Just as I was getting used to Kindergarten, we moved.
I only remember a few things about the move. There was this big moving truck that had its rear in so this huge ramp could slide and stick out of it into our driveway. Mom and Papa had another one of their parties and snuck out back to ride my pink trike. I remember looking at the ramp and double checking to see if anyone was paying attention as I hopped off and pushed it up the ramp and all the into the truck. I got on my bike as it faced the opening like i was looking at a light at the end of a dark tunnel, took a deep breath and pedaled as fast as I could! I went “ZOOM” through the truck and “ZOOM” down that ramp and skid myself into a screeching gravel crunching stop!
“Whoa.”
And I did that through dusk, to dark, until Mom called me in for bedtime because for some reason, no boxes ever got loaded with all the drinking and laughing I guess.
The next day, they loaded the moving truck with all our boxes and furniture and we loaded the red pick-up with snacks and blankets. Then we walked around the empty house. Freeway sniffed at territory and mom sniffled as she held back tears. When night came, a small white van drove up and papa called Marlie and me to tell us, “Ah, you have to say bye to Freeway because he cannot go with us. The place that we are moving to doesn’t allow dogs.” We both screamed and cried as a man came out of the truck, took freeway by his leash, and led him into the back. “You know he’s going to be helping people.” Mom said, “He is going to a place where they will teach him how to become a dog that will help blind people.” We cried and tried to convince him that we could bring him along but Freeway obediently stepped in, the doors closed, and the truck drove off.
We all hopped into the truck and Marlie and I were still crying. Papa tried to make us feel better so he told us everything’s going to be ok’s and threw in a, “The place we are moving to is going to be nice! It’s the safest city in the US you know that?”
