Year 1
Look, it Fits!
Prosthetically, that is!
Yes, it’s me, Izzy…. I know, hard to think you’d hear from me again
, right? Well, you have, and everyone else, too, eventually! I am doing well, well, for me, anyway. My family is doing well, too. My father is making plans to put in the pool this summer, if not next summer.
Francie is still a little jealous of me, at times. I think it was because I still needed some help from my mother and my father, and it took attention away from her. It seems better now though, different. I feel more confident about who I am, as a person. I rarely lope into those depressed states anymore, especially recently.
Mrs. Hughes-Pinke had her baby, whom she named Mackenzie. I haven’t seen her since I left the hospital. I thought about something as I sat in the den at home one day, about the needlepoint, the custom one of the tree I just finished. I thought it might look good in her nursery, maybe. At that instant, I thought of searching the phonebook for her number, to try and arrange a meeting with her. I used my crutches to go to where the phone and the phonebook were, and searched. I found her quickly. I dialed her number and waited.
“Hello?” Mrs. Hughes-Pincke answered.
“Hi,” I began. “It’s me, Isobel Linguard, from the hospital.”
“Oh,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if we could meet up sometime,” I continued. “I have something that I thought would be wonderful for Mackenzie’s nursery.”
“Oh, wonderful!” Mrs. Hughes-Pinke exclaimed. “Are you free today?”
“I have physiotherapy with Adelia at 3pm,” I responded. “I’m swimming now.”
“All right,” she said. “That’s fine with me. I can pick you up for lunch!”
“Sounds good,” I said. “It’s nice to hear from you, Mrs. Hughes-Pinke.”
“Please call me Helen,” Helen responded.
“Only if you call me, Izzy,” I bargained.
“Deal!” Helen exclaimed enthusiastically. “I’ll drop you off at the hospital, after we go for lunch.”
“Ok,” I said. “I’ll call my mother to tell her to only pick me up from swim.”
“All right,” Helen said. “See you soon!”
We hung up then. I called my mother at her work and told her of my plans. She was absolutely ecstatic I was meeting up with someone from the hospital. After I did that, I went into my room and grabbed the finished needlepoint. I grabbed a gift bag from a stash I found, and some tissue paper to wrap it with. I then heard tires on the driveway that signaled her arrival.
“Come in!” I yelled.
The door opened then, and I was just approaching from the hallway.
“You ready to go?” Helen asked.
“Yes, I am,” I told her.
I sat in the front seat of her van and marveled at the difference in situation now. Helen was simply a friend to me now, not a medical professional. It’s surreal how that happens. Time elapses, and situations change. I was definitely feeling odd at the camaraderie between us now.
We arrived at the restaurant then. She told the greeter we wanted a table for two. The greeter, who’s name I found out was Danielle, lead us to a booth style table. She left then, and the server took her place.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” the server babbled on. “My name is Angela, and I am going to be your server today. Can I start you both off with something to drink?”
“I’ll have a coke,” I replied.
“I’ll just have water for now,” Helen said. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Angela said. “I’ll be back with your drinks. Do you two need more time to think about what to order?”
“Yes, please,” Helen and I responded at the exact same time.
“All right then,” Angela replied. “I’ll be back with your drinks.”
She left then, but returned a few moments later to give us our drinks. We ordered then. I ordered a slice of pizza with garlic bread. Helen ordered a ravioli dish. We waited patiently for our food to arrive.
“So,” Helen went on. “You said you had something for me?”
“I do, indeed,” I said.
I handed over the gift bag, hoping she’d like it as much as I enjoyed making it. She unwrapped it and studied it for a long minute, then returned it to its gift bag.
“Thank you!” Helen exclaimed. “It’s beautiful! I’ve seen similar pieces at the Treasure Trove, but this is far better.”
“No problem!” I beamed. “I made it myself, start to finish!”
“Wow!” Helen said in awe.
The rest of lunch sped by, then sadly, it was time for me to head to physiotherapy. I was having too much fun, and yet, I used to remember, even two months before now, I used to hate exposing myself. I was humiliated with how different I looked now. Now, however, I’m learning, slowly, to embrace any changes coming my way.
Helen drove me to the front of the hospital. I could tell she had something else to ask me, but she was shy about it. I got out of the car and so did she.
“Thank you for lunch,” I said.
“No problem,” she replied. “I do have one more question for you though.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“I was wondering,” she continued nervously, “if you’d be Mackenzie’s godmother!”
“Wow!” I exclaimed in shock. “Really?”
“Yes,” she said matter-of-factly.
“I’d love to!” I beamed.
“Good!” she exclaimed.
She left then, and I headed to the pool’s change room to get ready for therapy with Adelia. Once I walked onto the pool deck, she noticed my excitement.
“What’s got you so excited today?” Adelia asked, curious.
“You know Helen, right?” I continued, as I got into the pool.
“Yes, of course,” Adelia beamed. “She just gave birth to Mackenzie.”
“Yes,” I replied. “Well, I saw her for lunch today. When she dropped me off here, she asked if I’d want to be Mackenzie’s godmother!”
“Oh my Lord!” Adelia said astonished. “That’s one reason to be very excited indeed! Now, however, it’s time to work!”
Swimming ended, and my mother came to pick me up from the hospital. this was routine now. She drove me home in silence, and I usually just would look out the window.
Oh, I guess I haven’t mentioned about Rosemunde, or Tony. I’m still a part of the paper, enjoying every minute of it. Another thing that’s different is Deborah and Tony broke up not too long ago. I’m not sure why, exactly. Although, I had some suspicion it had to do with me, and my presence. I don’t know why it happens that way, but it does. From what I could tell, Tony was the one to break up with Deborah.
****
I woke up early on Wednesday morning and got ready for school quickly. I dressed in a pair of jeans, and a sleeveless shirt. I combed through my tattered hair, and went to eat breakfast. My mother left food on the counter for me to choose from. I only wanted a bagel this morning. Tony had offered to drive me to school everyday now, and my mother finally got used to the idea of a boy driving me to school, let alone, anywhere after what had happened.
Tony arrived shortly after I was finished. It was nice feeling somewhat normal again, well except for one exception. I wasn’t really talking to Suzy, Lisa, or Lauren much at all. Suzy was still with Marco. I didn’t see what she saw in him. She was trying to be the voice of reason for what he did to me, trying to say there was apology there. I really disbelieved it, and hoped, someday, something brutal paid a visit to Marco. Maybe Suzy would cry, sob, whatever, but I didn’t care. Yes, very cold-hearted of me, but having very few people in my support system as I fell to pieces at the thought of my stump, Suzy wasn’t there.
“Hey, Izzy!” Tony exclaimed. “You ok to stay after school for the paper today?”
“Of course,” I said. “Where else would I be?”
“Well, I knew you told me something about an appointment?” Tony questioned.
“Oh,” I replied. “That’s not until Friday. I won’t be at school Friday, all day.”
“Oh, right!” Tony slapped his forehead as he remembered this. “What are you doing Friday evening?”
“Well, since it’s my mother’s birthday on Saturday, I’d like to go to the Treasure Trove,” I went on. “Problem is, I don’t know how to do it secretively. My father said he’d be working late, and well, since it’s for my mother…”
“I’ll take you,” Tony offered. “I’d like to spend some time with you outside of school, and the newspaper.”
“Gee, thanks Tony!” I exclaimed.
“What time are your appointments finished for that day?” Tony asked, eyeing me now.
“My last appointment is at 2:30pm,” I replied. “The Treasure Trove closes early on Fridays though.”
“What time does it close?” Tony asked, worry creasing his forehead. “I thought it was open till 8pm.”
“Oh,” I said. “I guess the hours changed. How to explain where I’m going though?”
“Leave that to me,” Tony replied with a smile.
We were at the school now. I grabbed my crutches and got out. I saw Rosemunde standing by the front door of the school, waiting for me. Her and I had homeroom together. I got all my assignments completed for homeroom, and my other classes too. I felt so much ahead of myself now. Recovery makes you have a lot of time on your hands.
The morning sped by. I only had two more classes until newspaper. Newspaper was something I never pictured myself being involved in, but I was, and I liked it. I wrote articles, upon articles, upon articles and it was exhausting sometimes. Rosemunde and I walked to the cafeteria together in silence. Once I got my lunch, and Rosemunde hers, we found a table.
“So,” Rosemunde began. “You do realize you’ve been dreamy in thought lately.”
“Yes, what about that?” I hedged, somewhat in irritation.
“Is it about Tony?” Rosemunde asked casually.
“Uh huh,” I spilled out. “I still wonder why Deborah and him aren’t together though. It seemed to click into place with them.”
“Oh, Izzy!” Rosemunde looked at me, as if I should notice something obvious. “Haven’t you realized he likes you?”
“Sort of,” I replied tentatively. “Gees Rosemunde, you’re way to observant.”
“Well,” she went on, waiting for me to say something more.
I didn’t though. She was right on so many fronts, but how could I be sure? I mean, before Tony really knew the bad side of Marco, he used to coexist with him, like a friend. Now, after what happened, he understood a very different face to Marco, drunk, reckless, stupid… I was glad of that. Rosemunde continued eating, but kept eyeing me suspiciously, almost like she could see into my thoughts. Rosemunde was way too perceptive sometimes. I loved that, and I hated it in the same instant.
The rest of the day sped in a blur, even newspaper. I could see Deborah’s pained face as she interacted with Tony, when the paper demanded it. She had this distant pain that I couldn’t recognize. It was almost as if, her pain was as though I had stolen Tony from her. I felt sickly sorry in that instant, but I couldn’t deny how she felt about my interactions with Tony now, closer than ever. She’d eye me speculatively as she worked, and I worked, on our perspective sections of the paper, submitting to the editor today.
After Tony dropped of the articles that were finished, he drove me home. I wanted to ask him so many questions about Deborah’s behaviour, but I didn’t know how to begin. I sat in silence, deep in thought. He took me out of my revery, startled me, actually.
“I supposed you noticed Deborah’s expressions today,” he began.
“Yes,” I replied. “What happened?”
“Well,” Tony continued hesitantly. “You can’t date someone when the feelings aren’t mutual.”
“True,” I replied. “Whose feelings changed?”
“Mine,” Tony continued matter-of-factly. “I ended it so she wouldn’t be expecting more from me.”
“What? Really?” I said, astonished. “What now?”
“My feelings are with someone whom I asked to be a part of the paper, but this someone had to think about it,” Tony winked in my direction.
My mouth fell open in shock.
“I’m sorry,” Tony apologized. “I’m sorry if that’s not what you feel.”
I still couldn’t speak. Yes, the feelings were there, but I didn’t know how prominent.
“Don’t apologize,” I finally said. “I’m just surprised.”
“I can understand that,” Tony continued. “Are you ok with this?”
“Yes,” I replied. “You’ll have to gently keep reminding me I’m not in shock.”
“I can do that!” Tony smiled. “I’m patient too, you know.”
“Thanks,” that’s all I could say.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “It’s no problem at all.”
I was back at the house then. Tony helped get my crutches to me once I was out of the car. After a long moment, he got back in his car and drove away.
****
Friday! Friday! Friday! I can’t believe it’s Friday! Today is swimming, and getting my prosthetic day! My mother drove me to the hospital. I went into the change room to get ready for swim. I keep hoping swimming flies in a blur.
“You look excited again,” Adelia commented.
“Today I get my prosthetic!” I exclaimed excitedly.
“Oh, right!” Adelia said, remembering.
I finished the rest of my swim time. I enjoyed swimming, the freeness I felt. I was always at ease when I swam, and worked on my exercises. Now it was time to get my prosthetic. I’m excited about that!! I sat there and waited for Dr. Carstairs to call my name. Finally, it was time!
“Good afternoon, Dr. Carstairs,’ my mother said pleasantly.
“Hello,” he said. “Are you ready, Isobel?”
“I am ready beyond belief,” I said.
Hey look! It fits! It all became more clear to me. I finally had my prosthetic, what I’ve been noticing is I actually could walk now, like actually walk! It felt so different trading my crutches, for canes. It just felt odd to me. I loved the new-found freedom. I’m excited for my future… my endless future!