WHO: Sarah Williams & Susan Foreman WHERE: Griffith Park WHEN: Friday, June 24; afternoon WHAT: Riding in the park and an arrival! RATING: TBD STATUS: thread; in-progress
Being employed as a receptionist had made this enforced city-wide silence very difficult at the outset, but Sarah had found a way to continue to work, assisting wherever and however she could in the offices. As she had been so helpful – or she was almost certain that was the reason, as her advanced sign language was still in a state of progress and drawings and laminated images could only communicate so much – Friday had become a half-day of work at full pay as a reward. She really did have to hand it to her employer, the incentives like those made it easy to want to stay there and move upward from within. The unexpected time off had led to her treating herself to several hours on horseback, something she hadn't been able to do very much since coming to Los Angeles, but had always loved to do when living in New York.
At first she had stayed to the ring in the equestrian center, familiarizing herself with communicating with her mount without words. She was grateful she was already acquainted with the horse from other rides here and that she had taken an interest in dressage after learning to jump, as the silent, minimal techniques served her well now. Once she had the animal well in hand, not just to the satisfaction of the stable worker but herself, she started off on the trails, enjoying the small cross-country course close to the center before making her way into Griffith Park itself. Though the trails were sectioned off in the well-used part of the park, she still saw plenty of people, all united right now by the similar tools of communication necessary, from pads and pens to elaborate pantomime. She couldn't help but find it a little entertaining to watch as she slowed to a walk, momentarily transferring the reins to one gloved hand to affectionately rub the horse's neck with the other.