Sliding On The Edge by C. Lee McKenzie

It’s been a while since
I lifted something. I feel that old tingle when I wrap my fingers
around the plastic bottle and take it down from the shelf. Remember
what Mom showed you, okay?
    Read the label.
    Put the bottle back.
    Take another one down.
    Read.
    Put this one back, but at the same
time shove the first one up your sleeve. Even the surveillance
cameras have a hard time seeing that maneuver.
    Now stroll.
    Take your time.
    Look at other stuff.
    Never rush.
    Start for the door.
    Turn back and look at something
else.
    Mom’s voice: “Think, I’ve got all the
time in the world.”
    “ Shawna?” It’s
Kay.
    “ Coming.” I’m so
obedient.
     

Chapter 23
    Shawna
     
    I name the black horse Magic. I once
read a novel about a kid named Magic. He made it out of the slums
and into big-league baseball, even after beatings left him with a
gimpy leg. The kid had real guts to go from being crippled to being
one of the best runners on the team. It was just a story, but I
liked it.
    Magic doesn’t exactly run to meet me
when I climb over the fence and onto Drunk Floyd’s property, but at
least he doesn’t keep his distance like he used to. He sidles up
slowly and noses my pockets for the apples I have tucked inside.
The other two still hang back, but I know they’ll come around as
soon as they get a taste of what Magic’s enjoying.
    I wait until Drunk Floyd’s car
disappears down the road, then climb the fence and drop down into
enemy territory. It’s another dynamic Sunday on the ranch, and
Floyd always goes into town Sunday, so that’s the day I have Magic
to myself for a few hours.
    Today I’m armed with the vitamins I
lifted last week when Kay hauled me to Rural Supply. I’ve seen
Kenny dose Kay’s horses with these giant pills, and her horses are
buffed critters, so I figure this bony old guy needs a power boost
and these pills might help.
    From Kay’s barn I grab a pan and some
of the gray’s special grain. In the bottom of the pan, I mash the
pills like I’ve seen Kenny do, and then stir the powder in water;
next I pour in the grain. Magic scarfs it all down and noses the
apple chunks out of my hand. I reach up and touch the white patch
on his forehead. He jerks his head back and snorts, like he’s
saying, “Hands off!”
    I wait until he comes up close again
for more apple, and then I stroke the same spot. He shakes his
head, but he doesn’t back away this time.
    “ You’ll get used to me. Just
like I’m getting used to you and all your cousins around this
place.”
    I’m concentrating so hard on getting
close to Magic that I don’t hear the car coming. When the door
slams, it’s too late to hide. Drunk Floyd is stomping across the
pasture toward me. Magic and the other horses vanish around the
side of the barn.
    “ I’m calling the sheriff
unless you get off my property and stay off!” he shouts.
    “ I just wanted—”
    “ You deaf?”
    “ You sober?” I yell
back.
    I figure he probably is sober for a
change, so now I don’t have the advantage I usually do. But I’m
faster than he is, so instead of trying to reason with the old
crab, I sprint to the fence and hurtle over it to the other
side.
    “ And you stay the hell over
there, you hear?” He waves his fist in my direction, and I consider
flipping him off, but change my mind. I’ll get him sometime when
he’s staggering all over the place.
    “ That was some scene.”
Sunday Boy is leaning on the rake and smiling at me from the
barn.
    “ Yeah. He’s a piece of work,
that guy.”
    “ What are you doing over
there, anyway?”
    I almost come back with, “What’s it to
you?” But I change my mind. “The horses. I sneak over once in a
while and give them something.”
    He nods. “Well, I got work to do. See
you around.”
    “ Wait!” That comes out
before I think. Now that he’s looking at me, I have to come up with
something to say. “I don’t know your name.”
    “ Nope. You don’t.” He goes
inside the barn.
    I