A Winning Gift

by Catherine Hapka

  “Cake?” Ryan looked up from his milk. “What kind are you getting, Maddie?”

  “I’m not sure.” Maddie glanced at her mother. “Chocolate?”

  “What else?” Her mother winked, then grabbed a coffee thermos from the top of the refrigerator and started filling it from the pot Maddie’s father had left.

  “Maybe you should have a carrot cake instead,” Ryan said. “Get it? Horses like carrots, right?”

  Tyler wrinkled his nose. “I still can’t believe you’re having your party at the barn. That’s weird.”

  “No weirder than the ninja party you had last year,” Maddie countered. But her heart wasn’t really in it. She’d been looking forward to celebrating her birthday at the barn. But now she wasn’t sure it was such a good idea. How was she going to act normal at her party when she knew she’d be leaving soon? Especially when it was going to be at the very place she’d miss the most?

  I should just talk to Mom and Dad already, she told herself, glancing at her mother’s back as she poured the coffee. Admit that I know and find out more about what’s going to happen. Maybe that’ll help me deal with it.

  It seemed like a good idea, at least in theory. In practice? Not so much—not right now, anyway. Her mom was in a rush, and her dad wasn’t even home.

  No, now definitely wasn’t the time. Maddie was relieved as she realized that particular awkward conversation would just have to wait.

  “Ready?” Maddie tightened the girth on Cloudy’s saddle, then stepped back and brushed off her hands.

  Bridget was slowly running a brush over the mare’s rump. “Not quite yet,” she said. “I want to clean off this spot.”

  Maddie stepped around to look. “Silly—that’s one of her spots,” she said. “Not dirt.”

  “Oh. Um, then, I guess I’m ready.” Bridget glanced around the quiet stable.

  Maddie followed her gaze, relishing the unusual quiet. A gaggle of adult lesson riders had just been finishing their post-ride grooming when the two girls had arrived, and now that they’d cleared out, the place was practically deserted. There were no other lessons scheduled for more than an hour. Vic and Val had other after-school activities that day. Ms. Emerson was busy in the office. Even Seth hadn’t arrived yet.

  “Great. Let’s go.” Maddie quickly bridled Cloudy and led her down the aisle.

  “Wait. I forgot to get a helmet,” Bridget said as they stepped outside. “Stay here. I remember where they are.”

  She dashed back into the barn. Maddie led Cloudy over to a patch of grass and let her graze, enjoying the feel of the pale November sun on her face.

  This is nice, she thought. Just me and Cloudy.

  Suddenly she felt tears filling her eyes. That was weird—Maddie hardly ever cried. Even when a big midfielder had crashed into her at soccer practice a couple of years ago and snapped her wrist, she hadn’t shed a single tear.

  But the thought of leaving Cloudy was much worse than a broken bone. Bones healed, and life went on. But moving away from her favorite pony? Maddie wasn’t sure she’d ever recover from that.

  “Dramatic much?” she muttered under her breath. “Bridget must be rubbing off on me.”

  Realizing her friend was taking an awfully long time finding a helmet, she tugged on the reins and led Cloudy back over to the doorway. Peering in, she saw Bridget ambling slowly along the aisle, pausing to glance into the stalls she was passing.

  “Stop sightseeing and hurry up!” Maddie called. “We want to have time to get your ride in before the next lesson starts.”

  “Okay, okay.” Bridget picked up the pace. “I don’t have to trot today, do I?”

  “Not if you don’t want to,” Maddie promised. “Let’s just see how it goes, okay?”

  She stood Cloudy next to the mounting block, and soon Bridget was in the saddle. She fiddled with the reins, glancing toward the barn now and then.

  “What are you looking for?” Maddie asked.

  “Nothing,” Bridget said. “Just checking to make sure the lesson people aren’t coming.”

  Maddie pulled out her cell phone to check the time. “Don’t worry. We’ve got like half an hour before they even get here to start tacking up. Now, come on. Let’s start by walking around the ring, nice and easy. . . .”

  They circled the ring several times. At first Bridget was tense, leaning forward and clutching the reins tighter every time Cloudy flicked an ear or swished her tail at a fly. But after a couple of circuits she seemed to relax.

  “Want to try a trot now?” Maddie asked.

  Bridget frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe we should wait until next time.”

  “Come on,” Maddie wheedled. “It’ll be fun. You did great the other day, remember? Anyway, it’ll come in handy to know how to do it. You know—in case you ever have to ride a horse for an acting role.”

  That made Bridget smile. “True. I read about this actress who got cast as a runaway princess, and she was supposed to gallop out of the castle bareback on her favorite white horse.”

  “Actually, there aren’t any true white horses,” Maddie said. “Other than albinos, maybe—I’m not sure. Horses and ponies that look white—like Wizard, for instance—are actually just very pale gray.”

  “Thanks, Professor.” Bridget rolled her eyes. “Anyway, this actress was supposed to ride off into the sunset on her gray horse. . . .” She paused and made a funny face. “But she kept sliding off the side of the horse. So they had to have a stunt person do it, and they just filmed her face and used special effects to paste it on the stunt person’s body.”

  “Cool.” Maddie shot her a look. “Ready to trot now? Let’s go!”

  She clucked and urged Cloudy forward. The pony immediately swept into a smooth trot.

  Bridget let out a squeal of protest. “Hey, I wasn’t ready!” she exclaimed.

  Maddie grinned up at her as she jogged alongside Cloudy. “You look ready to me.”

  Bridget was posting, just as she had the other two times she’d ridden Cloudy. She frowned as she realized that herself. Then she shrugged.

  “I guess you were right all along,” she said, breaking into a big grin. “Cloudy is magic!”

  The rest of the ride was fun. By the time she dismounted, Bridget was all smiles.

  “That was great,” she said as they headed back into the barn. “I totally didn’t think about Tony at all that whole time! Partly because I was, you know, afraid of dying at first.” She laughed. “But mostly because it was fun. Can we do it again tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow?” Maddie echoed. “Are you sure you want to ride again tomorrow?”

  “Definitely.” Bridget shot her a look. “Unless you don’t want me here, hmm? Looking for some alone time with your boyfriend, and I’m cramping your style?” She waggled her eyebrows and smirked.

  Maddie winced. She’d started to think that Bridget had forgotten about the whole Maddie-likes-Seth theory. Obviously not.

  “Very funny,” she said, glancing up and down the aisle to make sure the stall cleaner wasn’t nearby.

  “Look, there he is.” Bridget stared toward the main entrance.

  Turning, Maddie saw Seth wandering toward them, a backpack slung over one shoulder. “Hey, it’s the pony girls,” he greeted them in his usual friendly way. “What’s up?”

  “Not much, except you missed our ride,” Bridget informed him. “Maddie was a brilliant teacher, as usual.”

  “Cool.” Seth shifted his bag farther up his shoulder. “I’m late today—football practice ran long. Better get to work. Catch you later.”

  “Bye!” Bridget sang out as he hurried away.

  “See you,” Maddie added, relieved that he wasn’t sticking around to give Bridget the opportunity to try to embarrass her. “So anyway,” she said, turning to face her friend, “about tomorrow—I have an idea. How about if we ride together this time? Wouldn’t that be fun? I can take Cloudy, and you could try one of the other ponies. Maybe Chip? He’s the sweet little
guy Vic rode in the lesson yesterday.”

  Bridget looked alarmed. “You mean the one who kept trying to pull the reins out of her hands? No thank you. I’d better stick to Cloudy—you know, at least until I’m feeling more confident. Is that okay?”

  Maddie hesitated again. Normally she wouldn’t have minded sharing Cloudy with anyone who seemed to need her. Especially a good friend like Bridget. But things weren’t normal right then.

  I need Cloudy too, she thought. Especially since I might not have her much longer.

  Bridget peered at her. “Mads? Is that okay? It’s just that tomorrow is Friday, and that was always date night for Tony and me.” She stared wistfully into space. “You know—we’d talk on the phone, pretend we were together. . . .”

  Maddie shook off her resentment. How could she be so selfish? Cloudy was helping Bridget get over her heartbreak, and that was the most important thing right now. It was just lucky that forcing her friend to ride a different pony hadn’t totally put her off riding. If she needed to stick with Cloudy for a few more days to get her mojo back? Well, Maddie would just have to deal.

  “Of course it’s okay,” she assured Bridget. “Tomorrow it is.”

  ♦ CHAPTER ♦

  7

  [NINA] Hi, everyone! How’s it going, Mads? Anything new to report? I’m still thinking about how to help; will keep u posted! Off to the barn now. Will check in later . . .

  [HALEY] Hope you’re having a fun ride, N! I just came in from a ride myself. Wings was great, but I was a little distracted b/c of what Maddie told us. Did u talk to your parents yet, M? Let us know what they say. Is there any chance they’d let you stay with friends to at least finish the school yr or something? That would give u a little more time with Cloudy.

  [BROOKE] Hi! I’m here too—hi, Haley!

  [HALEY] Hi! I hope Maddie checks in soon.

  [BROOKE] She’s prob at the barn spending all the time she can w/ Cloudy. I know that’s what I’d be doing if I were in her shoes. Hang in there, Maddie! We will help if we can!!!

  [HALEY] Def!!!! Hey, B, did u ride today?

  [BROOKE] Only for a few min. My little sibs are still on their cowboy kick. They both followed me out to the barn when I went to check Foxy’s water and pestered me until I gave them another pony ride. Argh!

  [HALEY] Lol, sounds cute! Post more pix, OK? Anyway, I’d better go—almost time to set the table for dinner. Check in when u can, Maddie! Bye, B!

  [BROOKE] Bye!

  [NINA] Hi again! I’m back—sry so late, but we went out to eat. Mmm, oysters! I’m stuffed. Anyway, Maddie, I’m hoping u check in soon—it should be like 7 o’clock there, so you may still be eating dinner. . . .

  As she read Nina’s post, Maddie checked the clock by her bed. It was 7:05. She opened a text box and typed quickly:

  [MADDIE] I’m here! Nina, r u still on?

  She posted it, then sat back and waited. It was only a few seconds before the response came:

  [NINA] I’m here! Glad u are too!!!!

  [NINA] How are you holding up?

  [MADDIE] Ugh, I dunno. I just keep thinking about it. Jan. is sooo soon, you know?

  [NINA] Ya. Did u talk to the ’rents?

  [MADDIE] Not yet. It never seems to be the right time. Plus, I’m still afraid they’ll be so mad I snooped that they’ll cancel my party.

  [NINA] I hear you. Are you maybe also afraid that if they say it’s true, that will mean it’s real?

  [MADDIE] LOL. I already knew u were smart, N. But I didn’t know u were a mind reader, too! I’m totally afraid of that!

  [NINA] I would be too. No mind rdg required, lol! But ur not going to give up, are you? Maybe there’s still a way to change their minds.

  [MADDIE] Doubtful. The USAF doesn’t change its mind very often. When they say u need to move, u move—kwim?

  [NINA] Well, what about Haley’s idea to stay behind when they go? Maybe u could move in w/ yr friend Bridget, or those girls from yr barn, or??? U have tons of friends, right? I knew a girl here who stayed w/ her cousins when her mom had to work overseas for six months.

  [MADDIE] Six months is one thing. This is prolly supposed to be for longer than that. Anyway, none of my relatives live anywhere nearby, so moving in w/ them won’t help. And I doubt my parents would let me stay w/ friends.

  [MADDIE] Sry. Not trying to be negative! I know ur trying to help.

  [NINA] It’s OK. I understand! I hope u at least are getting lots of quality Cloudy time in to help u thru.

  [MADDIE] Not rly. Bridget has been riding her so much I’ve barely been on her. She’s coming to the barn again tmw, actually.

  [NINA] Huh? But u need ur Cloudy time!!

  [MADDIE] I know, but what can I do? B needs her too.

  [NINA] But if she knows what u are going thru, she must see that she has to share!?

  [NINA] Wait—don’t tell me u haven’t told her about the move?

  [MADDIE] I haven’t told anyone here. Just you guys.

  [NINA] Hmm. Well, maybe u need to tell Bridget soon? She’s a good friend—I’m sure she will understand, right?

  [MADDIE] I dunno. She can be kinda emotional, u know? She will prolly freak out if she knows I’m moving away that soon. Not sure I’m ready to deal with that, kwim?

  [NINA] Sure. Just think about it, OK? U need support from yr friends right now—all of them. Including Cloudy! Anyway, I’m beat. Gotta get to bed or I’ll be dead in school tmw. But I will keep thinking about ways to help—promise!

  [MADDIE] Thanks. Nighty-night!

  After she posted her last message, Maddie sat back with a sigh. She was in her room, sitting cross-legged on her bed. Tillie was still downstairs, since it was her turn to help clear the table, which had given Maddie a few minutes of peace to check the Pony Post. She scanned the latest postings again, still impressed by the way Nina had nailed the real reason she was afraid to talk to her parents.

  She’s amazing, Maddie thought. They all are. They’ve never let me down before—we’ve never let one another down. They helped me when I thought Cloudy might be sold. We helped Brooke when she felt out of place at camp. We even helped Nina when she thought she was being haunted! She sighed and touched the Pony Post logo on the screen. I’m just not sure it’s possible for them to help with this particular problem. . . .

  The bedroom door slammed open, startling Maddie so much that she almost dropped her laptop. Tillie stalked in and glared at her.

  “I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t you ask Mom and Dad to trade in whatever they got you for your birthday for another bottle of that nail polish you stole from me? Then you can give it back.”

  “Whatever.” Maddie closed the computer and stood up, not in the mood for more of Tillie’s snide comments and dirty looks. “You should probably see someone about your unhealthy obsession with makeup.”

  She hurried out of the room to Tillie’s outraged howl, yanking the door shut behind her. Then she wandered down the hall, still thinking about her conversation with Nina. As understanding as she was, Maddie could tell she didn’t quite get why she hadn’t told Bridget about the move yet.

  Then again, that was no surprise. Maddie didn’t quite get it herself. Bridget was already pretty emotional about her breakup—a little more freaking out wouldn’t make that much difference. Maybe Nina was right; maybe Maddie should tell her.

  Who knows? Maybe she’d even let me ride Cloudy for a change, she thought with a grimace.

  Realizing she was right outside her parents’ bedroom, Maddie stopped and glanced in through the half-open door. Flashing back to Tillie’s mention of birthday gifts, she took a step inside and glanced around. Maybe searching for her gifts would take her mind off things for a while.

  She hurried over to one of the dressers and started opening drawers, carefully poking through her parents’ clothes. There were no gifts inside, but she did find something else among her father’s socks.

  “What’s this?” she murmured, pulling out a gloss
y brochure.

  Her eyes widened when she took in the photo of a nice-looking bay horse on the front—and the British flag. It was an advertisement for riding in London!

  Heart pounding, she shoved the brochure back where she’d found it and backed away. Obviously, her parents had been researching ways that Maddie could keep riding after they moved to England. They were probably hoping that would make her okay with the move, make her forget all about Cloudy. Didn’t they realize that was never going to happen? Maddie would never be okay with leaving her favorite pony behind. Never.

  Feeling almost as emotional as Bridget all of a sudden, she hurried out of the room and looked around to make sure nobody had seen her. The hall was empty, though a moment later Tillie emerged from their room and made a beeline for the bathroom. Hearing the sound of the shower turning on, Maddie scooted through the bedroom door.

  She flopped onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She’d never loved moving that much, but before this it hadn’t seemed like all that big a deal either. Sure, a new home meant leaving old friends behind and getting used to a whole new place. But she could keep in touch with friends, and the getting-used-to part was kind of fun—like an adventure. And what could be more of an adventure than getting the chance to live in a whole new country? How many kids Maddie’s age got to do that? Normally she would have been all over it.

  But this time it was different. She wasn’t just leaving behind people and places. Now there was Cloudy to consider too. And Maddie wasn’t ready to leave her behind. Not even close.

  She closed her eyes, trying to figure out how to deal with this. Because she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to be able to change her parents’ minds about moving—let alone the US Air Force. And she was almost as certain that her parents weren’t going to let her stay behind, live with Bridget’s family, or move into the spare room at Vic and Val’s house. Besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted that herself. She’d miss Cloudy like crazy if she left, but she’d miss her family even more if she stayed.

  Opening her eyes, she sighed, feeling a bleak sense of acceptance settle into the pit of her stomach. She was moving away, leaving Cloudy behind, and that was that. She might as well figure out a way to start accepting reality.