Endurance

Three

"Come on Maddie, you'll be late for school" mum yelled. "Argh" I groaned. I got out of bed very slowly, then getting dressed into my school uniform. I picked up the hairbrush of my desk and tied my long dark blonde hair up into a neat ponytail. As I walked out of my room, Renee bumped into me. "Woah Renee, watch where your going." I complained. "I'm pretty sure I knew where I was going, your the one who's only just got out of bed." Renee made a smart reply back. I just pulled a face back.

Having a 16 year old sister isn't fun. She thinks that because she's two years older then me, she can boss me around. Sorry sister but that's mum's job.
I walked into the kitchen where I saw mum standing, she was making my lunch, probably because I slept in a bit. "Sounds like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Renee told me you've got a bit of an attitude today. Hope not." Mum looked at me with a stern expression. "Renee's making that up." I replied grumpily, walking out of the room. To be honest I wasn't in the best mood, not the bubbly, always happy self I usually am.

I scoffed down some breakfast, rapidly brushed my teeth and ran down the driveway with Renee, catching the bus just in time.

After a long, boring day at school, Renee and I travelled home on the bus. Once I had walked up the driveway, I went into my room, dropped my school bag on the ground and changed out of my uniform, into a rough pair of clothes. "Hi mum" I yelled as I hurried down the stairs. I ran to the stables and into Galaxy's stall. "Hey boy" I calmly stroked the big gelding's neck. "How about we go for a walk today, how does that sound" Galaxy whinnied. I grabbed his halter and slipped it over his neck. "Come on then" I smiled at the slow horse that trailed behind me.

I led Galaxy over to the round pen where we had a small trot. A lunge rope lay on the ground beside the pen. Obviously dad or mum was working with one of the horses earlier. I picked up the rope and replaced it with the short lead rope I had before. I attempted to lunge Galaxy and surprisingly he knew exactly what to do. He walked, trotted and cantered on each rein and stopped at the right times. "Good boy" I praised him when I had decided that he had done enough for the day. I changed the rope back to the lead rope that we had before and led Galaxy back to the stables.

"Well done today Galaxy" I told the grey that stood calmly in his stall whilst I gave him hay and water. I rugged him up for the night and gave him a kiss before heading back to the house.

Back at the house mum was cooking dinner, dad was watching the news and Renee, who was meant to be doing homework, was texting her friends. I went to my room and started doing my English homework. I had just finished when my phone beeped. I unlocked my iPhone 5 and checked the message. It came from Lilly, my best friend, it read Just making sure you know that school is open on Friday, because of the cyclone forecasted is apparently nothing serious, Lilly. I flicked back a thankful message. "Dinner!" Mum yelled.

Whilst we were eating dinner, which was a delicious lasagne, I told mum that school was definitely open on Friday now. Mum wasn't impressed "there's a bloody cyclone forecasted and the school thinks that it's not serious enough to close the school for one day. The kids might not be able to get home!". Renee and I stayed quiet. Dad calmed mum down and started a new conversation. "Maddie, I saw you with Galaxy today. You were looking good." He paused "I'm not trying to rush you, but I reckon you could start riding again. I mean if your gonna get over what happened to Tango, why wait." "I know dad, but every time I think about riding, the day of the accident comes to my head. But I understand what you mean. I'll see how I feel." I replied, fighting back tears.

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It was the next afternoon and dad was going to help me have a ride on Galaxy, before the cyclone hits. "Ok, breathe. I'm going to help you get on his back and then the rest is up to you, don't stress." Dad said encouragingly to me. Galaxy is broken in so he will be fine, it's just me who has to get guts to ride again. Dad legged me up onto Galaxy and I sat upright on him. Although I had hesitated to get on, now that I'm sitting on Galaxy I feel good. I still feel like I'm betraying Tango, but I knew I could never stay away from riding forever. "Well done Maddie. I'm proud of you." Dad said with a huge smile on his face. I had a small walk and trot before untacking and rugging Galaxy up for the night.