Stevie Read online

  Speaking of Horse Wise, wasn’t it nice not to have to put up with Veronica for a change? I wonder why she skipped? Max didn’t even seem to notice. He’s probably as glad she wasn’t there as the rest of us were!

  Talk to you later!

  FROM: Steviethegreat

  TO: HorseGal

  SUBJECT: Thanks

  MESSAGE:

  It’s really nice of you to offer to write about Topside. But even though I know your description of his condition would be really interesting and everything, I’m not sure Miss Fenton would appreciate it, since she’s not really a horse person. So I don’t want to waste your time, especially when I’m going to need your help more when we get to the part of the story that has to do with the racetrack, since you were more involved with all that than I was. Okay?

  Speaking of which, I’d better run—I checked out a book on horse racing from the school library yesterday, and it seems to have disappeared. I think it might be under my bed, or maybe in the basement where I was looking for the photo album with the pictures Mr. Slattery took of me and Dinah in Vermont. Anyway, I’d better start looking for it. I just hope my brothers didn’t have anything to do with its disappearance, or I’m going to break their stupid Jawbone disc over their pointy heads!

  Anyway, I can’t believe I haven’t even started talking about Prancer and Pepper yet, let alone the fox hunt. And I only have eight days left to finish this report! AAAAAAH!

  YO, STEVIE!

  DON’T THINK WE HAVEN’T NOTICED HOW YOU’VE BEEN HOGGING THE COMPUTER ALL WEEK. IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU’LL FINISH YOUR STUPID REPORT ALREADY AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE A TURN. IF YOU DON’T, THE REVENGE OF THE AWESOME JAWSOME WILL BE SWIFT AND POWERFUL!

  YOUR AWESOME BROTHER, ALEX

  Welcome to My Life …

  Well, Miss Fenton, by now I’m sure you can see how exciting and action-packed my trip to Vermont was. In fact, reliving it through this very fascinating assignment has been so exciting that I almost forgot I hadn’t told you yet what was happening back home with Carole and Lisa and that Pony Club meeting. So here goes …

  DECISION IN VIRGINIA!

  (the slightly less action-packed blockbuster sequel to DANGER IN VERMONT!)

  Another Nail-Biting Cinematic Production by Stephanie Lake

  FADE IN

  INTERIOR Carole’s father’s car. COLONEL HANSON, a handsome, distinguished Marine colonel, is driving. His daughter, CAROLE, sits in the front seat, reading a book called The Amazing Wide World of Horses. LISA sits in the back, staring out the window with an anguished expression.

  LISA

  Oh dear.

  She wrings her hands and sighs.

  Carole looks up from her reading.

  CAROLE

  Did I hear you say “ear”? That’s funny. You see, I was just reading a passage in my book about how horses can move each ear independently to listen for sounds.

  Lisa rolls her eyes.

  LISA

  That’s not what I said. I was worrying about what we’re doing. Do you really think we should be going to Phil’s Pony Club meeting? I mean, he is Stevie’s boyfriend. Won’t she be mad at us? You know—angry, irate, sullen, indignant, rageful, cross, wrathful, furious, acrimonious, resentful …

  CAROLE

  Oh. I see what you mean. She might hate us when she gets back!

  CLOSE-UP on Colonel Hanson. He laughs loudly.

  PAN TO Carole and Lisa, looking perplexed at his sudden outburst.

  CAROLE

  What’s so funny, Dad?

  COL. HANSON

  You two are! I don’t think you have to worry about Stevie getting mad. She knows you guys are her best friends. That means she trusts you, and she trusts Phil. And in case you haven’t noticed, she’s not exactly the most uptight person in the world. So why in the wild blue yonder would she get mad? Why, if Stevie were here right now, she would probably tell you that you’re being totally ridiculous. She would probably say you’re getting all freaked out for no good reason. She might even say that you’re going out of your way to find something to worry about because you’re so bored without her magnificent presence to keep you entertained.

  CAROLE

  (nodding)

  Yes, you’re absolutely right. I guess we just went a little crazy because we miss Stevie so much. Right, Lisa?

  LISA

  (smiling)

  Of course. Why didn’t we see it before?

  CAROLE

  Hurry up, Dad. Now I can’t wait to get to Phil’s Pony Club meeting! I hope it has something to do with horses.…

  CUT TO WIDE-ANGLE SHOT of the Hansons’ car pulling into the driveway of Cross County Stables and stopping in front of the door.

  PAN IN on Carole and Lisa climbing out of the car as Colonel Hanson watches them. Colonel Hanson salutes.

  COL. HANSON

  At ease, privates!

  FADE OUT

  FADE IN

  EXTERIOR Sugarbush Stables, night. The outside of the building is festooned with hanging lanterns, which sway in a gentle breeze, causing gorgeous twinkles on the crisp snow below.

  CUT TO

  INTERIOR Sugarbush Stables, transformed. The barn area has been turned into a party space, with a huge table stacked with refreshments, and maple-leaf garlands hanging from the rafters. At one end of the room, a real live SQUARE DANCE BAND is playing a lively tune. More than a hundred people are in the room, laughing and talking and dancing and generally having a great time.

  NARRATOR (voice-over)

  That night, at Sugarbush Stables …

  PAN IN on STEVIE and DINAH. They are near the refreshments table, sipping punch and talking. Stevie is leaning on the back of the chair in which Dinah is sitting. They both look positively fantastic. Stevie is wearing a long, swishy skirt, and her hair looks incredible. Dinah is wearing jeans, but her hair looks nice, too. She has neat, professional-looking bandages over her injuries.

  DINAH

  I’m so glad Betsy forgave us for lying to her.

  STEVIE

  Me too. We should have known she would guess something was wrong and start to worry. And she did. She even guessed Jodi was part of it.

  DINAH

  She really did appreciate our stepping forward to save her parents, though. I’m glad we did it.

  STEVIE

  (nodding sincerely)

  Me too. I guess this is why my teachers always tell me to tell the truth. I should have remembered that in the first place. After all, teachers are the wisest people in the world. Except maybe for headmistresses, whom I like to think of as superteachers.

  SQUARE DANCE CALLER (offscreen)

  Everybody grab a partner!

  DINAH

  Why don’t you go ahead and dance, Stevie? I’m still way too sore to do-si-do, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun.

  STEVIE

  (blushing)

  Thanks. But I don’t have anybody to dance with.

  Suddenly at least a dozen very cute teenage guys rush over.

  CUTE GUY #1

  Did I hear you say you need a dance partner, Stevie?

  CUTE GUY #2

  (pushing Cute Guy #1 aside)

  No way! I got here first!

  CUTE GUY #3

  You’re both wrong! I want to dance with Stevie.

  Stevie waves her hands and smiles.

  STEVIE

  Guys, guys! You’ll all get your chance. I feel like I could dance all night!

  CUTE GUYS (in unison)

  Hooray!

  Stevie grabs Cute Guy #1 by the arm, and they make their way to the dance floor.

  MUSIC VIDEO SEQUENCE

  Stevie square-dances with guy after guy. She is a natural on the dance floor. Even the caller looks impressed by her style, grace, and technique.

  After music video ends, CUT TO

  CLOSE-UP on Stevie, who has just finished square dancing with Cute Guy #47. The band starts another song.

 
MAN’S VOICE (offscreen)

  May I have this dance?

  PAN OUT to reveal that the man is MR. DAVIET, the owner of Sugarbush Stables. He is smiling at Stevie and holding out his arm.

  Stevie takes it, blushing.

  STEVIE

  You really want to dance with me?

  MR. DAVIET

  Certainly. I wanted to ask you about your miraculous recovery. You know, from that injured leg you had when you first arrived.

  STEVIE

  (looking embarrassed as she remembers the fib she and Dinah and Betsy told)

  Fresh air. Its the best medicine there is. Plus exercise. Shall we dance?

  They begin to dance. Once again, Stevie is a paragon of grace.

  MR. DAVIET

  Don’t worry. I was going to offer you the sleigh anyway. Since you’ve never used snowshoes before, you would have been at a terrible disadvantage.

  STEVIE

  (smiling)

  That’s very true.

  [See, Miss Fenton? He really said that. I swear!]

  FADE OUT on Stevie and Mr. Daviet do-si-do-ing.

  FADE IN on WIDE-ANGLE SHOT of the party a few minutes later. Everybody is still having fun; the band is still playing; etc.

  PAN IN to CLOSE-UP of Stevie and Dinah, who are hanging out near the refreshments table again. This time Stevie is also sitting, exhausted from all that dancing.

  STEVIE

  (happily)

  This is wonderful!

  She waves an arm to indicate the party.

  DINAH

  (smiling mysteriously)

  Ah, and the best part is yet to come.

  STEVIE

  (confused)

  What do you mean? Did you bring my math book along so that I could do those fraction problems? It’s a dream come true!

  DINAH

  No, no. Something even better than that.

  STEVIE

  (eagerly)

  Better than fractions? What could—

  JODI

  (harshly; interrupts Stevie)

  Dinah!

  Dinah gulps and turns. PAN OUT to reveal JODI HALE standing in front of the girls, hands on hips, looking angry. She is dressed in dirty jeans, and her hair looks like a rat’s nest. Or at least not like she’s at a party. Standing beside her is DORKY BOYFRIEND, a rather unattractive teenage boy in equally messy old clothes.

  JODI

  (glaring at Dinah)

  Proud of yourself?

  DINAH

  (clearly uncomfortable)

  It was to help your parents. They could have gotten badly hurt—just like I was.

  JODI

  They’re better riders than you could ever be. Anyway, rocks fall on that trail sometimes, but not all the time. What’s the big deal?

  Stevie’s jaw drops open in astonishment. She bites her lip to keep from yelling at Jodi. This is Dinah’s fight. Dinah stands up, ignoring her injuries. She looks angry. Her fists are clenched. She looks very noble. Jodi shrinks back a bit before her magnificence.

  DINAH

  Jodi, I used to think that all I wanted in the world was to be like you. I admired you more than anybody else I knew.

  The sounds of the party fade away, and soft but dramatic MUSIC begins to play instead—something like “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” or the theme from Rocky.

  DINAH

  I tried to be like you, but I’ve found in the last few days that I just can’t do it. I also don’t want to do it. There are differences between us. For one thing, I know the difference between right and wrong. I also know the difference between safe and sorry. For a while I forgot those things, but now I remember, and I’m not going to forget them again.

  Dramatic MUSIC STOPS, replaced once again by the sounds of the party. Jodi steps forward, scowling defiantly, her hands on her hips.

  JODI

  There are other differences between us. The biggest one is that you’ll never be a good rider if you can’t stay on a skittish horse. I’ll always be better than you are.

  She spins around and looks at her dorky boyfriend.

  JODI

  Come on, Mark. Let’s get out of here.

  They EXIT. Stevie puts out a hand to comfort her friend.

  MR. DAVIET (offscreen)

  If it’s any comfort to you, Dinah, you should know that Jodi won’t be riding at Sugarbush Stables anymore.

  Dinah and Stevie gasp and turn.

  PAN OUT to reveal Mr. Daviet standing nearby. He has heard the entire exchange.

  MR. DAVIET

  You did something you shouldn’t have done, but Jodi did something inexcusable. She put my riders at risk. Even worse, she asked you to cover for her. She won’t ride any of my horses again. Ever. You, however, will have many opportunities to continue riding here. And I’m glad. You’re a wonderful student. I wish I had more like you. For one thing, you keep your head in an emergency. Now, the trick is to avoid emergencies in the future!

  Dinah stammers, not knowing what to say. Just then the band starts a new, loud song. MR. SLATTERY approaches and bows before Stevie.

  MR. SLATTERY

  I heard you’re the best dancer the state of Vermont has ever seen. Will you dance with me, Stevie?

  FADE OUT as Stevie accepts.

  FADE IN on the bandstand, a few minutes later. Mr. Daviet is standing at the microphone.

  MR. DAVIET

  Your attention, please. We have a few ceremonial items to take care of, and then we can return to dancing. First of all, as many of you know, Mrs. Daviet has been at the Sugar Hut finishing the evaporation process on the final batch of sap. She’s also been making our first batch of sugar. It’s our tradition here to have our first sugar sampled by our newest worker. I have the sugar here, so will our newest worker please come to the bandstand?

  PAN TO Stevie, who is watching the action from one end of the room, next to Dinah. She glances around, obviously wondering who will come forward. Everyone turns to look at her.

  STEVIE

  Me?

  CUT TO Mr. Daviet onstage, smiling.

  MR. DAVIET

  Of course. Besides, you’ve got to have something sweet to give you energy so that you can keep dancing all night. Come on up here!

  CUT BACK TO Stevie, making her way toward the bandstand. As she goes, everyone she passes smiles or congratulates her or pats her on the back. She is beaming with happiness. Soon she reaches the bandstand, where Mr. Daviet is waiting for her. Just then MRS. DAVIET enters, carrying a platter filled with little chunks of maple sugar.

  MR. DAVIET

  (gesturing to platter)

  Go ahead, Stevie.

  Stevie takes a piece and drops it quickly. She blows on her fingers.

  STEVIE

  Ouch! It’s hot!

  She picks up the sugar again and blows on it. Then she tastes it.

  STEVIE

  Delicious!

  The crowd applauds. Mrs. Daviet and several ASSISTANTS begin passing out morsels of maple sugar to everybody in the place.

  PAN BACK TO Mr. Daviet, still onstage. He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket.

  MR. DAVIET

  There’s one more thing. All the sap was gathered by my junior riders, and in order to get them to do a lot of work for free, I make it into a contest.

  The crowd laughs.

  MR. DAVIET

  (grinning)

  Anyway, we’ve finished tallying up the amount of sap that was brought in by each team of three students. The team that brought in the most sap is guaranteed to have first pick of horses for classes all summer. This year one team was clearly superior: the team of Dinah Slattery, Betsy Hale, and our newcomer and star square dancer, Stevie Lake!

  The crowd erupts into loud cheers.

  PAN TO Stevie, looking thrilled as she hugs Mr. and Mrs. Daviet and anybody else who happens to be standing nearby.

  PAN TO Betsy, out in the crowd, jumping up and down excitedly.

  PAN TO Dinah, sitting
in her chair near the refreshments table. CLOSE-UP on her face. She looks stunned. Slowly her mouth forms a single word.

  DINAH

  (whispering)

  Goldie!

  QUICK FADE TO BLACK

  So as you can see, Miss Fenton, my trip to Vermont was very eventful. Not only did I get to see my friend Dinah (and make some new friends, like Betsy, Evergreen, and the Daviets), but I also learned some valuable lessons about loyalty, honesty, risk-taking, and of course, square dancing. In addition to all that, I learned practically everything there is to know about the extremely fascinating and scientifically important process of sugaring off. Unfortunately, all that learning didn’t leave me much time for doing homework. Actually, it didn’t leave me any.

  So naturally, my unfinished assignments were very much on my mind when I arrived at Pine Hollow the day after my return. I found Carole and Lisa in the paddock, working Starlight on a longe line. As soon as they saw me, they tied up Starlight and we had an impromptu Saddle Club meeting—our first in more than a week, which has to be some kind of record.

  “We’re so glad you’re back!” Lisa exclaimed. “We have the most wonderful news!”