Millie and Magic (6 page)

Irenka and Kasia saw me walking Tally up and down this morning, and Irenka got the wrong idea and thought I was taking over again. She gave me an even chillier look than yesterday and stalked off. Kasia followed, but I called out, “Kasia, wait, please!”

I didn't think she would, but she stopped and turned to face me. “I really am so sorry for what I did yesterday,” I gabbled. “I feel awful that you had to miss out on riding Tally because of me. That's why I'm trying to get him loosened up now – I'm hoping you might be able to ride him today.”

Kasia gave me a long stare. Then she said, “Can I help?”

I grinned with relief. “Yeah, course.”

So we walked Tally up and down together (I gave her the lead rope to hold, of course). She asked me loads of questions about him and it's obvious she really cares.

Tally's leg seemed fine to me, a bit stiff at first maybe. But of course it was down to Mum to decide whether Kasia could ride him today.

I had all my fingers crossed when she came to have a look at him. And luckily she said he's fine to be ridden. Hooray!

I was hoping Mum would let
me
ride instead of doing chores, so I could spend more time with Magic. But when I asked she just said, “Dream on, Millie. Get yourself a spade.”

I pulled a face, but then I went and got started – no point being miserable about it!

Here's my jobs list: 

Well, I did everything! It took all day, just about, and when I'd finished, the stables and field and tack were spotless. I even hung the numnahs out on the line and by the time I'd finished with the broom, there wasn't a single bit of straw on the yard.

I only stopped once – to give Magic a big hug and tell him how sorry I am and how I hope we'll be a team from now on. He nuzzled into me so I think I'm forgiven, thank goodness!

Oh, here's Mum. But instead of inspecting my work, she wants me to come into the kitchen with her. I wonder what's going on…

 

When I walked in, Dad was here. There were two half-drunk mugs of tea on the table, so I knew they'd been chatting about something. They seemed really serious and my heart started thumping. “What's going on?” I asked, collapsing into a chair.

“We've been giving it a lot of thought, and based on the week so far your dad and I don't think Magic's the right pony for you,” Mum replied. “We hoped you'd make a good team, but you're obviously not keen on the idea.”

I tried to protest, but Dad cut me off. “From what Sally says, you have no rapport with him and you don't seem to have any feel for what he needs. And in the bit of the lesson that I saw, well, you could have helped him over those jumps, but you didn't even try.”

“That's because I was riding badly
on
purpo
se!” I cried. “It was part of my plan to keep Tally. But I understand now that I can't.”

Mum rolled her eyes at Dad. They obviously didn't believe me. And now I was going to lose Magic.

That's when I realized how fond I'd got of him. Yes, after only two days. Just like Kasia with Tally and all the other Pony Camp girls with their ponies. “Please, Mum,” I begged. “I really,
really
want Magic.” 

“Millie, it's OK, you don't have to say that,” Mum said, more gently. “I know we've been angry about how you've behaved, but pretending you want Magic won't help things. We think it's best if you don't have a pony for a while. You can ride the ones here and get over Tally in your own time. I'll take Magic back and explain that it hasn't worked out. Magic's such a great pony he'll easily find another home.”

I gasped. My mouth went dry and I felt sick. This couldn't be happening. I'd been so stupid! I'd messed everything up and now it was too late to put it right. “But I promise you, I
do
want Magic!” I cried. “You were right all along. We'd be a great team. I'll prove it. Please, let me prove it!”

Mum and Dad glanced at each other. They didn't look convinced.

Dad gave me a long hard look. I stared back at him, willing him to give me and Magic
another go. “OK, win the Chase Me Charlie in Friday's gymkhana with him and he's yours,” he said.

“WHAT?!” I shrieked. “But the others are really good riders, ask Sally! And Zuzanna's got
Charm
, the best jumper here!”

“You asked for a chance and I'm giving you one,” said Dad.

“But it's impossible!” I protested. “Jumping is Magic's weak point. There's no way we'll win. Anything else, Dad, and I'll do it. I'll do yard jobs for a month! I'll wash up every day for the rest of the summer! Anything! Please!”

Even Mum said, “Johnny, are you sure about this?”

But Dad wouldn't change his mind. “I'm not impressed with the way you've been acting this week, Millie,” he said sternly. “To be given a pony, something I could only dream of at your age, and to behave the way you have – it's

ungrateful and spoilt. Do you have any idea how hard we've worked to save up for Magic? I'm really not sure you deserve him now, or any pony, come to that! Magic's great, and he should have a rider who'll really care about him.”

“But I
do
care about him!” I wailed. I almost started crying, but I swallowed back the tears. “Fine,” I said, “we'll take the challenge!”

“Good,” said Dad, then he stood up, squeezed Mum's shoulders and walked out. After that, Mum had to make a couple of phone calls, so I've been writing this.

Oh, she's just come back in and said she's ready to check my chores.

Wednesday evening,
hanging out in my room. Me, Amy and Zoe are all lying on our beds, writing in our diaries

Well, the girls’ lesson had finished so the yard was all messed up again by the time Mum looked at it. While she inspected the tack room and stables (and took a call in the office), I swept it again, to make it as spotless as before. She came out smiling, saying how impressed she was with everything I’d done – phew!

“Good. I wanted you to be,” I said. “I can’t believe how spoilt I’ve been! I really
am
sorry.”

Mum gave me a half smile. “I know,” she said. “And I’ve been thinking, you must have been desperate to keep Tally to try something so crazy. Why didn’t you tell me how you felt?”

I sighed. “I did try, four times yesterday, and loads before Magic came! But you wouldn’t
listen, you were always too busy.”

Mum looked startled at first, then she said, “I’m sorry, love, things get so hectic with the girls here, but still, I should have taken the time to listen to you. Not that it’s any excuse for what you did!”

“I know it’s not,” I said quickly. “I just got so angry and upset. I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll never put a pony or myself in danger like that again. I can’t bear to think what might have happened to Tally, it could have been far more serious than it was.”

Mum squeezed my shoulders. “Let’s put it behind us, shall we?”

I hugged her waist. “Thanks.” After a moment, she said, “Right then, next…”

I cut in. “Let me guess. More shelling peas? Extra poo-picking?” 

Mum laughed. “Actually, the tea’s all prepared, so I thought we could go out on the cross-country course. You ought to get back in the saddle as soon as possible after a fall.”

Wow! “Really? Thanks, Mum!” I cried. “Me and Magic need to get lots of jumping practice in before the Chase Me Charlie on Friday.
And
hope that luck’s on our side.
Lots
of it. No chance Dad will change his mind about me having to win, I suppose?”

Mum just raised an eyebrow at me. We both knew the answer to that. “Better get cracking then,” I said.

So that’s what we did. Mum tacked up her horse, Bonny, and I got Magic ready. As I buckled up his girth, I told him about Dad’s challenge, then added, “I know it seems impossible, but we’ve got to try.” He snorted and turned his head to nudge me, so I think he wants us to stay together too.

We trotted up the lane, and warmed up with some walk, trot and canter round the field. Mum suggested that I start by working Magic over a single jump (the log pile), because it’s fairly low, then circling round between the double log jumps and the hedge. He did refuse twice, but I just carried on, and gave him lots of encouragement and an extra squeeze before he took off. I also did as Mum said and focused forward past the jump, as if it wasn’t even there. 

And guess what?

He went over!

And again, and a third time!

When we stopped for a rest, I leaned forward on to his neck and gave him loads of praise. The cross-country jumps are far more solid than the poles we use in the manège, so
Magic needed even MORE bravery to tackle that log pile. Maybe a bit of my confidence rubbed off on him too, because then when we tried the hedge, tyres and ditch as a
mini-course,
we cleared them. (OK, not perfectly, but never mind!)

I started to think that with lots of practice we might stand some chance in the Chase Me Charlie on Friday, but we’re a long way off yet! If the hedge had been a pole we’d have had it down both times, and one of Magic’s hind hooves hit the tyres once too, so we’d have knocked a pole off then as well. And as for the ditch, Magic jumped it beautifully but, being a hole in the ground filled with water, it hardly counts as a
height
!

I didn’t even
attempt
the gate at first, just went round beside it instead, because it’s pretty high and I thought Magic might refuse it. But then Mum offered to give me a lead, so we had
a go, and yes, we got over,
just
! I stopped there, as I wanted to end on a positive note. The Chase Me Charlie might go up even
higher
than the gate, though, especially with Charm in the running, and Irenka riding Flame so well.

On the way back, I started chatting to Mum about how,
if
by some miracle we win the comp on Friday and I get to keep Magic, we could go in for the cross-country at the Crewkerne Show this year. Then I suddenly stopped, feeling bad because I always do that show with Tally.

Mum must have known what I was thinking because she said, “You know, it’s OK to be excited about Magic. I gave Tally to someone else this week for a reason. I hoped you’d feel that, as he wasn’t being left out, you could get on and enjoy yourself too.”

I was startled. “Oh! So you were actually trying to
help
by giving him to Kasia?”

Mum gave me a shocked look. “Believe it or not, Millie, yes!” she cried. “I don’t set out to make you unhappy, you know!”

I grinned. “I
suppose
not!”

Mum laughed. “Watch it, cheeky madam!” 

When I was untacking and brushing Magic down in the yard I gave him a great big hug and told him how well he’d done. He seemed really proud of himself as he nuzzled into my chest. We’ve got to stay together, we’ve just
got
to. But I still don’t know how on earth we’re going to win the Chase Me Charlie.

And there’s something else I need to do. After yesterday I wouldn’t dare go behind Mum’s back so I’ll have to ask her straight out. Here goes…