Eleanor was happy. She was going to be in a horse show, at the fairgrounds today. She had never been in a horse show before, and she hoped to win.
Her father drove her to the fairgrounds. She got out of the car and used her crutches to walk.
They went to check-in. The woman there gave her a piece of paper, with a big number on it. Her father pinned it onto the back of her shirt.
They went to the stalls and found the row where the other Pine Hollow students were. Eleanor greeted Dime, the school pony she would be riding. Her father got her a helmet.
She went into Dime's stall, and her father picked her up. She grabbed the brush and comb. Her father lifted her up, and she combed Dime's mane and brushed him.
Eleanor watched her father tack Dime up, and silently wished that she could be the one to tack him up.
The announcer called for the Seven and Under Walk and Trot class. Her father put her on top of Dime. He did the Velcro straps up over her legs.
Her father led Dime to the ring. Beside them, Max led Ruby to the ring. Eleanor's friend, Maxine, smiled at her from on top of her pony, Ruby. Her father and Max led Dime and Ruby into the arena, and unclipped the lead ropes.
Dime walked around the arena. She felt his movement between her legs, and it felt almost like she was walking.
The announcer called to trot. Eleanor asked Dime to trot, and he did. Eleanor pretended that she was running very fast, and she wondered if this was what running felt like. She had never actually run before.
The announcer called for everybody to go back to a walk. Eleanor asked Dime too, and he did. The announcer asks everybody to line up, in the middle of the arena. Eleanor guided Dime to the middle of the arena, and they went into the line.
The announcer told everyone the placings, and began by saying who was in last place. When they heard their name, the last place kid started to cry. The same happened to the next kid. The one after that just looked sad.
Eleanor and Dime got third place. Eleanor was not happy about it. She was mostly sad, and she was glad that she did not win.
Maxine and Ruby got second place. Maxine seemed happy about it.
Eleanor's father met her. He clipped the lead rope back onto Dime. He led Dime out the gate, and out of the way. "I know you wanted to win, but third place is good for your first show. You'll do better next time."
"I don't want there to be a next time."
"Oh. Do you not want to ride anymore?"
"No. I love riding. I just do not like horse shows. I do not like being better than anyone else."
"Okay," he said.
He led Dime back to the stalls and tied him up. He lifted Eleanor off. He took her outside and set her on the ground. She slowly walked, on her own. She did not have her crutches. She got no help. She could only do this, right after riding.
Her legs went. She started to fall, but her father caught her. He lifted her into one of his arms. He grabbed her crutches and handed them to her. She smiled, as he set her back down.