For Sale or Swap - Alyssa Brugman [58]
There.
She pointed. 'There! Fourth from the end.'
It was the back half of Blue – the big rump and the long, thick tail. It was just the front half that was wrong. This horse had a big, black head and brown eyes.
Erin shook her head. 'It's not him, Shel.'
'I was so sure it was Blue,' Shelby whispered. Her legs felt wobbly and they collapsed underneath her. She landed in a heap on the grass. Her face screwed up and she couldn't breathe.
Erin squatted down in front of her. 'Oh Shel. I'm so sorry. Come here.' She threw her arms around Shelby's neck, and Shelby hugged her.
'I was sure, Erin.'
'I know. You can't stay here, though. You'll get grass stains on your good joddies.'
29 Tilt-a-Whirl
Shelby sat on the tailgate with Mrs Crook on one side and Erin on the other. Hayley had taken Ditto for the Turnout class.
Shelby had had a good long cry and her face was red and puffy. Mrs Crook didn't have any tissues, so Shelby wiped her nose with a rough serviette that made her skin tender and raw.
'You all right now?' asked Mrs Crook, rubbing circles on her back.
Shelby nodded, but she wasn't really all right. If only she knew where Blue was then she might stop seeing him in nightmares and daydreams. While she didn't know, there was hope, and it was driving her crazy.
She looked up and saw Monica and Kim running along the road towards them. Kim had a pair of blue overalls, like the ones mechanics wear, over her riding clothes. Monica had a snow cone, and even as she was running, she tipped the cup up towards her face, catching the melted juice in her mouth. They slowed down as they reached the float. Kim leaned over, out of breath, resting her hands on her knees.
'What's happened?' she asked, seeing Shelby's puffy face.
'Shelby thought she saw Blue, but it wasn't him,' replied Erin.
'Really? That's what we came to tell you. We saw him too.'
Monica nodded. 'It looked so much like him. Are you sure it wasn't him?'
Shelby nodded, but she also frowned. That horse hadn't looked so much like Blue after all – only the back half. In fact, when she'd seen him up close he looked completely different.
'How did you go today?' asked Mrs Crook, shading her eyes with her hand. Monica had won the Open Hack, and was now waiting for the Champion class.
'We went in the pairs, too. That was fun. We only came third, but we reckon we could win it if we practise.'
Mrs Crook nodded. 'Well done! Why don't you take Shelby over to the rides?'
Shelby didn't want to go on any rides. She just wanted to curl up in a little ball in the back of the four-wheel drive and stay there until it was time to go home, but her parents had always taught her to be polite, and so she let Monica, Kim and Erin lead her to the other side of the showground.
While they waited in the line, Shelby could see the people in the crowd looking the girls up and down in their snazzy show gear, and for a moment she did feel special – as though the riding gear was some kind of VIP tag.
When it was their turn, the four girls squeezed into the carriage together. Kim sang along loudly to the popular tune that was blaring through the speakers and Monica dug into her ribs with her elbow. 'Kimmy! Shut up! You are so embarrassing.'
Shelby didn't think Kim was embarrassing. She wished she had the confidence to yell out the way that Kim did. The next moment, Erin, who was on the far side of the carriage, joined in – jiggling her head and waving her arms in the air in time with the music. Monica covered her face with her hands.
Kim grabbed hold of Shelby's elbow and waved Shelby's arm in the air, like she was a rag doll. 'Come on, Shel,' she shouted over the music.
Shelby grinned and mouthed some of the words. She felt like a bit of goose but at the same time she was grateful.
The carriage shunted to the right and Erin let out a scream.
'Here we go!' yelled Kim.
The motor of the Tilt-a-Whirl hummed and growled into action. The carriage swung around in a loop and all four girls let out delighted screams.
'Put your hands in the air!' called out Kim