Getting Back On The Horse

"One hot dog please," I kindly asked the man running the food truck.

"That'll be two dollars," he responded stretching out his palm towards me. I pulled out two crumpled up one dollar bills, and placed them in his hand. He closed our conversation with, "Alright, one hot dog coming up."

It was a perfect day for a horse show. The only issue was the ground was a bit soggy for from rain last night. Other than that it was a great day. I look up toward the sky; the bright sun was warming up my face. My moment of relaxation was interrupted by a sound of a bell. Ding!

"Here's your hot dog miss," the man said with a genuine smile. "Are you riding today?" he asked, as I was reaching up for my hot dog.

"No, my little sister is though. She's on the big paint horse!" I told him filling with excitement.

"Ahh, well wish her luck."

"I will! Thanks. Bye now!" I said waving over my shoulder as I left.

I merrily skipped back to the horse trailer. I was just in such a great mood. I sat down in a lawn chair we brought along to enjoy my lunch.

"Where's Mandy?" I asked my mom who was sitting right beside me in her own chair.

"Over there riding Buster," she said pointing to a large area of open flat land. Mandy was running the horse in circles. Mom and I laughed.

"So, how's school going Cass?", my aunt sitting across from me asked.

"Good! The first week has gone great! I think I am really going to like 8th grade," I responded after taking the last delicious bite of my hot dog. She nodded in approval.

"Does anyone hear that?" my dad asked no one in particular.

"Hear what?" I responded worrying if Dad was hearing things. Suddenly, I heard it too. A soft screaming in the distance.

"Mandy," I said realizing what happened. Everyone jumped to their feet. Adrenaline was pumping all throughout my body. My legs wouldn't stop. I just kept running even though I could no longer hear myself think; my head was pounding so much. I finally reached Mandy long before the others did. I found her laying on the ground barely able to move. She fell off the horse. "Oh my gosh! Mandy are you okay!" I screamed unable to control the sound of my voice.

"Don't worry about me, get the horse!" she screamed back. I was not about to leave her; she was clearly in pain. Her face was twisted up into an unnatural expression. Her hands were covered in cuts. Her shirt was shredded, revealing a nasty gash that was black and blue around the edges.

"Cassie go now! I'm fine!" at first I was shocked that my little sister, who is four years younger than me, was barking orders. After a moment of hesitation, I got up to go find Buster. "How could this be happening," I mumbled to myself. Several thoughts were racing through my head all at once. Was Mandy going to be okay? How did she fall off? Did the horse slip? Did Mandy lose control? I spotted him only about thirty feet away grazing on some tall grass. I crept up to his side, being careful not to spook him and grabbed his bridle. I looked back at Mandy, happy to see that Dad was carrying her back to the trailer with my mom and aunt following close behind. I ran, with the bridle in hand, back to the trailer. After I tied Buster to the trailer, I went to see Mandy. She looked even worse now that she was sitting up.

"What happened Mandy?" my aunt asked sounding completely baffled.

"Well, I think I made a turn too tight, then Buster must have slipped on patch of mud or something," Mandy replied.

"How do you feel? Where does it hurt?" Mom asked in a soothing voice.

"Umm...well, my hand hurts, and my side too. But I'm okay. Really."

"Cassie, start packing up we're going home," Dad whispered to me.

"No!", my sister interrupted, "I still have three more events to run!"

"Mandy, we don't want to push you too hard. You are clearly injured. Let's go home," Mom gently spoke to Mandy.

"No!" she screamed even louder, throwing herself out of the chair that she was sitting in. "I'm not going to give up!" She was determined to do this. Her eyes were laser focused on Mom and Dad. After much thought my parents reluctantly allowed Mandy to compete in the last three events.

"Smile!" I said to my sister who was holding a second place trophy standing next to her horse.

"We're so proud of you Mandy," my mom said, holding up her camera. I couldn't believe it, my sister won second place in her age group. I was proud to have a sister like her. Mandy maybe be four years younger than me, but she is one of the most courageous people I know. If I would have taken that kind of fall, I would never want to get on a horse again. She has the courage to keep going. She was able to "Get back on the horse!"