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Monday, 10:11p.m.                                September, 07

          The most amazing thing happened to me today. As I’ve written in you for over a year now, journal, you know it’s my birthday. My sweet sixteen… and you would never believe what happened.

          Ever since I turned fifteen last year I’ve been asking my parents for riding lessons. Actually, I’d be fine with only riding the horse once; we’re not exactly on the ‘rich side of town’ and lessons cost thirty-three dollars a lesson.

          However, you have to take all seven lessons if you want any at all so that rules out any chance for me. At least, that’s what I thought. I’d forgotten that mom knows one of the managers that work there; the lady’s name is Helen Bleak.

          They were able to get me in today at four o’ clock. The charge: thirty-three dollars – but since it’s my sixteenth birthday Helen said I didn’t have to take all seven lessons.

          Let me tell you – I was bouncing off the walls. It took a good half hour to get to RideIn Stables and I got ready around three o’ clock. Yes, we were going to a stable and I knew I shouldn’t dress up but I wanted to look nice anyway.

          In the next half hour I found myself putting on a nice pair of dark jeans, a form fitting t-shirt, and the pair of boots I’d been saving for this moment. After dressing I applied some mascara and a bit of eyeliner (you never knew who you’d bump into) and then stared in the mirror at my hair. The layered brown curls couldn’t fly into my face while I was riding, so eventually I pulled them up in a loose ponytail.

          It seemed that 3:30 would never come, but after finding my laying on my bed throwing a bouncy ball across the room mom finally told me it was time to go.

          I dashed down the stairs and leaped into our green Subaru before mom could even reach the top of the stairs. The miles fell behind us and the country lay ahead of us. I drummed on the seat rest, impatient to reach the stables.

          At last the acres of corn turned into grassland and then horses came into view, grazing in their fenced-in home. They looked so peaceful yet mighty at the same time.

          All my attention was focused on the horses but suddenly we pulled into the stables’ driveway, winding down a mile or so. When we reached the end of it and before mom could park I unbuckled, opened my door, and fell out.

          “Rebecca!” mom yelled slamming on the brakes.

          I stood up, dizzy a moment, and then closed the passenger’s side door. Running over to mom’s side I opened the door for her and pulled her up, bubbling over with excitement. We walked up to the stable door together; I couldn’t stop folding and unfolding my arms.

          When nobody came to answer the door mom nodded and we went in. Immediately the smell of horses, hay, and horse poop – all mixed together – filled my nostrils. To me it smelled heavenly, but mom sneezed.

          “Hello?” mom called as she unlatched a small gate in front of us. We appeared to be in an office of sorts. A desk sat on our left with piles of jumbled paper nearly covering the face of it. Beside the desk stood a file cabinet, a coiled rope sitting on top contentedly.

          I re-latched the gate behind us and gasped when I turned around.