Good day to everyone.
My dearest friend "Rose" happens to be completely blind, and she is an avid white cane user. My Christmas gift to her was a day at Disneyland on Christmas. She loves Disneyland, but can't afford to go often. There was a bit of a bungle during our time there, and I'm still scratching my head over it.
We made our way through Tomorrowland on our way to Space Mountain. We were in an open area that wasn't crowded at the moment; as such Rose didn't need to choke up on her cane to avoid catching people's ankles or legs. Cane users doing a normal swing tap out an arc just a little wider than their shoulders and Rose's swing corresponds to the speed she walks. We both know the layout of Disneyland enough that she felt comfortable walking alongside me at a medium pace.
We passed the Star Tours ride as it was letting out. I warned Rose and we slowed down our pace as we veered away. Rose switched her grip to bring her cane closer. Then out of the blue a toddler on the opposite side of the ride exit darted out into our path. I only had enough time to call Rose's name before the inevitable happened. The little girl tripped right over Rose's cane and, like top heavy little ones do, she toppled. She skidded a little on her hands and knees on the cement. The poor thing burst into screams. Rose pulled her cane towards her body and cried out in alarm, asking me if the little girl was okay.
Before I answered, the child's mother(or grandmother, but I assume mother) rushed at us, screaming at Rose for tripping her child. Rose was frightened by the sudden voice and apologized again, yet this woman kept yelling at her. At that point I stepped in and informed the mother that it was a complete accident. Rose didn't hear the child dart out and it happened too fast for me to alert her in time. The child had plowed right into Rose's cane while it was in motion, and the cane swiped her foot out from under her. An experienced walker can do something to catch that missed step, but little ones still learning don't have that skill. It was so unfortunate.
Rose apologized again and offered to pay for any medical attention the child needed. The child's mother refused the offer, turned to me and told me I should control my friend better and thank you so much for ruining her child's Christmas present. She stormed off with her still sobbing daughter to collect her diaper bag and stroller, giving us filthy looks the whole while.
Rose is a sweet, sensitive lady, and the encounter had her in tears. She thought the child had broken a bone with the way the mother screamed at her. I assured her the toddler wasn't seriously hurt, that the worst injury was skinned hands and probably bruised knees. The poor dear spent the rest of the day worrying about that child so much she folded up her cane and asked me guide her.
Dear Ehell, was there anything else we could have or should have done to placate the angry mother, or should we just let the bygones be bygones once she launched into yelling?
