The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 14: Pegasus Awakes Alive

Pegasus awakes to the biggest surprise of his life. He’s alive with real horse hair, real hooves, and real tears of joy to be fully alive for the child he was created to mentor.

Scene 14: Pegasus Awakes Alive

Pegasus’ eyes opened and looked down at Karen. She watched as he slowly moved his head from side to side, just as she had seen real horses do. His mouth opened, and out came a whinny.

“Oh! My goodness!” Karen said. “You sound so real, Pegasus! You’re lifelike! No, I take that back. You’re truly alive! You’re not just my talking carousel horse!”

“What did you say?” Pegasus asked. “I feel different. Do I look different?”

“Yes! Your mane is made of real hair, now. It isn’t carved wood, and your body is white with a lavender tint. It isn’t bright circus lavender, anymore, and your saddle is leather not wood. You even have steel shoes on your hooves. You have entirely transformed. No one would ever guess you had once been a carousel horse.”

As she stretched out her right hand, Pegasus lowered his head to hers. She gently stroked his mane, and a joyful tear flowed from his left eye.

“I wanted to become alive for you, Kitten. You were the only person who wanted me to live as much as I did. You were the one who thought it, and believed it—and it came true. I needed someone to believe in my dream just as much as I did!”

“Yes! This shows the power of imagination. Even though you and I will always know that on the inside you are a supernatural magenta horse, to the rest of the world you are now a handsome white stallion with a magenta and blue saddle. You’re going to be fine, boy. I know you just woke up to the biggest surprise of your life, but everything is going to be all right! We’ll handle it together! I will not let anything happen to you. I promise! I’ll be with you every step of the way. You won’t be alone. We must stretch the ability of our hearts and minds to believe more than what we can see at the moment.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 13: The Next Morning Came

Karen’s streak of good fortune continues. She wakes up and finds Pegasus alive. She realizes that her Mama is backing her, rather than standing in her way. Life keeps getting better and better.

Scene 13: The Next Morning Came

When morning came, the sun peered through the garage window, warming and waking Karen. She yawned and rubbed her eyes as she gradually opened them. For a moment, she did not know where she was, but then she saw Pegasus’ hooves beside her.

She looked up at her stallion. She had slept all night at his feet, and he was still snoring. She smiled as she realized that she had not known horses could snore. Not wanting to disturb him, she pulled the blanket up to her chin and silently thanked Mama for covering her and for letting her sleep in the garage.

Warm appreciation filled her heart as she realized that Mama was supporting her, and that she finally had the horse of which she had dreamed. She felt blissful, but her mind was full of the reality of the situation. Having Pegasus at home with her was a miracle. Nevertheless, she would now have to find proper shelter for him. Her garage was no place for a horse, wooden or real.

Looking up at Pegasus, she saw that he had changed during the night. His creamy carved mane was now gleaming white horsehair. His hooves wore metal shoes, though his left rear hoof still proudly displayed his disability. His saddle was now leather of the richest magenta and deepest blue, and more vibrant than when it had been made of painted wood. Everything about him had become deliciously real. Though in her eyes he would remain forever a rainbow stallion, to the rest of the world, he was now a living, breathing, sleek white stallion with a princely white mane and a lavender tint.

What was the word Joshua taught me? Pulchritudinous—having beauty, being handsome, lovely and beautiful. I had many thoughts about Pegasus being beauteous and being real, but never, ever, did I begin to imagine that it would actually happen. Pulchritudinous!

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 12: Mama Dozes Off

The day ends on a happy note, with Kitten asleep by Pegasus in the garage, and Mama in her own bed, knowing that having Pegasus in their lives is exactly what her girl needs.

Scene 12: Mama Dozes Off

As she felt her eyes close, she realized how thrilled she was that Karen had brought Pegasus home. Her intuition told her that the adventure ahead would be exactly what her Kitten needed. Besides, showing respect for Karen’s judgment was important. Otherwise, she would never develop the confidence to make her own decisions as an adult. It had taken courage and determination to bring the horse home. Mama was not going to discourage that. Mama felt herself smile a bigger smile than she had worn in a long time. Having a magically colored horse was going to make their lives better. She was not going to allow what anyone else thought to sabotage Kitten and her future.

Thank God nothing worse happened to either one of them, and they’re both okay, now. I know how important this is to her, emotionally, and how important it is to have a trustworthy friend.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 11: Mama Tucks In Kitten

The day winds down, as Mama tucks little Karen into a makeshift bed next to Pegasus in the garage.

Scene 11: Mama Tucks In Kitten

From Kitten’s bedroom, she brought two blankets, a pillow and a long cushion. Without waking Karen, she rolled her little body onto the cushion and tucked her in under the blankets with her head on the pillow. After kissing the sleeping child on the forehead, she retreated to her own bed. She was exhausted, too tired even to eat her nightly bowl of ice cream.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 10: Mama Talks to Pegasus

In this scene, Mama understands that Pegasus is giving her daughter hope, and that after all the challenges little Karen has been through, this is exactly what she needs.

Scene 10: Mama Talks to Pegasus

Dishes done, Mama went looking for Kitten. When she opened the garage door, she found her daughter lying fast asleep, curled up in the corner of the cement floor at the feet of the little lavender horse. The horse had not moved, and she wondered if it could. It looked almost wooden. She checked the scab on the animal’s back, but it had not changed since it formed an hour before.

“So, you’re Pegasus the flying horse, who is going to help my Krana Layala,” she whispered, more to herself than to him. “What a little life she’s had. First the DPT shot and her awful coma. Then the paralysis and the learning problems. Then the endless reading of horse stories. And now a magical, healing horse. I don’t know what to think of any of this, especially that hole in your back, like you’d been crucified or something. And the way it healed when Karen touched it. My thumb’s still purple. All I know for sure is that you mean everything to my daughter, and you’re giving her hope. So, I don’t care what anybody says, we’re keeping you.”

The horse turned his head toward her and slowly nodded as if he understood what she had said. She gasped and slipped back out of the garage.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 09: Mama Energetically Looks Up Ichor

Mama’s intuition leads her to the dictionary, where she gets an important clue about who and what Pegasus is. Ichor is not the same as mortal blood. Pegasus is not just a pretend horse.

Scene 09: Mama Energetically Looks Up Ichor

As soon as she finished the dishes, she went directly to her desk. She felt full of energy and eager to understand what was happening with her Krana Layala and this wooden horse. She opened the thick dictionary she kept on the desk.

Ichor, she thought as she read, like blood but in Greek gods and other supernatural beings.

Silently, she let her mind work, thinking and reasoning as she leaned back in her chair. It was all coming together now. Her intuition was putting all the pieces into place. She understood on a deeper level than ever before how important this horse was to her Kitten, and the spiritual meaning behind it.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 08: Mama Does the Dishes

Mama washes the dishes in the kitchen and wonders if the blood stain that will not wash off is a clue to what Pegasus really is.

Scene 08: Mama Does the Dishes

As Mama carefully washed and dried the dinner dishes, she could not stop herself from looking at her right hand. Even after a soak in the hot dishwater, the purple stain on her thumb persisted. It wasn’t like an ordinary blood stain, or like ordinary blood—not like she used to wash off her father’s hands when he got hurt at work. She stared at it and wondered if she had ever heard of a horse with purple blood. The word ichor kept running through her mind. She used to know what the word meant, but she could not bring it to mind. She promised herself that she would look it up as soon as possible. It was a clue about the horse. She knew that.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 07: Karen Falls Asleep in the Garage with Pegasus

Karen and Pegasus continue bonding, as they realize that they were made for each other.

Scene 07: Karen Falls Asleep in the Garage with Pegasus

After supper, Karen hurried back to the garage so she check on her beloved Arabian. She looked closely at his back. The lavender scab still covered the wound.

“I’m back, Pegasus, I’m back,” she whispered. “How are you feeling? You didn’t say anything about being wounded.”

“I did not want to worry you, Kitten. When the workers pulled out my pole, it was the worst pain I had ever felt—far worse than when the boy slashed my hoof with his knife. It did not come out easily. One of them had to hold onto me while the other one pulled. Not only did it hurt, physically, but as it came free, I realized that never again would I be part of a carousel. Nevermore would I gallop with the other horses. Nevermore would I carry girls and boys on my back and away from their cares. Only the hope of reuniting with you kept my heart beating. Without that hope and purpose, I would have broken into pieces and died on the floor of the abandoned hippodrome.”

“Oh, Pegasus! I can feel exactly what you mean. You have made the ultimate sacrifice for me. You have given up your immortality and become a living, wounded horse for me.”

“Kitten, finding and fulfilling my purpose as your spiritual mentor makes any amount of suffering bearable. Being with you is a joy. Rest easy. The pain is bearable, and your touch will heal me. Let us speak no more of this, for now. Let us enjoy each other’s spiritual presence and gather our strength for tomorrow.”

Karen sobbed. Just as she had felt his physical pain when she had laid her hands on his wound, she now felt his emotional suffering at the prospect of giving up life on his beloved carousel. At the same time, she felt his joyous sense of purpose. Just as he was made to be her spiritual mentor, she was made to be his student. Exhausted, she sat on the floor at his feet. He lowered his head to nuzzle her.

Through the evening, she fought to stay awake, but her eyes got heavier and heavier. Periodically, they closed and she fought to reopen them. In the end, her weariness won. Karen fell into a deep slumber.

Having Pegasus near has made everything all right again.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 8, Scene 06: Karen Shares Her Day with Mama

Now that little Karen has regained her vitality and rescued Pegasus, the story continues on a positive note, as Mama commits to caring for the horse.

Scene 06: Karen Shares Her Day with Mama

As they ate their spaghetti, Karen told Mama all about what happened. The only part she kept to herself was about Pegasus talking. She kept her promise of secrecy to him. Mama listened carefully and promised to look for a stable in the morning, someplace close by so Kitten could visit him every day. Karen was relieved that Mama accepted Pegasus and was willing to take on the responsibility of caring for him.

With Hope in My Heart, an article I wrote for Audacity Magazine

Recently, my friend Nathasha Alvarez asked me to write an article for her online Audacity Magazine. I was delighted because memories of the struggles I went through to get an education in the 1970s, when inclusion was not an ideal that many people or organizations strove for, often fill my mind, and I want to share my struggle and my victory.

Here are the beginning and ending paragraphs of my article. (If you want to read the whole thing, then click here to read it on Audacity Magazine.)

In the pre-ADA era, while struggling for inclusion and putting forth an unending effort, a leader in her own quiet way took on the system with no help from anyone beyond her immediate family and friends. She had cerebral palsy and dyslexia, and was in for the fight of her life.

Here are some insights into that person’s heart and soul. Throughout her life, the purpose of her struggle was to be viewed as the equal, capable person she was. This was difficult in a society ruled by stereotypes and prejudices, and that expected people like herself to be content to live out their days in institutions. But she was not content. She was me, Karen….

Let us dig deep into our hearts to find kindness and caring from within. Let us share it with others and give true support with unconditional acceptance to one another.

My question to you is: What can you bring to the table in support of disability rights and inclusion?

If you liked what you just read, then click here to read the full article, and remember to subscribe to Audacity Magazine! It’s one of my favorite reads, and it will be yours, too!