Pink Button Freedom

*Jan (a friend of mine) had a challenge for her "One Hundred Word" blog to take one of her stories and expand it, or created a story using the characters and its theme. I chose to continue and expand.  Here is her link to a series of unique and poignant stories--all in "One Hundred Words!"  http://networkedblogs.com/oDaiz

Pink Button Freedom

Macy had been trying for half her life to escape her parents’ totalitarian rule. She’d tried to leave, more times than she could count, but every attempt was thwarted.  

Your place is with us, Macy. Don’t even think about it, Macy.

And so she stayed, feeling increasingly stifled by their unreasonable rules and restrictions.

But now, Macy sensed an opportunity. Determined to find her own way, she’d been working on assertiveness and self-confidence; this outing with her parents seemed an ideal place to try them out.

“Down, mama,” she said, and she squirmed out of her mother’s arms and ran.

Macy’s first stop was at the steps of the big slide-down-thing.

Always.

She looked up and saw white clouds and endless blue at the very top. So longing was the need to climb she could feel a groan in her chest. She reached out to touch the cool solid bar that could take her up and up and up; grains of sand, left by those free to chose their fate, clung to slender little finger-tips.

She hesitated, looked over her shoulder, and gave in to the stern look and vigorous shake of her Mama’s, “No!”

Macy sighed. She dropped her hand and moved out of the way of kids running towards her. Excitement had a fragrance and freedom had a sound. It was always the same.

Always.

She took off and weaved in and out of other enticements of play aiming for her own play-place, to the miniature version of the big slide-down-thing.

Macy didn’t even hesitate…one step, two steps, three steps.

She stopped. She leaned her pink buttons into the last step, opened her arms wide and looked up at the white clouds and endless blue. The breeze was cool and made her hair fly, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She was free.

Almost.

Pat Guy