Rody entered our lives in the usual way, handed down as a surprise gift from a friend. He’s an inflatable bouncy yellow horse who seemed absurdly large when we first met him, and who gradually became the perfect size for David to climb onto and fall off of. But that was last year, and Rody did not continue to grow the way that David did. Over the winter, Rody transitioned from faithful (and hazardous) steed to “inconveniently large object which David can occasionally pummel and drag around the house.” L and I fill that latter role just fine, so it was time to find Rody a new home. Into the trunk with Rody.
Fast forward a few weeks. We’ve driven into Boston, found a perfect parking space near the aquarium, and David has fallen asleep. We’re letting him sleep, watching cars and people go by, and enjoying a few peaceful minutes. A woman comes out of the building, unloads a cart full of play equipment on the sidewalk in front of us, and goes back for another load. Among the play equipment are several inflatable bouncy animals. It’s destiny. “Quick,” I say. “While she’s gone, let’s add Rody to the pile. She may not even realize she’s gained an animal.”
The woman turns out to be from Knucklebones, a group which sets up children’s play areas at local events. When she returns with another batch of play equipment, L goes over and asks her if she would like to add a yellow Rody to the collection. She’s delighted, so L opens the trunk and Rody gets to go meet his new family there on the sidewalk in Boston. His new life will be far more active and exciting, we know.
Every classic story deserves an epilogue. Just two days later at an outdoor concert near our house, Knucklebones had brought a dozen inflatable bouncy animals, and there was Rody! We said hello, happy to see that Rody was popular and full-filled.
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