Pony Problems Read Online Free Page A

she’s seen something suspicious,” Nancy said as they made their way around the pen.
    Amanda was busy painting. She was smearing a new coat of red paint on the top rung of the animal pen fence.
    â€œHi,” Nancy greeted Amanda. “We hear you’re new to town. I’m Nancy Drew and these are my friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne.”
    Amanda didn’t get off the ladder. She didn’t even look down at the girls. She just kept on painting.
    â€œWelcome to River Heights,” Bess said, reaching up and putting out her hand for Amanda to shake.
    Amanda didn’t shake Bess’s hand. She kept painting.
    George began to explain that they were investigating the mystery of Buttons’s visits to town.
    â€œShe won’t talk to you,” a voice behind themsaid. The girls turned to see Stacy standing behind them. “I’ve tried a thousand times. She won’t talk to me either,” she continued.
    Nancy felt weird talking about Amanda in front of her, but since Amanda wouldn’t say anything, Nancy asked Stacy, “Why won’t she talk?”
    Stacy gave Amanda a second to answer for herself, but Amanda simply dipped her brush in the red paint and silently swiped it along the fence.
    â€œMr. Johnson told me that Amanda doesn’t talk to any kids in River Heights. Not here at the petting zoo and not at school, either.”
    â€œIs she sick?” George asked.
    â€œNah. She just doesn’t talk. That’s all. She’s refused to say one word to any kids since the day she moved to River Heights. I guess she doesn’t want any new friends.” Stacy shrugged and pulled an apple out of her jacket pocket. “I still try every day.” Stacy turned to Amanda and said, “Hi. Want to go feed Buttons with me?” She held out the apple so Amanda could see it.
    When Amanda didn’t answer, Stacy said, “We have the exact same conversation every single day. I ask her to join me and she doesn’t answer. I keep hoping that one of these times, she’s going to take the apple and come into the pen with me. Until then, I’m feeding Buttons on my own. I just love that pony!” She called, “See ya!” over her shoulder as she ran toward the pen.

    When Stacy was gone, Nancy stepped closer to Amanda and said, “We’d like to be your friends.” Bess and George nodded their heads, totally agreeing.
    Amanda didn’t answer. She turned her eyes away so that Nancy couldn’t see them. Then, even though she hadn’t finished the fence rail, Amanda put the lid on her paint, tucked her paintbrush into her overalls pocket, picked up the small ladder, and walked away without saying a single word.

The phone at Nancy’s house rang early Sunday morning.
    â€œHello?” Nancy picked up the phone after Hannah told her the call was for her.
    â€œNancy?” It was George. “You’d better come over ASAP. You aren’t going to believe who is standing on my front lawn!”
    â€œIs it Bess?” Nancy was kidding. She knew right away it wasn’t Bess. George never got this excited about her cousin.
    â€œNo, it’s Buttons!” George thought Nancy was serious. She paused for a second as she thought about Nancy’s question. “You were kidding, right? You knew it was Buttons.” Nancy giggled and George laughed in return
    â€œGotcha! “Nancy said.
    â€œI’m going to call Bess now,” George said.
    â€œOkay. I’m on my way!” Nancy hung up, grabbed her purple notebook and pencil, and hurried downstairs. She paused to get permission to go to George’s. The very second her dad said it was okay, Nancy fled out the door and ran the three short blocks to George’s house.
    â€œHi, Bess. Hi, George. Hi, Buttons,” Nancy greeted the gang as she hurried up the front walkway. Bess and George were standing off to the side, watching the pony eat leaves off