What a Whiff, Ted! UFLI Foundations Lesson 89

Ted took his white cane and set off with a big grin. Today was the birthday party for May, and Ted could find the way all on his own. Behind the bushes, Cat looked at Ted with wide eyes.

'Wait, Ted!' Kim ran up with her arms wide. 'Do you need help?' Ted shook his head, kept walking, and smiled at Kim. 'I walk this path to the park and back each day. Finding the party will not be a problem.' Kim asked, 'But what if you get lost?' Ted said, 'I can find the way.'

At the corner, Ted came to a stop. He stood still and breathed in, long and slow. Then he began to grin. 'This way.' He turned right. Kim gave a gasp. 'There is nothing at this spot! What told you to turn right?'

'Do you smell that?' Ted asked. Kim sniffed and her eyes went wide. 'Fish!' 'That is the fish shop,' Ted said. 'It is three streets from where May lives. When I smell fish, I turn right.' Kim smiled and took a deep sniff. 'It really smells like fish!' 'Kim, it really, really does,' Ted said.

On the next street, Ted stood still at a tall stone wall. He ran his fingers across the bumpy surface. Cat sat on top of the wall, looking at Ted. 'What are you doing?' Kim asked. 'Saying hello to an old friend,' Ted said. 'I have felt it since I was three. Every bump, every crack. It tells me to turn left.'

'Stop, Ted!' Kim said. She looked at the big puddle that stretched across the path. 'You will get wet! You will get soaked!' Ted walked by the puddle. Each footstep was dry, and not one drop wet his feet. 'You were saying?' he said, still smiling.

'But you could not see it!' Kim said. Ted let his cane tap the path, tap tap. 'My cane tells me,' he said. 'When it hits water, the feel changes. I could tell just where the puddle started and where it ended.' Kim looked at the cane, then at the puddle, then at Ted. 'That is the best thing I have ever seen.' Ted gave a shrug, but his grin said otherwise.

Woof! Woof! A big dog pushed its nose past the gate, still barking. Cat ran up the fence post. 'Step back, Ted!' Kim called, and she held his arm. Ted just smiled. 'That is Rex. He barks at his gate, and his bark tells me to turn left.' Ted turned left at the next street.

Kim lit up. 'Oh! Rex barks at his gate, and you remember that gate, so you turn!' 'Good,' Ted said. 'Yes, you see it.' 'Smell, feel, bark,' Kim said, holding up her fingers. 'Ted, you do not just find the way. You feel it all.'

'Smell, feel, bark, and my cane,' Ted said. 'Four good helpers, and they never take a day off.' Ted stood still. He took one long, slow sniff. 'Yes,' he said. 'Birthday cake. We are close.' Kim gasped, sniffed, then broke into a big grin. 'Ted, I can smell the cake from the path!'

'We made it!' Kim yelled, jumping up in a yard full of bright streamers and good music. Ted walked up, holding a gift box. 'I told you I could find the way.' Cat came up to sit and lick one foot. Cat had full trust in Ted from the start.

The table was piled high with cake and good things, and Ted sat with a big grin. 'I am so glad you took us the right way,' Kim said. 'And I am pleased you came,' said Ted. Kim smiled, then looked at him. 'Can we get back home?' Ted stood up. 'Just follow the smell of fish.'