Pony Rebellion, page 11
Now we were actually at the extravaganza I felt a little jittery. Butterflies flew around my stomach, and as soon as we parked, I wanted to go to the bathroom. There seemed to be a steady stream of cars coming through the gate and being directed to one of the frozen fields for parking. Just how many people were coming to this display? I wondered.
“I feel so nervous,” Cat said as Sophie switched off the engine.
“Really?” I asked, amazed, thinking I was alone with my fears. “You don’t look it. You always look totally composed.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not. It’s terrifying being leading file. I’m so scared that I’ll forget where to go and what to do.”
“Oh, me too,” I said.
We looked at each other, suddenly shy. Cat and I are talking, I thought. We’re having a conversation. We’re actually sharing our thoughts and fears instead of insulting each other or being rude. Cat suddenly leaped into the back of the horse trailer and got very busy checking on Bambi, as though the thought had occurred to her too. James certainly noticed. As Cat disappeared, he gave me a look—you know, raised eyebrows. I just shrugged my shoulders at him. I suddenly realized that Cat and I hadn’t been mean to each other for a long time. We’d been working so hard together on the activity ride that old grudges seemed to have faded. Would they resurface once the ride was over? I wondered. Would we go back to Cat calling me the wrong name, and me avoiding her? I so hoped not. It spoiled things at the yard, and the atmosphere had been a hundred times better since we’d been working on the ride together. It really highlighted how horrible things had been before. As we stepped down onto the concrete, Katy galloped over, waving some paper at us. “Have you seen the program?” she asked, not waiting for an answer. “The activity ride is on last. The RDA riders are performing a pantomime on the RDA ponies first of all, then there’s a display by something called Jive Pony, then the intermission. Alex Willard is demonstrating some of his natural horsemanship techniques after that, and finally, it’s us.”
“Oh no,” wailed Cat, “my nerves will never last until then. I was hoping we’d be on first and get it over with.”
“We should be flattered,” Sophie interrupted, walking over with a steaming cup of coffee from her fully equipped kitchenette. “The activity ride is the finale. We’ve got the best spot!”
“Woo-hoo!” said Bean sarcastically.
“Do you hear that, Drummer?” I asked him, leaping up through the groom’s door and walking along the aisle to where he stood between Bambi and Henry.
“Yeah. Whoop-de-doo!” Drum said flatly.
“That’s fantastic!” said Dolly, her showbiz self kicking in. “Top billing. It’s like taking the championship!”
I looked at Drum, and he nibbled Bambi’s neck. Bambi squealed quietly, pretending to mind. They were really sweet together. I thought back to when we’d both had to move home when my parents divorced. It hadn’t only been me who had left old friends behind in our old lives; Drummer had missed his old equine friends at our last livery stable too. He had settled in almost immediately with all the other ponies at Laurel Farm, but Bambi had taken much longer to win over. I smiled. Bambi was the most important pony there to Drum. He seemed so content now that she loved him as much as he loved her, and I was pleased my wonderful pony was so happy.
“I think we’ll leave the ponies in the trailer during the first half of the extravaganza,” suggested Sophie, looking over Katy’s shoulder at her program. “They’ll be warmer in here. Then we’ll get them out after the intermission and warm up while Alex Willard is doing his thing.”
“Oh no,” wailed Bean. “I really wanted to see Alex Willard’s demo.”
“Yeah, same here,” complained James.
“That’s such totally bad timing!” yelled Dee. “You could have had Linda sort things out better, Mom,” she grumbled.
“I didn’t have anything to do with it!” Sophie protested, holding up her hands and almost spilling her coffee.
“But we have to be professional about this,” said Katy, sensible as ever. “We have to warm up, and that’s the only time we can do it.”
“Oh, I know, you’re right. I just needed to complain,” mumbled Bean.
“OK, are you all done?” Sophie asked.
“Let’s go and look around now,” suggested James. “We have until the intermission to do what we want, so why are we all standing around here?”
We went off to look around, and I kept an eye out for Alex Willard, hoping to see the great man again. The arena where the extravaganza was being held was huge, with a vast gallery with permanent seating. There was extra seating in the form of plastic chairs in the top and bottom half of the huge arena, marked off by white poles.
“They couldn’t have sold that many tickets,” said Katy, frowning. “There are so many seats.”
“Maybe it’s for the other shows they hold,” I suggested. “They can’t all be for tonight.”
People were piling in for the extravaganza, and we lined up for hot dogs and hamburgers.
“Oh, look!” said Cat, pointing. “Trade stands. Sometimes you can get great bargains at these things, and I don’t have all my Christmas presents yet.” We all made our way over to stands selling horse equipment, magazines and books, and some gorgeous silver jewelry. Behind those were more stands offering handbags, horsey comforters, and cushions, and a tent with a notice declaring that you could have your fortune read by Gypsy Sylvia, fortune-teller to the stars.
“Oh wow, I’ve always wanted to have my fortune told,” gulped Dee.
“Why does that not surprise me?” groaned James.
“I’m in!” yelled Bean, fishing in her jacket pocket for her wallet and diving into the tent.
“Ooooh, let me come with you,” shrieked Dee, hot on Bean’s tail.
“You’re just wasting your money!” Katy yelled after them.
“Come on,” said James. “Let’s leave them while they do it.”
“No way!” I said. “I’m staying to see what Gypsy Sylvia has to say to Bean.”
“Me too!” agreed Cat.
“Definitely!” nodded Katy.
“But I thought you said…?” began James.
We all laughed. “No way are we missing this,” Katy said, slowly shaking her head and grinning.
“OK,” shrugged James. “I’m going to find my parents. They should be here by now.”
As James disappeared, Dee emerged from Gypsy Sylvia’s tent.
“What’s happening?” asked Katy.
“She wouldn’t let me stay and listen—she said she can only do us one at a time,” Dee moaned.
“What does she look like?” I asked, imagining a woman with raven hair, hooped earrings, and a scarf around her head.
“She’s blond and a little chubby. Not exactly what I was expecting,” Dee explained.
Not very gypsyish, I thought, disappointed. I’d expected her to be like Jazz, the traveler girl I’d met last year.
We hung around getting cold, and then suddenly, the tent flapped open and Bean popped out. We fell on her like she’d been a missing person.
“What did she say?”
“Are you going to be famous?”
“Or rich?”
“Oh, ha, ha!” said Bean.
“Who’s next?” asked Gypsy Sylvia, poking her head out. I saw what Dee meant—she should have made more of an effort in the gypsy wardrobe department—a shawl might have been more convincing than the quilted jacket and polo neck she was wearing.
“Er, I might try it in a minute,” mumbled Dee, chickening out. We all fled to a quiet spot and quizzed Bean.
“Come on, spill the beans, Bean!” insisted Cat.
“She said my favorite color was green…”
“That’s not telling your fortune,” moaned Dee.
“And that I had a secret admirer…”
“We all know that!” exclaimed Cat.
“And he’s hardly a secret. I mean, everyone knows he really likes you,” said Katy.
“Gypsy Sylvia doesn’t!” I said.
“Unless Bean has another secret, secret admirer, that we don’t know about,” suggested Cat.
My heart sank. I so hoped it wasn’t James.
“What are you all talking about?” asked Bean, confused as ever.
“What else?” demanded Dee, guiding her around the subject.
“She said that my love of horses would help me through any difficulties ahead,” Bean said, narrowing her eyes as she concentrated on remembering, “and that I should always remember that I was strong enough to cope with everything life throws at me.”
“That’s cheerful!” said Cat.
“And she said I had to always listen to my instincts because they would help me make the right decisions in my life, and that friendships I make are so strong, my friends always will understand and forgive me when I let them down.”
“Not very upbeat, is she?” asked Dee. “I don’t think I’ll go for a visit.”
“Are you OK, Bean?” Katy asked.
Bean looked worried. “I think she was trying to tell me something about the ride,” Bean said.
“How did you get that from what you told us?” asked Cat.
“I’m going to mess up, aren’t I?” wailed Bean, her eyes suddenly widening.
“You look like Tiffany when you do that,” Cat told her.
“That’s completely wrong, Bean!” said Katy. “She didn’t mean that. Honestly, you shouldn’t have gone in there. It’s all nonsense. She can’t know anything, and now you’re reading tons of stuff into what she said that simply isn’t there.”
“What’s going on—are you destined for fame and fortune, Bean?” asked James, suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
“No,” cried Bean. “I’m destined to forget the routine of the ride—but you all have to forgive me. I’m so sorry in advance.”
“What?” said James, bewildered.
“She didn’t say that. You’re not going to mess up!” insisted Katy impatiently.
“Oh look, there’s Dec,” said James as Cat’s brother waved at us and made his way through the growing crowd of people. As always, Dec’s piercing green eyes were glued to Bean’s face. And, as always, Bean didn’t seem to notice.
“We’re going last, buddy, so plenty of time to relax,” James told him as they greeted each other with a high five.
“Cool,” said Dec economically.
“I’m still hungry,” Bean said to no one in particular.
“I’ll buy you a hot dog, if you want,” offered Dec, recognizing an opportunity.
“Oh, no thanks,” said Bean, wrinkling up her nose. “I’m all mixed up knowing I’m going to let everyone down.”
Declan looked suitably crushed. Everyone else just groaned.
“Should have been here earlier, man,” James told Dec sympathetically.
No, I thought, James can’t be Bean’s secret admirer if he is sympathetic to Dec’s pain. I sighed with relief.
“You OK?” James asked me.
“Perfectly!” I said truthfully.
Katy dragged Bean off with us, leaving the boys by themselves. “Jeez, Bean, you are tactless,” she said, frowning at her.
“Me? Why?”
“You could throw Declan a bone,” Katy said.
“What are you talking about?” asked Bean. Cat looked skyward, and Dee groaned.
“Declan,” hissed Katy.
“Declan?” asked Bean, frowning. “Why would he want a bone?”
“What Katy means, oh, clueless one,” said Cat, “is that my brother really likes you, and you could be nicer to him.”
“He’s the secret admirer Gypsy Sylvia was talking about,” I told her.
“What? Who says he likes me? I’m sure you’re wrong about that. And anyway, I’m not mean to him,” said Bean.
“Oh, Bean!” wailed Dee. “We’re not wrong. He practically melts when you’re around.”
“He can’t take his eyes off you,” I said. “He totally has a crush on you!”
“It’s almost disgusting, he likes you so much,” Cat added. “For goodness’ sake, tell him you hate him and let him transfer his affection to someone else. He’s been creeping around the house morosely ever since he started helping our activity ride—and why do you think he’s helping us, anyway? My other brothers tease him mercilessly. Put him out of his misery, please.”
Bean looked thoughtful. “Awww, I think he’s rather cute,” she said, breaking into a smile.
Cat groaned.
“And if Gypsy Sylvia was right about my secret admirer, she’s got to be right about me going wrong on the activity ride, doesn’t she?” Bean insisted.
“You’ve got to get that out of your head!” Katy told her.
“I don’t want to worry anyone…” Dee began. “But people are actually sitting in some of the temporary seats in the arena. You don’t think all these seats are going to be filled, do you?”
We looked. All the permanent seats in the gallery were already overflowing with spectators.
“But there are hundreds of seats!” wailed Cat, looking around.
“I wish I hadn’t had that hot dog now,” I said, feeling really sick.
“Don’t worry,” said Bean, “if you feel anything like I do, one way or another you won’t have it for much longer.”
“You’re right, Cat,” said Katy grimly. “There are hundreds of seats. And that means we’re going to be performing in front of hundreds of people!”
“Oh no,” gulped Bean. “Maybe we should have joined the ponies in their rebellion.”
Privately, I agreed with her. Watching all the expectant faces, I was suddenly filled with an overwhelming sense of dread coupled with responsibility. What if Bean did mess up? Her track record with performances wasn’t exactly impressive. This activity ride was suddenly much bigger and less fun than we had previously thought. It was serious—people had paid money to see us, and we were the finale. Looking around at the others, I could see the anxiety on their faces too.
I swallowed hard. This was turning into a pile of poo. And then things got worse.
“Pia, yoo-hoo!” shouted a familiar voice.
“Your dad’s over there,” said Bean, pointing. “And he’s got his ultra-girly girlfriend with him.”
Brrrr,” shivered Skinny Lynny, hugging herself, “it’s freezing in here. Don’t they have heating in this place?”
“Not really,” I sighed. “It’s a riding school. They don’t tend to equip riding schools with radiators.”
“Well, they should,” moaned Skinny. I couldn’t see how she could be cold; she was wearing the biggest, puffiest down coat from her throat to her knees, sheepskin boots, big sheepskin gloves and a pair of black, fake-fur earmuffs on her head like huge ears. Usually her hair was dead straight, but today it bounced about her neck in curls. Dad had a protective arm around his trophy girlfriend. He must have arms like an orangutan, I thought, for one of them to reach around that huge coat.
“How’s Drummer?” asked Dad.
I nodded. “He’s great,” I told him. “He’s got a girlfriend. Her name’s Bambi.”
Skinny Lynny snickered, like humans were the only creatures who could form relationships. With other people’s dads, I thought.
“I see your little display is on last,” Dad said, waving the program at me.
“Which means we’ll have to stay to the very end,” Skinny sighed, sounding like she’d hoped they’d be able to watch me and run. “We haven’t eaten yet,” she explained.
“There’s food on sale,” I said. Immediately I felt stupid. Skinny Lynny eating burgers or a hot dog? That was never going to happen. An oyster bar, perhaps, or gourmet canapés, but nothing wrapped in greaseproof paper with ketchup was going to tempt her.
“Is there a bar?” Dad asked hopefully.
“I don’t know, Dad,” I said. “There might be one through there.” I pointed to a door below the gallery.
“Let’s go and find out, OK, Lyn?” Dad asked. Skinny nodded, her teeth chattering, and they disappeared.
I let out the breath I’d been holding. I found them so hard to handle.
Miraculously Bean, who had sort of melted away as soon as Dad and Skinny moved in, reappeared by my side.
“I think I’ll ask for a set of earmuffs like that for Christmas,” she said, looking at Skinny’s retreating back. “I don’t think I’ll look like that in them, though.”
“What, like a panda? Anyway, Declan won’t mind,” I told her. “You could wear one of Tiffany’s old feed sacks and a saddle pad for a hat, and he’ll still love you.”
She gave me a shove and actually blushed. “Shut up, will you? Come on,” she said. “I dare you to have your fortune told. I won’t feel so bad if you do it too.”
“No way!” I replied, shaking my head. “I’m too scared after your experience.”
“Have you seen Alex Willard yet?” Bean asked, looking around as though he’d appear in front of her.
“No, not yet.”
“I hope we do. He’s so cute,” Bean sighed.
“Bean, he’s at least as old as my dad,” I told her.
“Yes, I know, but he’s still cute,” she replied. I guess he was, in an ancient sort of way. We did another tour of the trade stands, and then Bean saw her mom and sisters in the crowd and said she’d better go and talk to them, seeing as they’d made the effort to come, so I looked around to see whether I could spot Mom and Mike-the-bike. If they get here much later, they’ll have to stand, I thought. Most of the chairs had filled up, and people were leaving scarves or jackets on others to mark them as taken.
