Chapter 9 - Things Are Looking Up
Simon went home with Alvin and the others. When they got to the house, Dave was just getting out of his car after a day at work. He saw the smile that Simon had on his face. He couldn't help but smile himself.
"So how was school?" Dave asked.
"It was okay, especially after lunch." Simon replied. His friends smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Well, thats good." Dave said.
They all went into the house. Dave was carrying a box.
"Whats that, Dave?" Theodore asked.
"Its a present for you guys." Dave said.
Dave gave them the box. They opened it and gasped.
"Wow! The new Rock Band game!" Alvin exclaimed. The boys had been wanting that game for a while.
"Thanks, Dave!" Theodore said. Alvin, Theodore and the Chipettes bolted up the stairs, leaving Simon behind. At the top, Jeanette stopped.
"Are we forgetting something?" she asked.
They all turned their heads around and looked down the staircase. Simon was sitting at the bottom, staring at his shoes.
"We forgot Simon!" Eleanor said.
They ran back down the stairs towards Simon. They could see small tears running down his face.
"We're sorry, Simon." Theodore said.
"Yeah, I guess we got so excited, that we forgot about you and the stairs thing." Alvin said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Its okay," Simon said. He turned his chair around towards the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Brittany asked.
"In the kitchen with Dave" Simon replied.
"But, don't you want to play the game?"
"No, not really. You guys go play. I'll stay down here." Simon left for the kitchen. The others watched as he rolled away before the slowly headed up the stairs.
The day went on and Simon sat around downstairs. He watched some TV, did a little homework, but mostly he just sat. He noticed that somehow, it felt like their house had been split into two parts; a happy side and a sad side.
Simon's friends were upstairs playing their new video game, while Simon and Dave were downstairs, going about their day quietly. Dave didn't seem to mind sitting around watching TV, Reading the newspaper and taking a nap, but Simon was bored. When the phone rang, Simon was quick to roll as fast as he could over to the telephone and pick up the receiver.
''Seville residence, Simon Seville speaking, how may I help you?'' Simon said into the phone.
''Hello, there, Simon! This is Dr. Martin. Could I speak to Dave, please?'' The Voice of Dr. Martin said on the other end.
Simon sighed. ''Sure. Here you go'' He said at the same time as motioning Dave to come over. When Dave took the receiver, Simon slowly and unenthusiastically wheeled over to the couch, where he lifted himself off the Chair onto the comfortable cushion.
''Hello?'' Dave said.
''Hello Dave. This is Dr. Martin. I'm calling about a serious matter we need to discuss. It's regarding your son's monthly check up. He's going to have to have one of those every month from now on'' Dr Martin responded.
''Oh, alright'' Dave said. ''When should we come in?'' Dave asked.
''I'm free on the 21st, if that's alright with you'' was Dr. Martin's reply.
''Alright. I'll tell Simon. Goodbye, Dr. Martin'' Dave said.
''Goodbye, Dave. I'll see you then'' was the last sentence of the phone call
*Click*
Dave walked back over to Simon on the couch. He told him about the check up, but Simon didn't really seem to care. Dave thought he knew what Simon's mood was about.
''Simon...'' Dave said. ''You shouldn't have to sit down here while the others are upstairs playing their video game'' He continued.
''But Dave'' Simon began. ''I would only be a burden on my friends. They don't want to have to lug me around everywhere they go and it's not as if they can carry me up the stairs when I need to get up'' Simon said with a sad tone of despair in his voice.
''Simon!'' Dave said loudly. ''Don't you dare think that's true! You could never be a burden on your friends. You are a very nice, very smart and very fun little boy. Just because you're paralyzed doesn't mean you're any different than what you used to be!''
Simon's expression lit up slightly.
''You are still the Sweet, Loveable Simon that I know and Love. You are still you, and that's never going to change. Now you're going to come with me upstairs and we're going to have some fun'' Dave said with a smile.
Simon looked up at Dave and smiled slightly. ''You know what? I think you're right, Dave'' He said, with a small sense of triumph in his voice.
With that, Dave picked Simon and the wheelchair up and carried both up the stairs. He put Simon down in the hallway, and put him in his chair. Simon rolled over to the door and looked back for a few seconds and smiled before opening the door and heading inside. The sounds of laughter could soon be heard and rock music filled the upper level of the house as they enjoyed the rest of the day together.
''Maybe this isn't going to be so bad after all'' Simon thought to himself as he lay in bed that night and Dave turned out the lights.
