Golden Arches and Golden Crowns
The
laughter and squealing of ecstatic children took me by surprise. I had driven
the couple of miles to my local big box shopping mall to make a purchase at the
Home Depot store. The large parking lots were beginning to fill up, but as I
alighted from the car an unexpected cacophony caused me to swing around to
ascertain its origin. Crowds of people caught my eye and I realized that it was
opening day at the new McDonalds franchise. Children were excitedly tugging
their parents hands and clothes in their efforts to hurry them up. Red, white
and blue balloons festooned the wrought iron railings; swinging wildly in the
breeze in frenzied attempts to join those released brethren which had already
escaped the clutches of sweaty little hands.
The
tantalizing aroma of grilled meat assailed my nostrils, reminding me that my
lunchtime was fast approaching. My stomach growled and saliva prickled my
throat. Temptation indeed…but I decided this was not the appropriate moment for
me to sample the gastronomical delights available at this establishment — not
with Ronald McDonald, a mariachi band, jugglers and balloon artists holding
court.
Never-the-less,
I was completely captivated by the sheer exuberance of the crowd and decided to
partake of the atmosphere, if not of the food. My attention, as if by a magnet,
was irresistibly drawn to a small girl in a wheelchair. She was in rapture as
the balloon artist twisted and pulled the gaily colored latex into all manner
of outrageously shaped animals — one of which formed a donkey hat which she
wore upon her head.
That the
child was retarded or debilitated by some disease was apparent. Her body was
deformed and drooped lopsidedly, while her facial muscles were not capable of
genuine expression — but her eyes told a different story. For that moment in
time she was transfixed in a realm of wonder and joy where pain and torment
ceased to exist.
I turned to
look at the parents, and where I expected to see weariness and despair, my
heart was filled to almost bursting by the obvious love they emanated. Their
pleasure in her pleasure knew no bounds. They too, wore funny balloon hats -
but I saw golden crowns.
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