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hang of it soon,’ Chloe kept saying.
    They played a game of tag and then finally decided to go home. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Erin said.
    ‘Yeah, at the stables at ten,’ said Chloe happily. ‘Bye!’ She waved, and they both darted away.
    Erin got to the stables early. She checked the board and saw that she was going to be riding Tango that day. Unfortunately, he was Fran’s favourite pony and Erin could tell that Fran wasn’t pleased she wasn’t going to be riding him. When Erin went into the tack room to fetch Tango’s head collar and a grooming kit, Fran gave her a very dirty look. She was sitting on the wooden chest where all the grooming kits were kept.
    ‘I need to get a grooming kit. Can you move, please, Fran?’ Erin asked politely.
    Her heart sank as Fran shook her head. ‘Nope,’ she said, inspecting her nails. ‘I don’t feel like it.’
    Erin hesitated, shrinking inside. What could she do? She needed a grooming kit, but she couldn’t exactly push Fran off the chest, could she?
    To her relief, two of the other helpers, Anna and Jodie, came in, also looking for grooming kits. Fran shifted immediately and as the other girls got their grooming kits out Erin quickly did the same. As she straightened up, Fran smirked at her as if saying You know I wouldn’t have moved just for you. Erin tried to ignore her.
    She left the tack room and saw Chloe coming out of the office with Jackie.
    ‘Hi!’ Erin went over, feeling very pleased to see her.
    ‘Chloe’s new. She’s riding Solomon today. Will you show her around, please, Erin?’ Jackie asked.
    ‘Of course I will,’ Erin said.
    Jackie went back into the office. Just then Fran and Katie came out of the tack room. Fran stopped when she saw Chloe with Erin.
    ‘Who are you?’ she demanded curiously.
    ‘Chloe,’ Chloe replied easily. ‘What’s your name?’
    ‘Fran. And this is Katie.’ Fran looked Chloe up and down. She obviously approved of her because she smiled. ‘Has Jackie told you who you’ll be riding then?’
    ‘Yes. Solomon.’
    ‘Cool. Well, come with Katie and me and we’ll show you which pony he is.’
    Chloe glanced at Erin. ‘Erin’s supposed to be showing me.’
    ‘We don’t need four of us to catch him, Erin,’ Fran said pointedly. ‘You can stay here.’ She tossed her head. ‘Come on, Chloe.’
    Chloe stopped. ‘Actually, you’re right. We don’t need four of us, and since I’m friends with Erin already she can show me which pony he is, can’t you, Erin?’
    Erin felt a rush of relief. She nodded.
    ‘Thanks for the offer though,’ Chloe said to Fran.
    Fran looked very put out. ‘Fine! Be like that then!’ she snapped. ‘Come on, Katie.’ They marched off together.
    Chloe grinned. ‘Whoops, I think I might have offended her!’ She didn’t look at all bothered. Erin envied her. ‘So, are they the so-called friends you’ve told me about?’
    ‘Yes,’ Erin replied.
    ‘Well, you know what? Now I’ve met them I think you’re better off without them,’ said Chloe. ‘Now, come on, I want to see all the ponies!’
    By the end of the day it was hard to believe Chloe had only just started at the stables. She’d helped with all the jobs no one liked much, like sweeping around the muckheap, and she’d started a water fight when they’d been cleaning tack. She was a good rider too and had got Solomon going really well in the lesson.
    ‘I’ve had a brilliant day!’ she said happily as she and Erin sat on the fence and waited for Chloe’s mum to collect them. ‘It’s such a cool yard! The ponies are gorgeous, Jackie’s a really good teacher and everyone seems really nice. Well, apart from Fran and Katie. I don’t know why you were ever friends with them.’

    ‘They didn’t use to be as mean,’ Erin said, feeling she should defend them a bit. ‘They’ve just changed this year.’
    Chloe grinned. ‘Well, I’m glad they have because it means we can be friends.’
    Just then a shiny silver