This story from Rosalie Parker's new collection (Swan River Press, guys) has a slight touch of the Ray Bradburys.
Carol is a wheelchair bound woman who, along with other older folk, likes to go on excursions to country houses, the seaside, etc. Carol is a kind of mascot, her friends believe that she has the power to solve problems by some sort of magic. When the gang are booked on a trip by steam railway, things become a trifle difficult. But Carol, apparently, sorts everything out.
Does Carol have genuine paranormal powers, or is this a classic case of confirmation bias? Val, the lady who leads the group, is in no doubt that people are being silly. But then, in a neat move, the author gives us an insight into Carol's world. This reminded me of Bradbury because it emphasises the power of imagination, whether the powers it celebrates are real or not.
A nice portrait of the way we make assumptions about people based on their appearance and 'disabilities'.
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