Do you ever get the feeling that your parents are driving you crazy? I don't, I never will again, My parents are dead. My name is S.J Don't ask me how I got stuck with such a name, 'cause I have NO idea! It stands for Storm Junior, my, that's original! My sister's name is Ororo, but her nickname's Storm , because of her obsession with them! I suppose that's where my parents got my name from, they just liked that name. Ok, here's the thing. My sisters a storm chaser! She goes around the world, hunting the best storms! I have nothing against this, I think it's super cool what she does, but it's totally unfair that I don't get to go with her! I'm stuck in a foster home, while my sister gets to be out there chasing Storms! You see, when I was ten my parents were murdered, and I was sent to live in a foster home with parents that pretend to care, but it's just not the same. It hurts to talk about it but now that I am, I may as well tell you more, unless you don't want to hear it. After the incident, Storm flew over from New York (she was storm chasing) to stay with me for a while, but I wish I could have stayed with her forever. It wouldn't have taken away the pain, just helped a little.

Right now, I'm in the middle of feeding all our animals. Oh! I forgot to tell you! My foster parents run a vet clinic, which is really cool, because my dream has always been to be a vet! So it's my job to feed all the animals, and change some of the dressings on the poor things. It's my birthday tomorrow and every one's being really secretive about it! They said that they all pitched in with my 'parents' to get me a massive present and I really want to know what it is, I hate the suspense of surprises. I hope Storm's coming up, that would be the best present of all.

"S.J., hurry up sweetie! It's almost time to close up, I just finished with my last patient, will you be finished by ten?" That was Helen my foster mother, calling down the hall of the clinic. "Yes, Helen, I'm almost down now," I replied, softly, so I didn't wake the sleeping animals, or scare the ones who were awake. Helen hesitated before she replied, I could tell what was coming. "You know S.J, you can call me mum," I sighed, and then thought about it. I had never wanted to call Helen or Rod (my foster dad) Mum or Dad, because I thought it would be betraying the memory of my parents. "Helen, I just don't feel comfortable doing that because I still think of my own parents quite alot," I was really testing myself talking about my parents like that, the thought of them brought tears to my eyes.

"Ok, the option is always there for you S.J. We just want you to know that." I heard the hall door closing, then the soft footsteps of Helen walking down the hall. I realised that I had been holding my breath. I let it out slowly, then rushed over to the badly injured kitten and finished with the animals.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of the front door shutting. Then I woke up an hour later to the sound of the garage door opening. I realise that Helen and Rod did the animals for me. Today has been the first day in a long time I haven't woken up to the sound of my alarm, it's a nice change. I suppose I'd better get up but its so warm in bed, and so cold outside, its the first day of winter today! That reminds me! I ran over to the window and opened my blinds. "OH MY GOSH!" I'm glad I'm alone in the house, because I just screamed that at the top of my lungs! It's SNOWING ! That's a birthday present all in its self ! I ran over to my closet, grabbed my jodhpurs (special riding pants) and my favourite tee, a jumper, and riding gloves. I think I beat the record for the fastest dressing time! I was racing downstairs when it hit me, Helen and Rod were out and I was about to go trail riding in the snow. I write a note for Helen and Rod, explaining exactly which trail I was taking, and that I was not alone.
It read:

Helen and Rod,
Gone trail riding with Crystal and Cherie,
we're taking the trail past the snow river.
I have my phone, don't ring unless you have to,
it'll scare the horses. we've taken Chase, Tiger Lilly and Simba
S.J

I stuck it in the middle of the table where I know Helen will see it. Chase was Crystal's favourite horse, a beautiful Chestnut. He's only a small horse, just bigger that a pony but Crystals only short too. Simba's my favourite horse. She's not mine, she belongs to some one else but they haven't turned up in ages, so I treat her as mine. She's a mischievous horse, but shes good for me. She throws every one else off, but me. Simba's a huge horse. She's 20 hands high, and she's a palomino! I love her so much, we do every thing together (everything you can do with a horse, that is) Tiger Lilly is Helen's horse, but Cherie loves to ride her. Tiger Lilly's a good horse, good for a beginner like Cherie. Crystal and I have been riding together since we were 3, and we're now 14. Cherie's 15 and she only met us last year, but we got her into riding straight away.
I ran out to the barn, were I had ordered Crystal and Cherie to meet me. I went straight over to Simba's stall. " Hello, pretty girl!" I said as I undid the bolt on the door and slid inside. "Are you ready for a ride?" Simba seemed to get all excited after that. I Tacked her up, and was just going into Tiger Lilly's stall, when Crystal turned up. The little sneak! She had snuck up behind me and grabbed me, making me jump. "Hey birthday girl." I was still recovering from that when Cherie popped her head up in the barn door and then came up and said "Yeah, happy birthday!" I was laughing by then "You guys SUCK!" I laughed "Get tacked up, we're going," I said, climbing up onto the bail of hay I use to get up on Simba. "All right, all right." said Crystal, climbing into Chase's stall.

Oh, how rude of me! Crystal and Cherie are my two best friends in the world. Crystal and I are both very small. Crystal has blonde shoulder length hair. I have Reddish-gold hair, that's a bit longer than Crystal's. Cherie is a fairly big built girl. She has brown shoulder length hair.

15 minutes later we were ready. "Lets go!" I said, getting Simba into a canter. With that we all rode into the forest behind my barn.