The Healing Horse, Ch. 37, Scene 2: The New Class

Image of welcome mat made with pink glitter

In the previous scene, young Karen’s teacher (Al Gilbert in real life) promotes her to a more advanced dance class. Her devotion and determination are paying off. But how will the other students in the new class react to her? Read and find out…

(Image by Damu ravindra pawar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 2: The New Class

The next day, as Mama drove her through the afternoon traffic from school to Gilberto’s, Karen stared out the window in silence. Would the students in the new class accept her, or would they tease her because of her disability? What if she could not dance as well as Gilberto thought? She shook her head and cleared these negative thoughts from her mind. Gilberto would never put her into an embarrassing or humiliating situation. And she was ready for anything.

Mama parked. “Sweetheart, enjoy your new class. I have errands to run. See you in an hour.”

Mama would not be at the class. Karen would be alone. That was a surprise. No. Gilberto would be there at her side. She would be fine. Karen forced a smile. “Okay, Mama.”

She grabbed her dance case and ran through the studio door and into a changing room. A few minutes later, she walked down the hall. It seemed longer and darker than usual. Gilberto’s voice came muffled through a door, followed by the giggles of girls. Her new class. She took a deep breath and stood up straight.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a tall red-haired girl smiled at her. “Hi! I’m Ginger. You must be Karen. I’ve seen you around but never got to meet you.”

She stuck out her hand, and they shook. Then the dozen other girls and boys in the class took turns welcoming her. She felt at home with them.

Gilberto beamed. “Class, this is Karen. She just earned a promotion to your class, and she’s gonna do great! Let’s dance.”

Karen took her usual place at the barre and followed along as Gilberto demonstrated the dance routine the class had been working on before the break.

“You’re all doing great! You’re looking good. Let’s everyone move to the center of the studio so we can practice our routine. Remember to listen to the music and the beat.”

He turned on the music. “It’s a one and a two and a hop…”

The class leaped into motion, and Karen kept up with them. For her, it was a new routine, but she knew all the steps, and Gilberto’s demonstration had burned it into her memory.

She felt almost as if she were in a dream, watching her body perform the steps with grace. The long hours of practice were bearing fruit. She was dancing. She was becoming a dancer. As long as she could practice, she could learn anything. Her self-doubts melted away.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 37: Giving Away the Brace

photo of rainbow with clouds in background

Chapter 37 continues the adventure, as Karen’s long hours of practice pay off.

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

Scene 1: “…like the perfect daughter…”

During the holiday break, Karen practiced dance all day, every day. She was dancing when Mama left for work, and she was still dancing when Mama returned. Instead of wearing out from all the practice, she grew stronger every day.

On January fourth, right after break ended, Karen ran from the school bus to her front door. In her bedroom, she changed into a leotard and tights and began her warm-up without wasting a minute. Plié, plié, plié. But then she heard a familiar step on the front porch.

“Mama, is that you? You’re home early.”

“Yes, my Krana Layala. Miss Devine called, and Gilberto has an opening at four-thirty.”

Karen ran to the front door and was in the car without another word.

A few minutes later, she raced ahead of Mama and through the doors of Gilberto’s studio. “Hi, Miss Devine! I’m here!”

Miss Devine smiled a hello, and Gilberto walked in from the hallway to the studios. “Hi, sweetheart! Hi, Katie! So wonderful to see you both. I missed Karen and wondered how she was. Maybe, next time we have a holiday break, you can find a few minutes to telephone and let me know how you’re doing? I wish you well in my thoughts every day. You’re not just another student to me. You’re like the perfect daughter I never had. I need to hear from you every few days.”

Karen beamed and threw her arms around Gilberto. “I missed you, too. You’re like the father I never got to know. And I practiced all I could during break.”

“All you could?”

“All day, every day.”

“Why am I not surprised? Let’s dance.”

He laughed and did the shuffle down the hallway to a studio, with Karen pirouetting behind him.

In the studio, Gilberto put on some music, and Karen performed her shuffles flawlessly. Between her eyebrows, wrinkles appeared from concentration. Her lips opened with the slightest bit of her tongue showing, and then they smiled with the smile that Gilberto had taught her to wear while dancing—the joyful smile that expressed the happiness of dancing.

She did the shuffle hop, the shuffle toe back, and the shuffle hop toe.

Gilberto clapped his hands with the music. “You’re doing it. You have those steps down perfectly. And your left foot taps as clearly as your right. Your balance is perfect, too.”

They went through more of the elementary steps, and she showed him that by practicing all day, every day, she had mastered them all. Her goal had been to make her hushed left limp sound as crisp, clear and strong as her right. Now, her leg was doing just that. Her repeating rhythmic rhymes resounded like ringing bells.

Gilberto smiled in his gentle way, and his eyes filled with tears of joy and pride. “It’s time to move you up a grade.”

When she heard that, Karen felt as if she were a rainbow floating in the clouds and shining with light.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 36, Scene 5: Blossoming

photo of pink rosebud with dewdrops

We all need confirmation of our dreams, and even of other people’s dreams for us. In this scene, Pegasus confirms young Karen’s greatest hope. She will blossom into a dancer and a dance teacher.

(Image by Audrey from Central Pennsylvania, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 5: Blossoming

Outside the Shrine Auditorium, the cool night air cleared Karen’s head as she followed Mama and Gilberto down the sidewalk to Mama’s car. Gilberto said goodnight and walked to his own car.

Mama cranked the engine and pulled out into the late evening traffic. “I can read your mind, my Krana Layala, and yes, of course you can talk with Pegasus on the way home. But watch where you put your feet in those pretty new shoes. They’re not cowboy boots. And I will wait for you in the car. It’s too late at night for young ladies to be walking along country roads by themselves.”

Karen giggled and leaned back into the car seat. A moment later, Mama shook her. She had dozed off. Mama had parked at the ranch.

She slid out of the car and picked her way across the field to the barn. She did not want to step in something stinky in the dark. In the barn, she slipped into Pegasus’ stall and cleared her throat.

He woke up. “Kitten, what are you doing here? It’s late, and you look like you’re dressed for the opera.”

“Actually, it was the ballet, and Gilberto introduced me to the lead dancers. They had me show them my ballet steps and said I will become a dance teacher.”

“And they know dance. You can make a big difference in the lives of disabled people. This is not just your dream. It is your mission in life. You will blossom into a dancer and a dance teacher.”

Everything good in her life felt reinforced.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 36, Scene 4: Meeting the dancers

Image of red curtain drawn across a stage

Just as Gilberto in the story (Al Gilbert in real life) believes in young Karen and encourages her to dance, so the lead dancers of the Bolshoi tell her to never give up. She can dance and teach dancing!

(Image by tommybuddy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 4: Meeting the Dancers

Karen followed Mama and Gilberto as the curtain dropped into place behind them. She inhaled the warm, sweet scent of the wooden stage sets in the dimly lit space behind the drapes. She felt even more empowered. I will accomplish my goal. I will pass on Gilberto’s legacy by teaching other disabled people and by showing them they, too, can accomplish their own dreams. Also that moving and stretching their bodies can be fun.

The wood in the stage sets and floors made her feel as strong as an oak tree firmly grounded. Mama’s eyebrows went up. She looked as surprised as Karen felt. But Gilberto grinned like the Cheshire cat. He was up to something.

After a moment, Wiessea and Blancka, the lead dancers, emerged from one wing, the fabric of Blancka’s tutu glimmering in the dim light. They smiled through thick stage makeup, and Karen stared up at them, her inspiration. Their warm smiles lighted up her heart.

Wiessea laid his powerful hands on Karen’s shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. “Gilberto is famous, even in Russia. Did you know that? He is a master teacher, a person we respect. He says you can dance. Show us your ballet, darling. Show us what you have learned.”

Karen’s heart swelled even more. Gilberto believed in her with all his heart. He looked at her, smiled, and nodded with encouragement and acceptance.

She took a deep breath and composed herself. Focusing on the technique, she showed them her ballet plies. Beginning with the first position. Remembering in her mind what Gilberto taught her. “Bend your knee, keep your back straight, and your heels together,” she whispered to herself. Kitten even showed them a grand plié. Perfect, she told herself.

Blancka stepped forward and gave Karen an enormous hug and kiss on the cheeks. “You did that beautifully, darling. Show everyone your light. Think of us, always dancing by your side. Keep up the great work. “

Wiessea could not believe his eyes. He saw that a disabled little girl had learned ballet and changed her once twisted body. “Gilberto was right,” he said. “Keep doing what you love and you will continue to transform the use of your limbs and condition. You will teach dance. And teach others what it means to dance with everything you have.”

Blancka stepped back and stood next to Wiessea. “Remember, practice every day, like us, sweetheart.” They looked at each other resolutely. They knew Karen would do wonderful things with her body and life.

Karen nodded. “I will. I promise. Every moment I have.”

The dancers beamed and embraced her again. “Never give up.”

They bowed and ran back into the wing. Karen knew she would always remember this moment. It had changed her life.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 36, Scene 3: The Event

This it, the big event. Karen has seen ballet before, but not the Bolshoi. Read on because the story gets even better.

Scene 3: The Event

Karen took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Mama rubbed the lipstick onto her mouth. “Now, open your eyes and pucker up.”

Mama folded a tissue in half. “Now, pull your lips back and press this between them, so there’s no extra lipstick.”

Karen pressed the paper and then smiled at the pink print of her lips. “Do I get Cleopatra eyes?”

Mama laughed. “No. You’re too young, and you don’t need them. You’re perfect, just as you are. Let’s go.”

Karen rode in the front seat of the car next to Mama and kept an eye on her. The location of the Shrine Auditorium would bring back memories. They turned the corner onto West Jefferson and Mama sighed but did not cry.

“Is this hard for you, Mama? I mean about Daddy?”

Mama pointed at a building on the other side of the street from the hall. “That was his hamburger stand. I wish he could be here, now. He’d be so proud of you, just like I am.”

Mama parked, and they walked through the arches into the Shrine Auditorium. In her new dress and shoes, with the velvet headband and matching purse, Karen felt not only pretty but strong and poised. Her body moved the way Gilberto had taught her as she and Mama joined the crowd in the foyer.

Someone touched her on the shoulder. “Hello, sweetheart.”

She knew that gentle voice and turned with a big smile on her face. Gilberto wore a white tuxedo and a black tie, like all the other men in the room. He gave Karen a hug and led her and Mama to seats in the middle of the first row, just behind the orchestra. They all sat down and waited.

In a few minutes, the famous opening bars of Swan Lake played, followed by a trumpet fanfare. The curtains parted, and Prince Siegfried, dressed all in white, sailed across the stage in one impossibly high leap after another. The audience applauded, and the swan dancers appeared, beautiful women in flowing, gossamer skirts, dancing in unison. At last, the lovely Odette entered from stage left with her court, and Siegfried knelt before her…

Karen could not look away. With each act, each scene, and each costume change, she pledged deeply within herself to become the dancer she wanted to be. These dancers were the image of what she wanted to become. They were her inspiration, heroes, and heroines.

After the last curtain call, the audience stood and applauded for ten minutes. Quiet fell, and people began filing out. Gilberto leaned close to Karen. “I have another surprise for you, sweetheart. Follow me!”

Instead of leading her and Mama out of the theater, he led them to the stairs at the end of the stage. They followed him up, and he held the red velvet curtain back for them. Karen’s heart pounded. Where was he taking them?

The Healing Horse, Ch. 36, Scene 2: A Trip to Ohrbach’s

In this scene, young Karen shops. For what? Read on. The pic is an interior shot taken in an Ohrbach’s store. Total elegance.

(Image from Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 2: A Trip to Ohrbach’s

The next afternoon, Karen and April chattered as they strolled down the school hallway after the last class.

April said, “Maybe my mother will take me someday. I’d love to see the Bolshoi.”

They stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. Then Karen stopped. “Mama, what are you doing here?”

Her mother’s car sat parked behind the bus. “It’s another surprise, my Krana Layala. We’re going shopping.”

Karen hugged April good-bye and hopped into the Chevy. “Where?”

“You’ll see.”

Karen kept quiet, but she had a good idea. There was only one store where you could buy a dress elegant enough for the ballet and stay within a budget. Mama turned the car east and headed for Los Angeles.

A few minutes later, Mama drove down the wide stretch of Wilshire Boulevard known as the Miracle Mile. Streamlined art déco department stores lined both sides. She parked in an asphalt lot filled with row upon row of cars and spaces. It took several minutes to walk from the car to the swinging glass doors with Ohrbach’s written in red above them. Karen could not stop herself from sighing.

The spacious interior showcased everything a stylish young lady would wear, from beautiful hats to stunning shoes. Together, they selected a gorgeous red velvet dress with elbow-length sleeves and a ballerina skirt, very full and falling almost to her ankles. The dress closed with small, light brown wooden buttons that ran from the top of the bodice to the hem of the skirt. For her feet, they chose red leather dress shoes—not shiny but matte, so they were in style, and with a one inch heel to be age appropriate.

Mama held the shoes. “Your hard work is paying off. A while ago, you had to wear orthopedic shoes. Now, you wear pumps.”

Karen beamed. It was a major accomplishment. For a hand bag, she picked a red velvet purse with a matching velvet strap so she could hang it over her shoulder. Last came a red velvet headband to hold her thick, shiny ponytail in place.

A sales lady assisted them as they carried everything into a fitting room, where Karen changed into her ballet evening outfit before opening the door and stepping out with her head high. She stood still in front of an array of three mirrors that showed how she looked from the front and the sides. Behind her in the mirror, Mama’s eyes glistened with tears of joy.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 36: The Moment of Decision

Photo of Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow

Chapter 36 continues on a high note as young Karen blossoms into a dancer and a fine young lady. In the first scene, Mama gives her something wonderful. Can you guess from the picture? Hint: the building is a famous ballet theater in Moscow, Russia. The ballet troupe performs all around the world.

(Photo of Bolshoi Theatre courtesy of Moscowjobnet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: Tickets to the Bolshoi

Months passed. The weather cooled, and the holiday season arrived. One Monday, after a long day at school, Karen changed into a black leotard and pink tights in her bedroom. She did not have a lesson, but she always felt more like a dancer when she dressed the part. She admired her image in the mirror behind the barre Gilberto gave her, then began her warm-up with pliés and bends.

From the front of the house came the sound of Mama opening the door, followed by the jingle of her keys as she dropped them into the china dish on the cherry entryway table. “Krana Layala, I’m home!”

“Hi, Mama! I’m warming up to practice my ballet.”

Mama’s high heels clattered on the hardwood floor, then she peeked around the half-open bedroom door.

“I have a surprise for you.”

Without pausing her routine, Karen turned to face her. She did not want to lose her training time. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll love it.”

She moved into the next position, but Mama handed her two theater tickets. She glanced at them and returned to a normal standing posture. “The Bolshoi? Here in California?”

“Yes, the Bolshoi Ballet Company is here to perform Swan Lake. And we have tickets.”

Karen threw her arms around her mother, and tears of joy flowed from her eyes. “Oh! My goodness, Mama! You completely got me by surprise. Thank you.”

Mama kissed her on the forehead. “Ah, my Krana Layala, life is full of delightful surprises.”

Karen wondered what she meant by that.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 35, Scene 3: April’s First Lesson

The Dance Lesson, a painting by Edgar Degas

Sometimes, encouraging someone to try something new and challenging isn’t enough. You need to stand by them and hold their hand. That’s exactly what happens in this scene.

(Image is of a painting, The Dance Lesson, by Edgar Degas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 3: April’s First Lesson

The next afternoon, Karen got off the school bus at April’s house and carried her dance case up the path to the wide front porch. Mrs. Roth came out through the dark wooden door to greet them.

“Hi, sweetheart!” She hugged her daughter and smiled at Karen. “Karen, it’s so good of you to help April this way. Let’s go in so she can change into her new leotard and tights.”

Karen held up the little suitcase. “Okay, and I need to change, too.”

They raced through the livingroom to April’s bedroom.

“Everything’s pink, April. That must be your favorite color.”

“Yes, it is.”

The girls pulled their dresses over their heads. Karen slipped into her leotard and tights, then helped April get into her new dance togs. They were just like Karen’s. Mrs. Roth stood back with a big smile on her face. As soon as April had her shoes on, she raced for the front door. “Let’s go!” The tap shoes clattered across the hardwood floor.

Karen followed her and they sat together in the station wagon’s back seat while Mrs. Roth drove. She knew the way, so she must have already gone to meet Gilberto.

At the studio, she parked. “April, are you ready for this?”

No answer. Karen looked at her friend’s brown saucer eyes. “Don’t be scared, I know this is new. Gilberto’s the kindest teacher you ever saw. And if he can teach me to dance, he can sure do the same for you.”

April blinked back tears and looked down. “I’m sure you’re right, and I know I can trust you, Karen. Let’s go.”

Mrs. Roth led them to the door and held it open. Karen held her friend’s hand as they walked in.

Miss Devine stood up from behind her desk and hugged Karen before turning to April. “You must be April, our new student.”

“Yes. I’m here to learn to hop and not fall over.”

Gilberto walked in from the studios. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Roth. She will do great, I can tell from looking at her. I have a studio set up for today’s lesson.”

He led them to the brightly lighted studio. “This is the barre. You can hold on to it to help keep your balance.”

Karen and April grabbed it, Karen with her strong right hand, April with both hands.

“The shuffle is the first thing you learn. It’s the most basic tap dance step, and it will help with your balance.”

He taught April the same lesson he had given Karen when she started learning. Karen did the shuffle along with him. April caught on easily.

After a few minutes, he stopped and looked at his watch. “That’s enough for today. Practice at home, and you’ll be dancing like a star before you know it.”

April looked up at him. “But we just got here.”

Gilberto turned to Mrs. Roth. “It’s always a good sign when the time seems to fly, but we’ve been shuffling for nearly an hour.”

April’s eyes got big, and she hugged Gilberto’s legs. “Oh, my gosh! I love it! I love dancing!”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 35, Scene 2: Taking Action to Help a Friend

bright red tomato and cross section

Have you ever wondered if encouraging someone to try something you both knew would be difficult could lead to any good? Or would it lead to more disappointment and tears? I’ve asked myself that question many times, and the answer has always been to go ahead. Because if I did not give the encouragement, the result would be worse than disappointment and tears. It would be living entrapped, with unfulfilled potential, and unable to move forward to the fulfillment every human needs.

(Image from fir0002 flagstaffotos [at] gmail.com Canon 20D + Sigma 150mm f/2.8, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 2: Taking Action to Help a Friend

Karen’s new sense of identity helped her develop the self-assurance she needed to share what she knew. Before she met Pegasus, she would never have opened up to April or anyone else. Now, the words and feelings flowed. The sense of restraint disappeared. The quiet part of her fused with the effervescent. Their union made her both willing to listen to those who could help her reach her potential, and eager to teach others what she learned. She did not have to pretend anymore.

Pegasus had enlightened her. He had made her strong by teaching her how to face everyday life, and how to find the light of hope in the glare of experience. This set herself free.

Over the next few weeks, Karen and April bonded. Even though there was an age difference of several years, their similar circumstances united the two. They were both smart enough to understand their cerebral palsy gave them a different perspective than most people had. They accepted themselves, their lives, and their circumstances and held their heads high, conscious of their own dignity. Their beliefs about themselves differed from those of the stereotypical disabled person. There was no arrogance or haughtiness, no self-pity, no sorrow or excessive unhappiness—nor was there any self-condemnation or self-criticism. It wasn’t in their nature to loathe themselves any more than it was to single out more disabled classmates to make fun of. Within themselves, they didn’t feel less than others, though they felt sadness and sympathized with those who were harassed and bullied because of their disabilities.

This did not mean they were complacent. Both girls did their best to strengthen their bodies and minds, but they did not waste their time yearning for a cure for something that was incurable. They were normal, everyday children. They sang, they played, and they welcomed each day with gratitude and an appreciation and reverence for what they had.

One day, as they rode home on the bus, April turned to Karen and said, “I told my mother about your dance lessons! She said I could take dance lessons, too. But I don’t know if I could do them, or if they would help me. What do you think?”

“I’m sure you could do them, and I’m sure they would help you! I’m as sure as I am that I learned to hop from Gilberto. The experts said I would never walk, but Gilberto taught me to dance. The experts told Mama to have the heel cord cut on my good right leg, so my left leg could catch up with it, but now my left leg can shuffle and hop, and it gets stronger every day. Gilberto’s the greatest, and he brings out the best in you. Besides, I bet I can be there with you. Maybe we can even take some lessons together!”

When Karen got home, her Mama was in the kitchen making dinner. She put down the tomato she was slicing. “We need to talk.”

Karen gulped. Was she in trouble? “Sure. About what?”

“About your friend April. Her mother phoned me.”

“About dance lessons?”

“You already know, then?”

“Yes. I told April how much fun they are and how they improved my walking, and she said her mother gave her the okay.”

“Oy vey! I wish I’d known. Mrs. Roth wanted to know if little April could come to one of your classes to see what they’re like. I followed my intuition and said yes, but then I hoped I hadn’t created a problem for you.”

Karen hugged her mother and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. “Intuition is always right, Mama. Can you call Gilberto and let him know? I’m sure he’ll love April.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 35: Sharing Dance, Scene 1: Meeting April

photo of small yellow school bus

Here we begin a new chapter as young Karen begins sharing dance with others, and making friends everywhere she goes.

(Image courtesy of Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: Meeting April

In September, on the first day of the new school year, Karen waited on her front porch with her brace on. She inhaled the sweet scent of the sycamore trees and stared down the sunny road. The yellow school bus had stopped at an intersection a block away. She hopped down the steps to the curb and waited while the driver pulled up in front of her.

The folding doors opened, and she climbed the steps. Mr. Hinton, the driver, smiled. “It’s so good to see you again, Karen. I missed you all summer. We have someone new joining us today. We’re going to pick her up next. She’s come all the way from New Jersey to be with us, and you’re just the person to make her feel welcome.”

This was a big compliment, and Karen gave him a smile. “I missed you, too, and I’ll make sure the new girl has at least one friend—me.”

She took her usual seat, and Mr. Hinton drove six blocks before stopping in front of a house that was not on his route last school year. The front door opened and a spindly little girl in a red and white checked dress, with her black hair in a pageboy, scampered out on her tippy toes. A lady who must have been her mother walked alongside her toward the bus. The lady stood five-feet-four-inches tall and had black hair in a shoulder-length cut with the ends turned under. She wore an A-line house dress of blue and white striped denim, and a white apron tied around her waist.

The little girl tilted forward in a trotting gait, a sign of spastic diplegia. This kind of CP made people’s muscles so tight that they walked on their tiptoes. Spasmodic contortions distorted her face as she climbed the steps and stuttered a response to the driver’s greeting. Was she nervous, or were these part of the CP, or both?

The lady followed her onto the bus and held out her hand to Mr. Hinton.

He took it, and they shook. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mr. Hinton, and I want to welcome you and your little girl.”

“Thank you. I am Mrs. Roth, and this is my daughter, April. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

The girl tottered down the aisle. Karen smiled and twisted to the left so she could pat the empty seat with her strong right hand. Mr. Hinton winked and whispered to Mrs. Roth. She looked at Karen and mouthed the words, “Thank you,” before returning down the bus stairs and waiting outside.

“Hi! My name is Karen, and welcome to our school bus! Please sit with me.”

The girl smiled. “My name is April. Pleased to meet you, Karen. Thank you for inviting me to sit with you.”

This kind of CP affects both hemispheres of the brain and the speech center as well. Karen automatically tuned out the stuttering, just like she did with Tammy. “What brings you out to California?”

April giggled. “Well, it’s warmer than New Jersey.”

Karen giggled too. “It’s always warmer on the West Coast than on the East. What grade are you in?”

“I’m in second. I love reading. Reading storybooks is my favorite pastime.”

“So, you can remember what you read?”

“Yes, of course I can! I wish I could remember not to stutter and fall over, too. I have to play sitting down because my balance isn’t good. If I stand up very long, I tip forward and fall.”

“I’m thirteen and starting eighth grade, and I completely understand. I have a balance problem, too. It’s getting better because of my dance lessons, but I gotta keep at it. Gilberto, my teacher, has taught me hopping, skipping, and jumping with my leg brace on, so I’m a lot more confident.”

April’s eyes opened wide. “Really! You dance? Your mother gives you dance lessons?”

“Yeah, she does. It’s fun, and it’s another form of therapy. And most important, I love it, too.”

They continued chatting until the school came into sight.

Karen said, “I can’t believe we talked all the way to school.”

“Yeah, me, too. You’re so easy to talk to.”

Mr. Hinton turned into the school courtyard and swung the handle that opened the doors. “We’re here, you guys! Be careful going down the steps.”

All the ambulatory children followed Mr. Hinton off the bus in a single file. Karen insisted April go ahead of her, since her new friend was on the aisle seat.

“Karen, maybe I can sit next to you on the way home?”

“Sure, and at lunch, too. Do you know where your classroom is?”

“Yes! My mother and I toured the school last week, but I have to hurry!”

April took off in her scamper gate, and Karen walked to class.