Winter Wonderland #5

by Sue Bentley

  His face crumpled with relief. “Preeti!”

  Almost there! Preeti kicked out strongly with her feet and skidded toward him. Yes! Her fingers closed on a wet sleeve. “Got you!”

  She took a firm hold, pulled with all her strength, and hauled Viren out. He collapsed in a wet heap on the ice beside her.

  For a moment she lay there, panting. Viren was shivering badly.

  A magical fleecy blanket of shimmering rainbow mist settled warmly around them both. “Quickly, while he is still confused. Lift him onto my back,” Comet neighed softly.

  Preeti was worried that Viren would be too heavy for her. But as she scooped him up in her arms, she found that he was as light as a feather, and she mounted Comet easily.

  With a burst of violet sparkles, Comet made them all invisible before he sprang into the air. His giant leap carried them high above the frozen lake. Then, landing on the shore, he bore them home at nearly the speed of light.

  Preeti hardly had time to catch her breath before she found herself inside the warm barn. Moments later, she was standing beside Comet, looking down at Viren, who lay on the clean straw.

  Her brother sat up, rubbing his eyes as if he was waking from a dream. “What . . . what just happened?” Viren blinked up at her in surprise. “I . . . I don’t get it. How did I get back here?”

  “I managed to grab you and pull you out of the water. You were in a bit of a daze, but you managed to walk home with me,” Preeti improvised quickly. “It was lucky I was at the park and saw you fall through the ice. What were you doing there, anyway? You know you’re not allowed to go off by yourself. If Mom and Dad find out about this, you’re toast!”

  Viren’s face clouded. “You won’t tell them, will you?” he pleaded.

  “I haven’t decided yet. Why were you at the park, anyway?” she asked him.

  Viren hung his head and looked sorry for himself. “After I got back from Grandma’s friend’s house, I came to see Comet. But he wasn’t in the barn! When I couldn’t find you, either, I went to look for him by myself. I thought he might go to the park because there was grass there to eat.”

  Preeti nodded. It kind of made sense.

  She felt a stir of guilt. This was partly her fault. She could have invited Viren to help her look after Comet, instead of always trying to avoid him. And maybe if she and Comet had come back earlier, none of this would have happened. Viren had been brave to try to find the lost pony all by himself.

  “What about you? Why were you there?” Viren demanded. “I thought you were supposed to be doing your homework.”

  “I was. But I finished it. So I went for a walk,” Preeti fibbed. “Anyway, never mind that. The main thing is that you’re okay now.”

  Viren didn’t challenge her. He gave a subdued nod and then stood up and brushed himself down. A grin spread over his face. “Comet came back, didn’t he? So that’s all right! He likes living here with us!” Viren reached up to put both arms around Comet’s neck and buried his face against the warm gray-brown skin.

  The magic pony swung his head down and gently butted the little boy’s arm. “Yes. I like it here,” he neighed softly, although Viren only heard normal pony noises.

  Preeti waited until Viren had finished cuddling Comet. She was pleased to see that the color had come back to her brother’s face and that he seemed none the worse for his frightening experience on the ice.

  “I think you should go and get out of those wet clothes before Mom starts asking awkward questions, don’t you?” she suggested gently.

  “Okay!” Viren didn’t need to be told twice. “Thanks for not tattling, sis!” He rushed at her and gave her a swift damp hug before running out.

  Preeti stared after him. A smile curved her lips. Viren could be annoying sometimes, but he could be sweet, too. Besides, he was the only brother she had.

  At last it was Holi Eve. The evening was clear and very cold and still.

  A colorful feast was spread out in the house. Preeti’s mouth watered at all the delicious smells. She stood looking into the garden, where she could see Viren and her dad putting the finishing touches to the bonfire.

  Her brother saw her looking and waved. Preeti smiled and waved back. They had been getting along better since what had happened in the park.

  She decided to quickly slip down to the barn. This might be the only chance she got to spend a few moments alone with Comet this evening. She helped herself to a big rosy apple from the fruit bowl in the kitchen. After quickly slicing it, she slipped it into her pocket.

  Earlier, she had pushed candles into the snow to encircle the small lawn close to the house. As she walked past, their light flickered onto the snow pony that she and Viren had made over a week ago.

  Grandma was right. In this freezing weather, it had lasted well.

  Preeti reached the barn and went inside to where the magic pony was waiting. At the sight of him, a warm glow spread through her. He was her special secret, and she’d never tell anyone about him.

  “Greetings, Preeti,” Comet whinnied, turning to look at her.

  She smiled as she reached up to stroke him in the sensitive place between his eyes. “I’ve got something for you.” She took out the apple and fed it to him slice by slice.

  Comet crunched it up in his strong teeth. “Delicious.”

  “Our friends and relatives will be here soon,” she told him. “I can’t wait for them to see you. In a little while we’ll say prayers and light the fire. Then we throw offering of coconuts, popcorn, and rice into the flames. You’ll love celebrating Holi with us!”

  Comet nodded, his deep-violet eyes shining. He knew Destiny would have loved it, too.

  Preeti smiled at him. She went over to the rabbit and guinea pig cages where there was a pile of old blankets, which she used to cover them at night. She shook out the cleanest one and brought it over.

  “This will keep you warm,” she said, placing the blanket on Comet’s back.

  “Thank you, Preeti,” he neighed as she led him out of the barn.

  Sounds of laughter and voices raised in greeting reached them. She caught a glimpse of jewel-bright saris through the lit-up windows. Viren was running excitedly through garden toward the house.

  “Everyone’s here!” Preeti exclaimed excitedly. “Come on, Comet, let’s go and meet them.”

  Comet had taken only a few steps when he suddenly froze. Preeti heard a sound she’d been both hoping for and dreading.

  The hollow sound of hooves galloping overhead.

  “Destiny!”

  Comet ran straight at the ranch-style garden gate. He sailed over it and into the alleyway, following the magical hoofbeats, which sounded louder and closer.

  Preeti ran after him. Her heart raced as she opened the gate and flung herself through it. She knew that this time Comet was leaving for good, and she was going to have to be very strong and let him go.

  There was a violet flash, and a twinkling rainbow mist floated down around Comet. He stood there in his true form, a grey-brown pony no longer, but a magnificent magic pony with a noble head, a cream coat, and spreading gold-feathered wings. His golden mane and tail flowed down in shimmering silky strands.

  “Comet!” Preeti gasped. She had almost forgotten how beautiful he was. “I . . . I hope you catch Destiny. I’ll never forget you!” she said, her voice breaking.

  Comet turned to look at her for one last time, his eyes clouded with sadness. “I will not forget you, either. You have been a good friend. Ride well and true,” he said in a deep musical neigh.

  There was a final flash of violet light, and a silent burst of rainbow sparkles drifted down around Preeti in frozen snowflakes that tinkled as they hit the ground. Preeti gulped back tears, feeling as if her heart would break. She had known he would have to leave one day, but she couldn’t believe it had happened so fast.

  Something glittered in the snow. It was a single shimmering gold wing feather. Reaching down, she picked it up. It tingled against her
palm as it faded to a cream color. She slipped it into her pocket, knowing she would treasure it always as a reminder of the wonderful adventure she had shared with the magic pony.

  Then, as she turned and went back into the garden, she saw Viren running toward her. “I came to get you! Where’s Comet?” he cried.

  “His . . . his owner turned up and took him away in a truck,” Preeti said, wiping her eyes.

  “Oh.” Viren’s small face crumpled. “I’m going to miss him a lot.”

  She put her arms around him, suddenly feeling like a grown-up big sister. It was a new feeling, and she kind of liked it. “I know. Me too,” she said, wiping her eyes. “But Comet never belonged to us, not really. We always knew he’d go back to the family who loved him as much as we did.” The Lighting Herd on Rainbow Mist Island, Preeti thought sadly.

  Viren nodded. “But I wanted him to stay forever!”

  “Me too,” Preeti said again gently. On impulse she bent and kissed his cheek.

  “Yuck!” Viren scrubbed it away with his hand.

  “Hey!” Preeti gave him a friendly nudge and he gave her a wobbly smile in return.

  They walked toward the house hand in hand. Friends and relatives waved and called to them. Laughter and singing floated out of the open door.

  “Happy Holi! Happy Holi!”

  The snow pony sparkled in the candlelight and seemed to turn toward Preeti and swish its tail. She felt herself smiling through her tears. Take care, Comet. Thanks for being my friend. I hope you catch up with Destiny and take her home with you.

  Sue Bentley’s books for children often include animals, fairies, and wildlife. She lives in Northampton, England, and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and watching the birds on the feeders outside her window. She loves horses, which she thinks are all completely magical. One of her favorite books is Black Beauty, which she must have read at least ten times. At school she was always getting told off for daydreaming, but she now knows that she was storing up ideas for when she became a writer. Sue has met and owned many animals, but the wild creatures in her life hold a special place in her heart.