Buddy Blues: An Emily Story

By Kelsey Abrams and Jomike Tejido

When Buddy, the class rabbit, goes missing, Emily is distraught. It was her responsibility to take care of Buddy over spring break, and now he is gone. The angry glares from her classmates don't help her blues either. The only bright spot is her new friend Oliver. But as Emily's friendship with Oliver blossoms, the possibility of finding Buddy withers away. Can Emily recover from the loss of Buddy?

At Second Chance Ranch, the Ramirez family works to find homes for all kinds of animals on their 200-acre ranch in Texas. Sisters Natalie (12), Abby (10), and twins Emily and Grace (9) all do their part to give each animal the second chance it deserves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: North Star Editions
• Release date: Jan 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781631632532

Book preview

An Emily Story

Buddy Blues: An Emily Story © 2019 by North Star Editions, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Book design by Jake Nordby

Illustrations by Jomike Tejido

Published in the United States by Jolly Fish Press, an imprint of North Star Editions, Inc.

First Edition

First Printing, 2018

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Abrams, Kelsey, author. | Tejido, Jomike, illustrator.

Title: Buddy blues : an Emily story / Kelsey Abrams ; illustrated by

   Jomike Tejido.

Description: Mendota Heights, MN : Jolly Fish Press, [2019] |

   Series: Second Chance Ranch | Summary: "As Emily’s friendship

   with Oliver blossoms, the possibility of finding the missing class

   rabbit, Buddy, withers away"—Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018032134 (print) | LCCN 2018039523 (ebook) |

   ISBN 9781631632532 (e-book) | ISBN 9781631632525 (pbk.) |

   ISBN 9781631632518 (hardcover)

Subjects: | CYAC: Friendship—Fiction. | Rabbits—Fiction. | Lost

   and found possessions—Fiction. | Sisters—Fiction. | Schools—

   Fiction. | Ranch life—Fiction. | Hispanic Americans—Fiction.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.A18 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.1.A18 Bu 2019

   (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018032134

Jolly Fish Press

North Star Editions, Inc.

2297 Waters Drive

Mendota Heights, MN 55120

www.jollyfishpress.com

Printed in the United States of America

An Emily Story

Kelsey Abrams

illustrated by Jomike Tejido

Text by Laurie J. Edwards

Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Chapter One

Emily stood at the end of the bus line, craning her neck to see around the teacher who was herding them out the door. Where was Grace? Her twin sister usually pushed to the front of the crowd, trying to be the first one out of the school building at the end of the day.

Emily’s shyness kept her silent until most of the other students had exited. Then, swallowing her fear, she asked Ms. Walker, a stern fifth-grade teacher, May I go back to get my sister?

The teacher frowned. She should already be in line. I’m not supposed to let students go back down the halls after dismissal.

Her throat dry, Emily forced herself to say, But she’s missing, and I have to find her.

Heaving a huge sigh that lifted her short bangs off her forehead, Ms. Walker said, Go, but be quick about it.

Emily scurried down the hall. She wanted to run but instead walked fast so Ms. Walker wouldn’t yell at her. She peeked into their fourth-grade classroom, but the room was empty. The door to the rabbit cage stood open.

Buddy, their class pet, was gone.

Oh, no! This week it was Grace’s turn to care for him. Had she forgotten to latch the cage? Or had Buddy escaped while her sister was feeding him?

Emily’s stomach clenched as she pictured Buddy hopping around the school with Grace chasing him. Not only would they miss their bus, but what if Buddy slipped into a narrow space where they couldn’t reach him? Rabbits often did that.

A clanging in the room across the hall startled Emily. She darted to the door to find Grace bent over the rabbit hutch in the other fourth-grade classroom.

Emily couldn’t hide her frustration. What are you doing, Grace? We’re going to miss the bus.

Grace stood up, a smile on her face. Why should poor Buddy be cooped up in that small cage all weekend when Mr. Perez has this nice rabbit hutch? I’d hate being all by myself for two days with no one to talk to, so I thought Buddy would enjoy playing with a friend.

Emily sucked in a breath. Did you ask Mr. Perez? Or Ms. Montes?

Grace shook her head. They’d already left when I thought of the idea, but I bet they won’t mind.

I’m not so sure . . . Emily worried that both teachers might object, but they needed to hurry. Is the hutch locked?

Of course, Grace said. I even put the bars through both latches so the rabbits can’t get out.

Good. Emily said. She grabbed her sister’s arm and dragged her toward the hallway. We probably missed our bus. She’d worry about the rabbit problem later. Right now, they’d have to call their parents if the bus had left without them.

Grace broke free of Emily’s grasp and dashed down the hall, yelling, We’re coming! Tell the bus to wait. Then, as if remembering her manners, she added, Please, Ms. Walker?

Her cheeks hot, Emily hurried after her sister.

No running in the halls, Ms. Walker snapped.

Grace slowed slightly, but still race-walked.

Ms. Walker’s brows drew together, and her face reddened. Grace Ramirez, if you don’t slow down, I’ll report you to the principal’s office first thing Monday morning.

At the threat, Grace screeched to a stop. But we’ll miss our bus.

You would have already missed it if I hadn’t told the driver to wait.

That’s great! Grace bounded out the door.

Emily followed at a slower pace. Thank you, she whispered as she passed Ms. Walker.

Ms. Bea, their usually cheerful bus driver, grunted her hello as Emily mounted the steps and slid in beside Grace on their usual seat. Emily cringed inside.

The bus jerked to a start, and Emily almost tumbled to the floor. I think the bus driver’s upset with us, she said to Grace.

Her sister waved a hand in the air. "You worry too much. We weren’t that late."

We wouldn’t have been late at all if you hadn’t had such a harebrained idea, Emily pointed out.

Grace giggled. "Harebrained." She nudged