The Black Stallion

time to eat a decent meal when we go to the fairs, all add up to ulcers—that's what the doc said, anyway."
    "And he wanted Jimmy to quit?"
    "Sure, for a season or two, anyway. Jimmy wouldn't have any more pains if he took it easy and rested."
    "But he won't do it."
    Shaking his bald head, George said, "No, and I guess we couldn't expect Jimmy to give up the fairs. The doc knows that, because he's known Jimmy from 'way back. So he gave Jimmy a long list of things he could eat and things he couldn't eat and some medicine to take. He told Jimmy to stick to that diet or he'd have more pains which would get worse in time. An' he made Jimmy promise he'd try hard not to get excited about anything. An' Jimmy promised he would… that's all there was to it, except Jimmy's got to see him again as soon as we get back from racin'."
    "Do you think Jimmy will do all the doc made him promise to do?"
    "Guess so," George said. "Jimmy don't like those pains… that attack he had today was pretty bad. An' the doc scared him by telling him they could get worse than that, much worse." George smiled, adding, "He sure made Jimmy mad when he told him no more gum chewing. That's bad for Jimmy, the doc said. And Jimmy likes his gum as much as I like my tobacco. But Jimmy said he'd give up gum. Jimmy said he'd do a lot of things today, an' I'm only hoping he will." Putting his arm around Tom, he said, "Let's get Jimmy and close up shop. It's getting late and we all oughta be home."
    Together they walked into the shed, each wondering what the months to come would bring for Jimmy Creech.
    The few weeks before Jimmy and George left for the fairs were good in many respects. Jimmy seemed to be more relaxed and had no more attacks. School closed for the summer, and Tom was able to spend every day at the track, helping George and Jimmy even more than before. And Jimmy, surprisingly, allowed Tom to take more responsibility off his shoulders by letting him work Symbol every other day. They taught Bonfire to work on the longe, encircling them at the end of the long rope.
    And finally they hitched the colt to a training cart. Bonfire felt the shafts against his sides as Jimmy turned him by pulling gently on the lines. Tom stood near the colt's head, ready to quell any fear Bonfire might have of the cart he drew behind him. But there was no sign of fear, no fractious-ness while the colt springily walked about the track, his eyes clear and large as he watched the track ahead, his ears pricked up and only shifting when Tom spoke to him. The boy was aware of Bonfire's eagerness to step out, yet the colt did not pull and awaited Jimmy's commands through the lines.
    Tom turned from the colt to tell Jimmy, "He's taking to it like an old-timer!"
    "The Queen was like that. And he's soft-mouthed like she was," Jimmy called back. "But you're just as much responsible for makin' it this easy, Tom. You taught him early to have full confidence in us, and that's most important of all."
    They walked around the track twice, and Bonfire never once made an attempt to pull away. Neither did he kick the two-wheeled cart he pulled so close behind. It was as though he knew that this was the beginning of his career on the track, and was eager to be on with it.
    Later Jimmy told Tom, "Now until George and I get back, I want you to do just what we did today. I don't want you to get in the cart and have him pull you yet. I don't believe in rushin' a colt like that. All we're doin' is getting him used to the cart and track. He's only a yearling and there'll be plenty of time later on for the real work. To get most of his exercise let him use the paddock, and work him on the longe, too, so he won't forget what he's learned. Take him out to graze every day, too. I want him to have plenty of grass."
    Jimmy stopped talking until he was certain George was out of hearing distance. "I've decided to cut the season short this year if I can make enough money during the first couple of months to tide me over for the year. We should be back sometime in August. I don't want George to know just yet. He might think I'm gettin' soft or thinkin' too much about my—" Jimmy pointed to his stomach. "And it isn't that, Tom, I just want to get back to work with the colt. Not that I don't think you're capable of handling him, Tom," he added hastily. "You know what I said about your hands when I first saw you drive Symbol. Well, I'm sure of it now. You got more in your hands than I ever hoped to have. I