Fern Creek Academy Book 1

Chapter 3: Possibilities

The next morning Hilary woke and suddenly remembered which day it was, her mum must have talked with Dad and they must have come to a conclusion. She jumped out of bed and hurriedly got dressed and ran downstairs. Her Mother and her Father were waiting quietly for her their breakfasts untouched.

"Hilary...." said her mother "We've made a decision, ....... we will allow you to go to take the scholarship but, you mu-"Kate was cut off when Hilary smothered her with hugs.

"Thanks mum, thank you so much!" Hilary was ecstatic.

"Wait a minute, Hilary," said Kate,"I haven't finished yet, along with the scholarship, if you pass we will expect you to apply yourself to your studies and aim for high marks , do you understand this?"

Hilary nodded fervently

"Of course mum, I'll try my hardest," Hilary thought guiltily about her school work.

"Very well Hilary," said Sam Grey "We will book you in for the scholarship exam, it is in 2 weeks, in Stanby, 2 hours away. I expect that you will come well dressed, till then, I'll see you in the afternoon, today's my work day, by girls."

Hilary's dad jumped in the family's ute and went off down the drive, a plume of dust rising behind the wheels. Kate and Hilary waved him out of sight.

"Well Hilary, today's Sunday, so I 'll be cooking most of the time, you go do whatever you want but make sure that you come in for lunch and dinner."

"Okay Mum " said Hilary "See you."

Sundays were the day that, in the Grey family, they sat down for two full meals together at the table, dad would come home from work down the road on his lunch break, and Hilary would walk in from whatever she was doing to eat with her parents. Today Hilary decided to do some work with Rilby, so she walked over the hill and down to the paddock. The morning mist had just risen and the day was about to head off for a hot start, the sun was already beating down on the wet grass. The air felt humid and Hilary decided to spend only a short time with Rilby before the heat set in.

Hilary worked with Rilby on his change of lead in cantering and his counter canter, she let the wind fly through her hair and let herself enjoy every moment, after cooling off, Hilary led Rilby into the shady yard where she untacked him and put a mesh rug over his back to cool him down.

The family had bought the property a few years ago when Kate had decided to move to the country from the town they had been living in.

When they were done Hilary, also hot and sweaty went upstairs and had a shower before getting changed out of her riding clothes and into a light summer dress. The breeze flew gently through the maple tree and ran softly around the country room, bringing a cooling change. Hilary looked outside, past the maple tree was the asphalt road, and past that were the properties that lined the outskirts of Waterfall gully. In the distance, Hilary could see the low hills that gave rise to the hilly range around Stanby. In two weeks I'll be over there, thought Hilary, I'll have to work far harder at my school work if I'm ever to pass this scholarship.

"Lunch, Hilary," shouted her mother. Hilary rushed downstairs and was greeted by a full table groaning under the weight of so many dishes, mini sandwiches, potato salad, cabbage salad, cheese, bread, lentil stew and fish, there was still dessert to come. 

"Wow, Mum," said Hilary "This looks amazing,"  Just then Sam Grey came home, banging the screen door behind him and they all tucked into the delicious meal.

After dessert, Hilary went upstairs and spent the rest of the day drawing horses and researching the Fern Creek Academy website.

The facility looked state-of-the-art, and the horses there all looked healthy and well cared for, the stables were roomy and the pastures were large and grassy. What a perfect place for Rilby, thought Hilary. The classrooms also looked nice, well, at least better than at the local school.   Hilary was excited, her hopes had risen, maybe, just maybe, she would pass the scholarship exam, for once things were beginning to look up.

-picture is of Hilary's house-