February 18

While I was in the middle of cramming for my SUAT (Sims University Aptitude Test) I got on the phone with Kay, who's back in Appaloosa Plains, and we talked for three and a half hours. Good deal we have a great connection, and I've asked mom for one of those new smartphones She said she'll 'think about it." lol
Kay says she's having second thoughts about college. After all, she stands to inherit her parents' horse ranch and enjoys riding, but the whole reason she was going to college was because it was suggested to her that she learn the business side of running the ranch. She also said it was because she needed to do something once her competitive riding days ended, like her mom's did.
Of course, Kay had some very interesting things to say about the Vanderburg twins. She knows Alex from the equestrian team, but has never met Alex's fraternal twin sister, Anastasia. She says Alex is the second-best rider on the team (after herself) and the coach often uses her to run short sprints and regular racing (non jumping) events. In fact, recently Alex has called Kay about buying a stallion from her, and she is willing to pay top dollar. If a princess wants to buy a horse from you, that means you're pretty good at what you do.
"I have to admit I was surprised by Alex's phone call."
"Really?"
"I can't say I know her well, even though we're on the same team. I know she's a good rider, but she keeps to herself, really. When we're at meets her sister calls, like, all the time. It's almost creepy --"
"Yeah, my brother says he met her sister once. Says she is 'scary.' His word not mine."
"Speaking of your brother, what's he doing?"
"Well he went into the military --"
"Say, Sage, what's that rumor about him and Alex hooking up?" Kay paused for a moment to catch her breath. "Is that true?"
"It's not," I told her, "well, it's kind of hard to explain."
"Are they together?"
"He says they're just friends as they're in the same cadet class at the flight academy."
"Oh," Kay said, seeming to heave a sigh of relief. "I see."
"He insists they're just friends. I haven't seen anything otherwise. I haven't seen flowers or candy addressed to her or anything."
I swear, I could hear Kay breathe easier. I know she told me once that she had a crush on him, and I didn't know what to think. I still don't, really.
"So, Alex is in the military?"
"Apparently," I said. "Did you watch her and her sister's TV show? There was a whole big thing about it."
Kay laughed. "I don't watch much TV, but Cammie is addicted to that show."
Camberleigh (Cammie), Kay's younger sister, was in Sierra's class at school and they were pals for awhile, but they sorta grew apart. Sierra's hanging with a different crowd, one I don't altogether like but that's another story.
"Oh guess what," I told Kay, "My mom got a job teaching at SU."
"That's great isn't it?"
"I'm not sure it will be."
"Your mom is so awesome, though. I mean, she used to be a tomb raider. How cool is that?"
I guess I never thought of it THAT way.



I mean, so my mother wasn't ever the milk and cookies, cake-baking type. But she is trying. She is making an effort. When she was working all the time we hardly if ever saw her. She surprised us once when we came home from school with oven fried chicken.



And you can guess our reaction. Mmmmm.