Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 A hand on his shoulder woke Dink from a sound sleep. The light next to his bed was on. The Black Stallion lay on the bedcovers, still opened. Through sleepy eyes, he looked into his uncle's face. "Morning, Donny," Uncle Warren said quietly. "Time to get up." "Hi, Uncle Warren," Dink said. "You boys have to hop to it," Uncle Warren said. "Forest wants to get on the road right after breakfast." He smiled at Dink and left the room. Dink tossed his pillow over at Josh's bed, then walked into the bathroom. Josh grumbled, but

soon they were both dressed and headed for the kitchen. Forest and Ruth Rose were sitting at the table eating oatmeal. Uncle Warren took a pot off the stove and filled bowls for Dink and Josh. "Everyone sleep all right?" Forest asked. "I did," Ruth Rose said. She spooned some brown sugar over her cereal. Today her color was purple: purple leggings, purple blouse, purple headband, purple sneakers. "Me too," Dink said. "Except for Josh's snoring all night." They ate quickly, then left the house and piled into Forest's car. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose sat in the backseat. They each had their books, and Josh had brought his pillow. Forest turned out of his driveway and drove through Larchmont. After making a few turns, he was on a wide highway. Dink saw a sign that said ALBANY, 120 MILES. A few hours later, they arrived in Saratoga Springs. Forest pulled his car into a parking lot.

They all climbed out of the car and stretched their legs. Under tall trees, Dink saw long green barns. Near the barns, men and women were grooming horses, feeding horses, exercising horses. There were horses everywhere! Ruth Rose took pictures of horses and one of a barn with the sun shining on the green wood. "Let's go find Sunny," Forest suggested. "She'll be in barn E. Stall number twenty-one." They cut through some trees, following a wide path. Barns stood on both sides of the path. Each barn had a large letter painted on one side. The gravel walkway was crowded with people. Some were walking horses; others were just looking. "There's barn E," Josh said, sprinting ahead.

Forest, Uncle Warren, and the kids found Sunny outside stall 21. She had one foot on a bale of hay and was buffing her riding boot with a cloth. A can of black boot polish sat on the floor. "Hi, Sunny," Forest said. Sunny wore white riding pants. Her silk racing shirt was green with yellow stripes on the arms. Circling her left arm was a cloth band with the number 21 stitched on. Her hair was tucked up under a hard hat covered in yellow silk. Ovalshaped goggles rested on the hat's visor.

Sunny dropped the cloth and smiled. "Hi, everyone," she said.

"Any problems?" Forest asked. "He didn't want to walk into the trailer this morning," Sunny said. "And he definitely didn't like me getting him ready once we got here." "Good morning, Whirlaway," Forest said to his horse. "Why are you giving Sunny a hard time, eh, boy?" Everyone peered into the stall. Whirlaway was standing in a corner with his eyes on the newcomers. "He looks terrific, Sunny," Forest said. "Nice job." Sunny had brushed Whirlaway's coat till it gleamed. The white tape she'd wrapped around his ankles looked snowy against his nearly black coat. "Why do you wear goggles?" Ruth Rose asked Sunny. "To protect my eyes," Sunny said. "During races, the horses in front of me kick up dirt. You should see me when I race in the rain. Totally covered in mud!" "What time is the race?" Dink asked. "We're in the second one," Sunny said. "Two o'clock."