Finke 5

Nicole Finke

Mr. Snyder

English 9

29 September 2017

The Living Cane

Have you ever wondered what it's like for someone to be an inanimate object one day and a person the next? I do, because I used to be one. I used to be a white cane. Now I'm a human. But just because I'm not an actual cane anymore, doesn't mean I won't be around to help blind people get around. It's my passion. It's my job. You may be wondering: How are you human? I'll tell you.

*Dramatic Flashback*

I remember being turned human like it was yesterday. My owner was a girl. She was the best owner a cane could have. Most of the others wished their owners were like her. But no, most white canes in this school are treated poorly. We'll always help those people no matter how bad we're treated. It's our job to be there for the kids. Anyways, the owner had a boyfriend. He was the whole reason I'm human. Apparently, he used to be a dream demon they called Bill Cipher.

One day, my owner and Bill were hanging out on a courtyard near their dorms. My owner had me with her. "Hey, Bill." My owner said. "Yes?" The said replied. "White Cane Day is coming up…" My owner said. Now that I'm human, I guess you could call White Cane Day my birthday. Bill seemed to be lost in thought. He then looked at my nonliving state and back to my owner and said: "I've got an idea, but you have to trust me on this one." He told my owner. She nodded her head very slowly. "Here, let me see your cane." Bill said to my owner. She complied and gave me to her boyfriend. Bill walked away from my owner a few yards.

"You might want to stay back…this is a reincarnation process." Bill told my owner. A few moments later, I felt a drastic amount of energy. Something was happening to me. About five minutes later, I found myself on the ground again. Why did Bill drop me? I opened my eyes. Wait! I wasn't supposed to have eyes.

I then found myself able to move. I sat up and looked around. I wasn't aware of what was happening. I then looked at a window. I was shocked at what I saw in my reflection. I…was a human. I stood up. Well, tried to that is. I ended up falling back down right on my bottom.

My legs were too weak for me to walk. My owner and Bill came running over to me. Bill tapped me on the shoulder. I yelped. I didn't see Bill or my owner running towards me. Bill looked at me weirdly for a second before shaking his head. "How do you feel?" Bill asked. I looked at him.

"A little weak, but otherwise fine. Except my feet really hurts, though…" I answered. My voice sounded as if it was rarely used. I looked at myself in the window. I had black shoulder length hair, hazel eyes, and was pale. I wore a white shirt that had a unhuman eye crossed out with a X. I also wore red pants and green shoes. I looked at Bill. "I thought you would want to celebrate your special day…" he said.

I smiled. "Thanks…" I croaked. "We should probably go get you some food and water." My owner told me. "And Tylenol." Bill added. Since you've been swept when you were a cane, your feet might be super sore from that exhaustion. My owner looked guilty. "It's fine," I said. "It's my job." We then went back to the dorms. I had to go with Bill because I'm considered a "Male". I had something to eat and went to a room and rested for the night.

The next day…

I went with my owner to her first few classes, nervous. Just because I was human doesn't mean I'm not her guide anymore. Third period, I was called to an office. It was the O&M instructors' office. The people who taught the students how to use their canes properly. I was honored. I needed to meet them. I didn't exactly know how to deal with this situation. Five minutes later, I was standing in front of their door. I knocked on it three times.

Two of the O&M instructors were in their shared office. Both of them looked up. One widened their eyes in shock when they saw me. The other franticly gestured me to come in. I entered the office. I felt awkward. It was most likely the fact that I was a human-turned cane standing before the very people who was in charge of the other canes and me. I scratched my head before saying: "Ummm…how-I don't know what to say…" "Take a seat and get comfortable. You might be here for a while. We have so much to ask you about." One of them told me.

I complied and sat in a random chair. The O&M instructors looked at me. It was like they were examining me. The two O&M instructors introduced themselves. One was named Ms. Hunt and the other was named Ms. Pangle. "We would like to talk to…you about your experience as a former cane…" Ms. Hunt explained. I nodded. "First priority, how exactly did you end up like this?" she asked.

"Ummm…Do you know someone named Bill Cipher?" I asked. Both O&M instructors nodded. "He used his magic didn't he?" asked Ms. Pangle. I nodded. Ms. Pangle face palmed. "Okay, tell us how you feel about being a cane." Ms. Hunt said. I complied.

"Being a cane means a lot to me because my job is to help blind kids get around places safely and to live independently. According to experts, the other canes and I are very important to the blind community. That's why we celebrate the canes. The reason why we are white is so we could be more noticeable by other people. It is very important that we help the blind get around places so they could be more independent. A priority for the blind is to be as independent as possible, so we benefit that by being there for the blind community. All in all, it's just our jobs and passions to keep the blind safe and help them get around without help." I explained.

Ms. Hunt and Ms. Pangle smiled. "You want to come to the upcoming assembly? We could use a living cane like you…" Ms. Pangle offered. I nodded. "It'll be my honor." White Cane Day is a very important day to the blind community. Just ask Steven, the living cane. White Cane Day celebrates how important the white cane is to the blind. They help us live our everyday lives. As you all heard from Steven, the white canes honor helping the blind live their lives safely and independently.

I hope Steven taught you that White Cane Day is important to the blind