The Healing Horse, Ch. 14, Scene 4: The Tram

In this scene, Karen once again stands up for herself and advocates for herself and her horse. She also notices that the tram driver treats her with respect, even though he notices her weak left leg. This is a big moment for her, as she grows up.

Here is a photo of what the tram might have looked like. (Thanks to yesterland.com for their many wonderful, historic photos of the Magic Kingdom.)

Scene 4: The Tram

After the lot attendant left, Karen heard a swoosh above her. She and Pegasus both looked up, as a streamlined monorail passed overhead, moving at high speed but with almost no noise.

“You think…” she started to say.

“No, my dear. I’d never fit,” Pegasus said.

They both laughed and stepped up onto the tram waiting area.

In a few minutes, the tram pulled up, and they heard the driver’s voice welcoming everyone aboard. He was a short, bald man.

“Hi there everybody! My name is Marty. I’ll be your driver, today, and—is that a horse?”

He frowned and looked directly at Karen. She felt nervous, but at least he was treating her like someone who could answer questions, not like a helpless kid.

“Yes, sir,” she replied. “He’s my horse. I’ll need him to get around inside Disneyland.”

He eyed her weak left leg and nodded.

“Okay,” he driver said. “That makes sense, but you know he won’t fit on the tram. He’s just too big.”

She thought fast and said, “He doesn’t have to ride. He can trot along beside the tram.”

When he heard that, the driver smiled and said, “You’re a smart girl. I like that. You have things figured out.”

Karen beamed, and the driver said to the other passengers, “Let’s have a big round of applause for this smart little girl and her horse!”

After the clapping died down, he put the tram into gear and said very quietly, “I’ll go slow, so he won’t have any trouble keeping up.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 14, Scene 3: The Parking Lot

This scene begins little Karen’s adventure at Disneyland. Note how she speaks up for herself, when the parking lot attendant (a very kind young lady) assumes that because she is disabled and a child, she cannot. Note also how Mama and Rocky, in spite of their best intentions, play into this false assumption.

At the same time, recognize the innate kindness of all the adults involved, and the pleasure that the Disney employee takes in helping make this special day one of enchantment for a little girl and her magical horse.

Above all, note how this twelve-year-old girl with CP manages the situation, so that she uses it to achieve her goals of making decisions and creating a special day for her spiritual mentor, without hurting anyone’s feelings. I wish real life were so easy… Thank you for reading. Please share your reflections, your reactions, your feelings, your thoughts with me in the comments.

Here is a photo of the parking lot, as it might have appeared to them. Thanks and credits to the folks at yesterland.com.

Scene 3: The Parking Lot

An hour-and-a-half later, Rocky swung the pickup and horse trailer into the parking lot.

Mama laughed and said, “Whew! That’s a relief! I never imagined how hard it would be to get a truck and trailer through the freeway traffic. Thank you, Rocky. You were right. I never would’ve been able to do it, not on my first time driving this rig.”

Rocky started to answer, but a pretty young woman with red hair and freckles hurried up to the truck. She wore a parking lot attendant uniform. Rocky rolled down his window.

“Is that a horse trailer?” she asked. “We don’t allow people to bring horses into Disneyland.”

Rocky smiled and replied, “Yes, ma’am, that surely is a horse trailer. We’ve got a disabled child, here, and that there horse is her service animal. She’ll need ‘im to get ‘erself ‘round inside’a Disneyland.”

The young woman immediately smiled back and said, “Oh, that’s different, then. I think that’s wonderful, to have a service horse. I’m sure the girl and her horse will both have an enchanted day in the Enchanted Kingdom. Could you please pull forward? You can unload next to the tram stop.”

Rocky inched the truck forward with the attendant walking beside it. When they reached the boarding area for the tram, she guided him as he parked. Rocky, Mama, and Karen got out of the car and walked around it, so they could let Pegasus out.

The parking attendant stayed with them, and when she saw Pegasus, she said, “Oh my goodness! That’s the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen. He looks magical. With that lavender tint, he’ll fit right in at Disneyland.”

No one said anything, but Karen thought, Is she ever right about that. This really is going to be great.

The attendant reached into a pocket in her jacket and pulled out an apple.

“Does he like apples?” she asked.

Everyone laughed, as Pegasus nodded his head up and down and opened his mouth. The attendant fed him the apple.

She asked Rocky, “Will you be staying? We have handicapped parking, and trailer parking, too.”

He shook his head, sadly, before replying, “I’m afraid not, ma’am. The boss needs me back at work.”

“Me, too,” said Mama. “My boss is a lawyer, and he’s trying to finish preparing for a big case, so he can take tomorrow off to be with his family. He needs me to help him.”

The attendant smiled at Karen and asked, “Will the little, disabled girl be okay on her own?”

Mama and Tex started to answer, but Karen decided. She made the decision that she needed to speak for herself.

She stepped out in front of them and said, “I’ll be just fine. This whole adventure is about me learning to make my own decisions, and about my horse getting a day of fun. I don’t need any help. Besides, Pegasus will be with me all the way.”

Mama said, “Oh, my Krana Layala, I’m so proud of you. Rocky and I’ll be back right after the four o’clock parade ends. See you then!”

She and Karen hugged, then Rocky and Mama climbed back into the truck and waved good-bye as they drove off.

“Thank you, kind lady,” Karen said to the attendant. “I’m sure I can take it from here.”

The Healing Horse, Ch 14., Scene 2: Rocky Helps Pegasus Board the Horse Trailer

In this scene, a surprising misunderstanding erupts between Pegasus and Karen. As soon as they resolve it, they realize that they need help maneuvering the huge pickup truck and horse trailer through Christmas Eve Los Angeles freeway traffic.

Scene 2: Rocky Helps Pegasus Board the Horse Trailer

When her Mama parked in the ranch’s gravel lot, Karen felt her heart sink as her ears heard the sounds of conflict.

“What do you mean, I have to get into the horse trailer? She’s not getting rid of me, is she?”

Pegasus’ voice carried to her through the still, early morning air.

“I don’t know,” came Rocky’s reply. “She just said to load you into the trailer by seven-thirty. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

“Oh, Mama, what have I done?” Karen asked, as she leaped from the car and ran toward the horse trailer hooked up behind Tex’s big truck.

When she reached it, Karen paused for a deep breath and wished she had thought farther ahead. She had never dreamed that Pegasus would react to Rocky loading him into the horse trailer, but now she realized that his only ride in the trailer had been to Tex’s ranch, so of course he would see the next ride as away from the ranch, away from her, and into some dark oblivion, like the abandoned carousel.

“Wait,” she said. “Pegasus, I don’t want to get rid of you. I would never do that. I wanted to give you a special surprise as a thank-you for everything you’ve done for me. I wanted to take you to Disneyland for a day, so we could enjoy the Enchanted Kingdom, together. I am so sorry I made you scared! I never intended to frighten you, boy.”

She saw that her words had touched him, and that he understood she had not meant to alarm him.

“An enchanted kingdom?” he asked. “I do not know anything about it, but it sounds lovely and like the right place for you and for me. Let’s go!”

She watched as Pegasus walked into the trailer, and Rocky closed the doors.

“Ms. Katie,” he said to Mama, “Who’s gonna drive this here rig?”

Mama replied, “Tex said I could.”

Rocky frowned and paused before saying, “Tex grew up drivin’ a pickup an’ towin’ critters, so t’his waya thinkin’, everybody can do that. But it ain’t true, ma’am. Y’all don’t wanna make your first run through LA freeway traffic. I know how important this here adventure is to your Kitten’s development, ‘n’ I’d hate to see it go wrong on all y’all. Why don’t I do the drivin’, an’ you do the motherin’, and we can leave the funnin’ to Karen ‘n’ her hoss?”

“Thanks, Rocky,” Mama said with a smile. “To tell the truth, I was a little nervous about driving, myself.”

“OK,” he said. “Gimme me a minute to let Tex know I’ll be gone fer a while.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 14: The Passenger, Scene 1: Early Christmas Eve

Chapter 14 covers the trip from home to the moment when Karen and Pegasus enter Disneyland. The trip itself involves many challenges that they must overcome, but first the two ladies dress for a holiday. The chapter title refers to Pegasus.

Scene 1: Early Christmas Eve

The days passed, and each night before tucking herself into bed she marked a big red X on her calendar. At last, Christmas Eve arrived, and school got out for the holidays. This was the big day.

Karen and Mama both wanted to look stylish at Disneyland. They did not want anyone thinking that their majestic Pegasus was with dowdy people.

Early in the morning, Karen pulled on a pair of high-waisted blue jeans and an azure blue Disney t-shirt with a light blue cotton cardigan over it. She knew the morning air would be chilly. The front of her shirt quoted Walt Disney, “A wish is a dream your heart makes.” To support her feet and ankles, she wore white, high-topped sneakers, because she knew she would be walking a lot. Mama tied Karen’s thick, brown hair back into a ponytail that hung down her back. She herself wore a white short-sleeved cotton blouse with blue jeans, a brown belt, and black leather flat pumps. Before they left the house, they stood together in front of the hallway mirror.

“My Krana Layala, I think we look great! We’ll be the belles of the ball!”

They laughed and held hands, as they skipped down the front steps to the car.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 13, Scene 3: Karen Makes a Decision

In this scene, Karen follows her intuition in deciding where to take Pegasus for the day in honor of him. She surprises her mother and herself with her newfound belief in herself and her abilities.

Scene 3: Karen Makes a Decision

Karen immediately spread her collection of amusement park brochures across her bed. She stared hard at them and asked herself what would mean the most to Pegasus? Panning for gold at Knott’s Berry Farm would be impossible, since he did not have hands to hold a gold pan. Marineland looked good to her, but she didn’t think he would like seeing all the captive animals. Then she noticed something on the Disneyland brochure that made her decision easy—King Arthur’s Carousel. He would love chatting with other carousel horses.

She ran into the kitchen, and said, “Mama, I have made a decision. We are taking Pegasus for a day of fun in his honor.”

Mama looked up from the stove, where she was simmering a pot of chicken soup.

“That sounds nice, my Krana Layala. Where do you suppose we could take him? He’s awfully big to haul around, you know.”

“Disneyland, Mama! The enchanted kingdom! See, they have a carousel from King Arthur. Pegasus’ll love chatting with the other horses, and we can go on all sorts of rides, too.”

She handed the brochure to her mother, who looked through it, one page at a time.

“It’ll be a day of celebration,” Karen continued, “a day different from any he’s ever had before. I want him to know what a difference he’s making in my life. He’s helping me find strength, joy, and happiness. This will be my way of showing him my gratitude. It will be a complete surprise for him, and he will love it.”

Karen felt her eyes overflow with tears of joy. She looked up into her mother’s eyes, and saw that she was crying, too.

“But how will we get him there?” Mama asked. “And will the park even let him in? Do they let people bring horses to Disneyland? And when will we go?”

Karen reached up with her strong right hand and put it onto Mama’s shoulder.

“Don’t you worry, Mama. My intuition tells me this will all work out, and if it doesn’t then I’ll make another plan. You can depend on that. Pegasus always believed in me, and now I do, too. School break begins on Christmas Eve, and I think that will be the perfect day for an outing.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 13, Scene 2: Karen Realizes She Needs to Learn to Make Decisions

In this scene, Karen finds that even though she has gathered a lot of information, she still does not know how to choose the best amusement park for Pegasus. She needs to learn to make decisions.

Scene 2: Karen Realizes She Needs to Learn to Make Decisions

She thought and thought and thought. She had to make a choice. She could not stand by and let time pass without selecting a park. There was no time to dilly-dally. Hanukkah was over, and she wanted to do this before Christmas.

She remembered when she had decided to walk to the Pier, and how that had led to meeting Pegasus. What’s more, she remembered when she had decided to rescue Pegasus, and how that led to his becoming a real, living horse. A realization arose in her mind. She had made those decisions on her own. Something within told her that her life would be richer and clearer, when she made more choices by herself. Something within told her that she could not remain dependent on Mama’s good judgment all her life. This little voice, which she called her inner speech, told her that while she was thinking. She took this to heart. It felt crucial and critical. It was the spirit of her curiosity to know and learn more about making decisions on her own. She wanted to gain wisdom and knowledge from those choices, and learn about life just like everyone else. It felt like fundamental to her own human rights and essential to her development. This desire ignited a fire that ran through her veins and would change her life forever.

She had to make a decision, just one, before she could make any others. This was a decision that only she could make. This conviction would change her life forever. It would liberate her.

She said to herself, “Learning to make choices takes courage. It means being daring and brave. It takes boldness and a fortitude. It takes spirit that one must acquire solely by oneself. To be fearless, you must challenge yourself, your thinking, and your beliefs, Kranya Layala.”

Her heart surged again. She said aloud, “I’m ready to make that decision and take that pivotal step. I’m so ready!”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 13: Making the Magical Plans

At this point, the story takes a detour that ends with a trip to Disneyland. The theme of the story is learning to make decisions, and in this scene little Karen decides she wants to take Pegasus on a special outing in his honor, but then she realizes she has to decide where to take him.

Scene 1: With Gratitude, Karen Plans a Day to Honor Pegasus

Karen was so thankful for their new home, and for all that Pegasus had done for her, that she decided to give him something special. She would surprise him with a special day in his honor, a day he would fondly remember, forever.

She was certain he would enjoy himself. After all, he was a carousel horse. He cherished taking people for rides. He treasured making friends, especially when he helped people who were in trouble or despair. He loved bringing hope and faith to their hearts. He knew how to respond, and he respected their privacy when they shared their dreams, their sorrows, and their secret stories.

That was his job at the merry-go-round, to make people feel joyous and free. Why would he not enjoy being treated the same way?

Karen began planning by researching her options. She spent hours reading guide books to her area, and was amazed by all it had to offer. Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, and Marineland were only a few of the amusement parks a little more than an hour’s drive from her Topanga Canyon home. There was even Santa Monica Pier, where she had met Pegasus, but with the carousel torn down visiting it would be too sad. She wanted a happy day for her horse, but there were so many places to choose from. She felt the expectation of excitement surge from within. A soft smile danced across her lips.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 12, Scene 7: The Eight Nights

This scene concludes Chapter Twelve. On Friday, the story of an adventure at Disneyland begins.

Scene 7: The Eight Nights

Karen loved the way the candles glistened and glowed. Each day, they lighted a new candle in remembrance of the eight nights the oil lamp burned, over two thousand years before. Karen had a deep conviction about her heritage. Each year, Mama told her the story of how the Jewish people had been suppressed and forbidden to believe in their own God. She also talked about how the Maccabees defeated the Syrians. Mama told Karen about the importance of their people, and of how they had gone to the Temple and made a new menorah out of a cheaper metal since the Golden Menorah had been stolen. When the people went to light it, they found only a small earthenware pot of pure olive oil, bearing the emblem of the high priest. There was only enough for one day, but by a miracle of God, the oil lasted for eight.

After Hanukkah ended, Karen rode with Mama, as she drove Aunt Eva to the airport for her trip back to New York.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 12, Scene 6: Hanukkah Begins

image of Karen's Aunt Evie In this scene, Karen’s beloved Aunt Eva arrives for a visit. Mama asks Karen to light the menorah, and Karen realizes thatMama really does understand that she is growing up.

Scene 6: Hanukkah

Monday and Tuesday, after work and school, they finished the last details of settling into their new home.

Hanukkah arrived on Tuesday, and they prepared to light the first candle of the menorah, that evening. Karen was eager to light it, but Mama kept stalling and looking out the front window. At last, she threw open the front door and shouted, “Eva! Mazel tov! At last!”

Karen ran to the door and hugged the tiny woman who stood on the porch, then they went inside and closed the door.

“Karen,” Mama said, “Help your Aunt Eva with her suitcase. She’s going to sleep in your room, and you’re going to sleep on the couch.”

Karen struggled to lift the suitcase, but managed to carry it into her bedroom. Without being asked, she changed the sheets on the bed and then hurried back to the living room.

“Now that we’re settled, let’s light the menorah,” Mama said.

She carried the golden menorah that her family had treasured for generations into the living room and put it onto a table in front of the window on the left side of the room, as seen from the street.

Eva touched the menorah with the tip of one finger.

“This was our mother’s menorah—your grandmother’s menorah,” she said to Karen. “The one you’re named after, and someday it will be yours.”

Mama unwrapped a box of candles and took out two. They were long and slender. One was white, and one was blue. She put the white one into the menorah and used a match to light the blue one.

“Always start with the candles at the right end,” she said to Karen.

“Now, let’s say our prayers.”

Mama opened a thick book and held it so they could all see it. None of them could read Hebrew, but the book had the words spelled out in phonetic English. Mama and Karen stood on each side of Aunt Eva, and all three read aloud.

“Now, let’s read the English version, so we understand what we just said,” Mama said.

They read aloud, and when they got to the words, “Blessed are You, Lord our Hashem, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion,” all three burst into tears.

Mama handed Karen the blue candle. “You’re a big girl, now,” she said. “Go ahead and light it.”

Karen’s eyes filled with more tears at being given this honor.

“Do you remember what to do, next?” Mama asked.

“Yes, Mama. I put the blue one in the middle.”

“And what’s it called, sweetheart?”

“It’s the shamash, Mama, the attendant candle.”

After they gazed at the burning lights, Mama said, “Now, we have to be practical, again, and feed your Auntie. She must be exhausted after all the long flights.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 12, Scene 5: First Dinner in Their New Home

The good mood continues, as Mama and Kitten prepare dinner and enjoy it outside in the pergola.

Scene 5: First Dinner in Their New Home

Standing at their new Formica kitchen counter, Karen held vegetables down with the weight of her weak left hand, so her strong right could chop them with a French chef knife on the cutting board. She shredded romaine, sliced tomatoes, and diced red bell peppers into a magnificent green salad. Then she topped it with the delectable Italian dressing that Mama had taught her to make. She used only olive oil, white wine vinegar, fresh parsley, lemon juice, garlic cloves, dried basil, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and dried oregano. Next, she organized marinated baby carrots, radishes, and celery sticks into a crisp circle of crunchy crudités around the edge of a small platter.

Hovering over her, Mama filled soup bowls. She had simmered her savory slow-cooked chicken, with potatoes, onions, carrots and celery, all day in a deep pressure cooker. She and Karen both inhaled and then sighed, when she opened the lid and let the aroma rise with the steam.

After carrying their meals out the side door and placing them on the wooden dining table, they sat and enjoyed the quiet evening in the pergola. In the pergola, they enjoyed the dinner they had prepared together, and agreed that the new house was beautiful and felt homey. Karen thought that the white picket fence and flower gardens were prettier than any she had ever seen. The new plaster and wallpaper made the rooms delightfully warm. All the effort they had put into it was worth it. Karen felt blessed by everything that had recently occurred. Miracles had come their way, and Pegasus had been at the center of them all, but she needed to discuss what would begin in a few days.

“Mama,” she said. “I know it may be too much to celebrate on top of move, but Hanukkah is coming up, and you haven’t said anything about it…I was just wondering?”

She watched as Mama put down her soup spoon and said, “Oy vey! My Krana Layala, I would never let Hanukkah go by without celebrating. Besides, this year we have so much to give thanks for. This is going to be a perfect Hanukkah. Don’t you worry. I have it all planned. Hanukkah doesn’t start until Tuesday night, so we have tomorrow after school to get ready.”

Overcome with joy, and thankful that she could always count on her Mama, Karen jumped up and hugged her.

“And I have you to be thankful for Mama. You’re even better than a new house!”