The Disbanded: Divided We Stand-Chapter 21
By MyNameIsCAB
---Max's POV---
"There's still a few more days until the circus opens," Cal informed us as we checked in to our hotel.
"So what do we plan on doing?" Mike asked.
Cal looked up at Mike. "I'm on break now for Christmas. Can we go to the beach?"
"Sure," Mike seemed to like that idea. "I haven't been to a beach with an ocean in years."
"Okay, beach. Tomorrow then, right?" Eli suggested.
I didn't have a problem with the beach. At least it would be a little warmer here. Fang looked a little disgruntled now.
"Oh, don't worry, Fang," I smiled. "We'll carry you again."
Messina and I busted out laughing, and even Fang gave a small smile. We were remembering how we had looked so stupid struggling to get Fang off the beach by Boston.
"What?" Mike looked confused.
"You wouldn't understand," Cal whispered, patting Mike's arm and shaking her head.
Eli distributed the room keys. I was with Fang, Cal was with Messina, and Mike and Eli both had separate rooms.
"We'll meet in an hour at the lobby to go get dinner," Messina announced.
"Okay, Adios for now!" Mike waved even though he was just across the hall.
"Adios," Fang muttered.
Our hotel room was pretty decent. It had a TV, a good sized bathroom, and a queen bed that looked really comfy. Fang wheeled over to the corner and pulled out his crutch which Mike had made something to attach it to the wheelchair. He started towards the couch and sat down, turning on the TV.
"Turn the news on," I said.
"Sure." I heard the TV turn on. A newscaster was talking about some explosion that killed three soldiers in Iraq. Nothing new really.
I stuck our backpacks in the closet, pulling out Fang's meds so he could bring them to dinner.
"Thanks," he said, taking them from me. He took out a couple from each canister and placed it into a smaller container in his pocket, and then put the canisters on the table.
Fang was fidgety in the elevator. Neither of us liked elevators. It reminded us of being trapped in cages at the School. I think we both breathed a sigh of relief after getting out and seeing Cal and Messina waiting outside for us.
"You guys don't like small spaces much, do you?" Cal asked.
"No, I guess not," Fang answered with a sigh. "I mean, it reminds us of being locked in cages."
"You got locked in cages?" Cal looked shocked.
"Yea, when they were being experimented on," Messina answered for me.
---Fang's POV---
"How many people?"
I looked up at the hostess for the restaurant we had just gone into. Couldn't he count?
"Six people," Max answered politely.
The guy looked down at me, frowning. "If you haven't notice, space is limited here."
"Well, then you can give us that nice table in the window," Mike pointed out.
"I'm sorry, that table is reserved," the guy frowned, his nametag read Frank.
I looked at the space between the tables. It definitely wasn't wide enough for me to get through. But I mean, the hostess could have been a little nicer.
"Then put a couple of tables together and let us sit closer to the front," Messina suggested.
"I don't think I can do that," Frank answered.
Why was he being so difficult? Mike looked a little pissed off now. Even Messina looked a little angry. But I had enough.
"So then what do you suggest we do then?" Eli questioned.
Frank sighed and then spoke in an annoyed tone. "I don't know."
"He's disabled. Don't you have any respect?" Cal asked. I was surprised to hear that from her. I was restraining myself from getting angry.
"Look, do you want a table, or not?" Frank questioned.
That's it. I had enough.
---Max's POV---
Fang suddenly burst out of his wheelchair, leaning on Frank's desk and grabbing Frank by the collar of his shirt.
"You got a problem, huh, Frank?!" Fang growled. "Do you not like disabled people for some reason?!"
"Hey, get off of me!" Frank tried to push Fang away, but Fang's grip was firm enough that it didn't matter.
"Scared, aren't you now?!" Fang shouted.
Suddenly, Frank pulled a punch to the same eye I had already hit Fang in. Messina caught Fang before he hit the ground. He pulled Fang back onto his wheelchair.
"Let's go," Eli opened the door for us. "Come on."
We got outside and Mike looked at Fang. "Fang, you all right, buddy?"
"Yea, just great," Fang murmured, rubbing his head.
"Let's get some ice for him," Mike said. "We'll get dinner elsewhere."
I was thinking about how people have so much disrespect for the disabled and the less fortunate. And while this little fight between Frank and Fang might have been small and probably a little unreal, I'd just like to say that everyone deserves the same amount of respect, disabled or not. Don't be so arrogant and ignorant like Frank. Thanks.