“
I have almost five hundred dollars saved.” Alison spoke slowly and deliberately.
This time Laura did pull away. “Five hundred dollars?” Her eyes were incredulous. “How did you ever save that much?” Then, before Alison could answer, Laura’s eyes widened again and she let out a faint squeal.
Mom half-turned to the back again, and Alison could tell that Laura was fighting to keep a normal look about her.
After Mom had resumed her road watching, Laura finally spoke. “Just think of all the things we can buy on vacation,” she spouted. “Cotton candy at the carnival, model horses, saltwater taffy, postcards…We can even ride all the rides, more than once!”
Alison shook her head and sighed again. “Let me remind you that this isn’t your money.”
“It is if you want me to keep it a secret,” Laura challenged.
“Why, you little rat!”
“Well, it’s mostly yours,” Laura conceded.
Alison rolled her eyes in exasperation. If she hadn’t needed her sister on her side she’d have been tempted to rap her. She tapped Laura on the top of her red head. “Think about it,” she prodded. “What could we buy with five hundred dollars?”
All at once a light filled Laura’s eyes. All right, Alison thought. Laura is finally awake!
“A pony!” The words slid from Laura in a hiss. “Are you going to buy a pony at the Pony Penning auction?”
This time it was Alison who settled back smugly in her seat. “Every year we ask Mom and Dad, and every year they say we can’t afford one,” she said softly. “Now I have the money. How can they possibly say no?
”
”
Lois K. Szymanski (Sea Feather)