High Hopes

Chapter 25

The flooding was so bad that the horse show was postponed until next week. I guess I have more time to practice then. It's been raining for two days. It only stops for a few minutes every so often, giving me enough time to feed the horses and check their water buckets. Today, it's only rained for an hour and there is about a half an inch of rain on the ground.

I go outside to feed the horses their breakfast. Cassy is the last to be fed. She shivers, it's so cold out. I realize that my horses need blankets. April has a pink and purple sheet and Chex has a red one and Prince has a navy blue blanket, which is enough to keep satisfied for now. I run inside and find my mom.

"Mom, it's only rained a little today. Could we go to the tack shop?" I ask.

"Why?" She questions me.

"Well, it's the monsoon season and it's getting a lot colder, so the horses need blankets." I reply. Mom hesitates but agrees and drives me over. I grab: April a  purple blanket, Chex a red blanket, Maddie a bright pink blanket, Smoke a royal blue one and Cassy gets a mint green one.

All are medium, which should be heavy enough to keep them warm. As my mom pays the lady at the register tries to make small talk.

"So are you going to the tack sale this weekend?" She asks me. Tack sale? I give her a questioning look. She lets out a small chuckle and hands me a flyer. One of our neighbors is having a huge used tack sale.

I'll definitely consider this. Mom helps me carry out the blankets and we drive home. I'm thankful to see the sky clearing up a bit. Maybe I will be able to ride in a day or two.

"I can't believe that summer is almost over." I say.

"Then it's homeschool for you, missy." My mom happily says. Ugh, eighth grade. How will my mom homeschool me? She just got a job as an attorney. I ask her how and I don't like the answer.

"I've hired a sort of nanny." She replies, "She is very nice and has a teaching degree, gives riding lessons and her name is Sydney." Oh, great. Now I have a babysitter/teacher. That'll work out.

We pull into the driveway and I go out to the barn. It starts to sprinkle so I put the blankets on the horses. Casey is especially happy. She looks so good in mint green. Next week, if it clears up, I'm going to saddle her. I believe that she will be a good jumper.

After going back inside, my phone buzzes. I pull it out of my pocket and read the text I was sent. It's Serena and she says that we can go out to look at that horse today. We weren't able to the stables two days ago because of the flooding. I ask my mom and she says that it's fine.

Serena and her dad pick me up in their big truck, hooked up to a horse trailer. I hop in and we drive away. Serena attacks me with a bear hug and we start to talk. I tell her about me whole homeschooling situation and she bursts out into laughter.

"What?" I ask.

"Your mom didn't tell you?" She start, " I'm doing homeschooling with you!"

My eyes widen in shock. This is great! I get to spend everyday with Serena. I noticed that we're pulling into the stable with the horse Serena is looking at and I'm shocked at what I see.