18 Billy Rides The Bull

Billy Rides the Bull written by John Lockyer illustrated by Enrique Vignolo

Billy was Karl's new friend. He took him to the rodeo to watch the rides. At one of the rides a girl on a horse went around a red barrel very fast. "Good ride!" said Karl. "She's okay," said Billy. "But I've done that before and I can go faster."

Billy saw a rider on a horse that bucked. "I've done that before and I can stay on longer," he said. Karl thought Billy was showing off. He said, "Are you good at all the rides?" Billy said, "Yes. I'm the best." Karl had an idea. "Come with me," he said.

The boys went into a big tent. A girl was riding a bull. Some men were pulling ropes to make the bull jump around. They pulled the ropes fast. The bull jumped up high. The girl jumped up high too and fell off. "Have you done this ride before?" asked Karl. Billy said, "No."

A man in a big brown hat wanted another rider. "Who is next?" he said. "Who will stay on the bull for eight seconds and win a prize?" Karl put up his hand. "Billy will ride the bull," he said. "He'll stay on for eight seconds! Billy's face went white.

The man said, "That girl was on for five seconds. Can Billy stay on longer?" Billy didn't want to ride the bull but he had to. He had told Karl he was a good rider. The girl in the big brown hat said, "Get set!" The man said, "Go! Pull the ropes!"