Read Online Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka - Free Book Online Page A

his parents’ oldracquets. They’d spent more time trying to hit each other with the ball than actually following the rules. It had been fun—the kind of fun she and Adam used to have together all the time.
    Brooke’s smile faded as she tuned back in to the conversation in the van. The other girls were all discussing how long they’d been playing tennis, how many years of lessons they’d taken, and in Livi’s case, how many junior tournaments she’d won playing doubles with her sister.
    Yikes, Brooke thought. I guess that’s just one more thing they’re all better at than me.
    â€œMaybe you guys should go ahead and play without me,” she said. “I can just watch. I don’t mind.”
    â€œNo way, Brooke!” Abby sang out from the driver’s seat. She pulled into a parking spot near the courts. “Life’s for living, not for watching. It’ll be fun!”
    Brooke winced. She’d known Abby less than twenty-four hours, and she could already tell “It’ll be fun!” was one of her favorite phrases.
    â€œYeah, you’ve got to play,” Hannah added. “For one thing, we need four to play doubles.”
    Paige nodded. “You can be my partner, Brooke.”
    Brooke smiled weakly. “Um, okay.”
    It went about as well as Brooke might have predicted. The other girls all played as if they were warming up for Wimbledon, while Brooke didn’t even know how to serve properly until Paige showed her. Even then, Brooke could barely get the ball across the net.
    After her third or fourth flubbed serve, Brooke had had enough. As she hurried forward to retrieve the ball she’d just sent into the net, she feigned a stumble.
    â€œOw!” she said. “Um, I twisted my ankle. I’d better sit out for a while—I don’t want to make it worse so I can’t ride.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Abby looked as if she wanted to argue, but instead she bit her lip and glanced at the other three girls. Hannah and Livi were trading a look, and Paige was staring at the ground. Brooke had the feeling they all knew she was bluffing, but she didn’t care. She gazed defiantly at Abby.
    â€œI’m positive,” she said, limping over and handing the counselor her racquet. “You can take my place. It’ll be fun.”

    Brooke ate her lunch as fast as she could, barely hearing the other girls’ chatter. The youngers were scheduled for their next riding lesson in a little while, and Brooke really wanted to spend some quality time with Foxy before everyone else got to the barn. Besides, she figured the pony could use some extra grooming. Even though Brooke had curried and brushed her several times since their arrival, Foxy still looked a little scruffy next to the pampered horses all around her.
    The barn was quiet when Brooke entered. Only a few horses were in their stalls waiting to be ridden instead of out in the pastures. Robin, Abby, and the other campers were still at lunch. None of the adult boarders were around, and Felicia had already finished her morning chores and gone home. Brooke was glad—she’d felt much better after her private time with Foxy the day before, and since it seemed she wouldn’t be allowed to repeat their solo ride, this would have to do.
    Foxy was outside in her paddock when Brooke reached her stall, but the mare came inside at Brooke’s whistle.“Good girl,” Brooke said, rubbing her pony’s nose. “Ready for your beauty treatments?”
    Foxy snorted, which Brooke decided to take as a yes. She led Foxy out of the stall, clipped her into the nearest set of crossties, and went to work. She’d finished picking out Foxy’s hooves and was working on a muddy spot with a rubber curry when Paige entered.
    â€œHey,” Paige said, wandering over with her usual friendly smile. “I thought you might be out here. Want some