Issie and the Christmas Pony by Stacy Gregg Page B

secret or anything. We’re all just here to open our presents, OK?” Issie wished she had never said anything. Kate was acting even nuttier than Stella.
    â€œRight, everyone into the living room!” Mrs Brown led the way with a big plate of Chrismas mince pies and fudge to snack on and they all settled around the tree ready to hand out the presents.
    â€œHere’s one for you, Kate, and one for you, Stella.” Mrs Brown passed a gift to each girl. “And for you, Tom, and Issie!”
    It didn’t take them long to work their way through the pile under the tree. Most of the girls’ presents, as always, were pony-related. Issie had bought a fancy hoof-pick for Kate and a book for Stella about horse breeds of the world, which the girls pored over, picking out the ones they liked best. As usual, Issie had been stuck for something to buy her mum and in the end she had got her a bottle of perfume, which Mrs Brown seemed pleased with. The two boxes fromIssie’s dad turned out to be exactly what she had expected: a board game (Monopoly) and a make-your-own jewellery kit.
    â€œI’ll call him later to say thanks,” Issie told her mum. It still felt weird not having her dad here, but her mother was right-present-opening was better this year with lots of other people around.
    There were still a few gifts left. “We can open them later,” said Mrs Brown. “Right now, I think it’s time for you to open your main present, Issie.”
    Issie looked under the tree. “No, it’s not under the tree,” Mrs Brown said. Then she pulled something out of her pocket. It looked like a long black scarf.
    â€œIs that my gift?” Issie was puzzled.
    â€œNo,” said Mrs Brown. “It’s a blindfold. You’ve got to put it on before we lead you to your present.” Issie looked at Stella and Kate who were both grinning from ear to ear.
    â€œDo you know what it is?” Issie asked them.
    â€œUh-huh,” Kate nodded, “but we promised your mum we wouldn’t tell.”
    Issie felt her heart racing. So that was why Stella and Kate had been acting so strangely! They knew about the secret present-whatever it was.
    â€œOK,” Issie said, reaching out to take the blindfold, “I’ll put it on.”
    â€œNo, you won’t!” said Stella. “You could cheat. Let your mum do it so we know that it’s on properly and you can’t see.”
    Issie stood up and her mum wrapped the black scarf around her eyes, securing it tightly with a knot at the back of Issie’s head.
    â€œCan you see?” asked Kate.
    â€œNo,” Issie said. It was a weird feeling: everything was pitch-black and although she couldn’t see anyone, she could feel their eyes on her.
    â€œLet’s spin her round!” Stella said. Issie felt Stella and Kate’s hands turning her, and heard the girls giggling as they span Issie round and round.
    â€œAre you dizzy yet?” asked Mrs Brown.
    â€œWe are!” Kate laughed.
    â€œI think I’m going to fall over!” Issie shrieked.
    â€œOK, that’ll do. Lead her through,” said Mrs Brown.
    By now the blindfold had slipped just a bit. Issie could see a tiny bit out of the gap at the bottom, just enough to glimpse her feet and figure out where she was going, as Stella and Kate led her through the living room and out into the back yard.
    â€œLook out, there’s a step coming up,” Kate cautioned her as she led Issie across the paved courtyard and on to the back lawn.
    Then Issie heard Avery’s voice ahead of her. He must have been in the back yard on the lawn waiting for them. “Are you ready?” Mrs Brown asked him.
    â€œYep,” Avery answered. “You can take off her blindfold now.”
    Issie’s heart was pounding in her ears. What was so amazing that everyone else was in on the surprise and she needed to be blindfolded and escorted outside to