A Hourse to Love by Marsha Hubler

stacks of folders on his desk, he leaned back in his plush swivel chair and folded his hands behind his frayed hair.
    “Miss Nicholson,” Mr. Bubbosco began, “you know you are here by pure luck. If it weren’t for the Chambers, you’d be serving time at Chesterfield.

    Frankly, I don’t know how many more chances this administration can give you. It depends completely on your attitude. Do you have anything to say?” Skye paused long enough to portray deep thought .
    Here we go , she schemed as she crafted an innocent smile.“Mr. Bubbosco, I’m real y gonna try my best this time.Honest. I don’t wanna get kicked out of here.”
    “I hope you’re leveling with me,” the principal said as though he real y wanted it to be true but knew it wasn’t. “I know the Chambers wil do al they can to help, but you’ve got to want it yourself. If you don’t straighten up you’l wind up behind bars, so you better get with the program!”
    Skye’s eyes turned moist. “I — I’m real y sorry,” she said, lying. “I promise I’l stay outta trouble. I’l . .
    .”
    “Fine and dandy,” the principal said, cutting her off.“I’l be watching you. Now get back to class and stay out of trouble.” He launched himself forward, his hands shooing her out as his face wore relief blended with a tired smile.
    Skye slipped out both doors faster than she went in. She quickly glanced at her watch. Class in five minutes.
    “Hey, Skye!” She heard a familiar voice she had longed to hear for two weeks.
    “Sooze! C’mere!” Skye said as loudly as she dared, and gestured toward the girl shuffling down the hal way.
    “I’m coming. I’m coming,” said the scrawny girl with big feet and bigger hips. “Where you been?”

    She punched Skye in the arm.
    “In prison! Not real y. I’ve been placed again. It’s awful. When we have more time, I’l tel you al about it.” Skye quickly looked around. “Where’s Kenny?” she asked, glancing beyond Sooze’s short, straight, mousy brown hair which was sticking out al over as usual.
    “Haven’t you heard?” Sooze’s thin lips and hol ow brown eyes answered in disbelief. “He got busted, big time last week. Bubba decided a hal monitor wasn’t enough, so he cal ed in a cop with his sniff dog. They found hard stuff in Kenny’s locker. This time his parents couldn’t buy his way out. He’s been sent upstate for at least eighteen months.” Her arms flung wildly from her cheap T-shirt.
    “How about you?” Skye pleaded as she looked behind her shoulder. “I mean — do you have anything?”
    “Yeah. Catch up with me at lunch. By the way, you stil owe me for the last time.” She cocked her right hand and pointed it in Skye’s face.
    “I know, I know. Just give me a little time. I’ve been as good as locked up in a box for two weeks. Give me a day or two; I’l get the cash.”
    “No. I need the money at noon today or no deal.” Sooze meant business.
    “Okay, okay. I’l see you at lunch. Don’t forget the stuff.”
    “Yeah, right. See you then.”
    In the cafeteria, Skye picked at her dried-up spaghetti as she sat next to Sooze.
    “Hey, can you get away after school today?” Sooze asked as she consumed a pile of French fries. “Tony wil have his car. He and Jeff want us to bum around with them at the mal .”
    Skye’s face was suddenly dark. “You know I can’t.I have that dumb programming at Maranatha. I real y wish I could.”
    “Bummer!” Sooze said and then guzzled her milk.
    “The woman — you know, Mrs. Chambers — said you’re welcome to come and ride the horses anytime, and you should see their basement. It’s fil ed with al kinds of neat stuff. We’d be under lock and key, but at least we could hang out together.”
    “When?”
    “She said any weekend would be fi ne. Just let her know ahead of time and get permission to ride the horses.That’s al .”
    “Cool. I know I can. Mom doesn’t care what I do,”Sooze said as her gaze swept the