Afraid of another incident like that with the ball boys , Genevera eked her way to the dropped item resting at the child ’ s feet . She spread her legs wider than her hips and , with her cane as a support , wobbled to reach for the bag .
Just before she touched it , the child grabbed it with a sigh . “ I got it .” She skipped with the bag to the trash can before Genevera had righted herself .
Genevera shook her head . “ Rude children .”
The crow ’ s raspy call agreed .
Once she ’ d reached the crosswalk , Genevera paused . She shuffled to the edge of the curb and led with her le leg . The right followed , a successful internal negotiation completed . She tottered between the white painted lines . When she ’ d reached the center , the walk sign blinked and beeped . She scuffled faster . The light changed . Angry drivers yelled at her to ‘ get out of the road .’ They rushed around her before she ’ d achieved the safety of the sidewalk . The breeze from their passage nearly pushed her over . Her heart pounded like a judgment . One last yell assailed , “ Stay off the road , you damned fool !”
She ’ d relinquished her driver ’ s license years ago because of such outbursts . Though once a bold traveler , she ’ d grown fearful behind the wheel . Instead , she used senior access services to attend her many medical appointments . The irony that in her younger days , she ’ d been a respected family physician never le her mind . These days , her medical team patronized her instead of listening to her experiences . “ Practices have changed ,” they assured , nodding to punctuate the matter .