Saturday was going to be 'our time'. Mary did all her paperwork, homework, and marking when she came home each night, so it was our day to do what husbands and wives usually do - and no, we didn't argue all day. We went into town as I had a special job to do. With a lot of searching, the man at the music store found what I was looking for. It was on an album of two CD's. Crazy, you might say just for one song, but if that song could bring hope to a child, it'd be worth every penny. Later in the afternoon we went to get a meal and a movie. Pirates of the Caribbean was not my type of film, but then again, neither was Mary Poppins. Later we came home, drank hot chocolate, then went to bed.
Sunday morning was paperwork ... I hate paperwork. I went over some cases and a bit of accounting. It'd been a slow week, maybe it's the wedding season. I'd say it's a good thing that we don't only deal in divorce cases. About eleven, Mary came in with a cup of tea. "Nice one, dear. I promised young Alan I'd go see him today. Why don't you come with me, meet Alan and his sister Tracy? You'll love em."
We took a leisurely walk to the orphanage while going over a bill that had come in the mail on Saturday. "Are we sponsoring the national grid? I knew I shouldn't have recharged my shaver. Oh well, God help me when the gas and phone bills arrive." At the end of the row we stopped. Where we were standing you could see Alan sitting on his little piece of heaven. I started to walk slowly and as quietly as I could to where he was sitting, just then his head went up.
"Mr. Owen," he shouted. "I thought you weren't going to come. And you promised."
"Now, do you really think I'd miss seeing my number one best friend? I was testing your hearing to see if I had a chance of you slipping up. I'm going to have to think of another way of fooling you." I'm not sure if he wanted to laugh, cry, or giggle. But I'm sure I've seen that look before. 'You're an idiot', yeah, that's the look. "So what have you been doing all day?"
"Mrs. Walters was showing me how to read books. The special ones." While Alan was speaking, Kathy had come over, so I introduced her to Mary. It wasn't long before the two went inside. When I asked what stories he'd been reading, he said, "Kidnapped and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson."
"Aye, aye, Captain. I read those when I was your age."
"They must be really old then," he returned.
"Oh! I see we've got another little scamp, apart from young Jim Hawkins. So, where's your sister Tracy? I bet she got sick of your talking and went inside to give her ears a rest." If looks could kill, then I'm clawing my way to heaven.
"She wanted to go play with another girl, so I told her to go and have some fun."
The ladies came out carrying a tray of drinks ... they didn't last long. Kathy walked over to take the glasses back inside. I asked if it was okay if I took the little scamp, his sister, and her friend to the park. I got another dirty look from the scamp in question. She said they could come with us, so I went to find his sister. One boy, two girls, and two women later we started our once in a lifetime trip to the park. Alan talked all the way there. "Give the birds a chance to sing," I said. I could be mistaken, but these dirty looks are getting contagious. Now, you have to laugh at that. When we got to the park, the girls made a beeline for the lake. Ducks! Mary and Kathy went to sit on a bench. 'Just the two of us,' I thought.
We kept on walking till we got to a wooded area. Alan seemed to be looking at everything, but that wasn't possible. "So, what are you thinking?"
"The different smells. I can smell the trees, the flowers, and even the water."
"I know this is difficult, but what do you remember from when you could see? I know it may hurt, but maybe if I know what it's like, I can help."
"Err, okay. Well, where we lived before there were lots of trees in the town, all as big as houses. We used to go to the park, I liked to play on the grass. I used to get told off for running on the grass after it'd just been cut." His faced beamed at the thought. "When they've cut the grass the smell and feel were...were..." Then he started to sob. I slowly put my hand on his shoulder. He leaned into me.
"I know that was painful, but sometimes what you remember can make you feel better when you're down. I can only imagine what you feel like, son, but I'll try and understand if you'll let me." He rolled onto my chest as if resting. "Maybe, if Mrs. Walters agrees, I could take you swimming. Touch is one of your helpers, like smells."
"The adults where I live care, but they have to. Tracy's the only one who stays with me, talks to me, and really cares. You don't have to but you do. Why? Why would anyone stay around a stupid blind kid?"
"You may be a blind kid, but you're certainly not stupid. You're still Alan and that won't change just because you can't see. Try looking at it another way. It's an inconvenience ... do you understand that word?" He nodded his head. "So when you're growing up things will happen to you, if you can't do one thing, you try something else. Can you remember learning how to tie your shoelaces?" You could see the cogs turning in his head. Then he pulled a face. "Left over right, bow, then tie." It was like he was going through the motions of how to tie his shoelaces. Then a nod of his head. "You kept at it till you got it right. Well this is similar." He was in deep thought when he turned to face me.
"Thank you, Mr. Owen. I had a mom, I had a dad, then no one. But why me??"
"Why you? I don't know the answer to that, son. I know it feels like nobody wants you and that can make you feel like you're all alone, but you're not. I don't feel sorry for you and I don't want you doing that either. That would be like giving up, letting it win. People can help you, but they can't do it for you. I know that sounds harsh, but you have to help yourself as well. How you feel is how you beat it. I don't care that you're blind, believe me I don't. Having something wrong with you doesn't make you who you are. You're going to really get me going in a bit," I said, with a lump in my throat. He pulled away and sat on the grass, then started moving his hand over it as if seeing how smooth it was. After what seemed like an eternity he got up and came over, his face pointing directly into mine.
"Why are people so cruel?"
"If you mean because you can't see, believe me they're not. They just don't understand and what people don't understand frightens them. After you had your accident, when you first opened your eyes, did it frighten you because even with your eyes open everything was dark? They see you and don't know what to say, so they back away. It isn't you! When I first spoke to you I didn't know that you couldn't see. But because I had spoken to you it helped me understand you, so it wasn't as much of a shock." I'm not a psychologist so playing this by ear was rather difficult.
"You'll never be alone as long as you have your memories and someone to talk to. Me an outsider spoke to you ... you are not and never will be alone." Before another word could be spoken, the others came over still nattering.
"Did you guys have fun?" Mary was the first to speak. "Mrs. Walters tells me she has a smart one, the one sitting next to you." Alan beamed at the compliment.
"Hey, don't give him a big head." I said. Alan laughed, seemed to look at everyone and then stuck his tongue out.
It had been a good day and a rewarding one. Alan was slowly becoming my sidekick. Life, I suspected, was going to get very interesting.
That night at home, Mary commented on how impressed she was with the way Kathy ran the home. "It's run in such a way that the kids feel like they belong. Not just in another orphanage to make up the numbers. She really cares for those kids and it shows. The atmosphere is one of being laid back, but there's always something for them to do; TV, board games, video games, DVD. And that doesn't include the activities they have at the back ... and they have the park. I think she's doing a fantastic job there.
"Tracy gets a little time to herself now that her brother has someone else to occupy him. She wouldn't let anything happen to him, she absolutely adores her brother."
Breakfast was a quiet affair, Mary didn't seem her usual self. I saw Mary off, then rang the office and told them I wouldn't be in today, but if they needed me they knew where I'd be, I then went into my study and waded through a mountain of paperwork. I had just made something to drink when there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and exclaimed, "Bill Evans! What in heavens are you doing here?"
"I was in the area, so I thought I'd call in."
"Come in. So, how's the doctor business? Millionaire yet? Coffee be okay?"
"Fine. I hear our local mayoress is filing for divorce, just wondered if you were the one handing out advice?" Then he gave an evil smile. "So what have you been up to?"
"Nothing much. After your divorce case I had a re-think about where my firm was going." I couldn't help but laugh at the look I got. "It's been a tough week. While I was checking out the area I got to know this kid, he's blind. It's kinda hit a nerve."
"What's this? You've found out that you have a heart? A lawyer with a conscience?" He then laughed.
"Ho, ho, ho, it just doesn't seem right. Kids should be into everything, coming home dirty, even being cheeky now and again. But this kid looks like he has the whole world on his shoulders. Damn it, Bill! He's only nine years old."
"Okay, okay. Don't bite my head off."
"When I found out about his sight I was surprised. I spoke to him afterwards about his not being able to see, he never complained once, he just wanted to know why people ignored him or didn't care. He smiled one day, it was so radiant you could have daylight even when it's dark." We were drinking coffee when Mary walked in. She looked across the room to see another person keeping our settee warm.
"This is Bill Evans." She walked over, said hello, took her coat off, then walked into the kitchen.
"Would anyone like a refill?" We both refused. She came back in carrying some biscuits and her drink. Halfway through tea, Bill got a call on his mobile.
"Sorry, guys, I have to go," he said, an emergency at the hospital. We said our goodbyes with a promise to get together again, then he was gone.
We cleaned everything away, then sat with our own private thoughts in silence. Dinner came and went. We sat on the back porch with a glass of wine, laughing at the fun we'd had with the kids when we went to the park. Mary didn't quite seem herself as we locked up to go to bed. Upstairs she washed and brushed, then got in bed. She turned over, not a word being said, and went to sleep. Sleep was slow in coming for me. I knew something was wrong with Mary, but whatever was troubling her I'd just have to wait to find out...