Sandy Came Home

I plan to keep this post short. Rooster and I went to a local grocery store and noticed Sandy sitting in the spot the mechanical horse used to occupy before COVID restrictions. This tame ride allows local kids to experience what an actual horse gallop might feel like if you happened to climb on the back of one after paying for groceries. We experienced a glimpse of normalcy because Sandy came home to take her place in front of the checkout at our local grocery store.

We decided to bring our granddaughters to take a ride for two reasons. Firstly, kids have been denied so much because of COVID. Their schooling has been interrupted. At one point during the lockdown, the girls could only visit us through our screen door. Our idea is to cram a lot of living into the time we have before the next shutdown. We all know one is coming. Secondly, the reality is you can’t find anything under a penny in this modern world. A ride on Sandy costs one cent. The store even provides a container full of pennies for parents who don’t have change. I don’t know of a place where you can get a better deal.

Sandy came home, and we took a ride.

Our youngest granddaughter wanted to ride first. She became a little disillusioned because Sandy isn’t a real horse. Her dream is to climb on the back of one of these animals and ride off into the sunset. She is also the granddaughter who has to pet every dog she encounters on one of our adventures. We insist she always asks for the owner’s permission first.

The older sister wanted to ride, but she also needed to keep her cool-girl status. She’s growing out of that stage where the opinion of other people doesn’t matter. While she took her ride, her teacher came to say hello. I could tell the granddaughter wanted to pretend like she wasn’t happy about riding on Sandy. There was a slight look of embarrassment on her face.

Leaving Sandy behind and heading home

I worry about how we will view normal in the future. I fear we will forget what ordinary was like before this pandemic. Remember how we used to greet one another without worrying that we might catch a disease. Remember how we used to be free to travel and have adventures where ever and whenever we wanted. I even remember a time when we were free from fear. That’s why I wanted to share a glimpse of normal because Sandy came home with my granddaughters. I chose for them to experience a ride on a grocery store mechanical horse without being afraid. Another thing stolen from our children is the ability to live with a sense of freedom from fear.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!