Everwood Boarding School: The New Class

Chapter 1

        " Gadong, Gadong, Gadong, Gadong, Gadong, and UP." My trainer yelled at me from the stands. When you jump, it is not the horse doing all the work, or you doing all the work. You and your horse are a team, not a person and her horse, or a horse and the person, you work together. It is one fluid motion, riding, not two seprate parts."

        My trainer, Brenda, lowered the 3'6 jump to a tiny, little crossrail. My friend Cindy wrinkled her nose and sighed, looking dissapointed. " Cindy, get out. You don't like my teaching methods, get out. See you Friday at 7. Out."

        Hanging her head Cindy slowly walked her horse to the exit and dismissed her mom when she asked what happened. She turned around, giving me a slight wave, her gloved hand swaying. I replied, also shaking my gloved hand. Brenda shot a glanse my way and I immediately stopped waving. 

        I turned my head toward the crossrail, picked up a steady canter, and jumped the jump. " Very good Emma, do it again, till I tell you to stop." Brenda had a hard face that was laden with wrinkles. Her face so leathery it looked like a cows hide. Her skin was dark from too many days in the bright sun without sunscreen. Erect was how she liked to stand, her head pulled up by an imagenary string. Everybody looked up to her, even the parents and the employees. 

        Over and over again I hopped over the little jump, till my horse, Heith Cliff, was foaming at the mouth, pushing at the bit, and getting aggravated. " Walk him around the path till he cools, then come to my office, we need to have a discussion."

                " Yes", I replied quickly, lengthening my walk to a near trot. Cliff put his head down, breathing heavily, and after seeing Cindy's horse Rhet galloping in the feilds, he started to do little crow hops himself. " Silly boy, you know you will be let out soon. Keep on walking," I whispered, patting his muscler, jet black neck. He bent his neck, and propelled himself forward, going into a series of bucks. Quiet boy, calm yourself, I sent a messege through the reins. 

        He calmed down and serenly walked away form the turn out. At the fork in the road Cliff stopped, turned around and looked me straight in the eyes, giving me the look that says, which way? We sometimes take the food way or the boring way, I want to go to the food, but you have the power. I turned him towards the "boring path" and started walking.

        Galloping, wind rushing through my hair, Cliff spreading himself out, snorting, bucking, I wasn't unseated though. I never was. Not in my dreams. "Hey, Emma, stop daydreaming, you're going to fall flat on your face and I won't be there to catch you."

        " Uh huh, you would catch me even if you didn't want to. You're too nice," I teased Jonathan, smirking. "A prince charming catch, then showing off your amazing dimples, then laugh your laugh and carefully set me down. I think that was how it would go." 

        He blushed, his cheeks turning the color of the sunset. " Get off, remember I'm the groom, I take of your horse, get off."

                " Thanks Cliff," I murmered, sliding down his round, black barrel. I landed softly, making a dull THUMP sound. I pulled the polished brown reins over his head, took his bridle off and lead him over the water bucket filled to the brim with mollase water. "I need to go talk to Brenda, can you take care of Cliff?" Jonathan strode over and took Cliff from me.

        I jogged to The Office, as we all liked ot call it. Pushing the door open my jaw dropped. " Is that what I think it is?" I whispered, barely audible.

        " Depends. What do you think it is?" My parents sat on the moldy couch, my 10 year old brother, Bram had a huge sloppy smile slewed across his face, his eyes twinklng but sad at the same time.

        I was walking through mollase, heavy and thick, time was washed away. My head swam, I felt dizzy and scared. Why were they staring at me? How awful was I? Did Bram see my pimple? I was in 7th grade, it did happen. What was wrong? Was I wrong? "Emma, open the letter." Brenda's clear voice broke into my brain and I shook my head.

        My hands shaking I ripped open the envelope and slowly read it. My face drooped and I sighed, flopping down on the couch. Bram's face fell and his eyes stopped twinkling. " Sorry, Mom, Dad, Bram, and Brenda, but you're going to miss me." I broke into smiles and mom and dad started to cry.