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| Chance in the Wind |
Finally Rachel had an exciting story to tell on her first day of class. All of her classmates will envy her, her adventure and her
group of friends. She just knew that her summer was better than everyone else’s in her class and maybe the whole school.
She couldn't imagine anyone else had made friends with and ridden a wild horse on the beach. No one else's summer could
have been that exciting. Just thinking about it made her feel so free and happy.
The sky was a clear blue as Rachel and her friends walked along the beach. The first few days of her vacation were great
and she had made some new friends. They spent most of their day at the beach, almost to the end, away from everyone.
There was a group of horses that were there as much as they were. Rachel was especially fond of the female that she named
Spirit. Most of her time was spent petting, nuzzling and whispering to Spirit. It was hard to tell who was happier when they
saw each other.
Spirit would gallop over to Rachel and run around her, neighing softly each time she saw her. Shannon, Karen and Mike
were amazed at the sight of the two of them, maybe even a little jealous. Shannon was the most jealous of the bunch, always
saying that the horses were stupid and ugly. But even she was unable to keep her eyes away from the magnificent creatures.
Karen was envious of the closeness that Rachel had with the horse. She would try to coax other horses to play with her, to no
avail. Mike on the other hand did not care for the horses; they attracted the flies that bit so frequently. As Rachel was playing
with Spirit she imagined riding along the beach; hair flying in the breeze. She knew that was not possible because these
horses were not to be ridden. After all they were wild animals and were very unpredictable. But that did not stop Rachel from
wishing.
One afternoon when Shannon was being more annoying than usual, she decided to dare all of her friends to ride a horse.
Karen and Mike said no quickly; it was too dangerous. But Rachel stopped what she was doing and began to think of the
possibility of actually riding Spirit. Shannon could tell that Rachel was definitely interested, so she “double dog dared” her to
do it. Now “double dog dare” is the biggest dare that exists so Rachel could not let it go without trying. Mike and Karen tried
to convince Rachel that it was a bad idea, but she had it in her mind to do it. After all, she had wanted to do it for a few days;
the dare was the perfect reason to try.
Rachel started walking around Spirit, talking softly, stroking her, aware that she needed to be very careful. Spirit had to
trust Rachel and vice versa. Spirit was very calm when Rachel started to jump onto her back. She stood very still so it would
be easier for Rachel to get on. As soon as Rachel was on her back, Spirit started to walk around, getting used to having
someone on her back. Rachel was so excited that she began to cry. Spirit slowly picked up the speed while Rachel held
onto her mane.
"Rachel! Stop, come back! The Ranger is following you. Rachel get down!"
"She can't here you Karen, stop screaming. The Ranger is going to give her a huge lecture. She ignored all of the signs that
said not to ride the horses, they could be dangerous."
"But Mike, I have try to help her. I am her best friend; I am supposed to look out for her."
Shannon walks over; she has had enough of Karen's whining.
"Karen, you can't do anything now. Let's just go before we get into trouble too."
"Shannon we can't just leave without her. This was all your idea; it's your fault that she may get into trouble. You can't just
leave. You're so mean Shannon. I don't want to ever talk to you again."
"Fine, see if I care. Mike, are you coming with me or do you want to get in trouble too?"
"She's right Karen. I don't want to get into trouble. I'm leaving. I'll see you later."
Karen turns around to hide her tears at being left alone and she yells,
"I am never talking to you two again!"
Rachel finally saw the Ranger and was able to get Spirit to slow down so she could get off. She started to say something to
the Ranger but she was cut off.
"What is your name little girl?"
"My name is Rachel and this is Spirit." She pointed to the horse and started petting her again.
"Rachel my name is Matthew and I am a Park Ranger on this island. Do you realize that it is not safe to ride the horses?"
" Spirit would never do anything to hurt me, we’re friends. She loves it when I pet her and she ran so beautifully while I was
riding her."
"Even so, it is against the rules to ride the horses. We have signs posted all over the island so no one gets hurt. You were
very lucky this time, but next time you might get hurt. Let’s take you back to your parents so we can make sure this doesn't
happen again. I don’t want to see you get hurt."
"I wouldn't get hurt and my parents will be very mad about this, do we have to tell them?"
"I am afraid we do, but we can tell them it was your first time and you won't do it again. Right?"
"Yes sir. I won't do it again"
"Ok Rachel, let’s go get your friend and get you back to your campsite."
group of friends. She just knew that her summer was better than everyone else’s in her class and maybe the whole school.
She couldn't imagine anyone else had made friends with and ridden a wild horse on the beach. No one else's summer could
have been that exciting. Just thinking about it made her feel so free and happy.
The sky was a clear blue as Rachel and her friends walked along the beach. The first few days of her vacation were great
and she had made some new friends. They spent most of their day at the beach, almost to the end, away from everyone.
There was a group of horses that were there as much as they were. Rachel was especially fond of the female that she named
Spirit. Most of her time was spent petting, nuzzling and whispering to Spirit. It was hard to tell who was happier when they
saw each other.
Spirit would gallop over to Rachel and run around her, neighing softly each time she saw her. Shannon, Karen and Mike
were amazed at the sight of the two of them, maybe even a little jealous. Shannon was the most jealous of the bunch, always
saying that the horses were stupid and ugly. But even she was unable to keep her eyes away from the magnificent creatures.
Karen was envious of the closeness that Rachel had with the horse. She would try to coax other horses to play with her, to no
avail. Mike on the other hand did not care for the horses; they attracted the flies that bit so frequently. As Rachel was playing
with Spirit she imagined riding along the beach; hair flying in the breeze. She knew that was not possible because these
horses were not to be ridden. After all they were wild animals and were very unpredictable. But that did not stop Rachel from
wishing.
One afternoon when Shannon was being more annoying than usual, she decided to dare all of her friends to ride a horse.
Karen and Mike said no quickly; it was too dangerous. But Rachel stopped what she was doing and began to think of the
possibility of actually riding Spirit. Shannon could tell that Rachel was definitely interested, so she “double dog dared” her to
do it. Now “double dog dare” is the biggest dare that exists so Rachel could not let it go without trying. Mike and Karen tried
to convince Rachel that it was a bad idea, but she had it in her mind to do it. After all, she had wanted to do it for a few days;
the dare was the perfect reason to try.
Rachel started walking around Spirit, talking softly, stroking her, aware that she needed to be very careful. Spirit had to
trust Rachel and vice versa. Spirit was very calm when Rachel started to jump onto her back. She stood very still so it would
be easier for Rachel to get on. As soon as Rachel was on her back, Spirit started to walk around, getting used to having
someone on her back. Rachel was so excited that she began to cry. Spirit slowly picked up the speed while Rachel held
onto her mane.
"Rachel! Stop, come back! The Ranger is following you. Rachel get down!"
"She can't here you Karen, stop screaming. The Ranger is going to give her a huge lecture. She ignored all of the signs that
said not to ride the horses, they could be dangerous."
"But Mike, I have try to help her. I am her best friend; I am supposed to look out for her."
Shannon walks over; she has had enough of Karen's whining.
"Karen, you can't do anything now. Let's just go before we get into trouble too."
"Shannon we can't just leave without her. This was all your idea; it's your fault that she may get into trouble. You can't just
leave. You're so mean Shannon. I don't want to ever talk to you again."
"Fine, see if I care. Mike, are you coming with me or do you want to get in trouble too?"
"She's right Karen. I don't want to get into trouble. I'm leaving. I'll see you later."
Karen turns around to hide her tears at being left alone and she yells,
"I am never talking to you two again!"
Rachel finally saw the Ranger and was able to get Spirit to slow down so she could get off. She started to say something to
the Ranger but she was cut off.
"What is your name little girl?"
"My name is Rachel and this is Spirit." She pointed to the horse and started petting her again.
"Rachel my name is Matthew and I am a Park Ranger on this island. Do you realize that it is not safe to ride the horses?"
" Spirit would never do anything to hurt me, we’re friends. She loves it when I pet her and she ran so beautifully while I was
riding her."
"Even so, it is against the rules to ride the horses. We have signs posted all over the island so no one gets hurt. You were
very lucky this time, but next time you might get hurt. Let’s take you back to your parents so we can make sure this doesn't
happen again. I don’t want to see you get hurt."
"I wouldn't get hurt and my parents will be very mad about this, do we have to tell them?"
"I am afraid we do, but we can tell them it was your first time and you won't do it again. Right?"
"Yes sir. I won't do it again"
"Ok Rachel, let’s go get your friend and get you back to your campsite."