LXVIII. Lucy Runs. February 8, 2021

>driving

>not for Lyft

>me and Lucy at the Ponce de Leon rest stop

>she is five

>it is wet, cloudy and cold

>puddles and general yuckiness everywhere

>three very old ladies park next to us

>they take turns helping each other to the bathroom

>Lucy, of course, is spastic

>running, jumping, spinning

>”Be careful, baby” I say, “You’re wearing flipflops; you could fall”

>Lucy says “Well, I have the perfect solution”

>kicks off the flipflops

>sprints toward the forest

>ringworm be damned

>I yell and give chase

>the old ladies love this

>one lets go of her walker to applaud