July Story Contest
Sara and the Silver Night Mare: Story 1 - The Beginning
By: Breanna55555
Age: 11I usually loved to dream, especially about horses, and I always knew I was dreaming, but this time, just this once, I was fooled. I absolutely thought it was real. One hundred percent real, even when a person has that tiny little voice that hates you and always disagrees and tells you it is dream, I didn’t have that. I didn’t have that nagging little maniac of a voice, the little creep was silent right now. But, I didn’t even remember the voice in this dream. I couldn’t remember anything actually, not who I was, none of my problems, or unhappy memories, it was all a complete blank. I had once heard that if you dreamt that you couldn’t remember anything, you were having a nightmare. Not so for me. This dream was peaceful.
In it, I was riding bareback. The beautiful creature who carried me was elegant, graceful, and silent. Only I could hear the soft light thuds of her hooves on the damp earth. Not only was I the only person who could hear her hooves, but I could feel her. Not just feel her power beneath me, I could feel her heart beat, her breath come out gently, and the strength she had in her hooves. I could feel her, I knew she could me.
I then looked around me as we galloped in a circle. It appeared we were in a large clearing, somewhere deep in a forest. It was night time, with the moon as the only light for me to see. A slight mist hovered around us, and it made the whole place kind of ghostly, but not creepy. The trees where close together, and looked kind of hard to get through, but I didn’t doubt how the horse and I got into there.
It took me a moment to realize, I was bareback, and without a bridle. I couldn’t control the horse! Or . . . . could I? I then stared at my hands, and saw that I was holding her mane. I could steer her by using her mane? Isn’t that nearly impossible? In the dream I guessed there was one way to find out. And so, I tried it. I pulled my hands to right, directing her to the center of the clearing, and she obeyed. I then pulled back a bit, and the dream was over.I awoke, stared at the ceiling, blinked, and sighed. Did my dreams have to end right when something, oh I don’t know, good happened? Or was happening . . . . Oh well. I thought, as I check the clock. Five A.M. . . . . might as well stay up, I said to myself as I leaped out of my bed and rummaged through a box in my room. Yes, that’s right. A box. Almost everything I had was in a stupid old box, because I had just moved to this tiny little town. What’s-its-name I called it, I didn’t care about the name, just that my parents had gotten me a job at a stables. That was the high light of the entire move. Nothing else would ever make this house ‘home’, well, maybe it would, but I highly doubted that.
In about thirty minutes, I was showered, dressed, and had breakfast. I left a note on the counter explaining my absence, and scurried out the door, leaped onto my bike, and almost pedaled away, when I heard a whine. A loud one, a sad one. And I knew it at once. It was Casey. Casey, my dog.
Casey obeyed me, and only me. When I had first gotten her, as a puppy of course, she would not do anything right, but she did have affection for me, even though she would not do what I said. She would always sleep on my bed with me, eat when I ate, and wait for me at home. About three months after I got her, I was invited to stay at a friend’s house for three days and two nights, and as soon as I was home I found her laying my bed, her head resting on my pillow, whining. Once she saw me, she leaped up and licked me all over. After that, she did what I said, only what I said. She never went to the bathroom in the house, never barked after I told her no, and never begged for food at dinner once I said ‘no more’ (after that she rested her head on my feet under the table, and I always slipped a delicious piece of meat or fish or chicken to her).
I sighed, and then smiled. I stepped back into the house, added Casey’s absence to the note, snagged Casey’s leash, two food bowls, a bunch of her food, some water, and then I left with her on my heels. I slipped on her leash, she grabbed her favorite toy, and I biked with her on my heels. As I biked, I glanced down at her collar, and saw her tag shining brightly. And then I remembered I need to get a new one, and this time, put my name, Sara O’mara, on the tag as her owner. I smiled at the thought, and then I saw the stables. As soon as I was at the front gate, I swung off my bike, tied it to the bike rack, and then I tied Casey’s leash to the rack also. I set down the food bowls, put water and food in them, and then I left her there chewing on her toy.
“Well, you sure are up early!” Called Mia Lindenfield, the owner and instructor of the stables, Wild-back Stables. She smiled, and walked over to me. Her dirty-blonde hair was in a messy bun, but that didn’t down her lovely look. Just like when I had met her, she wore black breeches and black paddock boots with a blue polo shirt. Her creamy-colored skin really stood out in this outfit, and her kind green eyes where rather bright today, like a child’s when they just figured out that they got the most perfect present in the whole world for doing nothing. She looked rather excited, and I guessed she was excited about something one of the horses did.
“Hi Mrs. Field!” I called back. Everyone called her ‘Mrs. Field’ because sometimes saying her entire last name felt a lot like a mouthful. I smiled back at her, and then remembered that I probably should have brought a hair-scrunchy. And then, as if she could read my mind, Mrs. Field said:
“Let me guess . . . you need a Scrunchy?”
“Uh . . . yes.” I squeaked as Mrs. Field reached me and handed me a silvery-white Scrunchy, one of the Stable’s colors. I smiled, and yanked it into place in my dark-brown hair. I then glanced at my own clothes. Beige breeches with dark brown paddock boots and my favorite T-Shirt, a baby-blue background with a small horse made up of flowers with the caption ‘Life is Good’ under it. I looked utterly ordinary compared to Mrs. Field, my bright-creamy skin with a tint of a tan. I sighed, and then remembered I was the groom. Thinking that word, I shivered with pleasure.
“Well then, let me show you around . . . . . .” Mrs. Field trailed off and started walking. I followed her closely. First, she showed me the large barn. It had three aisles, aisle A, aisle B, and aisle C. Then, she showed me the paddocks. There were ten paddocks and three large pastures, all on the right of the barn. And on the left of the barn was the indoor arena, and the out door arena, and three lunge arenas. Then she showed me where the muck pile, the straw pile, and the Alfalfa pile was. And then the feed room, the cross-ties, the tack room (Tack room A, B, and C), and the wash stations. It was all so large, but all yet so small. It was all sort of bunched up, but not too bunched up.
“And finally,” Concluded Mrs. Field. “Your transportation.” She said, gesturing to a small tractor. It was dark green, and rather dirty, but it wasn’t old. I then saw two carts that were supposed to be hooked to the back of it. One was labeled ‘M’ and the other ‘F/S’. I guessed the ‘M’ meant Muck, and the ‘F/S’ meant Food/Straw. I smiled, and Mrs. Field smiled back.
After that, she taught me how to drive it, and it really helped me get my unpleasant duties done. By the time the first rider was here, the horses were cleaned and fed, their stalls mucked, the Arenas had fresh dirt, the paddocks were cleaned, the wash stations also cleaned of dirt, the bridles and saddles organized along with the grooming kits, and the barn swept clean. I had never worked so hard, so fast, and so thorough in my life. If I didn’t get a decent payment, I wouldn’t care. I had been able to help horses, and that was enough for me.
“Oh my!” Exclaimed Mrs. Field as she observed my work. I chewed on my lip, hoping she would be pleased.
“I’ve never ever, ever, EVER, seen this stable so clean and organized!” Mrs. Field cried, and put her arm around my shoulders.
“But,” She then continued, grimly. Oh no. The evil ‘but’ that always means someone gets fired or the person has to do something horrid. I then bit my lip, very hard.
“this is only the beginning. A lot of riders will want you to tack up their horses for them.” I then let out a sigh of relief. Tacking up horses. That was one of my specialties. Mrs. Field smiled and then, the first rider walked in. I immediately knew she had a pricey horse here, just by one look. She had beige breeches, not like mine, they were bright and absolutely lovely. She had pure black knee-high boots which I knew if I looked close enough, I would see my reflection in. Her red riding coat stood out, and fit snugly to her perfect figure, and her helmet was the kind that had a black cover on it, only the kind that would never need a cover, with a scratch or not. It was a dark black with a tint of the darkest blues, and her for-get-me-not eyes would have looked amazing with her bright blonde hair whether her hair was a giant fuzz ball or simply calmed down. Her expression was tight, but with a glee and smugness of an heiress. She whacked her boots with her black riding crop loudly and clearly, and all the horses had her attention.
“Mrs. Lindenfield!” She called, addressing Mrs. Field’s full name, emphasizing her air of dignity and pride. She had a light English accent, and sounded as if she were a princess addressing her governess.
“Mrs. Lindenfield, where on earth is a groom? I need someone to tack up Black Auster for me.” She said.
“Ah yes Angelina, I would like you to meet our new groom, Sara O’mara. Sara, this is Angelina Gordon. And Angelina, this is Sara O’mara.” Introduced Mrs. Field, with an air with pride that I hadn’t noticed she could muster up.
“Oh. Hello Sara. Please, call me Angie.” Said Angelina, extending her hand.
“Okay. Hello Angie.” I said with a smile, and shook her hand.
“Well then, I have some business with training a young colt. Good day.” Said Mrs. Field, walking off rather swiftly.
“Well then, I better show you my horse. Black Auster. Everyone calls him Auster, and you can too. I’ll show you him, and then his stuff.” Said Angie, and she started walking without another word. She then stopped in front of a stall home to a large black stallion with a white blaze and two white hooves.
“This is Auster. He is a Hanoverian and must be given the best care . . . oh, and I guess you got off on a good start with him.” Said Angie, as she stroked Auster’s head and examined her fingers, searching for dirt. She then swiftly showed me his tack and left me to tack him up. I did so swiftly, and led Auster out to a waiting Angie.
“Thank you.” She said smugly, I bet that every word stung her mouth. She then swung onto Auster’s back and urged him on towards the arena. Except, the arena gate was closed.
“Ahem.” She hissed, pointing her crop at the gate. I swiftly scurried to the gate and opened it. Angie glared and then urged Auster on. I sighed and shut the gate after her.After that, things went smoothly. No girl was as mean as her, so I made a friend or two here and there. I had a blast getting to tack up all the horses, and help the beginners tack the horses up. It was now about the afternoon when I noticed all the girls that had pricey horses and serious tack and outfits, were sticking around. At about five o clock, there were still four girls left, just hanging out.
The girls chatted and I hung out with Casey, when I heard my name. I walked swiftly to the girls and they stared at me.
“So, were are you from?” Asked one rather short girl, who’s name was Haley.
“Well, I had live up in California-“ I said but cut off as soon as I saw how wide the girls’ eyes were.
“You mean like, sunny CA?! So like did you totally hang with all the famous celebrities?!” Squealed the girl at her side who straightened up, her red curls bouncing as she did so.
“Well . . . . I have a few autographs . . .” I said, unsure. I had a few tons of autographs. Like always, dad would bring home autographs from the actors he had visited. My dad was a lighting director for movies, so he snagged billions of autographs.
“Really?! Well, from who?!” Cried another girl, leaning forward her eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
“Well, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus-“ I was cut off my Angie, who was in ear shot length and was disbelieving.
“No way. You got all of those actors’ autographs?!” She cried, crossing her arms. Even though she had done the most work, she was the less dirtiest of us all.
“Well . . . yeah. Dad works as a lighting director for movies so I can go on sets now and then. Dad really wants me to be an ‘actress’. No way! He just brings me on sets to help him because he hopes I’ll want to become a ‘star’ like some other kids. No. Way.” I say, ending with a frown. I had just babbled about one of my personal problems in-front of the best (yes they were the best. You could tell just by watching them.) riders at the stables!
“Wow.” All the girls said, leaning back. Some of their mouths had become a tiny ‘o’. I took a step back as I saw even Angie with a face of awe.
“OK, seriously. Sara-it is Sara right?” Said Angie unsurely. I nodded and she continued.
“Well, Sara, remember, your dad can get you in with the best actors and actresses. Seriously. Like, explore your options! We all did. Like, Haley tried out art. Her artwork is the best on earth. For. Sure. And Bella can like totally dance. And Amy can play any kind of instrument. And play it amazingly. And Tia is the best architect in the whole town. She made my night-stand.” Bragged Angie, seeming proud. I then guessed that this was her group. All the girls nodded and smiled, their brilliant white teeth sparkling in the sunlight.
“And what can you do?” I asked cautiously.
“Well, I can sing.” Said Angie, her chin rising. All the girls, Haley, Bella, Amy, and Tia nodded their heads and added compliments to her singing.
“Well . . . . I never thought of acting that much . . . Maybe I’ll try it.” I said, nodding slowly.
“Oh and then there is one more girl I wanna tell you about-“ Angie suddenly cut off as a girl with a light olive tone and dark black hair came running into the stable yard.
“Did I miss it?!” She cried desperately. Angie shook her head, and the girl acted cool.
“Cassie, this is Sara. The new groom here.” Said Angie.
“Hi Sara! I’m Cassandra. You can call me Cassie.” She squeaked, her voice was a high soprano. I smiled at her and said Hi back.
“And as I was saying, Cassie here is the best poetry writer. We all love to make little shows, I sing, Amy plays the music, Tia makes all the props and Haley paints it, Bella dances to the music and singing, and then we all quiet down and the music gets low and Bella dances slower, and then Cassie recites poetry. She is usually the narrator for our little stories and what-not.” Angie continued to brag. I then smiled, and then saw Mrs. Field walking over to us.
“Hey girls. Ready? Wait, were is Jasmine?” Asked Mrs. Field, she then looked around.
“Fashionably late. Again.” Reported Angie. Mrs. Field sighed, and then a moment later, a girl with pale skin walked into the stables. Her breeches were pure white, her riding coat midnight black, and her boots were the kind I loved to drool over. She smacked her riding crop against her boot, and her expression was grim with her cheeks pinched up. She walked boldly, and sturdily. Her back was so straight that by now it must’ve been very, very sore.
“Jasmine! There you are! I want you to meet our new groom S-“ Mrs. Field almost introduced me, but Jasmine interrupted her.
“Hello, I am Jasmine Featherlock. Nice to meet you.” She said, she spoke as if she were insulting my hair.
“Hi.” I said stiffly. Immediately I knew she was the number-one It Girl in this town. Every It Girl had at least two Wanna-Be’s, so were where they?
“Jacky and Robin are sick today, that’s why they couldn’t make it. Anyways, um . . .” Said Jasmine, trailing off. I guessed she was unsure of my name.
“My name is Sara O’mara.” I said simply.
“Sara O’mara . . . um . . . unique. Anyways, come on.” She then turned and walked swiftly, so fast I had to jog to keep up. She then suddenly halted, showed me her horse, a beautiful bay Arabian stallion named Arizona. She then showed me her tack (in tie as the best with Angie’s tack.). She huffed on her nails and rubbed them on her jacket as I gently put the saddle on Arizona’s back.
“So . . . since you’re the groom, you are coming on the camping trip with us all, right?” Asked Jasmine boldly. Wait. Camping trip?
“What camping trip?” I asked doubtfully as I pulled the girth up and Arizona flicked and ear annoyingly. Jasmine sighed dramatically.
“The camping trip Mrs. Field organizes every summer. Only certain people can come. They all have to pay for it, except the groom.” Said Jasmine matter-of-factly.
“Oh. Well she hasn’t invited me to come . . .” I trailed off.
“Uh! You are so coming. I need someone to take care of Arizona! I am so talking to Mrs. Field!” Jasmine announced angrily. Wow. Whiney much? I then swiftly pulled the bridle onto Arizona, adjusted the straps, and then I was done.
“OK, well, you can watch me ride if you want . . . wait, are you riding with us too?” Jasmine was suddenly defensive, as if defending her riding from me.
“I . . . don’t know.” I said with a frown. Jasmine then impatiently walked Arizona out of the barn with me trailing behind.
“Mrs. Field! Mrs. Field! Is Sara coming on the camping trip? There needs to be someone to take care of our horses!” Squealed Jasmine. OK, impatient and whiney. Some ‘It Girl’.
“Well, I need to figure that out with Sara’s parents first . . . .” Said Mrs. Field.
“Well, I need someone to look after Arizona on the trip! I have enough to busy myself just by taking care of myself! Anyways, lets get on with the lesson.” Jasmine suddenly wanted to move on, and she then practiced to get Arizona’s posture as she warmed him up. In just a moment, he was like the dressage horse of my dreams. Beautiful, elegant, and graceful. And right then, Jasmine was everything I wanted to be. An owner of a horse, a girl who could do what she wanted and not be afraid to do it, and a top rider. Would I ever have all those things or be all those things? Maybe. Who knew! I sighed, and climbed up onto the fence and sat down and watched. I caught every slight jerk, every twitch, every movement with my eyes. Not even a speck of dust was not seen floating around.
Mrs. Field then noticed me and smiled.
“Sara, if you like, come back here at Six and bring your parents. And make sure to wear your boots and breeches. Alright?” Mrs. Field said, and there was a twinkle in her eye, a sparkle, and the hint of a child’s happiness. I nodded, and scurried over to Casey. Her food and water was gone and she was dozing in the sun, but she leaped up as soon as I was by her. I snagged her stuff, and then I peddled home.I stepped inside my house to see my parents watching TV.
“Hey Hon, how’d it go?” Asked my mom, looking up and smiling at me.
“Awesome. I had a great time.” I said.
“That’s great.” Dad said, not bothering to look up from the TV.
“Oh, and Mrs. Field asked for you guys and me to come down at six.”
“Hmm . . . did you do something wrong?” Asked my mom, curious but also cautious.
“Nope.” I answered simply. At least, I thought I did nothing wrong. I then shrugged and then I ran out side to throw toys for Casey. I smiled as I watched Casey run after them and slide to a stop just in time before she crashed into a tree or a fence. I laughed as she spiraled around trying to get the toy when it landed in a tree. I had to climb the tree to get the toy though, but oh well.At six ‘o clock, we all left for the stables. I hopped out of the car and tied Casey up again, then walked into the stables, with my parents gaping the entire time.
“Mrs. Field? Mrs. Field?” I called unsurely. Mrs. Field then walked out of tack room A and walked up to me.
“Hi Mr and Mrs. O’mara. I’m Mia Lindenfield, but please, call me Mia.” Greeted Mrs. Field, extending a hand to my mom.
“Hello! I’m Kathy O’mara, and this is my husband Robert O’mara.” Said my mom with a smile, and then shook Mrs. Field’s hand.
“Well, then, if you all would please just follow me.” Said Mrs. Field, leading us three into tack room A, the largest of all. And then I saw everyone in it. Moms and dads and kids from the stables everywhere. I gawked, and then looked at Mrs. Field with a questionable look on my face. Mrs. Field looked me straight in the eye.
“Today, we are placing everyone in their group.” Mrs. Field said, answering my unspoken question.
“Maria, please go get all the parents and riders from the tack rooms and tell them what I told you.” A rider then ran off towards the other tack rooms.
“Attention! Now, this is how things will work. Beginner I, Beginner II, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Advanced I, and Advanced II. Advanced II is the highest class. Now, can all riders please go tack up their horses and line up outside the indoor arena! And parents, follow me.” Mrs. Field yelled and then the riders snagged their things and went out to tack up. I simply followed Mrs. Field because I hadn’t been assigned a horse to ride.
“Now, Sara, I want you to try out too. Just go tack up Bronze and line up with everyone else.” Said Mrs. Field and sent me off running. I grabbed the tack labeled “Bronze” and found his stall. Bronze is a large Chestnut Thoroughbred, at the size of 17 hands high, and his coat shimmers like, well, Bronze. I swiftly tacked him up and lined up with the other girls. I was the tenth, and I was gnawing on my finger nails the entire wait. I then saw Mrs. Field talking with my parents. I then gnawed harder.
“Sara!” Called my dad, and he, my mom, and Mrs. Field walked over.
“Hon,” My mom said. “We think you should go on the trip. And we figured out a payment agreement that you will probably like. You will ride with your group every day you show up and take care of the stables.”
“YES!” I squealed.
“Now, I better go inside and judge.” Said Mrs. Field with a smile, and she disappeared inside the arena. Many girls rode in, and then out. And then it was my turn. I took a deep breath, and walked inside. And then I saw the jumping course. There were large jumps and small jumps. I gulped down my nervousness, and urged on Bronze. Mrs. Fields walked over to me.
“OK, have you jumped before?” Asked Mrs. Field. I nodded.
“Good. How high was your highest?” Asked Mrs. Field. I held my hand up to Bronze’s neck.
“Excellent! Now, I want you to jump the bigger jumps. They have letters on them, so you’ll pretty much know where to go next. Good luck!” Mrs. Field then walked away, and I gulped again. I then sighed and took deep breathes. In, out, in, out, in, out. I then urged Bronze on and into a canter, and we headed toward a big jump labeled ‘A’. We soared over it, and I hadn’t had time to see what it was. I then spun Bronze around and saw the next one. We swiftly turned, and Bronze asked for more rein, and I gave him more. He leaped eagerly, and then he sped up a bit, but I slowed him back down, and we soared over the jump. We turned once more, and there I saw it. The biggest jump on this course. I had tried to jump it before, but I had never made it over.
I sighed, and urged Bronze into a fast canter. I counted strides in my head, three, two, one, up! On ‘up’ I lifted out of the saddle and Bronze soared of the jump. I was then mystified, for there was no ‘clunk’ of a falling rail. I then realized I had cleared the jump. A clean round. I grinned and patted Bronze.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About a week later, the sheet that said what rider was in what class was posted on the bulletin board outside Tack Room A. Every rider was hustled there, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to look at it. I had finally finished my chores, and then I walked over to the board where everyone was bustled up. I shoved through the crowd, looked through each group. I wasn’t in any of the intermediates or beginners. I then looked in the Advanced. Not in Advanced I. I then checked Advanced II. It said:
ADVANCED II
Angelina Gordon
Jasmine Featherlock
Haley Donovan
Amy Tamara
Tia Berwick
Cassandra Blackwood
Sara O’maraAnd there my name was. At the very bottom. I couldn’t believe it! I saw Jasmine smirk beside me, then glare at me. And I saw Angie grim smugly at me, then went off to celebrate.
“Hey. Congratulation!” Squealed Cassie.
“You too!” I squealed back. We both then hustled to the back of the crowd.
“So . . . . do you wanna be friends?” Asked Cassie cautiously.
“Of course!” I said and we hugged, and then linked arms and walked off.A month passed uneventful. I soon discovered the rivalry between Jasmine and Angie, and I also became very close with Cassie. Mrs. Field then set out to find a good horse to assign me to. After a long while, she finally found a bay Andalusian mare named Star because she had a star on her forehead. After that, as soon as everyone left except for Advanced II members, we all would have our lesson. They were long and hard, but that didn’t stop us. I was having a good time here in What’s-its-name. (I still didn’t bother with the town’s name though) And now, it was the first day of July.
Dear Diary,
Things have changed in this odd little town. I actually am starting to love it here. Life isn’t a bore, and I have new friends. I still do miss my old friends (How will they get on without me to tell them which nail polish to use?!) but, I don’t miss them as much.
I paused for a moment to look outside at the night sky. My parents had gotten a dog run for Casey because our back yard wasn’t fenced in, and there were woods surrounding filled with all sorts of things from Bears to Birds.
I sighed, and then saw something Silver. I leaned closer to the window and looked again. What ever it was, was moving. It stood there, staring at me. I then hurriedly grabbed a candle and lit it. I raced outside, but there was nothing there. No silver-creature, not even a large piece of silver trash. I sighed and went back inside and slept.That night, I dreamt about the Silver Mare I had ridden in my dream a month ago. It was the same dream, in the same place. But this time, I got to ride her more.
Dear readers,
This is only the first story. In the next story, Sara goes on the camping trip and hears a story about a Silver Mare. That night, she thinks she sees the Silver Creature she saw awhile ago again. She is now determined to find out what it is, but when she tries to track the creature, it leads her to danger. Will she find the silver create? Or will she become hurt in her pursuit?