Lauren, Jessica and Mel squealed as the droplets covered their jeans.

Lauren put her hands on her hips. ‘Thanks, Twilight!’

Twilight looked round cheekily and snorted.

Picking up a towel, she dried his tail and then wiped off the water droplets from his back. She’d groomed him really well and his grey coat was soft and smooth and his mane was lying neatly on one side of his neck.

‘I guess we’d better clean up,’ Lauren said as Mel washed the shampoo off Shadow’s tail.

‘And then we can put the banner up,’ Jessica said.

‘And get the food out,’ Mel put in.

The three of them bustled about. They’d made a banner first thing that morning and had written Happy Birthday, Hannah! on it. They had also made pony-shaped biscuits and Mrs Foster had made a cake. Soon everything was set out, the ponies were looking beautiful and the biscuits and cakes and bowls of cut-up carrot and apple pieces were all laid out on a table by Twilight’s stable.

‘Now all we need is Hannah,’ Mel said, looking round happily.

There was the sound of a car turning into the drive. ‘I bet that’s her!’ Lauren exclaimed. Lauren’s dad had left earlier to fetch Hannah from the airport. ‘Come on!’

They hurried up the path that led back to the house. ‘Hannah!’ Lauren yelled as a tall girl with brown hair got out of the car.

She raced over to give her cousin a hug but as she got near she slowed down. Hannah looked really different. Her wild, curly hair had been cut and straightened and instead of being in a messy ponytail, it now fell sleekly to her shoulders. She was also wearing make-up and her nails were painted silver. In the past, she had always worn jeans and trainers but now she had a skirt and ankle boots on. Her warm, friendly smile was the same though.

‘Hi, Lauren,’ she said.

Lauren didn’t know whether to hug her or not. Hannah looked so grown-up. Luckily Hannah made the decision for her. She stepped forward and embraced Lauren. ‘It’s great to see you again.’

‘You too,’ Lauren said, hugging her back.

Mrs Foster came over. ‘You look great, Hannah,’ she said. ‘I like your hair like that.’

‘Thanks, Auntie Alice,’ Hannah said, kissing her.

Lauren suddenly remembered she had introductions to make. She swung round.

‘Hannah, these are my friends, Mel Cassidy and Jessica Parker.’

‘Hi,’ Jessica and Mel said together.

Hannah smiled at them. ‘Nice to meet you both.’

‘We’ve got something to show you!’ Lauren told her. ‘It’s by the stables!’

She led the way down the path with Hannah following.

The ponies looked round as they heard the footsteps on the gravel. Twilight pricked up his ears and whinnied. The banner fluttered in the breeze.

‘Oh wow!’ Hannah said, glancing quickly at the ponies and then looking at the banner. ‘It’s a birthday banner.’ She smiled round at them. ‘Thanks, guys!’