Let’s go I’m dying to hear the news But Butterscotch had other ideas When he saw Silver Moon he whinnied softly as he dipped his head into the stall and nuzzled her True love I said Ainsley attached a lead rope to Minka’s halter True love can wait We’re late Cassidy stood with her hands shoved in her pockets Which horse are you taking asked Ainsley Cassidy stiffened and shifted her weight from foot to foot You could hang with us I said Silver Moon won’t mind Cassidy let out a long sigh Thanks She reached up and tucked a strand of my hair under my hijab It was something my ammi would often do My stomach fluttered I miss my ammi I blurted out My mom is so far away 10
Ainsley and Ryleigh glanced at each other Call her said Cassidy Ainsley rolled her eyes You’re not gonna whine about missing your parents now are you We’re late My heart was heavy I’ve never whined about missing anyone before Call them repeated Cassidy She can’t said Ryleigh They’re in Pakistan on a business trip But they’re also celebrating Maha’s wedding I said She’s my cousin I tied the end of the ribbon together and swatted a fly away from Silver Moon’s ear My parents are doctors They’re working most of the summer in a lab They said it’s not a pleasure trip But going to a wedding sounds like a pleasure doesn’t it Everyone nodded I cried when they said I couldn’t go My ammi told me to save my tears for the hungry and the 11
poor She said I’d be with my camp friends and horses and would have my own fun Cassidy rubbed her stomach I’m hungry You can cry for me I rubbed my eyes and pretended to cry like a baby Wahhhhhhhhhhh Wahhhhhhhhhhh Wahhhhhhhhhhh We both giggled so much that Silver Moon snorted Ryleigh chimed in I’m going to be poor My boots are tight and I need new ones You can cry for me too So Ryleigh Cassidy and I rubbed our eyes and wailed Wahhhhhhhhhhh Wahhhhhhhhhhh Wahhhhhhhhhhh We laughed even harder this time Ainsley looked at her watch Puh-leaze Stop squawking crybabies Then she dropped Minka’s lead and pretended to cry too We laughed until we couldn’t breathe anymore 12
