Page 88 of Waiting for Ru
13
RU AND POPPY arrived back at Benning Park at just gone six in the evening. Poppy had talked almost non-stop about the game, about polo and the horses, then about her family and friends, what she liked to do and eat and… Ru was fascinated. She didn’t ask Ru any questions and it was only when they arrived back, that he wondered if that was why she’d talked so much, because she didn’t know what to ask him, and was maybe wary of upsetting him. He had no opinion to give on TV, films, fashion, sports, even what was happening in the news, because he knew so little. A pang of disappointment pierced his heart. Would he ever feel that he fitted in?
Poppy drove the bus-like horsebox down to the stables and parked next to an identical vehicle.
“You are such a good driver,” Ru said. “I’d freak out having to be in control of something this large.”
“It’s not difficult. You really need to take lessons and get your licence. You don’t want to be passed over for a job because you can’t drive.”
Ru chuckled. “I can drive, I just don’t have a licence.”
Poppy laughed. “Well, take the test then.” She climbed out of the vehicle, and Ru joined her.
“Long day and it’s not over yet,” she said.
“What can I do?”
“We’ll get the ponies in first and feed them. Then sort out their tack and clean the vehicle.”
Ru took his backpack into the stables and changed out of Newt’s dress shirt into a T-shirt. As he and Poppy began to lead the horses out, Mason and Kirstie came to help. Everyone was still on a high from the win, and the work was soon done, every horse back in its stall and the tack hanging in the right place. Though it needed cleaning and Ru hoped he didn’t get lumbered with doing all of it.
“Have you seen this?” Poppy pulled him to the far end of the stables near the tack room.
Ru gasped when he saw a stall with Joni’s name and one with Cookie’s on the opposite side. They’d still be able to see one another.
“They’re out of isolation now. You want to bring them in or leave them out?”
“They’ve been fed,” Mason called. “I marked it on their charts.”
“They can stay out. They’re used to being out.” Ru would go and see them once he’d taken his backpack to his room.
But as he and Poppy were heading out of the stables, Mike stepped in front of them.
Mike stared at Ru. “The horsebox needs cleaning.”
“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Poppy asked.
“No.”
Poppy sighed. “I’ll help.”
“No you won’t. It’s your turn to do the supermarket run.”
Poppy glared after him as Mike walked off. “Arsehole,” she muttered.
Ru had hoped to go with the next person who went shopping, but now he couldn’t.
“Did you pin a list to the board?” Poppy asked. “I get paid when I get back unless it’s something big and then I’m given the money before I go.”
“Could you get me a loaf of bread, please?” He’d cycle to town and buy the rest himself.
“Is that all?”
“Maybe a bag of small apples and some Polo mints. I only have one apple left.”
She laughed. “For the horses? And all you’ll eat is bread? There’s nothing in your cupboard. Not that I was being nosey. Mike was looking for something and then he made a joke about you not eating.”
“Someone helped themselves to my peanut butter so I moved the food back into my room.”
