38Central Park exhaled a refreshing breath after the rain. Cyclists and runners outpaced a flow of pedestrians, bringing life to pathways that weaved through the grasslands. The wet condition of the fields kept Ruth from her favorite places as she kept close to her grandmother and Mrs. Cannery.
“Can I take this off now?” Ruth began to undo the metal snaps of her yellow raincoat.
Cannery relented. “You can open it but leave it on.”
Unsatisfied, Ruth appealed to her grandmother trailing behind.
“You can take it off when we turn around if it doesn’t start to rain again,” Woo said, hoping the girl would forget about it.
Ruth pouted.
“If you do not run ahead of Mrs. Cannery you can watch for the cotton candy or ice cream man,” Woo added.
The anticipation of sweets waiting ahead purged th
