Fern Creek Academy Book 1

Chapter 5: Exam Day

Inside, the waiting room was large and airy, at the back was a tall desk with a stern looking lady sitting at it.

The stern lady at the desk called out ",Miss Hilary Grey".

Sam hugged Hilary and said ",Be good, darling, I'll be in this room when you finish."

Hilary hugged him goodbye and went up to the desk. A younger lady walked out of an adjacent door, she wore, light, pale blue pants and a purple blouse. She beckoned to Hilary with a smile.

"Hello," she said ,"come this way."

She led Hilary down a hallway and into a small room with a desk, a pencil and a piece of paper lay on it. After explaining how to fill out the sheet, the lady pointed to the clock on the wall

"In 30 minutes I will come back and take your paper, you may start............................now"

She walked out of the room and closed the door, the air felt hot and oppressive, Hilary rubbed her sweaty palms on the soft, springy seat of the chair and looked at the first question, What is the breed of horse that is famed for it's athleticism and intelligence and is currently housed in the Spanish Riding School?

That was easy, the Lipizzaner of course. But as Hilary progressed she found that the questions got harder and harder. Finally, after 25 minutes she was on the second last question, it seemed virtually impossible, In what year did napoleon Bonaparte purchase his horse, Marengo? 

That was tricky, Hilary didn't know the answer and she sat thinking when suddenly the door opened and the young lady came in. She collected Hilary's paper and handed her another one, giving her a quick brief smile,this one was titled, MATHS AND ENGLISH. Inwardly, Hilary groaned, not ANOTHER one.

"I'll come and collect this one in 50 minutes,"the lady said.

She told Hilary that she could start and left the room.  Hilary completed the questions and had 5 minutes to spare before the lady came. Luckily she found that these questions were nowhere as near as hard as the last ones. Finally, the lady arrived and told her to, come  back down the hallway. She led Hilary through a back door and outside.  Compared to the dim room, the sun was bright and hurt Hilary's eyes.

They came out into what looked like small arena, a chestnut horse was standing in the center next to a mounting block.

The lady asked Hilary to mount, when she had done so, Hilary was asked to perform different manoeuvres and changes of pace. The young lady kept taking notes and glancing up at Hilary. After what seemed like an hour. Hilary was sweating and longed for a refreshing drink. Just before it ended, the lady put up a few jumps and asked Hilary to jump them. Hilary tried her hardest but her limbs were nearly shaking she was exhausted.

After dismounting, Hilary was taken inside, by now she felt as though she must have scored the lowest marks.

Just then Hilary saw her dad and went running up to him

"Hi Dad,"she said.

"Hello my girl," said Sam,"How did it go, were you alright?"

"Of course,"said Hilary,"Although I am a bit tired."

Sam looked thoughtful for a moment, then he smiled,"Just as a treat, why don't we get an ice-cream?" Hilary was ecstatic

"Really Dad, that would be amazing."

Sam smiled, pleased that his daughter was happy again,"Just this once,"he said,"And don't tell you Mum." Hilary giggled.

They both went wandering around to find a suitable Ice-cream shop. The one they found was quiet and pleasantly shaded. When the waitress came, Hilary ordered a hazelnut and her father a mint-choc-chip. They sat together in companionable silence, slowly licking their ice-creams.

 "Time to go, Hilary," Sam said," Your mother will wonder why we've been so long." Hilary reluctantly got up and stretched her tired legs. They made their way back to the car and started the long drive home. When Hilary finally arrived home, the evening was creeping in and she longed for a cool, soft bed to go  to sleep in.

They arrived at the front door and knocked. Kate opened the door and, seeing them there she smiled warmly and gave Hilary a hug,"Hello darling, hi Sam."she said, beckoning them inside to the warmth of the kitchen.

"Hi, Mum," said Hilary, she felt really tired, after a long day of testing and riding, she felt like eating a warm dinner and snuggling down into her bed.

"You must be tired," said Kate as though she had read Hilary's thoughts. "Sit up for dinner and then you can go to bed," Hilary nodded sleepily. 

- the arena she rode in-