One, Two, Free!

One, Two, Free!
By Major Betzann Carroll
Dedicated to Helen Carroll


I wonder if the enormous spiral slide, which had a prominent, place in the center of the “Cabot Park”, a playground in Newton, Massachusetts, still stands? If the slide seemed enormous to me, I can imagine what my three-year-old daughter thought, who was much smaller than other children her age. Her fragile body ranked in the third percentile for height and weight. But for determination, she was number one.

It had rained all morning and every five minutes Stephen, our five-year-old, would give us a weather report. “Still some more minutes of partly rain,” he would say. By early afternoon Helen and I were racing down the street to keep up with Stephen. Stephen was eighteen months older than Helen. “Helen, you will play on the baby swings and you can wave to me when I get to the top of the slide. You are too little for the slide and besides, you are a girl!”

“No Stephen (Steben), I can do anything I try, right, Momma,” was Helen’s reply.

She was so competitive. How Helen reached the slide before Stephen I can’t remember. Perhaps Stephen stopped to pick up a rock or look at a bug. Helen was at the base of the slide looking up when Stephen noticed her. Her hands gripped the rail. She began to count and take a step with each count. “One, two, free…One, two, free…” Her hearing loss caused her to mispronounce the “th” sound. My heart began to pound as I watched her climb. Could I allow her such a challenge? Was she really ready? She was so fragile. At the top of the slide she froze for a moment.

“Go Helen”, yelled Stephen. He was sure now was not the time for indecision.

Helen sat down and was instantly gone. She turned round and round and before we could reach the base of the slide she hit bottom…Splash! She landed in a mud puddle larger than herself. Covered with mud, she climbed to her feet. She refused any help I could give. Wiping the mud from her eyes and licking her lips she quickly said, “Momma, I did it!” So anxious to conquer the slide, she never saw the final destination, nor did I.

She was the talk of the park. Stephen was furious to return home without even one ride. It was not a pretty sight. I led this pitifully dripping child home. I know it was not the anticipated pleasure Helen was expecting either.

Later that night when she was squeaky clean, I tucked her into bed. When I began to pray with her a big grin was on her face. “Momma, let’s thank God that I can do anything I wanna. I can do anything I try!”


I believe Helen has God-given determination. Not a puddle, nor a ladder; not a heart defect, nor fluctuating hearing loss; not a lung disease, not even dyslexia can stop Helen. Her God-given desire to “over-come” helps her climb one step at a time.

“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24

Continue to climb, Helen. In the power of God’s Spirit climb and you will count,
One, Two, Free!