Read Chocolate Box Girls: Coco Caramel for Free Online

stables are selling
Caramel!’ I explain. ‘It’s all my fault, and I thought that if we
could just buy her …’
    Mum holds her hands up. ‘Whoa, whoa, a
minute,’ she says. ‘Three things, Coco. First of all, if that pony is sold
on it won’t be your fault – she was clearly not suited to be a riding school
horse. Second, no, I’m really sorry, but we won’t have that kind of money –
we don’t have any money yet; we have to send the orders out first!
Third … well, if we did have the cash to buy a pony, I certainly
wouldn’t choose Caramel. She’s already thrown you once. I don’t think
she’s trustworthy!’
    ‘She is!’ I wail. ‘She is
the best pony in the whole world, and if we could just save her … Mum, I want
this more than anything! It could be all my birthday and Christmas presents from now
right up until I die, I swear! Please!’
    ‘Coco, listen –’
    ‘Will you think about it?
Please?’ I beg. ‘Just consider it? Maybe we could pay Jean and Roy in
instalments? You know I’ve always wanted a pony, and I love Caramel, I really do!
I will never, ever ask for anything again, truly.’
    A look passes between Mum and Paddy, a
quiet, thoughtful look that sets my heart racing. Maybe they really will consider
it?
    ‘We’ll talk about it
later,’ Mum says. ‘It’s a hugedecision, and there
are all kinds of reasons why now is not the right time for it, and really, you know
yourself that Caramel is not the kind of pony I’d choose. So we’ll think
about it, yes; we’ll talk about it; but that’s all. Don’t get your
hopes up, Coco, I am not promising anything.’
    I grin. ‘Thank you, Mum!’ I
whoop. ‘Thank you, Paddy!’
    I clink glasses with them again, cranking up
the volume on Mum’s iPod, so happy I think I might burst. OK, Mum hasn’t
said yes … but she hasn’t said no either. All is not lost!
    Mum starts to dance again, taking me by the
hand and dragging me up as well. The three of us are strutting our stuff to Abba’s
‘Dancing Queen’ when Cherry, Summer, Skye and Honey come in from school.
Their faces are serious, and they are all clutching big brown envelopes.
    I remember what Cherry said about the high
school reports being out today, and I have a strong feeling that the happy mood is about
to crash.
    Mum and Paddy launch into the story of the
big order again, pouring more pink lemonade, failing to notice the serious faces. My
sisters go along with it all, asking aboutthe order, congratulating
Paddy, talking of fame and fortune and chocolate-flavoured world domination.
    Only Honey is silent. She waits for as long
as she can bear, then flings her report down on the tabletop as if throwing down a
challenge.
    ‘Look,’ she says. ‘Better
get it over with. It’s report day – I mean, I know it won’t be good, but I
have been trying a lot harder, so …’
    Mum and Paddy are serious suddenly, sitting
down at the table, slicing open the envelope. Skye is chewing her lip, Summer is
studying the ceiling and Cherry looks like she’d rather be anywhere, anywhere at
all, than here.
    Honey seems more relaxed than any of us,
perched on the kitchen table, helping herself to an apple from the fruit dish as if she
hasn’t a care in the world. I can’t help admiring her confidence.
    To be honest, I am a little surprised she
has shown her face at all because she must know exactly what’s in that school
report. Perhaps it’s like she says, and she just wants to get the whole thing over
with?
    Mum frowns as she scans the first page,
leafing through,studying each sheet in turn. Paddy is reading too, and
finally, after the longest few minutes in the history of the world, Mum shakes her head
and puts the report booklet down.
    ‘Well … what can I
say?’
    ‘Is it OK?’ Honey asks, still
crunching apple. ‘Have I improved?’ Her jaw-length blonde hair falls across
her face and her eyes look anxious, hopeful.
    Mum laughs. ‘Honey, it’s more
than OK,’ she