Llama Drama Read Online Free Page B

with a brain must see that!

    Even though the three didn’t entirely deserve his support, Lewie called over, “Hey, guys! Good luck for later. Break a leg!”
    Leo and Lamar stopped and turned on Lewie.
    â€œOh, thanks a lot!” brayed Leo. “I bet you’d love that, if we broke a leg!”
    â€œHe’d like us out of the competition,” agreed Lamar.
    â€œNow he’s the big
Guard Llama
,” scoffed Latisha.
    The three llamas honked and brayed for a few minutes, working off all their own anxiety. When they finally quietened down, Liberty pointed out that Lewie had actually been trying to be nice.
    â€œI really was,” Lewie said, stunned by their reaction. “You’re all bound to win. The important thing now is just to relax and …
be yourselves
.”
    The three llamas felt a little foolish. They muttered something quietly so that it barely reached Lewie, but Liberty repeated it loudly. “They said, ‘Thanks, Lewie!’”
    â€œGood luck to you too, Liberty!” Lewie added. His sister was entered for
Best Newcomer
. “You’ll knock the judge’s socks off.”
    Farmer Palmer arrived then to give his llamas a final groom.
    He led Leo out first and as they passed Lewie’s pen, Lewie leaned over and whispered in his brother’s ear, “Who’s the greatest? Leo’s the greatest!”
    Leo smiled and walked tall as he strode into the arena. He felt invincible, like a giant. He pulled and pushed weights and carried heavy loads with ease. The judges soon voted him the strongest llama in his category. It was a drag that he would have to wait until the end of the week for
Best Llama in Show
to be judged, but Leo felt confident now that the big prize would be his. He swaggered back to his pen, wearing a huge red rosette.

    Lamar was led out next and Lewie gave him a smile too.
    â€œYou’ll be a sensation,” he told Lamar. “Just remember to keep your head up and your bottom in.”
    Lamar’s large bottom wasn’t his best feature. He tucked it under now and lengthened his neck. He too strode into the arena feeling like a winner. He patiently held his poses while the judges inspected his frame, his fleece and the straightness of his legs. Oh yes, he was a handsome animal all right.
    Lamar returned triumphant with his own huge red rosette, his usual high opinion of himself restored. When the others asked how it had gone, Lamar answered dreamily, “Oh, I was
sensational
.”
    Lewie smiled fondly; he was pleased to see his brothers’ success.
    Latisha was next. She was feeling the most nervous of all because she had so much more to remember.
    As Latisha passed Lewie’s pen she whispered, “Oh, Lewie, what if I forget everything?”
    â€œYou
won’t
forget,” said Lewie. “Just stay calm and remember not to pull on the halter.”
    This was Latisha’s weakness – she had a tendency to lead Mrs Palmer instead of the other way around. Although she tried not to, she still tugged at the halter now and then, which lost her a point or two, but she did win
Most Intelligent Llama
.
    And Liberty did well too, with all the different tasks she was given: walking backwards and forwards, up and down slopes, through arches, on and off blocks and neatly squeezing through incredibly narrow spaces without touching or knocking anything over. Liberty was awarded
Best Newcomer in Show
and Farmer Palmer told her how proud he was. “Now try not to escape and spoil things,” he added, smiling. Liberty blushed and looked away.
    When Lewie saw them all wearing their red rosettes, he felt so proud. He just wished Mama and Papa Llama could have been there to see it all too.
    Lewie could hear the cheering and the applause coming from the arena and it made him more excited to get out there himself. But Lewie had to be content for now with helping the sheep and lambs to practise and trying to