Chapter 9
Talking It Out

“Dot! DOT!” Lily called. She and Bess ran across the pasture. Dot was standing in the middle of the grassy field.

“What?” Dot called back. She was holding Mojo’s halter and lead rope. “I have a lesson in twenty minutes. I’m running short on time today.”

“But it’s important!” Lily said, grabbing her friend’s arm. “Come on!”

“But…,” Dot argued.

“Trust me,” Bess said. “You need to see this.”

As they walked quickly toward the barn, Lily turned to her friend. “Mojo’s a pretty cool horse,” she said.

“I know,” Dot replied. “But I didn’t think you thought so. You didn’t seem to want me riding him at all.”

“Me?” Lily said, trying to sound innocent. Bess coughed. Dot gave Lily a look, and Lily sighed. “Okay, yeah. I’m sorry.”

Lily talks as Dot looks over at her doubtfully. Bess has her hands on her hips and looks at Lily with a disapproving expression.

“I’m still finding bits of hay in my helmet,” Dot said, narrowing her eyes.

“What? I… how did you find out?” Lily asked.

“She asked, and I told her,” Bess said. She shrugged.

“But why?” Dot asked, confused.

“I thought I was going to lose you,” Lily said. “I jumped to conclusions, and I was wrong.”

Dot looked even more confused. “Lose me? I don’t get it.”

“You will in a second,” Bess said. “We promise.”

The large sliding doors into the barn were closed. Lily and Bess each opened a side.

“SURPRISE!” everyone yelled. Miss Sophie, Dr. Ahmadi, Judy, Lily’s family, and all the other Starbright Stables students were there. They stood around a table set for a tea party. In the center was a huge cake. Hanging above was a banner that read, “WELCOME HOME, MOJO!” And Mojo was in the middle of everything! He had on a brand-new leather halter. The nose piece was woven with beads and Monster’s black horsehair. Mojo had never looked fancier.

“What… what’s going on?” Dot asked, shocked.

“This is your welcome home pony party!” Lily said.

Dot looks in surprise at several people gathered around Mojo in the barn.

“I still don’t get it,” Dot said. Her eyes were wide, taking everything in. She thought she knew what was going on, but was afraid to hope. “Who’s coming home?”

“Mojo’s yours,” Dr. Ahmadi said. “He’ll be living here at Starbright Stables. I can tell you that there’s no such thing as a perfect pony. But there is such thing as a perfect pony for you, Dot. And I think that Mojo is it.”

“Really, Dad?!” Dot cried. She rushed over to Mojo and gave him a huge hug. “This is the best day ever!”