Gigi burst into the house, gasping for breath. Her Mama was just coming down the curved staircase into the foyer, having just put her little brother to bed.

“I know what I want to do with my summer,” Gigi said, still gasping for breath.

“Finally,” Mama said. “What are you going to do?”

“I want to take riding lessons,” Gigi said, thinking of the magnificent horse she had just seen out in the woods. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to ride it, but the least she could do was try. She just had to learn how to ride first.

“Does anyone want some seaweed and crab biscuits?” Papa called from the kitchen. “They’re fresh!”

The decadent smell of ricotta cheese and crab wafted down the hallway. It smelled delicious.

“SEA BISCUITS!” Brayden yelled. He was standing on the landing, looking down into the foyer. He was currently wearing an overly large pair of footie pajamas that made him look like a saggy walrus. The tusks hung down over his face.

“Go back to bed, Brayden,” Mama said, slightly exasperated. “You can have some tomorrow.”

“Sea biscuits…” Brayden said sadly as he shuffled back to his bedroom.

“So, can I take riding lessons?” Gigi asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Mama said. “We just have to find somewhere where they’re giving them is all.”

“Did I hear something about riding lessons?” Papa called from the kitchen. He walked into the foyer bearing a tray of his famous biscuits. He offered one of them to Gigi. “If you’re looking to take riding lessons, you could go over to the neigh-bors. I was over at the Dartmoors’ estate just last week doing catering for their daughter’s college graduation party. Apparently, she just graduated from medical school at the top of her class. Anyway, I heard that they were looking for some help with their horses. I’m sure they’d teach you to ride as well if you were willing to help out.”

“REALLY?!?” Gigi shrieked, or more like she gagged, as she was currently stuffing her mouth with crab biscuits.

“You should stop by tomorrow and talk with them,” Mama suggested.

“I will!” Gigi said. She turned and looked dreamily out the window which faced the Dartmoor estate. She couldn't see anything because it was dark, and there were many trees and such in the way, but it didn’t matter because she could already see her dreams coming true. “I shall depart at first light.”

“Oooookaaaay,” Papa said, looking worriedly out the window, trying to see whatever it was that Gigi was seeing. “So, what’s with the sudden interest in horseback riding?”

Gigi shifted uncomfortably.

“...Bromance…” said a small voice at the top of the stairs. “Sea biscuits?”

“Go. To. Bed, Brayden!” Mama said.

The floppy walrus hurried back to his room, mostly because Mama had started up the stairs.

“I guess I should go to bed too,” Gigi said. “Early morning, you know.” Then, taking another crab biscuit, she bolted up the stairs before her Papa could ask her anything more about her sudden interest in horseback riding.

Gigi went to bed, but she didn’t go to sleep. Her excitement kept her awake for most of the night. When she did sleep, her dreams were filled with the majestic silver horse she had seen in the woods. She would soon be skilled enough to ride it. Or so she thought…