Saige

I wake up early by the sound of my annoying alarm clock. I love mornings. When I get up early it usually means that I have a riding competition. And that's why I love mornings. I take a shower, then brush out my curly auburn hair. I get dressed in a pink and yellowy patterned shirt, and jeans. I put my riding boots by the door. 

My older sister, Savannah comes into my room and helps me put my hair into a ponytail so it's not hitting my face while I'm riding. I munch on my Poptart before brushing me teeth. I put on my black riding boots, and head out the door with Mom, Dad, and Savannah. 

No one else in my family likes mornings. They find it weird that I do. We drive down the road in our red minivan. 

"Good-luck" They all chorus as I follow my riding instructor, Ian Johnson, into where I have to get signed in. My family will find a seat on their own. They always do. 

I walk around with Ian before going to my horse, Nutmeg. 

"If you win this, or come in at least 3rd place, you're going to nationals." Ian reminds me.

I nod my head.

"No pressure." He jokes.

"Oh, yeah, no pressure." I say the nervousness getting to me. I'm the youngest one there. 13. I'm the youngest. The second youngest is maybe 16. Maybe older.

I walk over to Nutmeg and pet her a few times. 

"We're going to do this, right?" I say to her.

She neighs and snorts at me. I walk her over to where Ian showed me. I can do this. I say in my mind.

I get on her back. Everyone is already in their starting positions. I finish adjusting my pink helmet, then grab her purple reins. This is it. I have to do this. No backing out now. 

The starting gun shoots off. Nutmeg takes off running. I look beside me. No one's there. I'm in the back. 

"Come on, Nutmeg." I whisper in her ear. "Giddy up." 

She runs faster. We pass everyone but one. I know we're not going to win now. The finish line is in view. I lean forward on her neck, somehow that makes her go faster. We tie for first with my opponent who looks like he's 25. 

"Good-job." He says angrily. 

"Thanks, you too." I say. 

I look up at the crowd, my family is cheering like crazy. I smile at them. Savannah is on her phone... As usual. She always texts or Skype's her boyfriend when she's not at home. It gets kinda annoying at times.

We drive back home in our red minivan. It's about 5:00 when we get home. 

"What's for dinner?" Savannah complains.

"What do you want, Saige?" Mom says to me.

"Oh. I don't really care. Italian is good, Chinese is good, Mexican is good, American is good. Doesn't matter to me." I say. I really want Chinese take-out, but I hate making decisions because Savannah will probably not be in the mood for what I'm in the mood for.

"Savannah, what do you want?" Dad says.

She taps her chin, though she already knows what she wants. "I want Mexican food."

Mom and Dad nod their heads. There's something about their favoritism to Savannah that I'm jealous of. That's why I decide not to decide on what to eat, or else I'll say what I want, then Savannah will complain, and they'll decide on what Savannah wants. And I still have no clue how she has a boyfriend with all her whining and complaining.

I go into my room and change out of my riding outfit into a more comfier outfit. My blue dress. And I put on my brown boots. I grab my red purse, and head out the door with my hair still in the side braid. 

We drive to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Some of the waiters know that I ride horses in competitions, and whenever we go there I always hope that we'll get one of them, it gives me a chance to talk about what I love.

"Ah, Saige." Our waiter, Hector, says to me in a Spanish accent. He's my favorite waiter.

I smile at him. 

"How was riding?" Hector says.

"It was fabulous." I say. "I tied for first place."

His smile grows even wider than it already is.

"That means free fried ice cream, right?" 

He loves congratulating me with food. 

"I guess."

He seats us at a booth, then takes our order. I order two tacos. 

In about 10 minutes he brings us our food. I eat mine the quickest, then he gives me some fried ice cream.

Savannah looks at it. "Why didn't I get any?" She says.

"Because Mom and Dad aren't paying for it." I say as I scoop some ice cream in my mouth.

"How aren't they paying for it?"

"Well, you see, Hector likes that I actually do things, and win, so he was nice and gave me free ice cream." 

Savannah crosses her arms and pouts. I roll my eyes, and continue eating. 

"Don't roll your eyes at your sister." Mom scolds me.

She orders Savannah some too just to make her feel better. 

"Thanks Mom." She says.

There's something about her that makes me want to punch her. Oh wait-- It's everything about her.