Chasing the Carnations - Part 2
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Tuesday morning I arrived early for school so I could see the principal of my high school.
"Mr. Aramis, Martha told me you wanted to talk to me about graduation," I stopped before the heavy oak desk in the principal's office after the school secretary let me in.
He set down the book he'd been perusing. I spotted the cover before it was obscured. It was titled To the Swift: Classic Triple Crown Horses and their Race for Glory, edited by Joe Drape. The same book sat on the bookshelf in my room.
"Hello, Miss Grant. Let me say first congratulations on the first two races. And I hope you do well in the Belmont. I am disappointed that you won't be joining us for the graduation ceremony in person."
I said, "I'm a bit disappointed myself but it just doesn't work out so I can march and ride in the Belmont the next day."
Mr. Aramis gave me a sympathetic look. "I understand. I've talked to your teachers about taking your finals early. They've agreed to let you do so, under the special circumstances. Though Mrs. Hollis said if you didn't win the Belmont she was going to demand those two days back."
I grinned. Mrs. Hollis was my history teacher and my favorite of the faculty. "Well then I'd better win, huh?"
Mr. Aramis smiled back at me. "I guess you'd better," he agreed.
We talked more, mostly about when I was going to take my tests, until the first bell rang.
"Go to homeroom. We'll talk again later," Mr. Aramis dismissed me.
I dashed to my locker, grabbed my books and hustled to homeroom, arriving just in time. The lunch period arrived, it seemed, in a blur. I was sitting at my usual table with Beth and a few other friends when Tiffany approached.
"I hear you won another big horse race," she commented.
"You hear a lot of things, Tiffany," Beth and I said at the same time. We looked at each other and started to giggle.
Tiffany rolled her eyes and gave us a look at clearly translated she was questioning our sanity. "I just don't think you can do it. The first two races were a fluke. There's no way you'll win the Triple Crown. That pony of yours just won't be able to take it," Tiffany gave me a very fake smile before sashaying back to her lunch table.
I pressed my lips together to keep from shouting at her back.
Beth had no such reservations. "You'll eat those words when Ash and Sultan win!" she hollered.
The cafeteria fell silent. Tiffany didn't even look back. I could just imagine the huge smirk on her face.
"Thanks, Beth," I muttered. I grabbed my tray, dumped it at the window and quickly exited the lunchroom.
Beth followed. "I'm so sick of Tiffany. She's such a-"
I cut her off. "Beth!"
She at least had the grace to look chastised. "I was gonna say brat," she murmured.
I groaned. "Tell me again that she's jealous."
Beth perked right up. "She's extremely jealous. She's so jealous she's seeing the world through a green tint. You, my friend, have made history, twice. In three weeks you'll make it again when you win the Belmont on that fantastic hunk horseflesh of yours and become the first female jockey in history to win the Triple Crown. Oh yeah, she jealous."
Later that day I ambled around the farm, Sultan striding easily beside me.
My thoughts wandered as we strolled. The Belmont was on my mind. So many horses, jockeys, trainers, and owners had come to the point we were at. And so many had lost. Tiffany's words echoed in my mind.
I glanced over at Sultan. The horse looked like he was half asleep as we walked.
"Sultan, we can win, can't we?" I asked him.
He flicked an ear in my direction.
I gave him a rueful look. "Well it's good to know you're so confident," I griped.
Sultan just kept walking.
I sighed. "A mile and a half. That's all that stands between us. Well that and 15 other horses and jockeys determined to win."
If we lost there would be no Triple Crown winner this year. Were we going to go down in history as a near miss for the Crown? |
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