Pythian Games

Her name is Miss Sarah Sue and she is Queen of Pietown! She reigns over the diner, Pietown Stompin’ Grounds, from her purple wheelchair. If she knows you, when she sees you come in, she squeals, “Hello!” and you feel like the most special person in the world!!

Sarah, 18 years old, loves girly-girl purses, Tinkerbell the fairy, her dogs and cats, school, and riding the school bus. She also loves tacos, Cheese danishes, and fizzy root beer. She absolutely loves to be the center of attention (as long as she’s with family and friends. Otherwise, she is shy, mumbles, and looks down most of the time.) When Sarah laughs, she laughs with her whole person, a deep-down giggle that invites everyone else to laugh with her.

Although she is paraplegic and lacks many motor skills, Sarah finds ways of getting what she wants. If her mom leaves her alone for 10 minutes, she comes back to a room that’s all in disarray somehow. Sarah’s vocabulary is limited, but you know just what she means. When it’s time for dessert, she eyes the pie case. Sometimes Sarah gets mad, and flips you the bird – the fingers are twisted but the intent is clear!

“Go to work, dumb butt!” is her way of telling her dad to quit teasing her. He calls her “Girly” and she tells him, “You a yo-yo, daddy!” and it’s obvious it’s a sign of affection between the two of them. Mom says it is her greatest joy – and her greatest pain – that Sarah will never “grow up”, due to the brain damage she suffered from shaken-baby syndrome. Mom adopted Sarah just as she was, saying, “She had the will to live, the fire of a fighter in her eyes, and I knew we needed each other.” Sarah has a special gift for touching people – mom has no regrets.

Sarah calls the restaurant owner “him”, Tinkerbell “her”, and me and my partner, “them”. She is an expert at communicating clearly, concisely. She is a very good teacher! And I am proud to call Sarah, Queen of Pietown, my friend!

By Kerry Vincent © 2008

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