Hot Potato (Shelby and Blue) - Alyssa Brugman [24]
'I was thinking this morning, and do you know what? You are the longest best friend I have had so far.'
Shelby stretched out her arms and legs.
Erin started to laugh, and choked on her Redskin. She coughed and patted her chest. 'No, silly! There are other girls who I have known for longer but –'
'I knew what you meant,' Shelby interrupted. Erin watched Neighbours and Home and Away. Shelby was afraid that some dramatic speech might follow.
Erin's eyes widened and she grabbed Shelby's sleeve. 'What if our friendship doesn't survive this crisis?'
Shelby cut her off again. 'What about Penelope?'
'What?' Erin looked confused.
'Penelope – that grey mare. She's pretty long,' Shelby said, smiling.
Erin groaned. 'That is the lamest joke ever. I am trying to tell you something important.'
'Let's not talk about it for one whole day, OK? We'll just do what we normally do,' suggested Shelby.
Erin nodded. She looked pensive as she stared out into the quad. Shelby smiled, guessing that Erin was imagining a few fretful piano chords punctuating the end of the conversation.
17 Bad Accent
The three girls sat in front of the computer in Mrs Edel's office at the stables. They had told Lindsey's mother that they were 'just looking' at Horse Deals online, but they were actually trying to place an advertisement. So far they had agreed to place Hotty in the '$1000 and under' section, because it was free, but they couldn't agree on the text.
'What about "stunning chestnut mare"?' suggested Erin.
'Not "stunning",' complained Shelby.
'Why not?'
'Because if you were truly stunned by all the horses in here that people say are stunning you'd be in a coma!' Lindsey responded. 'I reckon it should be "pretty chestnut filly, make great lawn mower".'
'But that makes her sound injured and dangerous,' said Erin.
'She is injured and dangerous!' Lindsey retorted.
Shelby said, 'We don't know that for sure. We haven't tested the other saddle yet.'
They stared at the screen, thinking.
'How about, "lovely chestnut mare, extravagant movement"?' said Shelby. 'That's even true!'
'Extravagantly bucking till she falls over,' Erin added.
'"Extravagant movement" is right up there with "stunning",' Lindsey grumbled. 'We could say "personality plus". Everyone knows that means "complete fruit loop".'
'Does it really?' asked Erin.
'Yeah, it's like if it says "forward moving", that means it bolts,' added Shelby.
'Or "good doer" means that it has laminitis,' added Lindsey.
'G'day, g'day,' came a voice from the veranda.
The three girls looked up. Hayley Crook was standing in the doorway smiling. 'What are you doing?'
'We were just looking at horses for sale,' explained Shelby, while Lindsey hurriedly changed pages.
'Oh yeah? Are you going to buy something new? What have you found?' she asked, coming around the edge of the desk.
Lindsey shrugged. 'Nothing yet. I might if I see something I like.'
'Can I have a look?'
'Go for it.' Lindsey backed away from the desk and Hayley sat down. She rolled the chair under the desk and scrolled down the page.
'What about this one? Triple registered, half brother to champions. Only eight hundred. I wonder what's wrong with it? Oh, here we go – "big personality". It must be a nutcase.'
Shelby, Erin and Lindsey exchanged looks.
They were hoping to have placed the advertisement by the time Lindsey's mother came back in from the stables, but if Hayley hung around they would have to wait until the next afternoon.
Lindsey sighed. 'Oh well, I suppose we'd better get back to it. Come on, Shel.'
Hayley scrolled down the page. 'Here's a good one – "brown, six years old, fifteen hands, suit hacking, pony club, etc".'
'Maybe we'll look later,' Erin said. Lindsey had hold of her wrist and was dragging her towards the door.
Shelby thought they were being rude just leaving Hayley there. She opened her mouth to ask Hayley if she wanted to come with them, and then she shut it again.
What exactly