Five Feet or Less

by Erik Schubach

  Gawd, what were we? Teenagers? Apparently so, I found both Sarah and I nodding with grins on our faces. We made our way back to Bessie and loaded up. Minutes later we were parking in the Seattle Science Center parking garage.

  We went through the Science Center just for the fun of it. I used to do this about once a year before... ummm... anyway, we had a blast looking at all of the interactive exhibits and joking around and chatting. I was really enjoying our time with Anne. Sarah was lucky to have such a loving mother.

  Then we exited out to the Seattle Center. As I wheeled with the ladies, the red headed sprite's hand on my shoulder, Sarah had a comical look on her face. “So what ride you want to do, Ree? The log ride? Mini roller coaster?”

  I started blushing. Anne squinted an eye at me with a similar comical look to her daughter's as she asked, “What? Come on tell us!”

  I said “mmmmffmmfmmmmel” really quickly slurring my voice terribly.

  Sarah crinkled her nose. “What was that, Ree? Speak up.”

  I sighed and whispered, hoping they wouldn't hear. “I want to ride the mmmmffmmfmmmmel.”

  Both women were now grinning at me like idiots. Sarah promoted through her smile, “One more time, Ree. We almost got it that time.”

  I rolled my eyes and surrendered. I said quickly, “Fine! I want to ride the carousel... I like horses, OK? I haven't been on the carousel since I was eleven. Mom brought me to ride a real horse once when I was really little. I fell off and skinned my knee, I wouldn't stop crying until she bribed me with ice cream.” I got suddenly quiet as I thought of that.

  I glanced up and they had a shared look of triumph on their faces. Sarah pointed to the amusement park humorously. “To the carousel!”

  Then my reality came crashing down on me when we got to the carousel and the operators wouldn't let me ride a horse. I had to transfer into one of the lame benches that don't move up and down. Sarah sat with me as we went round and round. I was staring at the horses longingly. I forgot all about the horses as she put an arm around me and stroked my arm as we rode.

  To my embarrassment, I still loved the carousel and we must have rode it for a half hour straight before we got off and looked for other things to do. The log ride and roller coaster always scared me so again to my embarrassment, we wound up in the teacup ride. We got ourselves spinning so fast that both Anne and I were feeling a little queasy as Sarah mocked us both.

  This felt familiar somehow. It felt like... family? I never had this feeling when I was a ward of the state. I was shuffled from foster home to foster home more times than I can count. Nobody kept me for very long because I was 'special needs'. I never connected with any of them, I was never with any long enough. The only good thing that the state made sure of, was that all the foster homes were in the same area so I could attend the same schools as my 'friends'. What a joke. The only thing I had that was even close to a friend after the accident were Gwen and Marcie.

  I won a black and white goldfish for Sarah in the ring toss. I swear she almost teared up. The red headed sprite said she'd name him Shamu so she'd have her own little whale to guide her. This brought a smile to my face I couldn't get rid of.

  We looked at the time. It was five in the afternoon already, the day had shot by. We reluctantly made our way back to Sarah's house with a detour to a pet shop for some fish food and a little fish bowl.

  Once we got inside and got Shamu the itty-bitty whale squared away on Sarah's dresser. We sat in the living room. Anne in her chair and Sarah and I on the couch with Sarah'a legs draped across my lap, and me playing with her socks.

  Anne tilted her head at us with a soft smile and said, “Thank you, girls. I don't know the last time I had such a fun day. Nor the last time I laughed so much.”

  I nodded and responded, “No, thank you. For such a fun day... and all the intel on Sarah that I can use against her.” This got me a playful slap on my arm which I retaliated with tickling the exposed skin on her legs between her pant legs and her ankle socks.

  Anne retired to the guest room to pack her suitcase. Leaving me lost in the green eyes on the couch with me. Her faint chocolate scent was driving me crazy. When Anne was ready to go we all went out to the cars.

  Sarah would drop her rental car off tomorrow and drive her to the airport in her car. I had to get home or face the wrath of Gwen.

  Anne walked in front of me an leaned down and engulfed me in a warm hug and whispered in my ear, “Goodbye Reese. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Take care of my baby girl for me?” I nodded and she kissed my cheek and stood with a huge smile.

  “Bye Anne,” I said with a smile of my own.

  Sarah looked at me. “Ummm... breakfast tomorrow?”

  I nodded and she gave me a tingly kiss on the cheek. I'm pretty sure she purposefully on accident caught a tiny bit of lip in it. Then she darted into the rental car. Gawd... I was warming up in all the right places just thinking about it as I waved as they pulled away from the curb.

  I was in a super happy mood when I got home and that feeling persisted until I was asleep that night.

  Chapter 8 – It Felt Like I Was Running

  The next week flew by in a flash. I got ahead of all my work so I could spend as much time with Sarah as possible, I still needed to have that talk with her. She kept telling me that she had a surprise for me on Saturday so I had better have no plans. I snorted at that, the only plans I ever have revolve around her. Where else would I go?

  Saturday morning rolled around and my iPod was chirping away on my nightstand about an incoming text. I grinned, I knew it was Sarah before I looked at her message [when u b here?]. I sent back [srry i cant hang 2day i have friends comin over 4 a big party. ]. I was giggling maniacally at her reply [wtf?]. I sent back [kidding i b there in 1 hour. must clean and eat breakfast]. Her quick reply was [omg im gonna kick ur ass 4 that. c u soon. wear jeans!!]. I was chuckling now as I sent [k bye] then I transferred into my chair to get ready for the day of mystery with the ex-punk rocker who always seems to make me smile. I wonder why I need to wear jeans.

  Before I knew it I was cleaned up, ate breakfast and left a note for the girls that I would be out all day then downstairs and heading to Sara's in Bessie. I snorted as I pulled up and she was standing on the sidewalk hiking up a pant leg and putting her thumb out.

  I hit the button to roll down the passenger side window as I came to a stop and laughed out, “Get in here weirdo before everyone sees.”

  She gave me her patented scrunched up face smile and hopped in and put her seat-belt on. I sat there for a second then prompted, “Sooo?”

  She laughed. “Oh I suppose I should give you directions to where we are going.”

  I grinned. “Well I enjoy your company so driving around aimlessly the van is just as good as anyplace else, but yeah... directions could be useful.”

  She blushed cutely then pointed forward like we were in a wagon-train. “To the mountains my good woman! I90 if you would.”

  I snickered and got us on the closest on-ramp heading east. Then I tilted my head toward her in curiosity and asked, “So, you gonna clue me in oh cryptic one?”

  She made a great show of deciding whether or not to share then she nodded and held her finger up. “Umm... no.” Then she just looked forward out of the windshield at the mountains we were quickly approaching all innocent like. Why the heck was I smiling so much?

  As we were coming up to Issaquah she started making a ticking sound and making flashing motions with her hands like a turn signal while leaning to the right. I rolled my eyes at her playfulness and exited the freeway into the pretty little city at the base of the mountains. “You are so not normal.”

  She grinned at me and replied, “Why thank you.”

  I giggled and shot back, “It wasn't a compliment.”

  She just kept grinning then started ticking again and flashing her hands as she almost fell into my lap leaning left. I put on my left blinker and turned to go under the overpass and
past a little airport.

  She seemed quite pleased with herself and before I could comment on it she was ticking and leaning to the right. To the right we went. We drove for about five minutes further up into the mountains, just laughing and talking about her music. I think I may have finally talked her into playing at some local venues on amateur talent nights.

  She stopped talking and started ticking and leaning to the right, comically hitting her head on the window. To the right! We turned onto a dirt road and a few hundred yards in we came up to a clearing that had a weird ramp up to a platform with a railing on three sides on it that was sitting in the middle of the field. An old fashioned looking sign with western style printing on it said “Valentine's Cascade Experience”. Sweet, I do their website and that Roberta Valentine is an amazing woman!

  I looked at her for an answer, tilting my head. She spoke like a fortuneteller, “All your questions shall be answered. Come to the platform of enlightenment.”

  I of course rolled my eyes at the silly woman.

  I couldn't halt the giggle that escaped my lips as she jumped out of Bessie as soon as I parked near the platform. She ran up the ramp then turned, impatiently waiting for me to get into my chair and to wheel up the ramp beside her.

  She looked a combination of excited and nervous as she spoke, “You ready for your surprise?”

  I said humorously. “Oh God, you're gonna bury me in the woods. And I drove us here!”

  She slapped my arm playfully then got serious, she was dialing her phone. “Close your eyes.” I hesitated and she gave me a look like a mother would give her misbehaving child. I sheepishly closed my eyes. She was speaking on her phone, “OK, bring em out.”

  I heard rustling in the woods I was tilting my head toward the noise to peek and I got a slap on the arm. “Don't you dare peek.” I giggled and kept my eyes shut. There was a distinct smell as the wind shifted and I could hear clomping approaching. My stomach was in knots, was this what I thought it was?

  She said, “OK Ree, open them.” I opened my eyes and found myself looking into the eyes of a tan and white horse just inches from my face. OMG! There was a man and a woman with smiles on their faces, each holding the reins to two horses. The other three horses were a chestnut brown with white manes.

  I looked at them then at Sarah with my mouth hanging open before I uttered, “What did you do Sar?”

  She grinned and her face softened and she spoke softly, “Those asshats at the carousel wouldn't let you ride a horse. You looked so disappointed. When you spoke of the time your mother brought you riding you looked so happy so I thought...” She trailed off and motioned her hand toward the horses, “Ummm... taa daa?”

  I grabbed her hand and pulled her down to me for a big hug. Then we looked at the horses. Realization dawned on me, “But how will I...”

  The woman cut me off. “Don't worry about a thing, we are all prepared here, and Daisy here is extremely gentle.” She guided the horse so she was standing parallel to the platform... her back level with the seat of my wheelchair. I noticed the saddle looked different. Almost like it would cup me. The man was on the far side holding his hand out as the woman motioned, “Saddle up cowgirl.”

  I was nervous but I grabbed the man's hand and transferred into the saddle with a leg flung over to the other side. Sarah was grinning like a fool. As soon as I was settled the woman threw a belt around me that was fastened to the saddle and buckled me in. The man put one of my feet in a stirrup and the woman did the same on the other side then a strap connected to long leather chaffs hanging from the saddle was put around each of my calves. There was no way I was falling out of that saddle.

  The woman walked us away from the platform. I was bobbing on the horse and grabbed a hand grip in front of me on the saddle where a saddle horn should be, to steady myself.

  Sara jumped off the platform then easily mounted the horse the man offered her. I was amazed at how easy she made it look. Gawd her smile was awesome... oh wait, the woman is talking to me. “Hi Reese, I'm Fran and that lump over there is Steve. Have you rode before?”

  I looked at her and nodded nervously. “Just once when I was little. It didn't end well. There were tears and ice cream everywhere. But I love horses!”

  She smiled and said, “Well Daisy here is quite the lady. She'll take care of you, she is specially trained for paraplegics. All the commands are done through the reins.” Then she showed me the basics of getting Daisy to go forward, turn and stop while walking beside me.

  Once she was satisfied she hopped on a horse and Steve did too. Sarah maneuvered her horse beside me as Fran took the lead. Daisy lurched forward as we went to follow at the slow pace. I laughed nervously. As we moved into the woods on a wide path, Sarah by my side looking as excited as a little girl. I couldn't stop from catching her excitement as a smile bloomed on my face.

  I felt so... tall.

  I got accustomed to riding and a couple minutes later Fran was looking back at us with a smile and then urged her horse forward into a jog. We did the same. We broke from the trees into a long field on a ride. The day was perfect, the wind was flowing through my hair, across my cheeks. I was moving with the horse... I remember this feeling. I felt like I was running. I could feel a single tear on my cheek. I convinced myself it was from the wind stinging my eyes.

  After an hour at different speeds, we stopped at the top of another ridge line and looked down the mountains into the sprawling valley.

  Steve came up beside Sarah and I, then looked at me. “You feeling strong still or should we head back, it is a hour ride back.”

  I took stock of myself, I could probably go for a while more but not much. I was using different muscles in my abdomen than I use in my chair and they were a little achy. I tilted my head. “We should probably start heading back after I take in this spectacular view.”

  He nodded with a smile then moved off to Fran, leaving Sara and I looking at the majesty of nature. She hung her head down shyly and peeked her eyes up at me. “So, ummm... surprise.”

  I started talking in amazement, “I love...” I caught myself... was I about to say “you”? Did her eyes just widen a bit? I finished shyly. “That you would do something like this for me. You are amazing Sarah!”

  She reached over and grabbed my hand and laced our fingers then looked back down into the valley. She spoke quietly, “You're worth it, Ree.” I craved the warmth from her hand.

  This moment felt almost perfect to me and I didn't want to ruin it. We sat like that in silence for another ten or fifteen minutes before I took a deep breath then turned back to Fran and Steve. And almost sighed in resignation. “OK, we better start back.”

  They smiled and started us back on a different route that gave us just as spectacular views on the way back. It seemed like no time had passed and I felt a sense of disappointment as we emerged into a clearing and I saw the platform with Bessie nearby.

  Before we got to the platform I rode up to Fran and leaned in and gave her a hug. “Thank you, this was wonderful.” Then did the same with Steve. Their smiles were threatening to split their faces as they unlashed me and I transferred back into my chair on the platform.

  Sarah hopped down from her horse and handed the reins to Steve, then shook both of their hands. We said our goodbyes then mounted back up into Bessie and started back toward civilization. Before I turned off the dirt road, I stopped and looked over at the amazing redheaded sprite with those entrancing green eyes of hers. “Thank you so much. That was... magical. It was the most amazing thing I have done in almost a decade.” I paused. “Why are you so good to me?”

  She smiled warmly and shrugged. That was all I was going to get out of the imp. I smiled again then got onto the road. We of course had to stop at the XXX root beer burger joint on the way through Issaquah. We'd be silly not to, right?

  As me munched on our burger-y offerings at the outdoor tables, I looked up to the mountains and asked, “So, what got you playing the violin that way?”
There was no answer so I looked over and she was looking away with that faraway strained look on her face she got when the tinnitus was bad. I knew she didn't hear me so I placed a hand gently on hers to get her attention.

  She turned with a smile then I started again, “So, what got you playing the violin that way? It is a unique fusion of modern and the past. I mean, it is so awesome. I know it helps with the tinnitus but how did you come up with the mash up?”

  She shrugged, it drove me batty that she didn't want to speak about her music. Just the other day she played for me and mixed modern rock with classical. This time she sang as she played and I swear to you, it was the voice of an angel. But then she got embarrassed and stopped.

  I kept staring at her expectantly. Trying really hard not to crack up at the faces she was making at me in an attempt to divert me from the subject. I redoubled my effort and stared intently.

  She rolled her eyes in defeat. “Fine... I was playing a bit of Bach when the tempo reminded me of 'Morning Flower' by Skylar Roth and I just flowed into the song. After the bridge they meshed up again and I transitioned back. I felt like I was floating between two worlds that were seamlessly attached by the melody. I could coax out the new from the old and give it a rebirth. I don't know... it sounds stupid when I say it out loud.”

  I was shaking my head and replied, “Umm yeah, as in how stupidly awesome it is! You have such passion in your music and I can see the strain on your face fade when you play. You know that strain you try to hide from me?”

  She blushed, gawd it was cute! She successfully pulled the topic off of her after that with a smile and the twinkle in her eyes. It wasn't till later I realized the evil pixie pulled the Gwen trick on me to get off the subject. Not that I'm complaining, she can do that any time she wants to.

  We wound up on fun topics steering clear of her on the drive home. I didn't want to see her go when I dropped her off. I was having the time of my life and she leaned in and whispered hotly in my ear, “Pick me up early for breakfast.” I swear her lips nicked my earlobe and sent goosebumps racing across my skin. I gulped then nodded and she was off, giggling up the ramp to her place with a tiny wave. I waved back and pulled away with a smile and a tingle.