Free Moo by Sharon Creech Page B

led Zora back to the ring
    and we entered
    like civilized partners
    and circled the ring
    without too much contrariness
    and she let me calm her with the show stick
    and she did not drop any plops of anything
    and she did not kick anyone or anything.
    As the judge moved along the row askingquestions
    I kept stroking Zora with the show stick
    praying that she would stay calm
    praying that she would not bolt.
    When the judge reached us, he said,
    You’re new at this?
    Yes.
    Are you nervous?
    Yes.
    Well, you don’t show it. That’s good.
    And you did a fine job regaining control
    of your animal earlier. I saw that.
    What’s her name?
    Zora.
    And when was she born?
    Fall of last year.
    And how much does she weigh?
    Eight hundred pounds.
    And who were her parents?
    Her . . . parents?
    Yes, what’s her lineage?
    Her . . . lineage? I’m sorry, sir,
    but I do not know.
    Well, you surprise me.
    This looks like a fine young heifer
    and I would think you’d want to know
    what her lineage is.
    My guess is that there’s a champion
    in there somewhere.
    Oh! Yes, wait. I think that’s right.
    I think she comes from
    a long line of champions.
    You think ?
    I’m new at this. I’m sorry.
    Don’t worry, next time you’ll know,
    won’t you?
    Yes, sir.
    Zora placed fourth out of nine
    and received praise from the judge
    for her fine proportions
    and good lines.
    And you , he said to me,
    have good posture and a nice smile
    and a good relationship with Zora.
    But—she bolted earlier—
    The judge patted Zora’s back.
    Oh, just a little stubbornness.
    The important thing is
    you didn’t lose your cool
    and you tried again.
    As we left the ring, I stroked Zora’s head
    and whispered to her
    Do you hear that?
    We have a good relationship.
    I was eager to see Zep and my family,
    and as I searched the crowd for them,
    I spotted a woman with a long, white braid
    but
    it was not
    Mrs. Falala.
    I felt sorry that she wasn’t there
    but then I told myself
    maybe she would have been
    disappointed.
    In Zora.
    In me.
    But there were others who were
    not disappointed.
    My parents’ smiles were so wide
    and my mom kept saying
    How do you do that?
    How did you learn all that?
    Luke ran up to me and hugged my waist
    and would not let go.
    It was so good, Reena. Wasn’t it good?
    Was it fun? Did you like it?
    Zep followed me
    as I returned to the stall with Zora.
    He leaned in close to her
    and stroked her head
    and looked her in the eyes
    and said
    You were riot good, Zora.
    Riot good.
    He turned to me and leaned in close
    and said
    You, too, Reena.
    You were riot good.

RIDES
    After all the Beltie events, Zora was loaded in the van with Yolanda and with the other animals from Birchmere Farm. Zep promised to resettle Zora and Yolanda back at Mrs. Falala’s, so Mom, Dad, Luke, and I stayed on at the fair.
    Luke wanted me to go on all the rides with him, and even though I felt too old for that, I went because Luke begged and because I secretly wanted to go on them anyway.
    Roller coaster! Tilt-A-Whirl! Even my parents joined us on the Ferris wheel. We were all laughing and loving the fair and it felt only right to also eat cotton candy and hot dogs. That’s what you do at the fair, right?
    It was nearly seven o’clock when we left.
    On the ride home, I thought about Zora and how well she’d done—once she got over her first bolting escapade—and I wanted to tell Mrs. Falala that. I asked my parents if we could stop there on the way, but just before we pulled in her drive, I changed my mind.
    What if she ruins it? I said.
    Mom turned to look at me. What do you mean, Reena?
    Well, it’s been such a good day. What if Mrs. Falala isn’t happy about something?
    Like what?
    I don’t know—like maybe that Zora bolted the first time and then only came in fourth in the breed event.
    Luke had been quiet on the ride home, drawing in his notebook, but