Read Online Pony Rebellion by Janet Rising - Free Book Online

of the activity riders. Obvious to everyone, that was, except the object of his desire—Bean. His eyes followed her around the school like a lovesick puppy. Katy thought it was cute. Cat thought it was sickening. James thought it was hilarious. No one was telling Bean. “Let her work it out for herself,” James had grinned. Of course, with Bean, that could take some time.
    Even Dolly managed to mess up using the broom handles, knocking them out of Mrs. Bradley’s hand every time with an exaggerated, “Whoops, clumsy me!” When Bambi put in a couple of refusals, which caused a massive pileup, Sophie waved her arms in the air and brought everyone to a halt. “What is up with you all this evening?” she asked, shaking her head.
    We hung our heads in shame.
    â€œYou’d think the ponies would get better, knowing what was expected,” said Katy, twirling a lock of Bluey’s black mane around her finger.
    â€œWell, thank goodness he and Moth are up to scratch!” said James. “The rest of you are awful!”
    â€œThanks for that, James,” Cat scowled. “Maybe you should try being leading file—it’s easy when you’ve got someone to follow.”
    â€œDon’t think I couldn’t!” James replied cockily. “I’d rather be leading than stuck back here behind Pia who doesn’t seem to know her right from her left.”
    â€œExcuse me for not being perfect!” I replied, hurt, annoyed, and a bit guilty. I did sometimes get my right and left mixed up. It was only one of the worries I had about being a leader in the activity ride. I couldn’t always remember what I should be doing and where I ought to be doing it. It was nerve-racking.
    Somebody snickered. I looked around but couldn’t see anyone who wasn’t looking either thunderous or miserable, so I decided I must have imagined it.
    â€œMaybe you all need a nice break,” suggested Mrs. Bradley, eager to keep everyone friendly. She had taken it upon herself to be Mrs. Positive.
    â€œOr a talking-to!” growled James, who had adopted the role of Mr. Negative.
    â€œGive it up, James. We’re all trying our best!” Katy told him angrily.
    â€œOK, that’s enough arguments. We can’t keep having breaks. We don’t have time for that. Let’s do it once more,” said Sophie. “We’ll try the broom handles again. Everyone get into position.”
    â€œTry to get it right. I keep seeing my life flashing before my eyes,” Leanne begged us, wearily picking up the handles with a dramatic sigh. I think she took theater a bit too seriously at school and was clearly born for soap operas. When she wasn’t looking bored, she was flicking back her hair or examining her nails.
    Off we went, and we were doing quite well—if you didn’t count Tiffany going too fast and Bambi hesitating at every jump—when Moth suddenly veered to the side and missed out a broom handle altogether, pushing James over to the school gate and standing there all wide-eyed as though she couldn’t quite believe what she’d done. It was totally out of character for James’s chestnut mare.
    â€œNow who needs a talking-to!” yelled Katy, glaring at James. “You’re just as bad as everyone else!”
    James went scarlet. “OK, so I got it wrong,” he mumbled. “I don’t know what got into Moth. She’s never done that before.”
    There it was again—that snicker. Who was doing it? I looked around again, but everyone was deadly serious, annoyed at how badly things were going. Who could possibly think it was funny?
    â€œWho is that snickering?” I asked.
    Everyone looked blank.
    â€œIt’s not exactly a laughing matter,” said Cat, scowling at me.
    â€œI know that—but I heard someone giggling,” I insisted. “Who was it?”
    â€œI didn’t hear anything,” said