emergency room staff, and they were off.
As was to be expected, Rita had a lot of trouble getting a full night's sleep. The simple act of rolling over in bed now required her to stand up first. She also slept without wearing any pajama bottoms, so as not to have to wake her mother to help her go to the bathroom. Little did the girl know, that this would turn out to be the beginning of an odyssey that would change her life in ways that stretched way beyond mere physical challenges.
Another morning
Ian spent a better part of the morning and afternoon with his new friends from the other school, practicing his BMX skills. On Saturdays, the Schoolyard at Hasting was teeming with cyclers, skateboarders and rollerbladers of every conceivable age, color, shape and size. It’s a fiesta for the extremists.Slowly but surely, Ian was beginning to fall less and less, and acquiring more skills, as well as navigating the ramps with more panache. Finally, he had discovered an athletic skill that he was reasonably good at, and actually had the potential to excel at. He began to have more confidence in himself. He had the talent. Here, Ian was treated as an equal. People only knew him as ‘Ian.’ Whenever he fell, there was always an arm reaching out to help him up, and if someone else fell close to him, he did the same. His only complaint about the place was that not many girls to be seen around. Polo wasn't in attendance this particular day, but Freddy and Sonia were. At around 2:35, Ian and the two of them cycled down to the mall, where he treated them to a slice of pizza like he had promised earlier. It was the least he could do for all their help.
"So which one of you told your principal about me?" asked Ian.
"Actually Ian, he was looking out at the yard from his office window, and noticed an unfamiliar face," explained Freddy. "When we all went in, he asked if you were related to any of us. I believe it was Polo who told him that you were just some kid from Alamanda, who prefers biking to whatever it is they do over there for p.e."
"Freddy, is there any chance I can meet him sometime? I'd like to thank him for not chasing me out of there."
"Sure, he's a pretty cool guy," said Sonia. "So did you get in a lot of trouble when he called up your principal?"
"Strangely enough, no I didn't." Ian looked down. "The fact is, the faculty at my school just considered this to be an exodus from my problems."
"Are you telling us you have a reputation for being a trouble-maker over there?" Sonia asked, skeptically.
"'No, Sonia. Troublemaker' isn't quite the right word. I think 'screw-up' might be more accurate."
Freddy and Sonia both took another bite of their pizza slices. They were at a loss. How could anybody have so much ill will towards such a good guy?
"Can you give us a specific example?" asked Freddy.
Ian swallowed a bite of pizza. "Remember the way I was attempting to do some moves on my bike, before you invited me on to the yard?"
"Yup."
"Don’t laugh but that was pretty much an accurate representation of my skills at history and math, as well."
Meanwhile, the situation at Rita's house was a little different. Phoebe, Betty and Trish had all come to visit, and the girls basically all did what they normally did when they didn't have any homework projects to work on. They watched a little TV, and played a couple of computer games. Rita had to get used to using the joystick at arm's length, which was awkward, but workable. Eventually, she got used to the idea of relying on the other girls to feed her . Drinking was a bit easier, via the use of a straw.
The fair will be opened tomorrow, and Rita wouldn't be going, for numerous reasons. Pretty much impossible in her current state to enjoy the games. Mainly, she just would feel too vulnerable with her arms outstretched like a zombie. This was principally going to be a week of catching up on revision, movies, and keeping her blog up to date. Typing with one hand was of course, proving to be a bit of a chore, but one she had no choice Her dad was out of town on business, so, there was no way of getting around the fact that her mother was needed at the family restaurant on Sunday. That was the one day that most of the other workers there had their day off, and it was much too short notice to hire any experienced kitchen help. Rather than hire some stranger to look after Rita, her mother had reached a deal with the three girls. She offered them each a salary to take turns staying at the house in two hour shifts tomorrow. Trish would be there from 11:00 to 1:00, Betty would be there from 1:00 to 3:00 and Phoebe would be there from 3:00 to 5:00. So the three of them wouldn't be at the fair together during the day. At least after 5:00 they could all regroup there, if they wanted. The fireworks display didn't start until 6:30.
Little did Rita know that the next day would turn out to be even more challenging than the previous one had been.
Next day
10.50 am
Trish showed up at Rita's house promptly. Rita’s mom headed out to the family restaurant, and the two girls immediately started talking about the usual stuff that girls talk about when they get together. Boys, fashion, make-up, music. After about twenty minutes or so, the girls sat down in the main room.
"Oops, this thing sure is out of the way," observed Trish as she eyed the big grandfather clock.
"I know Trish,” acknowledged Rita. “A very distant cousin died a couple of weeks ago, and left it to us in his will. If you ask me, all it does is get in the way. Who would be glad to have this monstrous monument stuck in their path? As soon as my dad gets home from his business trip, we're going to sell it to an antiques dealer."
The two girls switched on the television, and channel surfed for a few minutes, before settling on what appeared to be a made-for-television light comedy, which was perfect for the occasion. They need something to laugh at. Neither of them really felt like getting lost in anything too intellectual at the moment, and besides, Trish would probably wind up having to leave before it ended.
11:43 am
After about forty minutes, both the girls grew tired. Rita was about to suggest that they change the channel, when Trish decided that now would be a good time to bring up a subject she had wanted to discuss yesterday, but just couldn't find the right moment.
"Rita, can I ask you something personal?"
Rita immediately sensed the seriousness in her voice. "Sure, put the television on mute." She turned, and gave her friend her undivided attention. "What's up?"
"I noticed that you were laughing pretty hard during Steven and Ian's class assignment last Friday."
The thought of this, instantly brought a smile to Rita’s face. "Even if you think those two are a couple of geeks, you've got to admit that their presentation just amazing."
"Well, I will admit it certainly wasn't boring."
Rita was now intrigued by Trish's somewhat pensive facial expression. It just might've been the first time she had ever seen the usually jovial girl not smiling. "So what is this personal question you wanted to ask?"
Trish paused for about five seconds, and then just blurted it out. "Rita, do you believe in God?"
Rita made it a point to look her friend right in the eye. "No." This induced about ten more seconds of awkward silence.
Finally, Trish broke the quiet, "I suppose you don't want to elaborate on that . Fine with me." Trish picked up the remote control, and resumed watching. After about ten seconds, Rita decided that she owed her friend a little more of an explanation.
"Trish, shut that off," instructed Rita. She did so. " The fact is, I do not believe there is any kind of superior being watching over us, and if there is, nobody owes him, her, or it, anything." Rita looked off in a different direction, and muttered half to herself and half out loud. "You reach a certain age in life, and it's time to stop having imaginary friends."
"Well I do believe in God," Trish didn't feel like letting the conversation die, just yet. "And I'm really thankful for my health, my family and my fr
iends...including you."
"Okay, but what about the people in this world who don't have health, family or friends?
"Well surely Rita, I can understand why they wouldn't believe in God. I'm just a little puzzled as to why somebody as blessed as you wouldn't want to believe in him."
"Well, Trish, I'm sure you've heard that famous expression, 'I was sad because I had no shoes, until I saw a man with no feet'?"
"Yup, of course I've heard that."
"I don't know about you, but if I were sad because I had no shoes, and then I saw some guy with no feet, I'd be even sadder.”
“Funny for you to have to think in that direction.” Said Trish.
"Rita, aren't you at least thankful that you have people who are willing to help you, while you're stuck in that cast?"
"I don't owe any thanks to God for that, I owe thanks to you. Think about all the people who are incapacitated who don't have anyone to look after them while they're convalescing."
Trish didn't know what else to say. She just switched the t.v. back on. Actually, she was not giving it any attention. Trish casually glanced out the window that was near her end of the couch. A lone figure was approaching on a bicycle in the distance. Even from all the distance at the end of the block, the brightly coloured striped shirt with the white collar made it fairly easy to guess