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An Unfortunately Fortunate Day (6)

Everything almost occurred in a blur. Leila zoomed around the course, which ranged from 70cm-95cm this time, and came back, all flushed, feeling proud of herself. Even I have to admit, I could just about hold back a hearty praise, but I stopped myself, knowing it would only raise her already mountainous ego. Then, Harry, on his humongous horse, had to bend down rapidly to catch the tip of the whip – and he was off.

     It was beautiful to watch; the corners were cut perfectly, with not a single half-stride. I could tell he wanted this as much as we all did; maybe even more. His face was always scrunched up in concentration, though he never seemed to be worried or scared; he looked cool – that’s what I wanted to be like, though I wasn’t very successful so far. And, before I could even say ‘wow’, just to make things worse, he was over. And it was Carissa.

     Then me.

     In fact, I was so busy watching the riders, I had forgotten the course! As Carissa flew over the jumps magnificently (how she manages to keep her heels down and the stirrups on the balls of her feet all the time, I’ll never know!), I went over the order of the jumps and, thank goodness, I seemed to have it drilled into my head.

    And to add to that relief, we all received some shocking and rather hopeful news from the commentator, “And it looks like Team 17 here have a steady time here! 3 seconds faster than the leading team so far!”

     I gasped and looked at the exasperated Harry.

     “Come on, Freya, you can do this. No,” he added. “You’ve got to do this. For us. I seriously know you can.”

     I nodded but my stomach clenched in fear. This time most of the jumps would be high; you see, this was not an average team jumping competition. When the prize for winning was £2000 each, this competition was not one to take lightly. Some of the best competitors come here every year. Yet they specially put the jumps at a reasonable height so that everyone has a chance of winning it. I have to do this.

     And, finally, my time came. Almost all of the fear was knocked out of me when Carissa suddenly came into view, rushing at me with her beast of a horse, already stretching the whip at me, even when at a canter.

     I couldn’t afford to waste time.

     I snatched the whip out of her hand, and, in that split second, when Carissa winked at me with a cheeky smile on her face and the crowd cheering for the last round. I didn’t know what was better: me hearing the commentator announcing that we were officially in the lead by miles, or that suddenly I felt all the fear being drained out of me, and being replaced by some sort of superhuman feeling.

     All I knew now, was that all I had to do was finish it off, and then we had a good chance of winning, with only 3 teams left for their round after us.

     With the audience cheering me on, I started the course. As usual, it was hard from the beginning, but almost every stride I encouraged her, feeling that if I felt brave, she would too.

     Sometimes I would fold too early, and end up on her neck, sometimes I turned too late, and end up just missing out the jump stands; but the whole way through the course she was amazing – she astounded me. I had never seen her performing this well before at competitions – then again, I had never seen myself so brave and wanting something so bad.

     I guess we all have our own surprises.

     Just like I surprised the whole team by thundering through the finish line a whole ten seconds earlier than the group with the rowdy boys!

     The audience went absolutely wild. And, when the boys found out we had beaten them, they looked furious. But, instead of shouting “Who’re the losers now, hah!”, (just like Leila had), I kept a serious look on my face and said, “Unlucky, guys. Next time.” And walked off mysteriously. Carissa and Harry couldn’t help laughing at their faces.

     Later that day, we, the happiest four people in the world with the biggest beams on our faces, went up to receive our cheques and trophies in front of all the teams, the audience and the staff, not to mention the most proudest parents of all time.

     “Stay in touch guys,” Carissa said whilst sharing her number with all of us, including eager Harry. We all agreed.

     “We make a great team,” I praised. “Even if someone can’t keep her mouth shut half the time.”

     We all laughed.

     We had done it!!