Free A Lot to Tackle by Belle Payton Page A

employment.’ That means if they like her, they’ll give her a job forever. How great would that be?”
    â€œMy mom loves art, and she used to be an elementary school teacher when we lived in Massachusetts,” Ava said. “It’s the perfect combination.”
    â€œIt’s more than perfect. Look at the name of the school. Rosewood Academy!” Kylie cried.
    â€œIs that the small private school with the red-tiled roof?” Ava asked.
    â€œExactly! And the principal, Mrs. Cookson, lives right down the road. Let’s go talk to her now.” Kylie tucked the newspaper under her arm and headed out of the barn.
    â€œHold up.” Ava ran after her. “I admire your can-do attitude—I haven’t seen a lot of that lately at my house—but don’t you think I should ask my mom first?”
    â€œWouldn’t it be so much cooler if you could go home and tell your mom that you already got her the job?” Kylie asked. She pointed to two bikes leaning against the side of the garage. “Mrs. Cookson is really nice.”
    Ava imagined her family’s faces when she announced that she’d solved their problem all on her own—and with a job that was perfect for her mom. If she did it now, Coach could relax about the big game. Winning would still be important, but the outcome wouldn’t decide her family’s future.
    Ava and Kylie pedaled single file down the long dirt road that ran alongside the ranch. Few cars traveled on this road. The flat farmland stretched for miles under the huge blue Texassky. Around a sharp bend, a small stucco house on a slight hill came into view. As they walked their bikes along a winding path bordered by cactus, Ava told Kylie about Corey and Lindsey.
    â€œI promised him that I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Ava confessed. But the secret had been bothering her. And not sharing it with Alex felt wrong.
    â€œWho am I going to tell?” Kylie asked. “I’m not close with those girls.”
    â€œYeah.” Ava had already considered this.
    â€œThis breakup is going to be huge. Everyone at school’s going to be talking about it. Are you going to warn Lindsey?” Kylie asked.
    Ava shook her head. “I don’t want to be involved. Besides, Corey and I are friends.”
    â€œYou’re taking Corey’s side. That makes you involved,” Kylie pointed out.
    â€œI’m not taking anyone’s side,” Ava insisted. A tall young woman rounded the house as they approached.
    â€œHello there!” she called in a husky voice. She wore a flowing white tunic embroidered with tiny flowers over a long skirt. Her light-brown hair hung down her back in a braid, and she carried a basket filled with large, ruffled green leaves. “Kylie, what a nice surprise. I just pickedthe last of the spinach from my garden. You can bring some home for your family.”
    â€œThanks, Mrs. Cookson.” Kylie introduced Ava.
    How can this woman be a school principal? Ava wondered. All the principals she’d ever met had been much older, and they wore boring, sensible suits and shoes. She glanced down at Mrs. Cookson’s blue-polished toenails peeking out from her sandals. Her school must be cool, Ava decided. Her mom would like that.
    As Mrs. Cookson led them inside her cozy house, Kylie explained that Ava’s mom was looking for a job as an art teacher. Ava wasn’t sure this was exactly true, but she didn’t want to tell a stranger that her dad might be fired. Mrs. Cookson didn’t make the Sackett connection, which was good. Ava doubted she was interested in football. Her kitchen was filled with Zen sayings and crystals.
    Ava told her everything she could think of about her mom. “She’s the most amazing artist. She can draw and paint. She’s super creative and has lots of energy. She used to teach in Boston. We moved to Ashland about four months ago.”
    â€œReally?”