Free Emily and Emerald by Kelly McKain

Monday — I can’t believe I’m really here at Pony Camp!
    I feel EXCITED about being here, but NERVOUS at the same time!
    I’m EXCITED ’cos I haven’t ridden since we moved down here from London three weeks ago – I can’t wait to get back in the saddle! And I’m NERVOUS because at the stables where I used to ride and help out at weekends there were these older girls and … well, I don’t really want to write all about what happened with them in my lovely new Pony Camp Diary. And, anyway, this is meant to be a new beginning.
    Actually, me and Mum are both having a fresh start down here in Dorset. As it’s the summer holidays I haven’t started my new school yet, so it’s been a bit boring ’cos I’ve just been helping Mum unpack boxes and paint the living room.
    I felt extra NERVOUS when Jody showed us up here to my room. I wanted Mum to stay for a while, but she had to go back to the new house and wait for the gasman, so I ended up on my own. There are three beds in here, and Jody said the one by the window was her daughter Millie’s, so I had the choice out of the bunk beds. I went for the bottom one, and as I started unpacking my stuff, I could hear all this noise and laughter coming from the room next door. 

    The two girls in there were really loud and confident – the exact opposite of ME! Then I heard all these footsteps on the stairs and someone yelling, “Hey, Harry!” at the top of their voice. For about one second I thought there was a BOY at Pony Camp, but then I heard this girl’s voice yelling back and I realized that Harry must be short for Harriet.
    And that was when Frankie bustled in with her mum, who is also really loud and who kept on calling her Francesca. I felt really shy and I wished I could shrink into a corner and disappear. But when Frankie rolled her eyes at me, I couldn’t help smiling. She shooed her mum out and said hello, and after a few seconds of me blushing shyly with no words coming out I finally managed to mumble, “Hi, I’m Emily.”
    Frankie said, “Hi, Ems. Call me Frankie, everyone does. Well, apart from her , of course!”She waved towards the door, obviously meaning her mum. “And my big sister Harry when she’s trying to annoy me! That’s her loud voice you can hear, by the way – she’s got such a big mouth!”

    I smiled as she threw her stuff on the top bunk. No one’s ever called me Ems before – I quite like it. I was trying to think of something to say when Harry put her head round the door and shouted, “Come on, Frog Face, we’re all going down to the yard!” She grabbedFrankie’s arm and started pulling her out of the room. Frankie giggled and cried, “Don’t call me Frog Face, Monkey Breath!” Then Frankie tried to grab my arm, and I wanted to go with them, but my feet stayed stuck to the spot. For some reason, I don’t seem to be that good at joining in.

    â€œI’ll be down in a sec!” I told them, as brightly as I could. “I just want to start off my diary first.” 
    So that’s what I’ve been doing!
    Oh, hang on, even the other room with the younger girls in has gone quiet so everyone must be outside. Right, I’m going to take a deep breath and put on my hat and body protector (and a big smile), and go down to the yard.

Monday 1.45p.m. – well, I still can’t believe what happened this morning!
    I’m so EXCITED and NERVOUS again! EXCITED because I have met the most amazing pony called Emerald, who I’m desperate to have as my own for the week. And NERVOUS because I’m waiting to hear from Sally, our instructor, about whether I can have her or not.
    Sally’s gone off to speak to Johnny about it (he’s the yard manager and also Millie’s dad), and she said she’ll come and find me after lunch. We’ve finished eating now, and