My Little Arrival
Ch.3: "Driver don't pick the cars; cars pick the driver"
"Are you okay, hon?"
I turned to my Mom, smiling at her. I was sitting in the passenger seat of her car, a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. We were heading to the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds, where a horse handler named Dakota was waiting.
When I was younger, I had known Dakota well. Those summers riding horses as therapy. It had been such a fun time, bonding with something so different.
I never minded being different. Sure, there were tough times, but I had powered through. With the strength of family. My Mom, Ami, was a nurse. She worked long hours, but loved her job, helping those that truly needed it, the old ones on their way out into the eternal. Indeed, she was a hospice worker.
On the other hand, my Dad, Scot, had retired. It may be strange to say that with him only being thirty-four, but he had served his country for fifteen years as part of the United Stated Marines. I remember the tears that were shed when he retired two years prior. He had seen hell in Iraq.
Anyways, I turned to my Mom, smiling and nodded. "I'm just excited. Dad got that stable built, and having my own pony to take of? I'm so excited!"
Mom chuckled, brushing some of her black hair from her face.
"We know" she said, driving over the Lincoln Street Bridge, one of two bridges that connected Cheboygan.
I took a deep breath of bliss as we pulled into the fairgrounds parking lot. I saw her- her blazing red hair, her smile, even her cocky Irish eyebrow. Yeah, that's Dakota.
Strolling over to the car, she had an eyebrow raised. "Been a while, eh? Good to see you, David" she said in her Irish accent. She was a duel citizen and was immensely proud of it.
I smiled. "Good to see you. Are you coming in, Mom?"
Mom nodded, taking a drag off her E-Cig, and set it in the cars center console.
"Of course!"
Dakota nodded, crossing her arms. "Where's Scot?"
Mom chuckled at the question. "Working with his brother Phil. They're putting in a porch at their Mom's."
With a nod, Dakota led us into the stable.
I could only smile as Dakota led us in. Her steps were graceful, experienced. It had been six years since I had stepped into the stable, my therapy now bowling and "herbal medicine"
There lies a secret I am about to drop. Like so many, I have a Uniqueness. I have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism. From the age of four, I had known about it, but it never bothered me. Of course, having Mom and Dad around helped things.
Like all couples, they had their arguments. They even split for a time when I was an infant. But they made it work and married when I was seven.
Back to the story. Dakota smiled as she led us down the stables. "So, David, do you know what a Pegasus is?"
I nodded. "Classic Greek Myth." She nodded, Mom shaking her head in amusement. I had always liked my books.
Dakota nodded, pleased. "What if I told you they were real?"
This threw me for a loop, and I tilted my head, as if Dakota had just said the moon was made of cheese.
Mom smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. Dakota smiled, her young hair blowing in the wind.
"Let me tell you something, son. A rider does not pick the horse. A horse picks the rider. It's a mystical bond between man and animal."
Turning on her boot, Dakota led to me to the last stall. I could only stare at a 10- foot tall Yellow Pegasus with a Pink mane, smiling down at me with a sisterly look.
"Hello David!"
It took me all I could not to faint. I don't know why, but there was something in the air. Perhaps fate. But I turned to Mom with a big smile. Mom did not have to be told twice.
Fluttershy smiled as we led her out of the carrier. She smiled softly, gazing at our two-story house painted in red, white, and blue.
"It's such a beautiful place David" she smiled. Mom excused herself then, hearing the phone ring.
"Not often you come across a pegasi" I smiled, addressing the elephant in the room.
Fluttershy blushed, going to respond, only to stop as she saw my friend Kayla.
Kayla smirked, looking at Fluttershy. "Pegasi huh?"
