The Healing Horse, Ch 6, Scene 3: Karen Reflects More While Walking Home

As she walks home, little Karen reflects on what she has just done. She has not just ridden on a carousel. She has come out of her chrysalis and opened her wings as a butterfly. She is has begun a new life.

Scene 3: Karen Reflects More While Walking Home

While walking home, Karen reflected on her momentous yet peaceful outing. She thought of Pegasus, of her horseback ride, and of the kind man Joshua. His compassionate and considerate ways were etched in her mind like an inspiring piece of fine art. No one except Mama had ever made her feel so valuable before. Karen also knew that even if Joshua’s impressive vocabulary did not stay with her, his halo of affection would remain, and she determined herself that she would pass on his brand of kindness to others. Besides, she had a dictionary at home. She vowed that she would start exploring it.

Oh! This is outstanding. How absolutely, positively stupendous this magical merry-go-round is! I’m so glad my desire was stronger than my fear! I’m sooo glad!! I will put this on my list of things to remember if I ever need inspiration to be strong, again! This is incredible! Every time something seems hard or unbearable, I will remember this moment. It will give me the strength I need to stay strong. The memory of this experience will be my assurance that I have the courage to prevail. Mama will be so pleased! I am transforming my life and being by believing in myself and going beyond the limits that the experts set. When I walked through the beveled glass doors, I became a new person. Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, I left the old Kitten behind when I fluttered my new wings.

#karen #walking

The Healing Horse, Ch 6, Scene 2: Mama Watches Over Her Kitten’s Journey

Even though little Kitten thought she was entirely on her own, as she bravely walked to the pier, found the hippodrome, and went for her first horseback ride, her mother proudly watched over her every step of the way.

Scene 2: Mama Watches Over Her Kitten’s Journey

Mama arrived home from work right after her Kitten had set out on her journey. Finding the note, she immediately drove to the pier, passing Karen on the way. Arriving at the ramp ahead of her daughter, Mama blended into the crowd and silently watched over every step of Kitten’s adventure without interfering in any way. Her little girl was growing up and following her heart into the world beyond home and school. With tears of joy in her eyes, she watched Karen bravely buy a ticket and courageously ride the carousel.

Now, hidden behind a sign, Mama watched her daughter lean against the protective railing. The day had been long and tiring for them both. As Karen began her walk home, Mama slowly followed her.

#mama #watched

The Healing Horse, Ch 6, Scene 1: Karen Reflects While Watching the Water

In Chapter 6, Karen builds a friendship with Pegasus. In the first scene, though, she reflects on what she has accomplished by walking to the pier and riding him in the hippodrome.

Scene 1: Karen Reflects While Watching the Water

After her moment of silence with Pegasus, she quietly eased herself out of the carousel dome and onto the open pier, where she could look out over the water. She leaned against the metal railing and watched the afternoon sun dip beneath the horizon. Gazing at the ocean, she watched the waves’ rhythmic rippling. Comforted by the remaining azure light of the sky, she realized, again, what she had accomplished. Elated, she was beyond overjoyed. She was caught up in a moment of pure jubilation and rapture. An exceptionally breathtaking orange and red sunset spread before her, but she knew that the darkening sky above meant night was coming, soon. She had to be on her way.

#water #reflection

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 16: Joshua Lifts Her Down

This scene concludes chapter five and foreshadows the developing friendship between Kitten, Joshua, and Pegasus.

Scene 16: Joshua Lifts Her Down

After a few minutes, her new carousel friend helped her unbuckle the red strap that secured her safely on Pegasus’ back. With ease, he lifted her down from the stallion’s back. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself as Margot Fonteyn flying gracefully through the air, supported by Rudolf Nureyev’s powerful arms.

“Did you have a fun ride, doll?” the man asked gleefully.

“Oh, yes! I did, very much so. Thank you! I had a terrific time!”

“Don’t forget to come back soon—we’ll be expecting you! Have a pleasureful day.”

“Okay, you can count on it,” Karen replied, smiling.

“If you ever need any accommodation, just ask for me. My appellative is Joshua.”

“Thanks, Joshua. I can guess what pleasureful and appellative mean, and I’ll see ya, tomorrow!”

With quiet concentration, she whispered to herself the brand-new words, “Pleasureful, appellative, beseeched, and pulchritudinous!”

Aloud, she declared, “Joshua! What a wonderful name! No doubt, you are a keeper.”

She glimmered from within. It made complete sense that he was in charge of the horses.

“Be careful as you step off the carousel, doll. That’s a big step down!”

“I will. Thank you so much, and goodbye for now, Joshua.”

He returned her wave with one just as friendly.

Joshua walked away, and Karen decided to stay behind for one last precious moment. She stood next to Pegasus and bid her new stallion adieu. Joshua was terrific, but right now, nothing was as magical as Pegasus.

#Joshua #Pegasus

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 15: Karen Reflects on Her Joy

After riding the carousel and meeting both Pegasus and Joshua, Karen’s heart is full of joy, as she contemplates returning to her home.

Scene 15: Karen Reflects on Her Joy

Waiting for the pale, mustachioed cowboy to take her off the horse, Karen sat deep in thought.

I don’t want to leave this wonderful merry-go-round, just yet. I don’t want this moment to end. When I get off Pegasus, I’ll go outdoors and stand by the water for a while. Then I’ll head home.

#carousel #horse

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 14: Kitten’s First Ride with Pegasus

During the course of their first ride, Kitten and Pegasus bond. They bring out not only the best in each other, but something supernatural, too.

Scene 14: Kitten’s First Ride with Pegasus

Three bells rang crisply, and the calliope began to play, prompting the horses out of their stillness, urging them to run in time with the graceful tempo of a sweet waltz.

“Wow, this is marvelous,” Karen said. “I’ve never been anywhere so magical,” as she whirled around and around as the music played.

The mirrors glittered, and the neon tubes on the walls flashed. Hundreds of incandescent bulbs outlined the carousel and its parts. They threw Karen’s shadow across the dimly lit, wooden floor.

In her excitement, she was inspired to ask the horse, “What’s your name?”

The horse’s face appeared frozen. His lips were parted and his teeth bared by the bit in his mouth, the painted reins wrapped around it. He floated up and down with the twisted brass pole, seemingly inanimate. Then, Karen heard him clear his throat.

“My name is Pegasus. What’s yours?” he whinnied.

The majestic horse’s silence had been broken. Even though she knew that the carousel horse was not a real horse, and that even if he were, real horses could not speak, he seemed to come alive for her. His rigid face became animated. His lips moved, and his once-rigid body became supple, his legs galloping beneath her.

Without waiting for her answer, he continued, “Is it Kitten or Karen?”

“Actually, it’s both.”

She wasn’t surprised that he knew.

“Kitten suits you very well with regard to your obviously lovely inner world. Your inner self is your subconscious; it’s quite delightful, friendly, and charming. Karen, on the other hand, suits your equally charming exterior, outer self. Karen is a name for a strong woman. It comes from Katherine, which has always been associated with purity and good character. Together, as yin and yang, they go hand in hand. Your outside personality as a human being is your alter ego. That’s the opposite of how it is for most beings, but for you, it is without question the inner world of intangibles and imagination that is the most important of all. Both of your names convey your challenges, and the purity of your heart. Although most people call you Karen, I best see the part of you that is Kitten. That name represents your sweet, honest, and demure internal light which sparkles from inside out!”

She understood exactly what Pegasus meant and cooed, “You are a very pretty horse, inside and out, too!”

In unison, they bubbled with laughter, their hearts full of gladness and mirth.

“Thank you,” he neighed.

“I’ve never ridden a horse before. This is my first time. Would you mind if I came back again at another time to ride you?”

“I’d like that very much. It will be nice getting to know you.”

“The same goes for me, Pegasus!”

She was so happy to have someone to talk with, that ironically she was at a loss for more words. Her mind drew a blank. She simply could not think of anything else to say. She wondered why Pegasus had talked, and why he had spoken to her. As a result, a moment passed in total silence, which seemed an eternity.

In order to break the silence, she asked, “Have you been with the carousel for a long time?”

“Yes,” he said with a nod. “Many people have ridden upon my back and let me carry them away from their everyday cares. They have given me great pleasure carrying them far, far, away, Kitten. Some of them have come back more than once, too! But I have a favor to ask of you. I am supposedly only a wooden horse riding up and down on the brass pole of a carousel. Please don’t tell anyone that I can talk. I can talk only with you, Kitten, but I do not want to make the other horses jealous. They are all waiting for their own special child for whom they will come alive and to whom they can speak. This is the magic of us carousel horses. Each of us was made for a child, but only for one child. Sometimes we go from merry-go-round to merry-go-round for many years without meeting that child. If you have read Gigi, then you know what I mean. The others are still waiting, but you have found me. This is the happiest day of my life, but let’s keep it our secret.”

“Yes,” Kitten replied. “This is our secret. And I have come alive for you, too.”

Pegasus seemed to burst with a glow that shone brighter than the sunlight pouring through the hippodrome windows.

The music slowed, and with it the multi-colored horses slowed their pace to a cantor, to a walk, and then to a complete stop. Kitten knew that the calliope’s sweet bidding would call to her again, another day, but not today. She knew this because she did not have money for another ticket, and her ride had ended. However, that would not stop her from coming back on another day.

#horse #pegasus

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 13: She Let the Tall Man Lead Her to the Horse

This, of course, is where the novel diverges from the memoir, where imagination takes us into the realm of the supernatural, where healing can occur on the deepest level. Kitten meets Pegasus, a carousel horse who will soon speak wisdom to her. I titled the first version of this story The Broken Hoof. This is also where that theme first appears.

Scene 13: She Let the Tall Man Lead Her to the Horse

She let the tall man lead her to the horse. The horse’s coat was shiny and polished, except for his broken hoof.

“His hoof is hurt,” Kitten said. “Can you fix it?”

“I’m afraid not now, darlin’, as we would have to call in a specialist who fixes wooden horses. Would you like to mount another steed, perhaps?”

“No,” she said as she looked at the horse’s hoof. “I want this one.”

His supernatural lavender color spoke to her heart. She intuited that he was a being of wisdom and a teacher in his essence. She felt an immediate, deep connection with him, even though no words had been spoken. She identified with the horse’s hoof because it was on the same side as her paralyzed left arm and leg. His left hoof had been split, laid open, damaged, yet it continued to function as best it could for him. Just as her paralyzed left side had been destroyed by paralysis, but yet continued as half of her body, this horse’s hoof was forever sculpted to remain in flight, bravely overcoming every challenge that came before it.

With his muscular hands, her new carousel friend gently lifted her up onto the saddle and buckled her in. She felt free as he raised her up onto the horse’s back. She was ready to ride. She was going to whirl around and around for the very first time.

With each new experience, Karen felt herself becoming more poised, more self-assured and more eloquent. Not only was she taking the biggest outward steps of her life, she was nourishing herself inwardly.

#horse #hoof

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 12: Kitten Meets Joshua and Picks Pegasus

Welcome back! I hope you had a great holiday break, and I am eager to resume posting my novel, The Healing Horse.

In this scene, Kitten and her new friend, Joshua, have their second conversation. Joshua plays an important role as a mentor, not only as an expert on horses and riding, but as someone with a deep wisdom and appreciation for life.

Scene 12: Kitten Meets Joshua and Picks Pegasus

As people got off the merry-go-round and departed from the gate to her left, the tall cowboy she had met a few minutes before ushered in new people through the gate on her right. He was still wearing his western hat, and with his bolo tie and boots looked as if he would be at home among real horses.

“Well, little lady. I had a hunch we’d be meetin’ up, again. Will you need help gittin’ yourself up onto a horse?” the man inquired kindly.

“Yes,” Kitten answered with a beaming smile. “I thought we would meet, again, too. Could you help me up?”

“Surely, I could! It would be my pleasure, darlin’! Which horse would you like to ride, today?” he asked enthusiastically.

“They’re all so beautiful that it’s hard to choose. I’d like to ride one that will help me win the gold ring, like in Gigi.”

“They sure are pulchritudinous, aren’t they? Not a plug among ‘em! But we don’t have gold rings here, little darlin’. This carousel’s not for racin’ and winnin’. It’s for bein’ in the moment and enjoyin’ the bliss of it all.”

He paused in his speech, lifted his huge hat in one hand and swept it through the air, indicating everything around them. Looking directly into her eyes, he continued.

“I know about the gold rings, but if one kid gets the gold, then the ones with the silver will all be a little disappointed, and the ones with no ring at all will be a sad bunch o’ dogies, indeed. Now, you wouldn’t want one kid to be all puffed up ’n’ gloatin’ over the others, and all the others feelin’ like a sorry bunch of losers, would you?”

Kitten reflected for a moment, silently recalling her own feelings of being a sorry loser in the school competition for grades, popularity and athletic awards. She recalled how her own strength came from accepting life as it was and from living in the moment, regardless of what happened. Her blossoming intuition understood completely what this cowboy was saying. She smiled up at him.

“I understand, completely, sir. I wouldn’t want a gold ring if it made anyone else feel bad about themselves. It’s better to enjoy the moment without turning a joy into a competition. But what does pulchritudinous mean? And what about plug? What does that word mean?”

“Pulchritudinous means beauteous. Plug is a word we use back home in Texas to mean plain and ugly.”

“Those’re brand-new words to add to my vocabulary! Thanks! I will always remember them. Pulchritudinous horses and plug I don’t know what.”

“That’s right, you do want to hang onto them words, but you’d better pick yourself a horse to hang onto right quick, now. The calliope’s fixin’ to start up! I’d hate to see you left in the dust when the ponies start to run. So let’s find your favorite mount before then. Okay, doll?”

“Okay, and would you mind keeping an eye on me, please? This is my first time riding, and I feel a bit scared.”

“Surely, I will. Since you so very modestly and unassumingly besought me, I shall keep a watchful eye upon you.”

He winked at her.

“Besought—asked?” she said. He nodded yes. “And I guess that ‘modestly’, in this case, means ‘politely.’ Is that right?”

Again, he nodded yes. Not only did her new carousel pal’s helpfulness make their friendship exceedingly special, but he also offered new and exciting vocabulary words, as well as a playful exchange of teasing, which helped her improve her mental lexicon with freedom from her usual worries. This pleased Kitten immensely.

“May I ask you how you learned these big words?”

“First, I read books. Then, I paid close, rapt, attention to what I was reading. I became fascinated with words, and I fully absorbed them. As I put these words into daily practice, I used them over and over and over again till they became second nature to me.”

Hmm. Just like me with my reading and with everything else I had to learn with my own will power.

She looked at the horses before her, and again her left arm and hand moved, pointing at one of them, selecting the most handsome one of all. He was the supernaturally lavender stallion with the magenta and blue starred saddle, accentuated by a rainbow of colors. Clearly, he was a Thoroughbred of Arabian descent. He stood out from the rest and looked the most pulchritudinous of all. His coat was shiny and polished, and he was perfect except for his broken left rear hoof. A pair of lavender, magenta, and blue starred riding boots had been carved into his saddle, as if someone had tied them there. And no one was already riding him. He was hers.

Karen was so happy that she could not stop grinning from ear to ear. Now, on top of the feeling of assuredness within herself, she felt a warm, secure flame deep within her being. It was something she had never experienced before. Her joy came from her own courage.

#kitten #words

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 11: Kitten Waits in Line

As she waits in line, Kitten experiences bliss and gets her first glimpse of Pegasus.

Scene 11: Kitten Waits in Line

Ticket in hand, Karen waited in line. The horses were far more delicious than she had imagined. Their bodies brightly painted, they pranced in circles, rising and falling, glowing with the golden light of the summer sun transmitted through the beveled windows, their refined, tapered limbs outstretched before them. Of many colors, some were the brown of deep, dark chocolate, others as black as the darkest licorice, others like vanilla ice cream, rich and creamy and golden white. For most of them, the reins matched their saddles, while for a few, the reins were of contrasting shades. Each horse was uniquely carved and painted, with a pink, blue, turquoise or magenta saddle. Their midnight blue eyes radiated such a light that they seemed to invite Kitten to come toward them, and she was drawn to those deep sapphire eyes more strongly than she had ever felt drawn to anything before.

The carousel spun again, and Kitten felt the pure essence of time. She was mesmerized by the profound aesthetics of the horses, and immersed in a moment of pure bliss. Of all the horses, one alone was a supernatural lavender, and she found her eyes following him. He was the most beautiful.

Karen felt energy and exuberance continue building within herself. I’m so proud of myself! Performing this act of bravery has proved my courageousness. I am only twelve-and-a-half years old, but this is the beginning of my life’s path.

Outwardly silent, Kitten moved forward, part of the line of those who also waited to take their favorite seats or to mount their favorite horses. Each time the carousel stopped and started, the line shortened by only a few steps. She saw that many people had bought multiple tickets, so they could take longer rides on their favorite horses, but she was in no hurry, now. Every second was an eternity of the blissful moment. She patiently relished the passing of time and smiled to herself as she caught glimpses of the mint, red, and purple balloons bumping and bouncing on long, white strings above the other children’s heads. Children were everywhere. They held cotton candy and they drank sodas. In pure loving delight, Karen watched in silence, and enjoyed their pleasure.

Thump, thump, thump! Her heart cheered. This is it! I’m going on the next ride!

Carefully, she walked toward the boarding ramp, her mind leaping back from the balloons to exactly which stunning horse she would select. At that moment, she began to feel something unlike anything she had ever felt before. Pausing, she looked around, and in that instant she became aware of a tingling feeling of the utmost importance. It was a new, indestructible belief within her being, a solid confidence in the trustworthiness of her own abilities, in the wisdom of relying upon herself more than she had ever dared. This was not a passing emotion or intellectual idea. This had the weight of certainty. It gave her the highest regard for the new strength she felt. Inwardly, she unreservedly praised herself for a job well done.

#horses #kitten

The Healing Horse, Ch 5, Scene 10: Kitten Buys a Ticket After Overcoming More Fear

Kitten keeps her perspective on her fears and on her goals. She will not let fear stand in her way.

Scene 10: Kitten Buys a Ticket After Overcoming More Fear

“Would you like a ticket?” a voice asked. “Don’t you want to go in, sweetie? Don’t you want to ride the pretty horses?”

Taking her eyes off the carousel, Karen looked around to see who was talking to her, and realized that she was standing in front of a ticket stand, poised to pay her admission to the carousel. She was another step closer to the actualization of her dream.

“What?” she answered, nervously.

“Don’t you want to go in, sweetie? Don’t you want to ride the pretty horses?”

“I’m not sure,” she said.

“You don’t know how much fun you’re missing.”

“I’m a bit scared,” Kitten explained.

“Think about it, child, and when you’re ready you can come back to see me, again, all right?” the ticket man said with a smile. “We’ll see you next time, then. The horses will be waiting for you.”

She realized that she had become filled with fear.

Yes, this is what I came here for. I’m scared, but I cannot give up now! Maybe for some people this would be no big deal, but for me this is really, really important. What’s that new word I learned? Pivotal. This moment is pivotal!

“I’m ready!” she answered. “May I have one ticket, please?”

“Sure!” he replied with a big smile.

Karen fished in her purse and brought out a bright, shiny dime and five copper pennies. Just as Mama had said, this was the price. It was posted on a sign. She stood on her tippy-toes to put the coins onto the counter and took the ticket away with her.

#ticket #fear