Karen planned her walk to the pier in complete detail, and she kept her plan a secret from everyone.

Scene 3

Twelve long weeks passed as Karen readied herself. She spent many hours secretly preparing, until she felt ready for all that the carousel could offer. In her imagination, she saw herself walking the distance alone, finding her way to the hippodrome, and grabbing the gold ring as she sailed through the air on a galloping stallion. In the privacy of her room, she counted the pennies she had saved from the snack money Mama gave her. She exercised her legs and built up her strength. At the library, she borrowed a city map and memorized the route she would take. Sitting at Mama’s desk, she used the telephone to call the pier and ask about the price of rides. She knew that her imagination was as important as whatever appeared to be real, but she was not afraid to deal with reality, too. She hid her plans from everyone.

June and July passed swiftly. August flooded Los Angeles with a dry breeze that flawlessly filled the celestial canopy. The temperature climbed just enough to make everyone want to come out and play, especially Kitten. Her self-confidence continued its ascent as perfectly as the August days arose.

#disabilities #pier

©2020, Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.