Ride Like the Wind

by Stan

  “Oh, a couple hundred times,” said Ms. Toni with a smile. “Come. I want to show you something.”

  She led Sister to the picture that showed her standing on a galloping horse.

  “I used to be a trick circus rider,” she said. “I did all the tricks and I took all the falls.”

  “Ms. Toni!” said Sister. What was this? Who was the horse Ms. Toni was standing on? “That horse looks like Old Bess!”

  “It is,” said Ms. Toni. “She was Young Bess then. We grew up together. I brought her with me from the circus.”

  “You know something? She didn’t look so sad back then,” said Sister. “Ms. Toni?”

  “Yes?”

  “Why does Old Bess look so sad?” asked Sister.

  “Because she is sad,” said Ms. Toni.

  “Is it because she misses the circus?” asked Sister.

  “No,” said Ms. Toni. “It’s because she misses him.” She pointed to another picture.

  It showed Old Bess with a young horse. He was beautiful. He was red. He was the color of fire.

  “Bess foaled when I brought her here,” said Ms. Toni.

  “What’s foaled?” asked Sister.

  “It means Old Bess had a baby,” said Ms. Toni.

  “A baby!” said Sister.

  “And she’s sad because he’s gone,” said Ms. Toni.

  “Did he get sick and die?” asked Sister.

  “No,” said Ms. Toni. “He got sick of stable life and ran away. He was a mustang.”

  “What’s a mustang?” asked Sister.

  “Mustangs are wild horses,” explained Ms. Toni. “They don’t like saddles or bridles or reins. They don’t even like to be ridden. They like to run free.”

  “Where did he go?” asked Sister.

  Ms. Toni pointed to the mountains outside the window. “We think he went there,” she said sadly.

  “Gee,” said Sister. “I’d be sad, too, if I had a baby and he ran away.”

  “I don’t think that’s anything you have to worry about,” said Ms. Toni. “At least, not for a while. Well, what do you say? Do you want to try those jumps?”

  “Sure,” said Sister.

  Sister and Old Bess cleared the jumps like real pros.

  A lot happened that day.

  It was a day to remember.

  But the thing she remembered most was the fiery red horse that ran away.

  Sister had a dream that night.

  Ms. Toni was in it. Only she wasn’t wearing her riding clothes.

  She was wearing tights and a tutu. She sparkled.

  She had a long training whip. Only it wasn’t black. It was gold.

  Snooty Sally was in the dream.

  She was wearing fancy riding clothes. They were so fancy they glowed.

  Sister was in the dream.

  She was wearing rags.

  There was going to be a four-mile race. Sister on Old Bess against Sally on Midnight.

  It would be a race with jumps. They were like the jumps in the lesson. Only they were much, much bigger.

  Ms. Toni held up the training whip. But it stopped being a whip. It turned into a starter’s gun.

  Bang!

  The race was on!

  Sally and Midnight were off like a shot.

  Sister and Old Bess were off like a snail.

  Snooty Sally looked back and laughed.

  “Get a horse!” she cried.

  It was going to be awful. Sister and Old Bess would lose by a mile.

  But something happened.

  Something strange.

  A thing that can happen only in a dream.

  Old Bess turned into her son, the wild horse.

  He ran like the wind. He flew over the jumps.

  Sister’s rags turned into fancy riding clothes.

  Sister won the race.

  She looked back.

  Snooty Sally had knocked over all the jumps. Her clothes had turned into rags. Midnight was no longer a horse. He had turned into a broken-down car.

  “Get a horse!” cried Sister in her sleep.

  She woke herself up.

  Sister knew it was a dream.

  She wished it wasn’t.

  How, oh how, oh how she wished it wasn’t.

  That snooty Sally! I showed her, thought Sister.

  But it was only a dream. The real four-mile race was coming soon. Then she’ll show me.

  Snooty Sally and Midnight would win by a mile. Sister and Old Bess would be dead last.

  Sister got out of bed. She went over to the window and looked out.

  There was a full moon. It shone on the far mountains.

  The next day was a school day.

  A regular school day.

  Sister was in her regular seat at her regular desk.

  But she was a million miles away.

  “Sister,” said Teacher Jane.

  “Huh, er, yes,” said Sister.

  “It’s as if you’re a million miles away,” said Teacher Jane.

  “Er, yes, ma’am,” said Sister.

  “I do wish you’d pay better attention,” said Teacher Jane.

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Sister.

  The class giggled.

  “I asked you to go to the board.”

  Sister went to the board.

  There was an arithmetic problem.

  It wasn’t a hard problem. It was just some numbers to add up. Sister added them up.

  “Correct,” said Teacher Jane. “Only I don’t like calling on you twice. Please don’t let your mind wander again.”

  More giggles from the class.

  Sister went back to her seat. She tried not to let her mind wander.

  But it wasn’t easy.

  She had a lot on her mind.

  There was the dream she had last night.

  It was lovely. But it was only a dream.

  And today was a riding day.

  That was good.

  But it was also a race day.

  That was bad.

  Not the four-mile race. That wasn’t until the weekend.

  The race that was happening today was the mile-long one.

  That was bad enough.

  Once again, she and Old Bess would come in last.

  Dead last.

  Once again, snooty Sally and Midnight would lord it over her and Old Bess.

  Sister hated it.

  Old Bess hated it, too. When they went around the track, Old Bess tried to head off into the woods.

  Maybe she should skip riding today. But it would look as if she was chickening out after her fall.

  Her backside still hurt a little.

  “Sister,” said Teacher Jane.

  “Er, yes, ma’am,” said Sister.

  “I don’t know what’s got into you,” said Teacher Jane. “The bell rang a minute ago and you’re still sitting there.”

  Sister looked around the room. She and Teacher Jane were the only ones there.

  It was time to go race.

  Sister thought about her dream.

  If only dreams came true, she thought.

  But they didn’t.

  Losing to Midnight and snooty Sally was going to be a real nightmare.

  Saddle Sam led the riders out of the stable. Sally and Midnight were first in line.

  Jill and Gravy were second.

  Gwen and Silver were third.

  Sister and Old Bess were last—just the way it would be in the race.

  Phooey on the race!

  Phooey on coming in dead last!

  The race began.

  Sister knew what would happen.

  It would be the same thing that happened the race before.

  And the race before that.

  Snooty Sally and Midnight would win. She and Old Bess would come in dead last.

  What good was being the best rider if you always came in last?

  What good was being leader of the pack if you lost every race?

  But then something strange happe
ned.

  Something that had never happened before.

  When Old Bess came to the turn, she left the track.

  She went straight ahead.

  She crashed through the woods.

  What was happening?

  Was Old Bess chickening out?

  Sister didn’t think so.

  The woods gave way. They were on a rocky path. It went up. They went up for a long time.

  It was as if Bess had been here before. It was as if she knew where she was going.

  It was windy.

  It was getting cold.

  Sister wished she had her Windbreaker.

  Old Bess twisted and turned as she climbed higher and higher.

  Sister looked back. Ms. Toni’s Riding School and Stable was far below.

  Sister was starting to get a little scared. But she trusted Old Bess. She knew Old Bess wouldn’t let anything bad happen. Where were they going?

  There were rocks all around.

  The air was crisp and clear.

  They were in the foothills of the far mountains.

  The late afternoon sun was like a fireball in the sky. It was making long shadows.

  It was getting late. Sister was beginning to get really worried.

  “Hey, Bess,” she said. “Where are you taking me?”

  Bess stopped.

  She raised her head and whinnied.

  Her whinny echoed through the mountains.

  There was an answering whinny.

  It echoed back through the mountains.

  The cool mountain air was filled with the echoing cry of horses.

  It gave Sister goose bumps.

  She looked up.

  There on a rocky crest stood the most beautiful horse she had ever seen.

  It was the wild horse.

  He was almost red. His mane and tail looked like fire in the afternoon sun. He was coming to meet them!

  He was even more beautiful up close.

  Flame. That’s what I’ll call him, thought Sister as he galloped toward them.

  Flame was glad to see his mother.

  She was glad to see him.

  They nuzzled.

  They rubbed against each other.

  He stood side by side with Old Bess.

  “Hey, you’re squashing my leg,” said Sister. She pulled her leg up out of the way.

  The mustang wanted Sister to do something.

  So did Old Bess.

  But what?

  Suddenly Sister knew what they wanted her to do. They wanted her to ride him!

  But how could she do that?

  Flame had no saddle.

  Flame had no stirrups.

  Flame had no reins.

  But he was so fast and so beautiful.

  She had to try to ride him.

  She slowly slipped off Old Bess.

  She slid onto Flame. Off they went.

  Sister hugged him with her knees. She leaned forward. She held on to his mane.

  He ran like the wind.

  What a ride!

  What a thrill!

  It was almost like flying.

  Oh, for a horse like Flame.

  Sister looked back. She pretended she saw Sally and Midnight. She pretended it was a big race. She and Flame were winning.

  Sister cried, “Get a horse, Sally! Get a horse!”

  Her cry echoed through the mountains. “Get a horse! Get a horse! Get a horse! Get a horse!”

  Flame slowed down. He turned around. He trotted back to where Old Bess was waiting. He leaned against Old Bess. It was time to go back. Sister climbed back onto Bess.

  Flame and Old Bess said good-bye. They nuzzled. They rubbed against each other.

  Sister leaned over and patted Flame on the neck. Flame snorted and whinnied.

  Off he went, running like the wind.

  “Good-bye, Flame!” called Sister.

  Old Bess turned. Back they went. Back down the rocky mountain path.

  They met Ms. Toni and the others. They were on their way back from the mile race.

  “What happened to you?” asked Ms. Toni.

  “Oh, Old Bess and I didn’t feel like racing today,” said Sister.

  But Ms. Toni saw something. She saw that Old Bess’s eyes weren’t sad anymore.

  The day of the four-mile race came.

  They would race through the woods.

  Saddle Sam led the horses and riders out of the stable.

  Sally and Midnight couldn’t wait for the race to start.

  Sister and Old Bess wished the race would never start.

  Saddle Sam had tied rags to trees to mark out the course.

  They would race to the far side of the woods and back. The winner would get a silver cup. It was called the Four-Mile Cup.

  Sister felt sad as she and Old Bess headed out.

  She felt sad for herself. But mostly she felt sad for Old Bess.

  Sally and Midnight would surely win.

  She and Old Bess would surely come in last.

  Ms. Toni was waiting at the starting line.

  Moms, dads, sisters, and brothers were there, too.

  It was time to line up for the start.

  Saddle Sam had a starter’s gun.

  When they lined up to start, something strange and wonderful happened.

  There was a whinny.

  The wild horse with the mane and tail like fire trotted out of the woods.

  “It’s Flame!” shouted Sister.

  Everybody gasped.

  Flame came over and leaned against Old Bess.

  Sister knew what she had to do. She slid over onto Flame.

  The starter’s gun went off—bang!

  Gwen’s horse, Silver, was fast.

  Jill’s horse, Gravy, was very fast.

  Sally’s horse, Midnight, was very, very fast.

  But Flame was faster than fast.

  Flame was lightning.

  Flame was the wind.

  Sister held on to his mane.

  She squeezed him with her knees.

  He flew over the fences.

  He sailed over the streams.

  He danced over the rocks.

  Sister looked back.

  Sally and Midnight were far behind.

  Jill and Gravy were very far behind.

  Gwen and Silver weren’t even in sight.

  Sister and Flame reached the far turn.

  They headed back.

  They passed Sally and Midnight on the way.

  “Get a horse!” shouted Sister.

  The finish was just ahead.

  A cheer went up as Sister and Flame crossed the finish line!

  Flame nuzzled Old Bess.

  Old Bess looked happy.

  Ms. Toni looked happy.

  Saddle Sam looked happy.

  But snooty Sally didn’t look happy as she and Midnight crossed the finish line.

  She didn’t look happy at all.

  “No fair! No fair!” she shouted. “Sister didn’t ride her own horse.”

  “Sally’s right,” said Ms. Toni. “The cup goes to Sally.”

  But Sister didn’t mind. Sister didn’t need a cup. She knew who really won the race. Everybody knew.

  A cheer went up for the real winners.

  “Sister and Flame! Sister and Flame! Sister and Flame!”

  Flame rubbed against Old Bess. They nuzzled. They whinnied good-bye.

  Then Flame trotted back to the wild.

  As time went on, Sister became a fine rider. She rode many horses in many shows and many races.

  But she would never forget what it was like to ride like the wind.

  Excerpt from The Berenstain Bears and the Red-Handed Thief

  Chapter 1

  The New Teacher

  Rumors were as much a part of Bear Country School as walls and windows, bells and buzzers, homework and report cards. There were rumors about Too-Tall maybe getting suspended for his latest prank. There were rumors about a longer school day. There were r
umors about almost anything. The latest rumor was about a new teacher coming to the school.

  “What’s the new teacher’s name?” Brother Bear called to Cousin Freddy. They were playing catch after school on the school’s baseball field. Brother crouched at home plate. His catcher’s mitt was ready. Freddy wound up for the next pitch. WHACK. Freddy’s fastball landed in Brother’s mitt.

  “Don’t know,” said Freddy.

  “Strike one,” said Brother. He threw the ball back to Freddy and signaled for a curveball. “Well, is the new teacher a grade teacher or some kind of special teacher?” he asked.

  SMACK. Freddy’s curveball zipped across home plate into Brother’s mitt. “Don’t know,” called Freddy.

  “Strike two,” said Brother. He signaled for a slider. “Well, is it a man or a woman?” he asked.

  “Don’t know.” POP.

  “Strike three!” cried Brother. “You’re out, Freddy.”

  “What do you mean, I’m out?” yelled Freddy. “The batter’s out!”

  “No, you’re out,” said Brother. He tossed the ball back. “I asked you three easy questions about the new teacher, and you missed every one. Three strikes and you’re out. What’s with you, Freddy? You usually know everything that’s going on in school.”

  Freddy shrugged.

  Just then Sister Bear came running toward the baseball diamond. She stopped beside Brother at home plate and waved to Freddy to come over. She seemed very excited. “Hey, guys,” she said. “I’ve got all the info on the new teacher!”

  “Name?” asked Brother.

  “Mr. Dweebish,” said Sister.

  “Grade or special?” asked Freddy.

  “Special.”

  “Subject?” asked Brother.

  “Social studies,” answered Sister.

  “Ugh!” Freddy groaned. “Another social studies teacher! They’re all the same.”

  “Yeah, all boring,” said Brother.

  “Not Mr. Dweebish,” said Sister.

  “Another rumor,” said Brother. “I can feel myself falling asleep in class already.”

  “No rumor!” said Sister. “This is straight from Teacher Jane. And she should know. Mr. Dweebish is from Bear Country University, and he’s here to teach a special class. It’s an experiment for just one hour a day in just one of the classes. If it works, Mr. Dweebish will teach one hour a day in all the classes next year.”