Chasing Dream by Dandi Daley Mackall Page A

The winners!
    Miss Hernandez hands out more math homework. Our teacher is in the middle of another pep talk, explaining to the class how important those tests are to us and the state of Missouri and the whole entire United States of America when the speaker system comes on.
    â€œWould somebody please find Ellie James?”
    I blink a few times to make sure I haven’t imagined this. I haven’t. I’m in my classroom staring at the speaker like everybody else.
    Slowly, kids turn and stare at me. Rashawn and Cassie look more worried than a pair of spooked horses.
    From the speaker, a squeal, or maybe a scream, is followed by a shuffling of feet. There’s a crash like a chair is being knocked over. Then I hear the voice of Principal Dwayne Fishpaw shouting, “ Now! Tell Ellie to come right this minute! There’s a horse in the library!”

2

    The Library
    â€œGo, Ellie!” Miss Hernandez opens the door. “That’s you!” she shouts like I might not have noticed our principal screaming my name over the classroom speaker.
    I’m halfway out of the room when Miss Hernandez changes her mind and calls me back. “Ellie, wait! Don’t forget your math assignments.”
    Colt grabs my books and papers and shoves them into my backpack. Then he runs up to the doorway. “I’ll take your stuff with me. And I’ll walk Ethan home after baseball practice. Good luck with Fishpaw.”
    I think I thank him. But I’m not sure. I’m too worried about what I’m going to find waiting for me in the library.
    I race down the hall. A kid can get yelled at for running in the hallway. But I figure compared to what they’ll do to a kid whose horse is in the library, running in the hall is nothing.
    Slowing to a fast walk, I spin around the corner. Two more steps and I’m at the Hamilton Elementary School library door.
    I send up a quick prayer without words because I don’t know what to say. Then I step inside.
    The first thing I see is our principal. He’s standing on a library table by the fairy tale section. Principal Fishpaw is the size of two regular dads. The tufts of hair on his head are sticking straight up. He’s wearing a suit and tie. His socks and sandals are in full view because he’s lifting his pant legs like water is rising.
    I start to say something to him, but then I spot my brother, Ethan. His class must be having library period. Second graders are scattered around under library tables and chairs. They’re giggling like kindergartners. Ethan is the tallest kid in his class and the only one not hiding under a table. He’s sitting board-straight in his chair, and he’s circling his fist on his chest. It’s the sign for sorry .
    Definitely not a good sign.
    I hear a nicker from somewhere behind me.
    Every other time I’ve heard that soft rumbling sound, it has made me happy. A nicker is a horse’s sign of friendship. It has always been my favorite greeting.
    Only not now.
    I turn, pretty sure about what I’ll see. “Dream! What are you doing here?”
    My sweet, beautiful, black-and-white pinto is standing in the corner of the library, right in front of the animal section.
    There is a very good chance that I’m imagining this whole entire day.
    I walk up to my horse. I touch the ear-shaped spot on her chest. No other horse on earth has a spot like this one. Yep. Definitely my mare.
    Dream nickers again and nuzzles me.
    One of the second-grade girls says, “Aw.” The rest giggle.
    Principal Fishpaw, still standing on the table, yells, “Ellie James, get that horse out of my school! Now!”
    â€œYes, sir. I-I-I don’t know how she got here. She can’t get out of my backyard. My dad made a super great fence and—”
    â€œYour dad?” Principal Fishpaw roars.
    I glance at Ethan. We both know Principal Fishpaw and my dad have history. Dad used to go to school here when