My Friend Loki: Strange Magic

Chapter 13

Before slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I opened it up to grab two apples we had bought for snacks. Loki and I walked over to our Trail Guide.

"Oh, Sara," I said, "can you give these to Doodlebug and Major? They definitely earned them."

"You bet, thank you. They love apples!" Sara smiled. "You both will always be welcome here. Hope you have a great rest of the day."

Loki and I then exited the stables. We walked back to the Welcome Centre area - hand in hand.

****

We decided to partake of some ears of roasted corn and share a large mug of hot apple cider to celebrate our efforts. In the Welcome area, there were plenty of hay bales around for the public in which to sit and rest or to enjoy purchases of food from the trucks and vendors. We found one big enough for both of us to sit.

While eating, we watched the people come and go through this high traffic area. After a few minutes, we saw two women and eight kids that we had met earlier...

"They made it!" I said in a happy tone. "That's great!"

"I bet Abigail showed them the way," Loki said in amusement, taking a sip of cider.

"No doubt."

We continued to watch as Vera and Sally took the kids to a food truck. Getting them some hot dogs and drinks, they found a place with a few hay bales to have them all sit and eat.

"Should we go over to them?" Loki asked.

"Wait till they finish eating," I replied, with a smile. "You know, asides from Abigail running off, I'm very impressed how well-behaved these kids are."

"Considering they had nothing but each other to rely on could be the reason."

"Perhaps," I said, watching as the eight kids were happily talking and laughing among each other while eating, "but it looks like those workers also treat them well. They don't appear to be holding back their fun or ignoring Vera and Sally."

"I don't understand," Loki said. "Certainly there is a system or systems where the welfare of Midgardian children such as these are given proper care?"

"There is," I replied, with a sheepish look, "but like anything, there are organizations who partake of that system that are good and some not-so-good. For many, it's become more about the money than the care of the children. Some want to line their pockets, while others can't afford to get them the care they need."

"That's terrible!" Loki said, aghast.

"It is," I nodded. "I had friends who went through a special program to become foster parents, and the kids they fostered for years, had to go back to the parents and guardians sooner than expected... all because the budget of their agency had been severely cut."

"Children should not have to shoulder such burdens," Loki said.

"You're preaching to the choir, dear friend," I concurred. "Sadly, some fall through the cracks of the system."

"If there was only something we could do," Loki said.

"There is," I said, with a knowing smile, my hand reaching into my pocket...

But I was interrupted by a familiar voice...

"Hi!"

It was Abigail, standing before us, and she was holding a small orange plastic bag.

"Hi, Abigail," I said, giving her a warm smile. "It's good to see you again."

"Did you have fun in the maze?" Loki asked, also smiling at her.