Free Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka

the other girls carried their dishes into the kitchen after dinner that night. “I forgot to mention, you’re all welcome to use the computer in my office if you need to check e-mail or anything.”
    Brooke stopped short, the thought of contact withhome making her smile for the first time in hours. “Um, I’d like to do that, if it’s okay,” she told Robin.
    Livi gave her a confused look. “Can’t you just check e-mail on your phone?”
    â€œI don’t have the Internet on my phone.” Brooke tried not to notice the incredulous look on the other girl’s face. Hannah wrinkled her nose as if trying to figure out the concept of a phone without Internet access, and even Paige looked surprised.
    â€œYou could have asked to borrow one of our phones,” she said.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Brooke said. “This will be easier. I’ll be out in a minute.” Brooke was relieved when Paige nodded and followed the other two toward the back door.
    â€œIt’s down the hall, second door on the left,” Robin said.
    â€œThanks.” Brooke found her way to the office. It was a small room that seemed even smaller due to the fact that every inch of wall space was covered in framed horse show photos and racks of ribbons. In some of the photos Brooke recognized a younger Robin piloting various gorgeous horses over tall jumps. Many others featured a pretty teenagerwith Robin’s strong chin and blue eyes. Brooke looked at the inscription beneath one of them: Morgan Montgomery, Junior Jumper Champion, Upperville Horse Show.
    Robin’s daughter. Brooke glanced at a case full of trophies that took up most of one wall. A lot of them had Morgan’s name on them too. Obviously Robin’s daughter had showed and won a lot before she’d gone off to college. Brooke wondered how someone like that could stand living in New York City, so far away from her old horsey life.
    She spent a few more minutes looking at the pictures and trophies before remembering why she was there. Robin’s computer sat on a small wooden desk that was crammed into the corner by the trophy case. Sitting down, Brooke logged on to her e-mail account. There was a short note from her mother and another from her grandparents, both wishing her well at camp. Aside from a couple of ads and a bunch of messages notifying her of new posts on the Pony Post, that was it. There was nothing from Adam.
    He probably figures I won’t be able to check in anyway, Brooke told herself, logging off of her account. Maybe I’ll send him an e-mail later.
    She typed in the address for the Pony Post and logged in. Then she pushed her glasses up her nose and leaned forward to scan the site. As she’d expected, there were lots of new entries. Quite a few were about her.
    [MADDIE] I wonder if Brooke will be able to email us from camp?
    [HALEY] I’m sure she will. It’s not like she’s going to camp in Siberia!
    [MADDIE] lol, I know. But my friend Bridget goes to this arts camp every summer where they aren’t allowed to bring any elec. stuff. Not even phones. She can only email me like once a week.
    [NINA] ugh, I’d die! Anyway, hi B, if you’re out there! Hope you’re having a fab time at camp!
    [HALEY] Ditto! Hi Brooke!
    [HALEY] She & Foxy are probably having so much fun she’ll forget all about us tho, lol!
    [MADDIE] Never! But I hope she’s having a blast!
    Brooke scanned the rest of the entries, mostly just regular chitchat about what the others had been doing with their ponies. Reading her friends’ cheerful words made Brooke feel both happy and weirdly sad. If only they were here with her, camp would be a whole different experience!
    She couldn’t help slipping into daydreams of all the fun she’d be having if the other Pony Posters were there. They’d help each other through Robin’s tough riding lessons and talk late into the night in the