Corey bent down to brush the dirt she’d collected into a dustpan.
There’s only one of Alice, and three of you.
Corey froze as the thought popped into her head. Alice had been all alone the other day while the three Pony Tails were together having a party.
A party to thank May and Jasmine for things that Alice had done, Corey realized.
Corey stood up and dumped the dirt into the trash can.
When May and Jasmine came over a few minutes later to help with the sweeping, Corey pulled her two friends aside.
“Can you come to my house for a Pony Tails meeting this afternoon?” she asked.
“Sure.” Jasmine nodded.
“What’s up?” May asked.
“The Pony Tails have another job to do,” Corey explained.
9 Corey Makes a Phone Call
“I think it’s a great idea, Corey,” Jasmine said enthusiastically. She turned to May. “What do you think?” she asked.
The three Pony Tails were at Corey’s house after the Horse Wise meeting.
Corey watched May’s face closely. She knew Jasmine was ready for the Pony Tails to call Alice, but she wasn’t so sure about May. This morning May had insisted again that Alice was the one who’d done something wrong.
“You know what?” May said, looking at Corey. Corey shook her head. “I think you’re right, Corey,” May said finally. “After Alice helped you, we were really mean to her. Now it’s our turn to do something nice for her.”
A smile broke out on Corey’s face. “Thanks, May.” She gave her friend a quick hug. May could be stubborn sometimes, but she could also be very fair.
“Go ahead, Corey.” Jasmine handed her the receiver. “Do it.”
Corey drew in a deep breath as she took the phone, then dialed the Lees’ phone number. What if Alice hangs up on me? Corey thought. What if she won’t even talk to me?
“Hello?” Alice answered the phone.
Corey swallowed hard. “Hi, Alice,” she blurted out. “It’s Corey.”
A long pause followed.
Butterflies fluttered inside Corey’s stomach. “We’re really sorry,” she said in a rush. “May and Jasmine and I didn’t mean to say all those nasty things about you. It’s just … I guess I was really angry at you for what you said about ponies.”
There was another long silence.
Nervously Corey pressed the phone against her ear. All the terrible things the Pony Tails had said about Alice were replaying in her mind. Was Alice remembering them, too? If she was still angry and hurt, Corey couldn’t blame her.
At last Alice cleared her throat. “It’s okay, Corey,” she said in a soft voice. “I know why you said those things about me.” She paused. “I was pretty nasty to you, too. And I shouldn’t have been hiding in May’s loft in the first place.”
Relief flooded over Corey. She flashed May and Jasmine a thumbs-up as Alice continued talking.
“Thanks for returning my notebook.” Alice sounded a little embarrassed.
“I only read one page, honest, Alice,” Corey said quickly. “That’s how I figured out that you’re my secret friend. If you hadn’t picked up my math papers that day, I definitely would have missed the bus.”
“I know.” Alice laughed. “I was watching from inside your barn. I saw Dracula knock you down.”
“He didn’t mean to,” Corey said. “He was just being friendly.”
“I know that now, too,” Alice said. “I don’t really think ponies are dumb, Corey,” she added hesitantly. “I … just don’t know much about them. I’m not used to being around animals the way you and your mom are. That’s the reason why I’ve been hanging around your barn so often. I’ve been trying to get used to them.”
“Well …” Corey smiled at May and Jasmine as she began telling Alice the Pony Tails’ idea. “I think we can help you with that.”
“Help me?” Alice repeated, “How?”
“Can you meet us in May’s barn at nine o’clock tomorrow morning?” Corey asked.
“Sure,” Alice replied. “But …”
By the time Corey had finished explaining her idea, Alice sounded just as excited as Corey was.
10 The First Official Pony Ride
“What if Alice changes her mind and doesn’t come?” Jasmine asked anxiously as the three Pony Tails met outside May’s barn early the next morning.
“Don’t be silly, Jasmine. Of course she’ll come,” May said. She reached up and carefully placed the saddle on Macaroni’s back. “I bet she can’t wait!”
Corey couldn’t help smiling at May’s answer. At first May hadn’t wanted to apologize to Alice. But now that she had made up her mind that it was the right thing to do, she was just as eager to help Alice as Corey and Jasmine were.
Corey’s palms were sweaty. She was excited, but nervous too. What if it doesn’t work? she thought. What if Alice thinks this is a terrible idea?
Corey glanced at her watch. In another half hour, Corey would know how Alice was going to react.
At nine o’clock, the Pony Tails spotted someone hurrying across Corey’s backyard.
“Here she comes!” Corey whispered.
“Ready, Macaroni?” May asked her pony.
He snorted his reply.
“He’s ready!” Jasmine said confidently.
A moment later, Alice reached the Grovers’ barn. “Hi, everyone,” she said shyly.
The Pony Tails smiled at her. For a few minutes, the four girls just stood there. Nobody said a word.
The last time they’d all been at the Grovers’ barn, Corey remembered, Alice had heard the Pony Tails talking about her. They had caught her spying on them. That had been a terrible day. Corey was hoping that today would be much better. She stared down at the ground, trying to think of something to say.
Just then she noticed that Alice had on a pair of riding boots. “I like your boots,” she said.
“Thanks,” Alice replied. A little smile crept across her face. “I bought them when I signed up for riding lessons. But I never got to wear them again.”
“Why not?” asked Jasmine.
“After that pony stepped on my foot, I stopped taking lessons.” Alice glanced at Corey. “I hope you’re not going to stomp on my foot.”
Corey blushed as she remembered what she’d said the other day. Then Alice started laughing. So did Corey.
“Corey won’t step on your foot,” May promised. “And neither will Macaroni. He’s very gentle.”
For the first time Alice’s eyes drifted over to Macaroni. May’s shaggy yellow pony was tied to the fence around the training ring. He blinked at Alice as she glanced his way.
“Macaroni won’t throw me off his back—will he?” Alice asked.
“Macaroni is the nicest pony in the world,” Jasmine reassured her.
“He’s the best,” Corey said. “Come on, Alice. We’ll introduce you.”
Slowly Alice followed the Pony Tails over to Macaroni.
“Here.” May stuck a small bit of apple in Alice’s hand. “If you give him this, he’ll be your friend for life.”
Corey saw Alice take a deep breath. Then she stepped toward the pony.
“Hello, Macaroni,” Alice said softly. She looked into his gentle brown eyes. The pony shook his head a little, as if he were saying hello back to her. Cautiously Alice held out the bit of apple. Macaroni reached over and took it. Then he nuzzled Alice’s palm, looking for more.
“He likes it!” Alice exclaimed.
“He loves it,” May corrected her. “Here. Give him another one.”
When Macaroni was finished with his treat, Alice petted his soft head. “He’s so shaggy,” she commented. “And his coat is just the color of—”
“Macaroni and cheese,” the three Pony Tails said at once.
Alice laughed. “That’s exactly what I was going to say!”
“Give us a high five, a low five, and then shout ‘Jake,’” May told her. “That’s what we always d
o when we say the same thing at the same time.”
The four girls did high fives, low fives, and then shouted “Jake” all at once.
Alice glanced at Corey. “I think I’m ready,” she said.
Corey nodded. She and Jasmine helped Alice climb up into the saddle while May ran into the house to get her father. Mr. Grover was going to be the one to give Alice her first official pony ride.
“Good morning, Alice,” Mr. Grover said as he came out the back door. “You’re in for a real treat today.” He reached for the lead line that the Pony Tails had clipped to Macaroni. Slowly he led Macaroni and his rider into the ring.
The Pony Tails stood outside the ring, watching Alice and Macaroni.
Corey held her breath. Alice looked very nervous as she and Macaroni began to circle the ring. But after a few trips around, Corey could tell that Alice had relaxed into the saddle. Corey relaxed, too. Alice was doing exactly what Mr. Grover had told her to do, which was to let him and Macaroni do all the hard work.
“She’s doing really well,” Jasmine commented. “Good job, Corey,”
“Thanks,” Corey said happily. She thought Alice was doing well, too. In fact, she thought Alice was doing great.
May rested her chin on top of the fence as she watched her pony and Alice circling the ring. “Isn’t Macaroni a wonderful pony?” she sighed.
“He sure is,” Corey agreed. Macaroni was doing his job perfectly. He was not only showing his new rider that ponies were smart and sweet; he was showing her that they were fun to ride.
No wonder there’s such a big smile on Alice’s face, Corey thought.
Alice was loving every minute of her first official pony ride.
11 Training Parents
After a while, Alice’s first official pony ride was over.
Mr. Grover helped Alice climb off Macaroni’s back.
When Alice came over to talk to the Pony Tails, her cheeks were flushed and her brown eyes sparkled. “That was so much fun!” She smiled at Corey. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Corey replied. She smiled back at her new friend.
“You can ride Macaroni anytime you want,” May told Alice.
An odd look crossed Alice’s face. Then she shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t think so, May.”
“But …” Corey felt her mouth drop open. Alice didn’t want to ride Macaroni again? Corey had been so sure that Alice loved the pony ride.
“How can I ride Macaroni anytime I want?” Alice said, teasing May. “You’re always riding him!”
May and Jasmine burst out laughing. As Corey joined in, she felt her whole body relax. Alice hadn’t been saying she didn’t want to ride Macaroni again. Alice had been cracking a joke!
Alice isn’t unfriendly, Corey realized. She’s just shy. Once you get to know her, she’s even funny!
After that Alice helped the Pony Tails untack Macaroni, and together the four girls led him back into the stable. As they opened the pony’s stall door, Corey couldn’t help thinking of Max’s reaction when he’d seen the three of them folding the blankets. If he saw them now, he would say that a simple job like untacking a pony and putting him away didn’t require four riders, either.
But this time it feels right for four riders to do it together, Corey thought, smiling. She had a feeling that even Max would agree.
When Macaroni was back in his stall, it was time for Alice and Corey to go home for lunch. Together they crossed May’s backyard and headed for Corey’s house.
As they walked, Corey told Alice a little more about her work training Samurai.
“It sounds fun,” Alice said.
“It is,” Corey explained. “But it’s hard work, too. And you have to be patient. If Samurai doesn’t perform well the next time Horse Wise goes out on the trail, I’m going to have to keep practicing that exercise over and over.”
Alice nodded thoughtfully. “It’s too bad you can’t train parents the way you can train ponies,” she said suddenly.
Corey giggled. “Do you want to put your dad in May’s training ring?” she asked.
“Not exactly,” Alice said, giggling too. “I was just thinking about how you’re trying to teach Sam to follow your directions. I wish I could train my parents to follow my directions. That way they might get back together.”
“Oh.” Corey thought she was beginning to understand what Alice had meant.
“I really like your mother, Corey,” Alice went on. “It’s just … I can’t get used to my dad going out on dates with her.”
Now Corey was sure she understood. Alice was saying exactly what Corey had been feeling ever since her mother had started dating Kyle. “I know exactly what you mean,” she said. “My parents have only been divorced for a little while. I’m still getting used to that. Now I have to get used to my mother’s having a boyfriend!”
Alice shook her head. “Wasn’t that dinner awful?” she asked, giggling a little again. “I promise I won’t act like that the next time our parents make us come along on one of their dates.”
Corey was about to agree. Then suddenly something occurred to her. “Hey! Maybe we can train our parents!” she exclaimed.
It was Alice’s turn to be confused. “What do you mean, Corey?”
“Well, we can’t exactly train our parents to follow our directions,” Corey explained. “That only works with ponies. But maybe there’s something else we can do.”
Alice cocked her head. “I’m listening.”
Corey’s eyes twinkled. “What if you and I stay secret friends?” she said. “That way—”
“Our parents won’t find out that we like each other and start dating each other even more!” Alice finished. She laughed out loud. “That’s a brilliant idea, Corey.”
Corey stuck out her hand. “I won’t tell my mother that I like you, if you don’t tell your father that you like me.”
“It’s a deal,” Alice said. “As far as he’s concerned, I can’t stand you.”
“Perfect,” Corey announced.
Then the two secret friends shook on it.
COREY’S TIPS ON KEEPING A PONY JOURNAL
One of the nicest things about having a secret friend was having somebody who helped me take care of Samurai. In case you don’t know it, taking care of a pony is a big job. There are some things I’ve learned to do that seem like a lot of work, but they really just save a lot more work—and trouble. One of them is keeping a journal. In a way, it’s like Sam’s diary, only I’m the one who has to put all the information in it because I can’t read Sam’s handwriting!
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
15--Farrier at 10:30 15--Farrier at 10:30
21--Worming 21--Farrier at 1:00
28--Sam’s Teeth
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
7--Horse Show
15--Farrier at 10:30
21--Farrier at 11:00 21--Shots! 21--Farrier at 1:00
The most important reason for keeping a journal is Sam’s health care. Since the whole idea of health care is to keep him from getting sick, I have to be sure he’s getting all his preventive care on schedule. Some things get done regularly, like shoeing, de-worming, and vaccinations. Every January, when I begin a new journal, I make a chart in the front to remind myself about all those. Then, when each of them gets done, I put a checkmark next to it. Then I also put all the information in the main part of the journal so I know exactly what’s been done.
Sam’s hooves grow like crazy, so the farrier—that’s the name for a blacksmith who takes care of horseshoes—has to come to look at his shoes and check his feet every six weeks. Some ponies only need to see the farrier every other month, but Sam’s feet get uncomfortable if he doesn’t get his hooves trimmed more often. I don’t want Sam to be uncomfortable, ever.
Ponies are likely to get all kinds of parasites—that means bugs and worms that live in or on them. We have to give Sam regular treatments to keep him free o
f parasites. It’s disgusting to think about, but it’s even more disgusting to think about what would happen to him if we didn’t do it. Mom and I can usually give Sam the medicine he needs for de-worming without the veterinarian’s help, but I have to know when he’s supposed to get it. So that goes in the journal, too.
Then, every year, Sam needs lots and lots of shots to keep him from getting sick. Judy Barker, the veterinarian, gives those to him, and she does it so well that he hardly even notices. Some of the most important ones protect him from tetanus and rabies. He gets those shots every year. I get a shot for tetanus, too—not from Judy, though. My pediatrician gives it to me. Mom says every kid should get regular tetanus shots, but it’s especially important for kids who ride horses. My pediatrician gives me a lollipop when I get a shot, as long as I don’t cry. I give Sam an apple when he gets a shot—as long as he doesn’t cry!
Sam gets other shots, too, to protect him from sleeping sickness, flu, and other diseases horses can get. Judy helps us decide which shots he’ll need and when he should get them. I put those dates on the chart, too.
All that information goes onto the chart when I make it up every January. The rest of the year, I fill in the pages of the journal. For Mom and Judy Barker and for Sam, I write down every time Judy comes to see Sam and every time he has any kind of health problem. That includes things like a sore ankle, but it also means making a note when Sam gets into a strange mood. Ponies are like people. They can get into moods, and a lot of the time, it doesn’t mean anything at all. We all know that’s especially true of Sam! Sometimes it does mean something, though, and that’s another reason a journal can be really, really important. For instance, last year I noticed that I’d kept writing “cranky” in the journal right before the farrier came to trim Sam’s hooves. That was how we realized that he needed to have the farrier come more often. He was cranky because his feet hurt! I might never have noticed that if I hadn’t put something in the journal and then realized that there was a pattern.
Corey's Secret Friend (Pony Tails Book 12) Page 4