Free Sammi and Dusty by Jessie Williams Page B

old oak and horse chestnut trees in the paddock casting long shadows over the grass. As the others began to pack away the picnic, he wasn’t sure he could move! And he certainly didn’t want to. Life at City Farm was so special. He looked around at all the faces that had welcomed him – especially Jack, Asha and Dusty. In a short space of time, he had become part of this little community. At last, he felt like he belonged.

Chapter Eleven

    That evening, Sammi sat down with the books that Jack had given him. He had already finished one of them, and he was over halfway through a second one. Jack was right – they were quite easy to read, but the stories weren’t too boring. In fact, they were exciting adventures that made him want to carry on, and he found he was whizzing through the pages. If he finished this one tonight, he’d be able to return it to Jack in the morning.
    His mum came to sit next to him. ‘Are these books from school?’ she asked him.
    Sammi looked up. ‘Not really,’ he said. ‘They’re from Jack. He’s in my class at school, but we weren’t friends until we met at City Farm.’
    ‘City Farm, City Farm!’ smiled his mum. ‘That’s all you want to talk about these days. Well, I’m very happy. And I have something to tell you.’
    ‘What kind of thing?’
    ‘Our neighbour came round today,’ said his mum. ‘The woman from Pakistan. I couldn’t understand everything she said, but I worked out that she’s going to City Farm tomorrow. She suggested we go there together. What do you think?’
    ‘Mum! That’s a great idea,’ said Sammi. ‘She speaks really good English. You’ll learn a lot from her!’
    ‘Yes. Maybe she’ll become a friend. That would be good for me, I think.’
    Sammi grinned at her. Of course his mum needed friends here in England, just as much as he did.
    * * *
    Sunday 12 October dawned at last – the day that everyone was dreading. Sammi got to City Farm early. His mum would be along later with Giti and their neighbour, but he wanted to be there to see Dusty, check on what was happening and see if there was anything he could do to help.
    Rory and Jack were already at work, milking the goats as usual. The animals still had to be looked after properly, even if they were going to move from their homes very soon. Sammi watched Jack struggle with the buckets, and jumped forward to help him. Jack grinned at him.
    ‘I finish two books,’ Sammi told Jack proudly, as they walked across the yard towards the barn. ‘I bring them back for you today.’
    ‘That was quick!’ said Jack. ‘D’you want some more, afterwards? I don’t have any myself but there are loads in the library.’
    ‘The what?’ Sammi hadn’t heard the word before.
    ‘Li-bra-ry,’ said Jack slowly. ‘It’s where you can borrow books to read. We can go there together sometime, if you like.’
    ‘I would like that,’ agreed Sammi. ‘Thanks, Jack.’
    As they swung open the barn’s creaking wooden door, Kerry was standing behind her desk, looking nervous. She was holding a piece of paper and muttering to herself, turning the paper away and then muttering again.
    ‘What’s going on, Kerry?’ asked Jack.
    Kerry gave a big sigh. She ran a hand over her braids, then fiddled with one of the silver beads that dangled from them. ‘I’m just practising my speech,’ she told them. ‘I think it’s really important that we explain to everyone what City Farm is all about, and how much it’s contributed to our community.’
    ‘A speech! That sounds scary,’ said Jack.
    ‘Too right it’s scary,’ agreed Kerry.
    Just then, the barn door burst open again and Asha rushed in.
    ‘Kerry, Derrick Jarvis is here! And he’s got a big CLOSED sign in his car – I don’t know what he’s going to do with it...’
    ‘Has he indeed? Right. I’ll deal with him. Come on.’ Kerry put her speech down and led everyone outside. A group of council workers were gathering in the car park, some with yellow