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been easy. Next, she wanted to know how Mrs. Reg had known to give her that message right then.

S TEVIE BOUNDED OUT of bed on Saturday morning. This was The Day! It was the day her Pony Club’s polocrosse team would have a chance to show Phil Marston’s team a thing or two—or meet total humiliation and defeat.
    She went to the other window of her room. It was a bright and sunny spring day. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Stevie’s heart sank. She’d been dreaming all night that it would be pouring rain. Deep down, she had the worst feeling that the only way to avoid total humiliation would be for the match to be rained out.
    Quickly, she swept the thought from her mind. That was a loser’s way of thinking and would do her no good at all.
    She washed and dressed and then went to the phone. One of the things she had to be sure of was that her bestfriends—and the Pony Club’s best riders—would be there.
    Unfortunately, she found that she woke up both Lisa and Carole, to say nothing of their parents. More than a little annoyed, they assured Stevie they did plan to be there and they would be on time. Stevie looked at her clock. It was seven-fifteen. She admitted to herself that maybe that was just a little bit early for a phone call on Saturday morning.
    She took her polocrosse rule book, went down to the kitchen, and poured herself a bowl of cereal. She combed through the booklet to be sure she understood everything. The last thing she and her team needed was to commit fouls just because they didn’t read this.
    “S HE CALLED ME at seven-fifteen. What time did she call you?” Lisa asked Carole.
    “Seven-ten. It’s a good thing my father really likes her, too, because otherwise he would have hung up on her.”
    “And then she called again at eight-twenty to tell me that the only way you can try to get a ball out of an opponent’s racquet is to hit the stick with an upward stroke,” Lisa said.
    “Did she tell you about left-handed players? That the team captain has to notify the opposing captain and the umpires in the event any of the players will be playing left-handed? I got that call at eight-thirty.”
    “But we don’t have any left-handed players, do we?”
    “Not anymore,” Carole said. “Lorraine Olsen is left-handed, but she couldn’t take Stevie’s bullying and dropped out.”
    “I can’t say that I blame her,” Lisa said.
    “It’s tempting, isn’t it?” Carole asked.
    “I just keep reminding myself that Stevie’s got this bright idea and it has to do with Phil and we should try to be understanding. After all, she is our best friend. And once the game is over, everything will change back. Won’t it?”
    “I hope so,” Carole said. “I certainly hope so. And so does my dad.”
    “Horse Wise will now come to order in Max’s office!” the P. A. barked, ending their conversation. They joined their teammates and the rest of the club in Max’s office.
    “You all know we’re going to have a match today,” Max began. “I want to tell you it’s not a particularly important match. We’re new at polocrosse and so is Cross County. Winning is nice, but playing our best is more important. We have all been working hard this week, and I know that we will do well, which doesn’t always mean succeeding on the scoreboard. I want to wish all of the players good luck and to assure you that the rest of us will be on the sidelines cheering like crazy.”
    Carole thought Max’s talk was just right. After all, they were there to have fun as much as to do well. Shehoped that his words would have an effect on Stevie and help her to put the day into perspective.
    “Can I say something, Max?” Stevie asked.
    A look of doubt crossed Max’s face, but he nodded his assent. Stevie stood up.
    “I know I’ve been mean and awful this week.” She paused because everybody was laughing. She probably didn’t realize how true her words were. “I guess I’ve yelled at a few of you