program couldn`t matter. But my conscience wouldn`t let me off that easily. So I practically shoved a pale, reluctant Kristi onto the school bus and proceeded to be
sick myself.
　　Just as I had forced my daughter to go to school, now I forced myself to go to the program. It seemed that it would never be time for Kristi`s group to perform. When at last they did, I knew why Kristi had been worried. Her class was divided into relay teams. With her limp and slow, clumsy reactions, she would surely hold up her team.
　　The performance went surprisingly well, though, until it was time for the gunnysack race. Now each child had to climb into a sack from a standing position, hop to a goal line, return and climb out of the sack.
　　I watched Kristi standing near the end of her line of players, looking frantic.
　　But as Kristi`s turn to participate neared, a change took place in her team. The tallest boy in the line stepped behind Kristi and placed his hands on her waist. Two other boys stood a little ahead of her. The moment the player in front of Kristi stepped from the sack, those two boys grabbed the sack and held it open while the tall boy lifted Kristi and dropped her neatly into it. A girl in front of Kristi took her hand and supported her briefly until Kristi gained her balance. Then off she hopped, smiling and proud.
　　Amid the cheers of teachers, schoolmates and parents, I crept off by myself to thank God for the warm, understanding people in life who make it possible for my disabled daughter to be like her fellow human beings.
　　Then I finally cried.