Chapter 2:Walk Like Me

"Imitation is the sincerest of flattery." Charles Caleb Colton

"You want us to do what?"they all exclaimed."Help Zoey be nice. Being nice isn't something you can teach people"Bailey said."It's something that they want to do,because it's the right thing too do."Chloe sat there for a while,then got up and slowly walked away."It's okay. She's my sister,my problem. I understand guys."Sarah looked at Alma and Molly and then ran to Chloe, grabbing her wrist."Chloe maybe me,Alma,Molly and Bailey can teach Zoey."Her eye's brightened and she threw her arms around Sarah's neck. "Oh thanks guys,your the best friends I've ever had." Alma looked at Molly."Just how are we exactly going to teach Zoey to be nice?"Molly shrugged. "So how are we going to do this Sarah" asked Bailey coming up behind her."Well we could,um."Sarah paced back and forth across the length of the old fence for about half an hour."That's it I got it",she yelled out."Got what?" Alma asked."You guys hate how Zoey treats you all the time right. How about we show Zoey how she acts? How do we do that?We act just like her. We don't listen to each other,we don't act polite,we argue with everyone about everything." They were skeptical."I don't know Sarah. It seems like a trick."Alma said."Ya won't we just show her it's okay to act like that if we do the same? Do you guys have any better ideas?"Chloe,Alma,Molly,and Bailey looked at each other,then back at Sarah. Alma was the first to talk."You know Chiceta that just might work. So deal guys? Deal." By nine o' clock Zoey was back to normal.

Unfortunately so was everyone else. The kids were saddling up the horses for the day when Zoey walked through the stable's brushing past Bailey "Hey Zoey watch what you doing." Zoey looked back at him in momentary shock at usually nice Bailey making a rude remark."Whatever Bailey" she said as she continued pass him. She began to brush Pepper. As she was putting the brush away she knocked down a bucket of water."Nice job Zoey,now we have to clean that" snapped Alma."But,it was a...",she couldn't finish though as Alma retorted "Yeah yeah an accident. Just go Zoey." Zoey began to walk with Pepper out of the barn when Sarah elbowed Zoey ."Hey me first Zoey. You can't do that Sarah" Zoey yelled behind her. "Who said I can't?" When they got out things were worse. Will got the riders together to practice. Will had been let in on the the little scheme and had an idea of how he could contribute. "Okay everyone get in a line. I want to show you a new maneuver. First I need a volunteer."Zoey wanting to be the first to try the new move waved her hand in the air. She was the only one. Will picked Bailey. Hurt and confused at what was wrong Zoey turned away from the other riders and quietly stared at the meadow. Why are they doing this?,she thought.

What did I do to them?Then she remembered how Chloe had been so upset at her few weeks ago,how she had always been mean to everyone. Why was she always so mean? Was there a reason,she thought. Everyone at HorseLand was so much better then her. Sarah was nicer,Alma was smarter,Molly was funnier,Chloe was more confident,Bailey was braver,Will did so much for all of them while being dyslexic at the same time. Everyone at HorseLand was better than me. What am I good at? Nothing,she realized. That had always been at the back of her mind and was something she wished to never remember or bring out. Yet here it was as plain as day. That was why she was always so mean to everyone. She was not good at anything so she needed something to make her feel better. That why I act like that. And they treat me like an outsider for it. Maybe if I stop they'll not see me as an outsider anymore. Maybe they'll see me as a friend. She smiled at that thought and began to turn around,when Bailey on Aztec moved backwards pushing Zoey of off Pepper and into the ground. Zoey covered in mud looked up at Bailey and the others,hoping to be helped up. Bailey only looked at her and said "Whoa Zoey,clumsy today are we?"Zoey looked angry at first then she felt tears of what?Anger or sadness? It didn't matter she quickly stood up,pulled herself up on Pepper,and rode off."I think we went too far guys".