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The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 8: Karen Writes the Report

map of USA with Connecticut highlighted

On her first day of spring break, Karen uses her new study skills. She stays calm. She gives herself plenty of time, and then she discovers she can write a report, without help, and a good one at that.

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Scene 8: Karen Writes the Report

On Monday morning, Karen got up early, just like on a school day. But instead of catching the bus to school, she sat down at the big credenza in the living room and studied the books she had brought home from the library. 

She reread the written instructions the teacher had given her. It listed everything that was supposed to go into the report, like how Connecticut got its name and what its state flower was. Working from it, she wrote an outline of her report, so she would be sure to include everything he wanted. This was the planning part. Then she found the pieces of information by using the indices in the library books. She wrote down the names of the books and the page numbers where she found things on her outline. That was the research part. From there, writing the actual report was easy. She looked up each piece of information and wrote a few sentences about it. After she finished writing, she traced a map of the state and the state flag. After coloring in the flag, she glued them to her display board. She was done by noon. 

She sat back in her chair and smiled. Mama and Pegasus were right. The report was easier after taking the weekend to recenter myself. And with my new study skills, I did the whole thing in one morning. Now I feel like I can organize anything. I’m going to eat lunch and spend the afternoon with Pegasus. 

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 7: Pacing and Renewal

image of Spartan running girlKaren gets carried away with her enthusiasm, but Mama and Pegasus keep her grounded.

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Scene 7: Pacing and Renewal

The next morning, Karen slept in. After she washed her face and brushed her hair, she went back to her bedroom instead of to the kitchen. She scooped up the stack of library books and her school bag so she could start on the report first thing.

In the kitchen, some of her books fell on the floor. She sighed. Always trying to do too much. Carrying too much. She plopped the others down on the big table with her school bag, then picked up the ones from around her feet and pulled out a chair. The toasting bagels smelled wonderful. She swallowed and tried to ignore the aroma.

“Mama, I want to get started on this report, like Miss Natalie said I should. ‘Start immediately, so you have time to get it done.’ And I need the big table. This won’t fit on the desk in my room.”

“Oy veh! My Krana Layala. Are you in such a hurry you can’t take time to give your mother a hug or eat breakfast? Did Miss Natalie tell you that? And you can do your report on the big credenza in the living room. The kitchen table might have food on it. Those are library books, so we have to be careful not to get them dirty.”

Mama gave Karen a big smile. Her face lit up as Karen put her arms around her and rested her head on her shoulder. “That’s more like it, my Krana Layala.” She hugged her back and sighed.

“I’m sorry. Miss Natalie never said to be rude or skip meals. I’m just eager to use my new study skills.”

Before Mama could reply, they heard a whinny through the window.

“Pegasus!” Karen said. She ran to the window as he stuck his head through it and hugged him, arms around his neck.

“How’s my girl? It’s a beautiful Saturday. No school today. Hop on my back, and we can spend an enchanted day together.”

Karen looked to her mother, but Mama remained silent.

“I can’t, Pegasus. I have a big report to write, and it’s going to take all week. I have to read all these books.” She pointed at the stack on the table. “I can’t even take time to eat breakfast.”

She watched as Pegasus and Mama exchanged looks. She knew she was making a mistake. At least one. Maybe more.

Mama said, “My Krana Layala, I know you’re excited, but does that change your body’s needs? If your brain won’t work right, will that help you do your report?”

“No, Mama. It’ll throw my perception off, and I don’t need that.”

“Then at least have a bagel with a schmear.”

“Yes, Mama. You’re right.” She pushed the books to the back of the table and set her school bag by them.

“There is something else to consider.” It was Pegasus. She looked up at him. He spoke slowly, emphasizing his words. “Your spiritual state, Kitten. You started with Miss Natalie just last week. She has already taught you a lot. That’s good. But you need to let her wisdom settle in so it becomes part of you, deep inside. Besides, you have been in school all week. You need time to regain your center, time to nourish your soul. Trying to learn new material and write a report when you are not centered … You understand.”

She knew it would lead to a disaster or at least to frustration and wasted effort. What had she been thinking? She knew she had to eat, and she needed time to replenish her spiritual well.

“You’re right, too, Pegasus. I can take the weekend off and start the homework project on Monday. It’ll be less difficult if I’m rested and centered. I let myself get carried away with enthusiasm. And with fear I’ll run out of time.”

“Have no fear, Kitten. You will not run out of time. You will write an excellent report. You have the mind for that, but you have to give it what it needs to function. Pace yourself like a long distance runner.” He sighed. “But enough about the report. You have learned another big lesson, one about pacing yourself. Now let’s have some breakfast. Horses like bagels, too, you know. Wink, wink.”

They all laughed, and Karen helped Mama fix their breakfast and clean up before spending a wonderful day renewing her soul with Pegasus.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 6: Library Research

photo of original santa monica public library

Karen has always been full of enthusiasm, but now that she is getting tutored and learning to learn, she is eager to take on a difficult school assignment.

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(Image is of original Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 6: Library Research

That afternoon, as the school bus approached her home, Karen thought about Connecticut. She visualized what her project would look like when it was done. In her mind, she could see the map she would draw, and she read and re-read the list of facts Mr. Jones wanted her to find out.

After running into the house, she said, “Mama, I need to go to the library right now. The social studies teacher gave us a big report assignment that will be due after spring break, and I want to start on it immediately. That’s what my tutors said to do. They said to start everything as soon as possible, so I have plenty of time to finish it.”

Mama and Karen hopped into the Bel Air and raced to the library, where Kitten got help from the librarian and checked out a tall stack of books.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 5: The Spring Break Assignment

image of flag map of united statesWhen Karen’s geography teacher gives a homework assignment to be done over spring break, she does not groan. She thanks him. Her tutoring has given her confidence that she can succeed at academics.

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(Image courtesy of Flagvisioner, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 5: The Spring Break Assignment

Soon after Kitten began studying with Miss Natalie and Miss Wayburn, she was in her geography class.

“Students,” the teacher, Mr. Jones, said, “Spring break will be next week, and I am going to give you a homework assignment that will be due when you get back. You can start work on it today and then finish it over break. Now, I’m going to show you what I want you to do. First, pass these instruction sheets around. Everybody take one.”

Groans from the students filled the air. Some of them put their heads down on their desks, but sat up again to take one of the instruction sheets.

Mr. Jones thumb tacked pictures and a map to the bulletin board.

“This is an example of what I want. I’m using the state of Alaska, but it could be any state. I want a map of the state that you drew. Tracing is okay. Then I want . . .”

Karen scanned her instruction sheet. It had Connecticut written at the top. That must be her state. She listened carefully to what her teacher said.

He finished and asked, “Does anyone have any questions?”

The room was silent. Then Karen could not resist expressing her feelings.

“This is just what I need. Now I can plan ahead and use some of the skills I’ve been learning from my tutors. I’ll go to the library as soon as my Mama can take me. Thank you, Mr. Jones.”

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 4: An Apple for Pegasus

graphic of red appleKaren discusses Miss Natalie with Pegasus. He is very clear that she would not have found Miss Natalie without taking action. And she is clear that without him she would not have acted.

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(Image courtesy of DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 4: An Apple for Pegasus

On the way home, Karen asked Mama to drop her off at the stables. She would walk the rest of the way later, but for now, she needed to speak with Pegasus.

He was grazing in the pasture. She hugged him around the neck, and he nuzzled her shoulder.

“Thank you,” he said, as he chewed the apple she had brought in her book bag. “How is the math tutor?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. She’s wonderful. She’s more like a friend than like most teachers. She had me sit beside her instead of across the table. She said she had trouble with math, and she’s going to teach me the way she learned.”

“That is marvellous, Kitten. I sense your uneasiness about academics has disappeared. Something in you has been healed. Miss Natalie is not just another expert rendering an opinion without actually helping. She must really care.”

“Yes, I feel nourished and healed, academically nourished. And she said the tools she’s going to teach me can help with everything in life. All I have to do is try my hardest, like I always do.”

“Maybe Miss Natalie really can help you. But remember, if you not taken action by standing up to the experts at school and asking your Mama to find you help outside school, you would never have met Miss Natalie.”

“You’re right, Pegasus. If I had not taken action, nothing would have changed. But you deserve credit, too. If you had not encouraged me to act, I would never have done it on my own.”

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 3: An Easy Lesson

image of arithmetic symbolsKaren finds out her new math tutor struggled with the subject, too. Time flies as she learns new ways to learn an old and frustrating subject.

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Scene 3: An Easy Lesson

Karen followed Miss Natalie down a short hallway to a small room. The walls were soft white, and the only furniture was a big wooden table with two wooden chairs side by side along one edge. She sat in one chair after Miss Natalie sat in the other.

Miss Natalie quietly explained, “I really enjoy my work. When I was a kid struggling with math, someone put it all together for me. I hope I can do the same for you, Karen. I’ll be teaching you many new, fun ways to learn. These will become tools for you to use in everything you learn from now on. Learning is something to enjoy. It is fun and enlightening, and it satisfies an otherwise unquenchable hunger we have within ourselves. Learning provides food for our thoughts and for our souls. It is the one thing we never stop striving for.

“My aim is to work with you in mutual understanding and friendship. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ll be right by your side. We’ll work together, step-by-step, at your pace, as you master the fundamentals of mathematics. Please ask me anything you like whenever you feel the need. We’ll have lots of fun together! To begin, let’s go over your homework. Seeing what you can do and what you have trouble with will help me understand how I can help you.”

Karen opened her book bag and took out her math homework. Miss Natalie went through it, one step at a time, and slowly guided Kitten through the problems, with Karen doing all her own work, including making, discovering, and correcting her own mistakes.

After what seemed to Kitten like only a few minutes, Miss Natalie stood up and said, “Well, my dear, with this, I think we will call it a day. We’ve been working together for nearly an hour, and you are already making progress. I’m sure that, together, we can get you on track with math. I will see you next week. We’ll check the appointment book at the front desk on your way out.”

“All right,” Kitten smiled broadly.

They proceeded back down the hallway to the front office. Karen felt so reassured that she skipped all the way.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 2: A Warm Welcome

photo of butterfly resting on human hands
This is the second scene of Chapter 27, in which Karen deals with her math problems with the help of a wonderful tutor. This is a fresh experience for her. Has an exceptional teacher or tutor ever helped you?

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(Image by HeungSoon via Pixabay)

Scene 2: A Warm Welcome 

The waiting room was warm and inviting. Painted a soft butterscotch color, one wall held a sign inviting them to take a seat in the large plaid chairs. Above these color-coordinated chairs, mobiles of the covers of famous children’s books swung in the air conditioning, inspiring children to ask about them. More than any other waiting room Kitten had ever entered, this place made her relax immediately. Her butterflies disappeared at once.

“May I help you?” the receptionist inquired. Her voice was as soft and inviting as the room.

“Yes,” Mama replied. “I have an appointment scheduled with Natalie Meyer at ten o’clock for my daughter, Karen. My name is Katie Hearshstein.”

“She wrote me a letter and said to call her Miss Natalie, and she’s my tutor!” Karen could not keep herself from interrupting.

“And this is Karen,” Mama said with a wink to the receptionist.

“Oh, yes. She’s expecting you. She’ll be out in a moment. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable.”

“Thank you,” Mama answered before walking to one of the overstuffed chairs. She and Kitten each picked up a magazine from the coffee table and began reading.

Five minutes passed, and Miss Natalie appeared, beaming. She was taller than Mama, almost five feet four inches, and had a slender build. Her long, red hair curled and flowed over her shoulders. She wore a red and tan suit with a ruffled red blouse and black high heels. Her clothes went with the colors of the reception room.

“Hi, Karen, pleased to meet you. I’ll be working with you. Won’t you come this way?” she said in a low, melodic voice that relaxed Kitten even more.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 1: UCLA

image of burgee of UCLAThis is the first scene of Chapter 27, in which Karen deals with her math problems with the help of a wonderful tutor. Please read, like, and share!

(Image by Banderas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: UCLA

Karen watched from the passenger seat as Mama drove slowly through the UCLA campus, comparing the buildings with the map the university had mailed her. Students carried heavy loads of books in backpacks and satchels. They sipped coffee from paper cups while hurrying between classes or waiting on street corners for the traffic lights to change. In her heart, Karen believed that if she studied hard enough, then someday she could become a college student, too.

After driving by the large buildings on the main campus, Mama turned into a narrow side road that led to a pleasant cul-de-sac ringed by small buildings, bungalows all alike, all painted off white. One of them had a brown wooden sign with Bungalow E painted on it. Mama parked by it. A gray wooden ramp with sturdy handrails led up to the front porch.

“Here it is, my Krana Layala. This is the place.”

“Oh, Mama, enormous butterflies have invaded my stomach.”

They both laughed. Then Mama said, “They should go away once we’re inside. It’s just the excitement of not knowing. Remember how nice this tutor sounded on the phone? I know you’ll like her. You’ve made a lot of progress with your reading, and now you’re getting a specialist to help you with math. Pretty soon, we’ll have your academics under control. We have both advocated, and we are winning.”

“Yes, Mama, I feel better about my academics now. Math is the only one that still kills me.”

“You wait and see, Kitten. Remember how you struggled with reading, and now you read all the time. It’s easy for you. Math will be the same. You just need somebody who can put you onto the right track, and then you’ll roll ahead on your own.”

Karen knew how important this was both to herself and to Mama. Turning within, she silently affirmed that she would succeed at math and that she would do whatever it took to master it.

“All right, Mama. I will succeed. I know I can do it, and I will.”

“Let me check our paperwork before we go in, sweetheart.”

After rereading the papers she took from her purse, Mama looked in the car’s rear-view mirror and added more deep red lipstick to her mouth.

“Do I look all right, Kitten? Is my makeup on straight?”

“Yes, Mama, you look great, and the rose-red dress is really pretty. How about me?”

“You always look good in your baby pink dress, dear. I think we will make a very grand entrance!”

Karen laughed with her mother. She felt more confident knowing that they both looked good. Without being reminded, she picked up her book bag and followed Mama. However, after they walked up the ramp and Mama pushed open the wooden door, her fear returned. She took a deep breath and looked into her heart for a peaceful state of calm.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 26, Scene 7: Keeping an Open but Wise Heart

photo of horses in a pastureSometimes wisdom lies in keeping an open heart, but not a wide-open heart. If you know someone is going to be mean to you, you don’t have to react with anger, but you have to protect yourself. In this ending scene of the Mean Girl Claudia chapter, Karen finds this wisdom in her heart. 

(Image by APictche, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 7: Keeping an Open but Wise Heart

At the stables, Karen found Pegasus in a pasture, enjoying the sunny afternoon with some other horses. She explained what had happened.

He nodded and said, “Kitten, sometimes you have to stand up for yourself, and you have to refuse to walk into traps. You knew what kind of girl Claudia is. It is one thing to be friendly and kind, but it’s another to let someone take advantage of you. If she invites you again, take some ratty old doll dresses and prepare to stand up for yourself. Sometimes, going into a difficult situation with your heart open is not the best way. Sometimes, you need to hold back a little.”

“Do you think there’ll be a next time? I mean, Mama said she would talk with Claudia’s mom about getting the dress back and getting some help with Claudia.”

There was a long pause. Kitten knew Pegasus was looking within for wisdom. Then he spoke.

“My horse intuition tells me that Claudia will not invite you back. Like she told you, she is done with you. She is too proud to apologize for her horrid behavior, and without an apology, the friendship cannot proceed. Besides, she controls her mother, so whatever Mama says will have little effect.”

“Yes,” Kitten said. “I can see that now. I’d like to have more friends, but Claudia may be a lost cause.”

“Unfortunately, she may be. With her father gone, she has only her mother, and her mother seems unable to help her.”

“Then I will keep my heart open, even to her, but I won’t let her take advantage of me again.”

Pegasus smiled his horsey smile and said, “That’s my wise girl. Now, let’s go for a ride and enjoy the beautiful afternoon.”

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 26, Scene 6: The Making of a Mean Girl

cartoon of wharf rat
Karen finds out why Claudia is so mean. 

(Image by Henry Louis Stephens, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 6: The Making of a Mean Girl

Karen told Mama about the dress exchange as they rode home.

Mama said, “Vintage Claudia, from what I hear. Krana Layala, not everyone in this world worries about making happiness. Most of them are like Claudia, but maybe a little more subtle. I feel for her mother. What would it be like to have a monster like that for a child? But then, she’s another one like Patsy, whose husband dumped her because of a disabled child. I still cry when I think about your father, but he was always there for me and for us, right up until the car crash that took him away. He was a mensch, not a rat.”

“You’re not sore that I let her take away the beautiful dress you sewed for my doll?”

“Oy vey, my Krana Layala. That’s the last thing to worry about. I can make you another. Maybe you can help sew it to improve your sewing skills and fine motor. But that’s not going to help Claudia or her mother. I owe her mother, as one mother to another, even if her kid is possessed by demons. Her mother loves Claudia and wants her to grow up happy. She needs to know what’s going on so she can take steps to help her kid. I still can’t believe her rat husband dumped her. That’s why Claudia’s so mean, you know. Maybe you don’t know, but I do. She knows she’s the reason her daddy disappeared, and she hates herself for that, for being disabled. But she can’t face the truth, so she takes her anger out on other kids with disabilities.”

“Mama, should I keep on trying to be Claudia’s friend? I thought she would be a good friend for me. I need more friends, but … “

“Let me talk with her mom. There may be a way through this. Or there may not be a way. Let me talk with her mom before we make any decisions.”

“Okay, Mama. And thanks for saying we about the decisions.”

Mama, who usually kept her eyes glued to the road, turned and looked into Karen’s. She gave her a huge smile. “That’s my girl,” she said. The phrase stuck in Karen’s mind. “That’s my girl … “

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Karen stared out the passenger side window at the beautiful afternoon. Life was good, even if it was confusing. She needed to talk with Pegasus.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.