Mv Auggie story part 4
The technicians had been busy and had installed the adaptive technology. The computer with speech control was installed, a document reader was available on the desk and the phone keys had Braille marks. Even the Braille keyboard was installed and connected with the computer. Joan had selected the desk for Auggie .With a little advice of the rehabilitation centre staff, the choice had been easier for her. She had chosen a round desk made of glass in order to avoid unnecessary injuries by edges and corners. The cables and wires were perfectly hidden, so that a sightless person would not trip over them.
Joan walked around the now perfectly equipped office. She was glad that Auggie would come back soon. However, she was still a little unsure and skeptical regarding Auggie´s capabilities in his "new condition". She still could not believe that a blind person, even if they had enjoyed a perfect education, could be as capable and efficient as anybody else. She had to give it some time. She and Auggie had to get used to the new situation. Like most of the office rooms Auggie´s office had huge windows with a view of the lawns and the park close-by. Taking in the view, Joan felt a little sad. She knew that Auggie would never enjoy that view. He had seemed to be so vulnerable when she had visited him a the rehab facility.
Auggie was nervous and fumbled with his tie. He stood out of pure habit in front of the bathroom mirror and prepared himself for the day ahead. How many times had he adjusted a tie? But this time everything was different. For the first time in his life he had to make a tie knot without seeing. Since his accident he had not worn ties and before the visit in Joan´s office, someone at the facility had helped him with the procedure. With the help of the Braille tags on his clothes he had chosen the shirt he wanted to wear. It was light-blue and had dark blue stripes. The dark-blue tie and the blue Jeans matched and made his outfit perfect. At first sight Auggie looked as he always did. People who had not seen him for a while, would not guess what he had gone through in the last 8 months. Only his unfocused gaze when he talked to someone gave away his handicap. Finally Auggie had finished the tie knot. With a few brush strokes he combed his wavy hair and went back to the bedroom to grab the jacket from the bed and went straight away into the kitchen. A last sip from the coffee cup on the kitchen counter and it was time to leave. Outside, he already heard the honking horn of the taxi he had called. He took his cane from the dresser next to the door and left. "Good morning Mr. Anderson" greeted the driver and Auggie walked towards the sound of the voice he had just heard. Without any problem he found the car door with his cane and settled into the back seat. During the drive, Auggie got more and more nervous. He had spent so many years in Langley but this was absolutely new ground for him. Coming back blind to his office was a true challenge for him. He started to feel unsure. A feeling , that he had not known before. Would he be able to deal with the daily demands of his job although he could not see anymore? How would old and new colleagues react to a blind person? Auggie hated nothing more than pity and the feeling of dependence. And then, there was his damned pride. At the rehab facility they had taught him to put his pride aside and to accept help if it was necessary. The life of a blind person could sometimes be strenuous. Everything required more time than before and even with special training, some things did not work without help. This feeling of dependence still bothered him and he still avoided to use the term "blind" when he talked about himself. He could not see anymore but he had not really and entirely accepted his condition. He preferred to say "I cannot see". This way to describe his condition, made him feel better and gave him some hope that his sight was not gone forever.
Arriving in Langley the taxi stopped right in front of the entrance. Auggie had the layout of the building pat down but despite that, he felt a bit insecure. He paid the driver, unfolded his cane again and walked to the door. His cane was now a steady companion and his "best friend" as they had taught him in rehab. But very often he hated the cane even if he knew, that he could not do without it. The idea to use the cane at work did not really please him. He did not want to be the centre of attention He wanted that everybody looked at him as they did before. But above all, he wanted them to see him as capable and efficiently working person. He needed to prove that. He could not go to the field anymore but his knowledge and his strategies when planning a mission could be of enormous value for the others. After 5 minutes he reached Joan´s office. He knocked and when he heard "come in" he entered the room. "Auggie" Joan stood from her desk and shook his hand. " I am so glad to see you again" Auggie smiled and turned his head into Joan´s direction. " I am happy, too to be back again" he said. "Okay, let´s go into your new office" Joan touched Auggie´s arm as he had taught her and he took her elbow and let her guide him. In his new office Auggie started to get acquainted with the room layout. He counted the steps from the desk to the door, from the desk to the window, from the window to the shelf etc. After 20 minutes he had a picture of his new office and took a seat on his desk chair. His first job was to guide a new female agent through her first mission. Via phone he would give her instructions and tips. It was the first important job for him and he hoped, that he would meet all the expectations and demands. On his desk he found all necessary information printed out in Braille and he immediately started to read the files with his fingertips. After about 30 minutes he had developed a strategy how he could help the new agent. Now he waited impatiently for her arrival. He was curious whether he would manage two challenges on one day at a time.
