Advice in the twilight hour

The girls rushed enthusiastically into the task they had set for themselves. But it wasn't that easy. The "Club for Max and Starlets" first gathered the fourth class together. Meeting point: the chestnut tree in the park, under whose canopy of leaves many heated discussions had already taken place. They crouched in the grass, forming a circle. Mr. Holzbauer had mowed the grass that afternoon. It smelled sweet and summery.

All around, the gentle kind of twilight, blue and as soft as velvet. The light was already on in the house. The windows looked like friendly blinking eyes.

The twins and Marion took turns telling what they had experienced, Carlotta and Jenny gave their comments. Anja was silent and Anne chewed - as usually.

"We need money", Hanni concluded her lecture. "Then we can buy the horses. Of course we don't yet know what to do with them. In any case, the Zierer farmer can't give them to the skinner when we've paid for them.I propose that each of us pay into a horse fund what we can owe. Tomorrow we'll talk to the girls from the other classes. And call our parents. Maybe someone has room for Max and Asterisk. "

There was wild talk. The result: Everyone wanted to make a little money, as pocket money allowed. The parents would also contribute a few notes if everything was explained to them. But pick up the horses? There were no large landowners in the fourth.

"Let's collect it first," suggested Jenney. She took a ten-stamp note out of her pocket.

"Where do we put the money?", Anja wanted to know.

"We needed a giant piggy bank," said Bobby.

Petra laughed. "I got one for free. But not here."

"It doesn't matter," said Hanni. "Let's just take my shoe, it goes around. Then Petra can stuff the money into her piggy bank." She took off one of her canvas shoes and threw it into the circle."Uii, he thinks," Carlotta squeaked.

"No, it doesn't stink. I washed my feet for Easter. I can swear that," said Hanni with a deadly serious expression.

The smelly or non-smelly shoe was accepted. Each of the girls threw in a few marks. When it was Anja's turn and wanted to donate ten marks, Nanni put his hand on her arm. "no not You."

"Yes," Anja insisted, "I want it."

"Nonsense. We all get pocket money from our parents at the beginning of the month. And sometimes something extra. You don't."

Anja looked past her, out into the dusky blue expanse of the park. Then she nodded. "You're right, thank you. But I'll give five marks."

Elli struggled with herself. She spent all of her pocket money on beauty, cosmetics, fashion and the occasional hairdresser. This time she had twenty marks left. Should she or shouldn't she? The classmates often mocked her. They were of the opinion that there was nothing else in Elli's head except Elli, Elli and again Elli.What if she astonished everyone and donated twenty marks for the horses, which actually don't interest her?

Perhaps one would admire them and look at them with different eyes? But at the last moment she decided on a ten-stamp note. Half was enough, she thought. Bobby stuffed fifty marks into the shoe. "Did you go among the millionaires?" asked Hanni.

"Nope." Bobby laughed so that her freckles curled up. "But I got money from my parents for a midnight party on my birthday. When I told them about our previous parties, my mother could hardly breathe with laughter. Yesterday she sent me the money. I think we will do without that and make up for it when Max and sternchen are taken care of. "

They were quite pleased with themselves when they saw the shoe filled with banknotes bulge. Marianne brought her back to the floor. “Children,” she said, “you don't have all the cups in the cupboard.Nice, we have money and will certainly get more from the other classes. But how do you actually want to buy the horses? We're minors. We can buy a dress or five cans of sausages in the supermarket. But don't sign a sales contract for two horses. "

They immediately understood that Marianne was right. With all good will, the "Max und Sternchen" chunk was a little too big for her. They looked at each other. At a loss. The first stars were now shimmering in the evening sky. But it was still warm. And the mown grass smelled stronger and stronger.

Hanni and Nanni opened their mouths at the same time to say something.

"We..."

"Are you talking," said Hanni, "you probably have the same thoughts as me."

"What Marianne says is definitely true. We can't conclude a sales contract. But does Zierer know? And if he does, does he care? I think he doesn't care, he just wants his money." Hanni nodded affirmatively. That was exactly what she wanted to say."But that's not just the beginning. We have to look for a place for Max and Sternchen. It looks bad with our parents. We only have a normal garden at home. Hanni and I will ask Dad if he knows anyone. What about the riding stable, Marion, where you used to ride? "

Marion winced inwardly, but she didn't show it. Nanni's thought was logical. She would ask that she write a letter or call and see if there was a way to take in the old horses. IT would be difficult for her. Very difficult. She didn't want to talk to anyone about "then". Besides, there was no point.

"You have far too little space there," said Marion. "Wilko, the boss, has been trying for years to buy the neighboring property in order to grow. The stables are not enough."

"Call him anyway," asked Hanni.

Marion nodded. Max and Sternchen and the new friends were more important than their own sensitivity. She had never really had girlfriends, only sports cams.Ambition quickly played a role, the envy of competition.

"Nice," said Bobby. "Or rather, not nice. In any case, we have to ask Teobaldine first. We all know that ninety-nine percent of her say no, but we should try it. Will you do that, you twin mice?"

The yes came in two voices and at the same time. Of course, it wasn't exactly a pleasure to go to the headmistress, whose love for animals is known to be limited, and to ask her to give the bread of grace to two discharge horses in Lindenhof. On the other hand, they did not want to leave this task to someone else. When they stand up for something, they want to be at the forefront. They weren't interested in watching.

"We speak with angels tongues," she promised.

"How about Marion coming along?" Suggested Anja. “She knows the most about horses.” Everyone thought it would be a good idea. And Marion was proud that her help was needed.