Chapter 23 - The Scissors in the Ranch PlayroomAt thirteen, Maisie volunteered during a Foster Ridge youth-ranch weekend.
Ortiz was nearing retirement.
He met her outside the main house.
“You got tall.”
“You got gray.”
“Cruel.”
They laughed.
The playroom door remained the same.
Large side window.
Rain outside.
Different furniture.
Different children.
Maisie stopped.
Inside, a little girl was cutting yellow construction paper with rounded craft scissors.
Maisie’s hand tightened around her backpack strap.
Ortiz noticed.
“Want to keep walking?”
Maisie looked through the glass.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
They entered.
The little girl held up a paper sun.
“I’m making this.”
“It’s good.”
“Want scissors?”
Maisie stared at the small pair.
Once, scissors had been forced into her hands so an adult could manufacture a lie.
Now a child offered them because she needed help making sun rays.
Maisie took them.
“Sure.”
One cut.
A yellow paper triangle fell.
Maisie handed the scissors back.
No applause.
May you like
No ceremony.
A tool became a tool again.
