Chocolate and the Twilight Jumps

By Kat Christine Wang

Chapter 1

“There’s the one meter fences over that log, then, we’ll do some warming up dressage rounds and we’ll get into some frequent teams-any questions?” Rachael, Willow Hall Stables Pony Club instructor was saying. Katy Richards, a snobby, unheartful, rich and nasty girl put her hand up. “Why couldn’t there be more advanced riders that have more posh intension and more good-looking horses be in this stable?” she asked, bouncy on her beautiful black Thoroughbred, Black Jack gracefully. Ellie rolled her eyes-OK, so Black Jack was probably the best-looking horse in pony club but so what? The black thoroughbred had a tiny dot on its forehead and it always moved gracefully in dressage, strongly in showjumping and swiftly in racing, as though Black Jack is a race horse, after all-which had gotten Ellie, she had to admit, jealous. Rachael frowned and whacked her whip against her lilac jodhpurs as if she meant business but didn’t answer Katy’s rude question. Ellie kept her horse moving-Chocolate. Chocolate was a nice bay horse, but you could say bay but not exactly-more darker than bays~ Chocolate Mousse was Chocolate’s show name as Ellie noted proudly. She had been begging her parents for a horse for ages until they finally gave up and gave her Chocolate-fifteen point two hands dark bay-colored Anglo-Arab for Ellie’s birthday last year. “Keep Chocolate moving towards the first fence-don’t let him take the trot to a walk!” Rachael advised. Ellie yanked on the reins more firmly then loosened them. The 3.2 feet tall fence was approaching. The Anglo-Arab snorted. And jumped.

“That was quite a practice,” said Rachael as they all dismounted to tie up their ponies for a picnic break. Ellie tied Chocolate to a single tree trunk and flipped her dark hair back and nodded. “I guess Chocolate knocked over a fence or two but I think he was spooked out,” admitted Ellie. “Weren’t you, boy?” she stroked the dark bay softly. “You and Chocolate need to work on a few things in showjumping-your dressage is really improving…and we’re lucky its summer holidays, because we’ll need lots of practice these days,” said Rachael. Ellie frowned slightly. “Why?” she asked. “I’ll tell you when I tell everyone together.” Fumed Rachael and walked away, carrying the riding whip, swaying it from side to side. Lots of practice…thought Ellie. She knew that to be a good horsewoman was to practice but she wasn’t so sure that was what Rachael meant… “Ellie!” Ellie’s best friend, Sarah Diwinds was waving frantically at a picnic table towards the pasture. Sarah and Ellie went to the same school-Willow Halls High, they went to the same pony club and they went to the same Music Academy’s. Their mothers said that the two were very alike, which was pretty awkward. Ellie had long, brown hair and slightly olive tanned skin like her mum and Sarah had short blond hair cut in a bob and pale face and slightly bits of freckles along her nose. “How’s Lil Cutie?” Ellie asked as they placed down their bagged lunchboxes, drinks and pockets of money to buy food or drinks from the kiosk on the picnic table. Lil Cutie was Sarah’s sixteen hands grey shire horse. Sarah had tied Lil Cutie along Chocolate’s side, so the two horses were face-two face, grazing on the grass. “She’s great, I guess. We still need to improve on dressage…Rachael said that we needed to work on our ‘posture’. Since when did ballet include in riding?” said Sarah, biting down in her sandwich. Ellie opened her mouth to say something but she was interrupted. “Oh, yes, admiring my Black Jack?” a sour voice from behind was sneering about. Ellie and Sarah turned around to see the sour-faced blond and expensive cream jodhpurs. “It’s a shame that you two both need to work on stuff for winning the golden trophy.” Katy smirked, carrying a hot pink cell phone and a light hot pink purse bag, filled with $50 paper monies and lip gloss. Ellie turned on her attention to the blond brat. “Golden Trophy?” she blurted out, almost spluttering her coke all over the table. Sarah also looked interested. “Twenty minutes everyone!” Rachael was calling out the morning break time limit. Katy sighed dramatically and flipped her hot pink cell phone open. “Sometimes, I wonder if Rachael tells important things to the best riders,” Katy sneered. “You know, she told me to tell all of people in Pony Club that there’s going to be a eventing comp in two weeks’ time-it’s called Twilight Eventing which means it’ll happen at six o’ clock in the night and the riders will get selected in either, showjumping or dressage,” said Katy, tapping her manicured fingers on her hot pink cell phone, looking bored and acting quite bored as she explained it to Ellie and Rachael. “You’ll get a letter in your mailbox this afternoon and your parent’s will know it-Rachael said only the best selected riders will be chosen for either one and the best of it is that we’ll be competing in the dark with fairy floodlights on.” Finished Katy looking smart. “Then, whoever wins first place in either showjumping, or dressage will take home a golden trophy-it’s this cool trophy with a gold horse rearing up and underneath, there’s a stand that says your name on it-only the BEST people can take one of them home-it’s not like you’ll get in into either of those choices, will you, Ellie?” smirked Katy and scattered away, to the kiosk. “Wow,” breathed Sarah. “I really hope Lil Cutie and I get in showjumping,” she wished. Ellie glanced over at Chocolate and squinted her eyes over at Katy and Black Jack-she had to train hard. If Rachael was rewarding them for the golden trophy, then Ellie had no choice-in fact, she had no choice at all.

Chapter 2

“But Mum!”

“No Ellison, Music Academy is twice as important-you can’t go every day of the week to train that beast,”

Ellie and her mother were having a slight argument in the kitchen. Mrs. Wringdale, Ellie’s mother had received the letter about the Twilight Competitions in two weeks’ time- and Mrs. Wringdale did not like to hear about Ellie arriving at the stables every day, early to late, training Chocolate and to do that so, Ellie had to admit that it meant more money to pay. And what’s more worse is that Music Academy had an email to the Wringdale’s account…After the argument, it looked like Mrs. Wringdale had won. All Ellie did was slump upstairs, avoiding the violin on her bed. Instead, she opened up her laptop and checked her email, just in case her mother had misread the email from Music Academy from practicing her violin at the studio every day! But…she was wrong…

Dear Mrs and Mr. Wringdale,

Your child is participating in the Music Academy Re-awards exams Grand Finale. She needs to bring her violin in a neat violin case to practice for the MAREGF on these days:

Monday: 9:30am

Tuesday: 9:00am

Wednesday: 10:45am

Thursday: 1:00pm

Friday: 5:00pm

Weekends: You must push your child to practice on weekends, very hard. The MAREGF starts in two weeks’ time, straight on Tuesday, at 10:55pm at night. You must pay this bill ASAP: $500. 80c by the original date. MUST be PAID. Tickets Available, but please book seats. Please be firm and serious with all this,

Firm Regards,

Lara Natalie Ann

Film producer of Music Academy

987018273 Music-Academy@allmusicproductions.com.au/organizer

Willow Halls Saxony Rd 2467

“Not fair!” fumed Ellie after she’d finished reading the email. If this means 24hour practice for two whole weeks for her, it’ll mean for Sarah, too! There was no way of teaching sour and nasty and bratty Katy Denman a lesson or two! She needed to give a word or two to Lara Natalie Ann, the director and producer. And if her mum disagreed, Ellie was doing it on her own!

No, she didn’t need to. They had cancelled the practices because one of the musicians had a serious disease. “I still want all of yous to practice, though!” snapped Lara-Natalie angrily. Ellie smiled to herself and turned to Sarah. “Want to go to the stables?”

Chapter 3

By the time Ellie wheeled her bike to the bike shed at the back of the horse floats, she was never so cheerful-the Music Academy stuff had happened so quick-and so out of the blue. Today, it promised a hot day with blue cleared skies and shining sun. Ellie had bring her pocket money with her, to pay for the extra training, obviously. Ellie caught Sarah’s bike, already parked and chained so Ellie parked her bike right next to Sarah’s. She wiped her hands on her new cream jodhpur’s and walked to the gate, near the pasture, where some horses were grazing on grass. “Good afternoon, Ellie-what brings you here?” asked Hailey, the flamed-headed manager of Willow Hall Stables was in the kiosk, sorting out papers for the Twilight Comp. Ellie slapped $45 on the counter. “I want extra training for the Twilight Comp,” she muttered. Hailey took the money and smiled. “OK. Go get you’re riding helmet off the racks and put your boots on and get Chocolate ready in the arena-Rachael will be waiting for you there with Sarah and Katy.” Said Hailey. Ellie was surprised about Katy’s appearance. “Katy?” she repeated. Hailey nodded. “Yup. Katy’s parents planned to sue us, long story,” said Hailey with a wink. Sounds like Katy, all right, thought Ellie. At least she had her best friend so she wasn’t the only one stuck with stuck-up Katy. Ellie went to get Chocolate untied from the horse floats but she froze as she walked up to his float-he wasn’t there.

“How could’ve I’ve been so thoughtless?” hissed Ellie to Sarah. Rachael sent Sarah to fetch Ellie because she was taking so long. “You’d better think quickly,” said Sarah. “Rachael did sound quite firm there-and since Chocolate’s gone Katy was smirking when I asked why you weren’t here,” explained Sarah. Ellie gawped at her; still looking over and over the horse floats. “Why did you ask?” demanded Ellie quietly, hoping no one will hear. “Well, I didn’t want to be stuck with Katy!” answered Sarah. They searched the paddocks and pasture. And the barn. And a short distance from the trails. Chocolate was nowhere to be seen. “What are we going to do?” whispered Sarah, looking terrified. Before anyone could answer, Rachael was hurrying up to them, calling, “Hey! Girls! Ellie! Sarah! Where’s Chocolate?”

“That’s the problem-we don’t know!” cried Ellie. Rachael frowned and looked around. “I’ll check the horse floats-girls, go to the arena and wait there.” Instructed Rachael.

“No Chocolate Mousse is there?” smirked Katy. “Oh dear.”

“What have you done with him?” snapped Ellie. Katy did the wide-eye innocence and fluttering eyelashes as if she is an real angel. “Me?” she pattered on about.

“Katy, I would like to speak to you.” Rachael was behind, them. And, she was holding Chocolate’s halter! “Chocolate!” cried Ellie cheerfully, springing up to him and hugged him and pushed her head deep in his mane. “Where did you find him?” asked Ellie curiously. “Katy!” Rachael flattered. “I need to see you!” Katy clucked Black Jack on, with a worried expression in her eyes~ an expression some blond, bratty, spoilt girl would never have. Rachel told Katy to dismount off Black Jack and so she did, hanging her head as doing so. “I found Chocolate in your horse truck,” explained Rachael angrily. “Can you explain?” Katy turned red as tomato. “Um…” Sarah grinned, but Ellie didn’t feel happy that Katy was getting told off by Rachael-she was furious! How dare Katy touch her horse into her horse truck? “Right, your parents did threaten to sue-but I’ll have a word with them-you are not competing in the Twilight Comp.” was just like that-Rachael’s final word, which left Katy, into tears.

Chapter 4

The two girls cycled all the way back home. “I guess I do feel a bit sorry for Katy,” admitted Sarah, pedaling in an even pace. “Did you see the way she wept when Rachael told her she was out? It was epic, and she no longer looked smart anymore.” Sarah finished. Both girls steered down the pathway, cycling side-by-side. Ellie shrugged. “Don’t feel sorry for her. Don’t you understand? She was the one that took Chocolate without asking and put it in her own horse truck,” Ellie hampered. “That’s true.” Shrugged Sarah. “Bye. I’m up that way-see you tomorrow for the Twilight Show.” Sarah greeted a goodbye before the two girl’s cycled separate ways.

“Ellie! Ellie! I have some fantastic news!” Ellie’s mother was hyper once Ellie stepped one step through the door. Ellie rolled her eyes. “What? That the Music Academy is back on?” she groaned. Mrs. Wringdale shook her head and went hyper-sonic so much that Ellie had to admit, it was pretty scary. Her mother showed her a letter. It said:

Congratulations!

You’ve made it into the: TWILIGHT COMPETITION

Here’s the pinboard:

Showjumping:

· Adam Arn

· Lily Barlin

· Sophie Costa

· ELLISON WRINGDALE! J (Well Done!!)

Dressage:

· Sarah Dwindle

· Marie Smith

· Jeffrey Chang

· Arden Zhang

Well done! You’ve made it in the SHOWJUMPING for our TWILIGHT COMP!

Kind Regards,

The Willow Hall Stables Team

Ellie almost squealed to death after she had read it-she had made it! To showjumping! And her greatest rival, Katy and Chocolate’s horse greatest rival, Black Jack was not in any because they got eliminated! “Yes!” squealed Ellie. And her best friend, Sarah Dwindle and Lil Cutie had also made it! In dressage! Ellie was really, really happy then. She had MADE it! She did!

Chapter 5

The night of the Twilight Show was really, really, really cool. The arena had been set up-with fairy lights and colorful floodlights everywhere! The seats were also there. And at the end of each ledge of a seat, was a fairy light for the audience to take for free! And there were also jumps-little to high…higher…and higher…and most of the fences, at each end were also a colorful spark fairy light! “Wow,” breathed Ellie as she saddle Chocolate. “Do you think we can take a fairy light, too?” Sarah just shrugged happily. “I think this is amazing, too. “What number are you?” she added. Ellie took her card from her pockets and read, “I’m No. 4…last one…scary…” she grinned. “Hey! I’m no. 1! Wanna swap!” joked Sarah. “Shush!” it was Rachael, who was setting everything up backstage; even though ‘backstage’ were only the trail areas. “OK, OK, do we have everyone lined up? Showjumpers on this side and dressage riders on this side- now, we’ll get the dressage riders to go first, so get lined up! So do I have Sarah Dwindle first?” Sarah clucked Lil Cutie forward. Ellie knew that Sarah will do well-she had tried her best in dressage-and Lil Cutie was the cutest horse, probably in the barn. The Palomino mare with coal black eyes that Ellie did most love along with Chocolate. “Good luck,” whispered Ellie. “Can we please have Sarah Emma Dwindle in the arena, performing the parts of the dancing horses?” the announcer roared. The Dancing Horses was Sarah and Lil Cutie’s act. After time passed by, it was Ellie’s Showjumping turn. She glided over the fences, feeling no more but graceful. As she jumped the first few fences…she kept jumping over again and again and the fairy lights and the floodlights all had shined on her.