Free Stables S.O.S. by Janet Rising

Bean turned out Bluey and Tiffany, and Dee had orders from her mom to change Lester and Dolly’s water and give them haynets. They were both still stabled—the show season had started so their diets had to be carefully controlled, not to mention their exercise. Once the grass had started to thin a bit, Sophie would turn them out at night like the other ponies. It was the start of what Dee described, rather overdramatically, as her dark season. Her time was not her own, and she wasn’t allowed to do anything with Dolly without her mom’s say-so.
    With a sigh, I brushed Drum’s saddle mark out of his back and sponged his eyes and nose, explaining about the notice.
    â€œThings are going from bad to worse,” he snorted.
    â€œYes,” I said, unable to think of anything else.
    â€œPerhaps you’re all trying too hard.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? How can we try too hard?”
    â€œOh, well, sometimes the best solutions to problems just sort of occur when you’re not consciously thinking of them,” Drummer told me.
    That didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t be bothered to argue with Drummer. I felt limp, like a piece of chewed string.
    I put Drum’s halter on him and led him out to the field. Dolly stretched her nose out to him as we walked past her stable.
    â€œI wish I was coming out with you, Drummer,” she sighed.
    â€œYeah, well, it won’t be long,” he told her.
    As soon as Drummer had gobbled up the apple I’d brought him, he dashed off to see Bambi, only rolling once he was with her. Cat was back in the stables, but I could see James and Dec on the far side of the field under a tree with Moth. James was checking Moth over, and Dec was hanging by his arms from one of the tree’s branches like an overdressed ape.
    The sun hung like a huge, red ball in the sky, which was turning pink. It was going to be a glorious sunset—but I wouldn’t see it before I went home. There was still a while left until the sun went down. I could imagine how popular houses on this site would be—who wouldn’t want to live with that view?
    James and Dec made their way back to the gate, and we all walked into the stables together. Everyone was still there. Everyone was still gloomy.
    â€œPhew!” puffed Katy, delving into her tack box for a can of Coke that she opened with a pssst! “It’s still hot, isn’t it?” she continued brightly, determined to lighten the mood.
    No one else wanted to.
    â€œI can’t believe we’re going to have to leave here,” mumbled Dee.
    â€œDo you think we’ll all be able to move to another yard together?” asked Bean.
    â€œNot likely!” said James. “What stable is going to have six places vacant all at once?”
    â€œWhere’s Lester going?” asked Dee. “You’ve left him out.”
    â€œAnd Henry and Pippin and Mr. Higgins,” said Katy.
    â€œLeanne will be fine—she’ll go to some fancy dressage yard,” James told her.
    â€œYou’re forgetting something,” said Cat glumly. “Bambi’s already got a new home so Lester can have her place.”
    Everyone went quiet.
    â€œWe watched Emily riding Bambi the other day,” Bean said, staring into space.
    â€œDid you?” asked Cat. “What, while I was in the yard? I didn’t know.”
    â€œWe thought it might provide some inspiration,” I explained.
    â€œIt didn’t,” added Bean.
    â€œHow did Emily do?” asked Cat, curious despite herself.
    â€œBambi’s too much for Emily right now,” I said, remembering the child’s frightened face as she’d ridden around the school.
    â€œBut she’ll get better,” Katy replied. “It’s not like Bambi is like Tiffany, all dodging around and getting hysterical at the sight of a chip bag or an oversized worm. Emily will soon be as confident as