Chapter 5
"My daughter was in the hospital for a very long time you see...and we had moved here like I said. Denise hasn't had any contact with anybody her age for months and I am starting to get worried about her. She needs some company and her father and I need to get out of the house for the day."
There was something very wrong with this picture. "You are going to pay me to be your daughter's friend!?"
She seemed distressed by this comment, "When you say it like that it sounds so horrible...our family has been through a lot and all of us need a little down time" I apologized.
She continued, "Your cousin said you were a very nice girl and recommended you for this job, although I didn't explain in full detail, and if you could keep this between just us and your parents I would highly appreciate it. Just for now at least."
She went on to tell me that all I had to do was be company and help her get around the house a bit. I admit I was a little nervous. I had never been around a blind person, and now I would have to spend the whole day with a girl my own age that I would have to be taking care of. Mrs. Launder also told me that Denise had been very withdrawn since the accident and would have trouble opening up, but if things went well they might be calling me on a regular basis as she started to regain her sight.
At this point I just wanted to meet her already. Besides being completely shocked I was also very curious. Mrs. Launder understood and we made our way inside. It was a very nice house but it seemed arranged in a way that made it easy to get around...especially if you can't see.
She led me to the very back room where I saw the figure of a girl's back with long black hair. She was staring out the window. Well she couldn't possibly be looking out the window so she was just sitting there. Mrs. Launder broke the silence.
"Honey, someone is here to see you. Christina just moved to the neighborhood a few weeks ago."
I didn't know what to say so I just said nervously, "It's...It's nice to meet you."
I think I heard her say hello but I was so soft it's hard to tell. I still couldn't see her face because she continued to blankly stare out of the window. She gave me a look as if to ask me if all was all right. I gave her a reassuring nod and she announced that she was going upstairs to finish getting ready. I heard her make her way upstairs and I just stood there not knowing exactly what to do. I tried to make small talk trying to sound cheerful,
"So Denise..."
But she cut me short, and I heard he voice for the first time.
Just above a whisper she said, "Listen...I know what you are doing...I know why my mother brought you here. I don't want people feeling sorry for me...so you can just leave."
"My daughter was in the hospital for a very long time you see...and we had moved here like I said. Denise hasn't had any contact with anybody her age for months and I am starting to get worried about her. She needs some company and her father and I need to get out of the house for the day."
There was something very wrong with this picture. "You are going to pay me to be your daughter's friend!?"
She seemed distressed by this comment, "When you say it like that it sounds so horrible...our family has been through a lot and all of us need a little down time" I apologized.
She continued, "Your cousin said you were a very nice girl and recommended you for this job, although I didn't explain in full detail, and if you could keep this between just us and your parents I would highly appreciate it. Just for now at least."
She went on to tell me that all I had to do was be company and help her get around the house a bit. I admit I was a little nervous. I had never been around a blind person, and now I would have to spend the whole day with a girl my own age that I would have to be taking care of. Mrs. Launder also told me that Denise had been very withdrawn since the accident and would have trouble opening up, but if things went well they might be calling me on a regular basis as she started to regain her sight.
At this point I just wanted to meet her already. Besides being completely shocked I was also very curious. Mrs. Launder understood and we made our way inside. It was a very nice house but it seemed arranged in a way that made it easy to get around...especially if you can't see.
She led me to the very back room where I saw the figure of a girl's back with long black hair. She was staring out the window. Well she couldn't possibly be looking out the window so she was just sitting there. Mrs. Launder broke the silence.
"Honey, someone is here to see you. Christina just moved to the neighborhood a few weeks ago."
I didn't know what to say so I just said nervously, "It's...It's nice to meet you."
I think I heard her say hello but I was so soft it's hard to tell. I still couldn't see her face because she continued to blankly stare out of the window. She gave me a look as if to ask me if all was all right. I gave her a reassuring nod and she announced that she was going upstairs to finish getting ready. I heard her make her way upstairs and I just stood there not knowing exactly what to do. I tried to make small talk trying to sound cheerful,
"So Denise..."
But she cut me short, and I heard he voice for the first time.
Just above a whisper she said, "Listen...I know what you are doing...I know why my mother brought you here. I don't want people feeling sorry for me...so you can just leave."