When Karen arrives at the Pier, she enjoys the sights and sounds, and the crowd. She feels free.

Scene 6: Karen Arrives at the Pier

Karen paused under the Santa Monica Pier sign so that she could become fully aware of her surroundings. She glanced nervously at the crowd, hoping to see a friendly face to encourage her, but there was no one she knew. Better yet, there was no one to discourage her. She realized that she was truly alone and on her own.

In spite of these mixed feelings, she did not want to leave. Her yearning to ride the horses lured her on. She heard the thunderous, thundering calliope crank out heavy waltzes, and knew she must be near the carousel. She saw children hurrying past in enthusiasm and excitement and found herself soaking up their gaiety, happiness and endless energy. Their laughter and high spirits lifted her own.

She looked down the long, concrete ramp at the vista of amusements. Chocolate brown concession stands sold figurines, cotton candy, ice cream, and hot dogs. The Ferris wheel revolved above everything else. Directly below it, stood a shop that offered big stuffed animals as game prizes. Scents of root beer, hot dogs, and pretzels permeated the air. She wanted to have the same kind of carefree fun as the other children. She sighed.

Yum, smells good. What a fantastic place to be on a summer’s day. Maybe I’ll meet a playmate today. I wish I had someone to play with, so I wouldn’t have to do this alone, but even if I don’t, I’m going to have fun, just like all the other children I see here! Today, I won’t let anything stop me!

She felt fully oriented to her surroundings and smiled with pride and satisfaction. Even though she was surrounded by people, she didn’t feel crowded. She felt free. Ignoring the flashing neon lights and mouth-watering scents, she brought her focus back to her goal and realized that she didn’t see any horses.

#courage #pier

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