Chapter 17
“Oh, it’s a flyer for a party she’s holding for Rosemary’s new book.”
“Really? There’s going to be a party?”
“Yep. A masquerade.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, everyone wears a mask.”
“Like Halloween masks?”
“No,” Sarah laughed. “You remember that picture I took with Auntie Aubrey at Mardi Gras and we were wearing masks?”
“Ah-huh,” Zoe nodded. The picture sat on the mantel back home.
“Masks like that.”
“Oh!” Zoe suddenly became even more excited.
The masks were fancy covering only half their faces and were decorated in purple, green and gold sequins, feathers and lined with beads. In fact Sarah still had her mask prominently displayed on the wall near the
picture. Zoe sometimes asked to wear it.
“Do I get to wear a mask too?”
“Of course. We’ll go shopping so you can pick out a special mask. It can be anything you want.”
“I want to have a mask like yours.”
“Then we’ll get matching masks. How’s that?”
“Yeah!”
Zoe gamely kept up with her mother as they walked on and eventually reached the park. As Sarah feared Zoe was getting tired. She could easily tell by how quiet the little one became but as they reached the entrance to
the zoo Zoe perked up especially at the sight of a horse-drawn carriage.
“Ooo! Mommy, a horsey!”
“I know, let’s go say hi,” Sarah smiled.
“Hello, there,” the driver nodded as they approached.
“Hello, I really like your horsey!” Zoe greeted.
“Well, thank you little lady. You wouldn’t happen to be Zoe, would you?”
“How did you know?”
“Because I’ve been waiting for you.”
“You have?”
“Yes, according to your mom you like horses and would love to have a carriage ride through the park. Is she right?”
“Yes!” Zoe bounced up and down. “We get to ride in the carriage?”
“That’s right,” the man smiled pleased at her joy. “Big Red and I will take care of everything else.”
“Big Red?” Zoe asked. “Is that the horsey?”
“That’s right.”
“Can I pet him?”
“Of course.”
He chuckled even as Sarah scooped Zoe up and brought her closer to the large chestnut. Zoe giggled as she stroked the large stripe running down the horse’s face. Sarah handed the driver her phone and he snapped a quick picture for them before helping them into the carriage. Zoe bounced in the seat as the driver climbed aboard and clicked his tongue cuing Big Red to move ahead on what was a familiar route for the equine.
Sarah smiled loving Zoe’s excitement and glad she had booked this reservation. They followed Center Drive making a slow circuit through the southeastern end of the park. Their route took them past Wollman Rink and the Chess and Checker House where several people gathered to play in the fresh air. Zoe eagerly pointed out the Carousel and Sarah made a mental note to bring her back once the carriage ride was over. They skirted Central Park Zoo and circled the Pond before passing the Plaza Hotel on their way back to the
starting point of the ride. All told it was a pleasant twenty-five minute ride allowing Sarah to relax while also
amusing the three-year-old.
Saying good-bye to the driver and giving Big Red a treat they set off on their own walk through the park. The
ride had refreshed Zoe and she was eager to explore the sights they had seen from the carriage. Sarah took
her to the Carousel first and let her ride before they continued onto a large open field called Sheep Meadow.
Giggling Zoe ran ahead before lying down and rolling down a slope. Sarah laughed snapping pictures while Daisy barked happily. The ride refreshed the canine as well.
“Where are we going now, mommy?”
“Well, there is something I wanted to show you,” Sarah said. “And I think you’ll like it. Shall we?”
“Kay.”
They followed the trails enjoying the fresh air and relative quiet free from the noise and bustle of the city around them. Zoe was happiest among trees and natural settings. They paused only when Daisy stopped to relieve herself. Much to Zoe’s amusement her mother had a roll of plastic bags in her pocket with which she
stooped to pick up the dog’s leavings tossing it into a convenient garbage can.
Zoe giggled watching it a second time before asking, “Mommy, why do you do that?”
“These are public trails. A lot of people use them so we have to keep them clean.”
“You don’t do that at home.”
“That’s because the woods we normally walk in are on our private property.”
“Oh. Mommy did you use to ride Applejack here?”
“I did,” Sarah said. “I boarded him at a stable and I took him out on the trails at least once a week.”
“Did you pick up his poop too?”
Sarah snorted a laugh, “Aren’t you full of questions.”
She stooped down tickling Zoe until she was shrieking with laughter. Daisy spun circles barking and wanting to join in.
“Come on, we’re almost to the surprise I wanted to show you,” Sarah straightened.
Central Park had a number of famous statues scattered throughout and though Sarah thought Zoe would enjoy the Alice in Wonderland statue it was a little far for the three-year-old to walk. There was a closer one she knew Zoe would love. Eventually they reached their destination. This statue was of a proud sled dog standing on a rocky outcropping.
“Here it is!”
“A doggy!” Zoe exclaimed running up to the statue with Daisy in tow.
Sarah laughed kneeling beside her, “Don’t you recognize it?”
Zoe gave her a curious look. She had never been to the city before so how could she have seen it? On the other hand it did look familiar…A smile spread on Zoe’s face and she suddenly exclaimed, “Balto!”
“That’s right,” Sarah laughed reading the statue’s inscription, “Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through Arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the Winter of 1925.”.
“It’s real!” Zoe giggled recalling the very same scene from one of her favorite movies.
“Yes, it really is,” Sarah said. Zoe loved everything about dogs. She had an entire movie collection devoted to
canines from Balto to Lady and the Tramp to Homeward Bound. The only movie Sarah had not introduced her
to yet was Old Yeller thinking it would be too traumatic for her daughter. “Should we take a picture?”
“Yes!”
Zoe danced in place as they stood with their backs to the statue. Sarah took out her phone holding it out so
the statue could be seen behind them as they smiled and snapped a picture. Zoe giggled looking at the
image.
“So what do you want to do next?” Sarah asked.
“The zoo! Then the Statue of Liberty then…”
“Wait, wait, wait. I don’t think we can do all of it today.”
Zoe frowned.
“How about we take Daisy back to the hotel and then we can choose either the zoo or the Statue of Liberty for today?”
Zoe thought about it before deciding, “The zoo!”
“All right. Let’s go,” Sarah stood taking her hand and leading her back they way they came.
