happening behind Rory’s back. It was Sammi who noticed first.
    ‘Rory!’ he exclaimed. ‘See – the goats!’
    The greedy goats had spotted the cakes, just to the edge of the rug. And they were all gathered around it, tucking in!
    ‘Hey!’ yelled Rory, scrambling to his feet. ‘They’re not for you! You’ve had your treats. Shoo, shoo!’
    The goats snatched what they could before running off under the trees to join Curly and Lizzie, who were being much better behaved, happily eating grass.
    Rory sat down again, shaking his head. ‘Goats. You need eyes in the back of your head with them, you really do.’
    ‘I think all goats same,’ said Sammi. ‘In Afghanistan, they like eat everything too.’
    ‘Did they get many of those pastries?’ asked Bea. ‘Cheeky things. I spent ages making them!’
    ‘There’s a few they haven’t touched,’ said Rory. ‘Not many though!’
    ‘Never mind. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m full,’ said Kerry. ‘I don’t think I could eat another thing!’
    Sammi had to agree. He’d eaten a mound of sandwiches and three big slices of cake, all washed down with Rory’s delicious lemonade.
    The warm autumn day was drawing to a close, the