"What are you talking about?"
"Nancy was telling Chad her Prom dress is navy blue, so I assumed one of you took her shopping."
"Not me!"
"Nope!"
"Well I didn't either."
"That's why she was acting strange, how could we have not taken her, it's not like we don't know when the Prom is."
"Prue it's a week from tomorrow."
"I know, I'll go talk to her."
"Why don't you let me? She doesn't exactly know I was in my room and over heard her conversation."
"Phoebe were you eavesdropping again?"
"Who me? No I was just on my way out of my room and I happened to overhear her talking about a dress."
"Right. Well here's my credit card, why don't you take her after she goes to therapy tomorrow. You know about that right?"
"I do now, but it's not a problem."
Phoebe made her way upstairs and paused for a moment in the hallway trying to figure out the right way to start the conversation with Nancy. After figuring out what to say, she knocked on the door and waited for a response.
"Come in?"
"Hey kiddo, so I hear you have therapy tomorrow, what time?"
"10:00."
"So you should be done by noon. Got any plans for afterwards?"
"I was going to call Chad, but nothing is set in stone. Why?"
"Well what do you say we go do some damage to Prue's credit card."
"What?"
"Well Prue wants me to do some shopping for the house, and the Prom is next week so I think we need to buy you a new dress."
"Really?"
"Yes really, and you know I was thinking, I think you would look great in navy blue."
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely. So is it a date?"
"Can we skip therapy and just go shopping?"
"Nice try."
"Hey it wouldn't be me if I didn't try."
"Alright, now get back to that homework."
"Right."
Phoebe started to leave the room but right before she closed the door Nancy called her name.
"Oh and Phoebe.."
"Yea?"
"Thanks."
"Hey what are big sisters for?"
"Hell if I know!"
"Watch your mouth."
"Sorry."
Nancy happily returned to her homework looking forward to the next days events, even if the morning wouldn't be all that exciting for her.
Morning came faster then any other day had. Nancy woke up early filled with excitement, but then noticed the leg braces sitting on the floor and dreaded her morning activities. Phoebe came into her room at 8:30 and told her to get a move on or they would be late.
Taking her shower and getting dressed she grabbed the braces off the floor and headed down the stairs. After loading herself into the chair lift she began to make her way down the stairs. Looking down at the braces in her hands she was dreading more and more what she was about to have to do.
Off in her own world her hand let go of the braces. They fell out of her hand, tumbled down the stairs, landingwith a loud thud once they hit the bottom. The girls came running out of the kitchen fearing that Nancy had fallen. Seeing the braces at the bottom of the stairs and Nancy stopped midway down the stairs they tired to choose their words carefully so as not to make matters worst.
"What happened?"
"I…I…"
"Did you throw these down the stairs?"
"NO!"
"Do you swear?"
"No I try not to…"
"Nancy?"
"I swear. I just haven't gotten the hang of taking them up and down the stairs while working the lift. I wouldn't do something like that Mom."
"Alright, then we'll help you for a while getting them up and down, till you get the hang of it."
"Fine."
Nancy finished making her way downstairs and ate a quick breakfast followed by rushing out the door with Phoebe to head off to therapy. Arriving there Phoebe handed the braces to Jamie and left for the waiting area while they headed to the back.
Nancy was expecting the worst of this session, but for the first half hour they did the same things they always did. Jamie pushed and stretched Nancy's legs in ways that were never comfortable. They did some minor weight lifting using Nancy's arms, then put her on a motorized bike that moved Nancy's legs for her.
To Nancy all this was routine, and was nothing out of the ordinary, but it did seem to be more strenuous then ever before. She usually only spent five minutes on the bike, today it was ten. They usually spent less time with the upper body work, but today she lifted heavier weights and did more reps then ever before.
Then Jamie called Phoebe into the room. Nancy thought maybe the work was over, and she didn't have to work with the braces today, but no such luck. It was time for Phoebe to learn some new things as well.
"Alright now, Phoebe your going to need to learn to help her with the braces as well as some stretching that will need to be done ever night to her legs."
"Every night?"
"Yes Nancy every night. It's been quite sometime since you have used the muscles in your legs, so you will be very sore, and could have some pretty bad muscle spasm if someone doesn't do the stretching and massaging of the muscles in your legs. So I want Phoebe to watch and learn, because she's going to have to start this tonight."
"Alright whatever you say."
Phoebe watched and followed along what Jamie was doing to put the left leg brace onto Nancy.
"Now you want to make sure that the straps are tight, but not so tight that it can cut off the circulation. Now since she doesn't have much feeling in her legs, it'll be hard to tell if it's to tight, so what I want you to do is, tighten the straps then flex and bend her legs for her. If you can't get at least two finger in between her leg and the strap then it's going to be to tight. If you can get all your fingers under there, then it's too loose. See?"
"I got it let me give the right leg a try."
Phoebe put the brace on and then moved Nancy's leg. At first she had the straps to tight, she could see Nancy's skin turning whiter as the circulation was being cut off. She straightened out Nancy's leg and tried again, this time it was almost perfect. One final try and it was just right.
"Alright now go ahead and have a seat over there. Nancy I'm going to put this belt around your waist."
"What for?"
"In case you lose your balance I'll be able to catch you."
"Alright…"
Hearing she might fall caused Nancy to really not want any part of this. She had made up her mind when she arrived that she would do the work, and try to do it right the first time so she could get out of there faster to go shopping for her dress. Now her mind was not listening to her heart.
Jamie locked Nancy's braces in place then sat down in a chair next to Nancy picking up and extra pair of crutches and demonstrated how Nancy needed to get up out of the chair.
"Alright Nancy, what you need to do is put all your weight on the crutches. Push down and throw your weight forward and before you know it you'll be on your feet."
"Sure."
Nancy said as she watched Jamie do it then put the crutches down and stand next to Nancy grabbing hold of the belt ready for Nancy to stand up for the first time. Phoebe excused herself and stepped into the hallway when her cell phone rang.
"Alright here we go, push."
Nancy acted like she was really trying, but she wasn't. As the minutes ticked by and Jamie's words of encouragement continued Nancy did really try pushing with so much force that sweat was dripping from her forehead. After a few more minutes Phoebe entered the room again and sat down in the chair trying not to interfere.
Nancy continued to try for nearly fifteen minutes, but every time she could feel her butt leave the chair she would lose her grip and it would drop back down. She never got more then and inch or two out of the chair before falling back into it. Finally she had had enough and threw the braces onto the floor.
"I can't do this. I'm not ready for this yet."
Both Jamie and Phoebe could see the frustration in Nancy's face. Neither of them wanted to push her to hard on the first day, but also didn't want her to think that giving up was an option.
"Alright, since this was your first try, I'll let this slid, but I want you to understand this is going to take a lot of hard work and determination on your part Nancy. Giving up is not ever an option. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but I was trying."
"I know, that's why I'll say that's enough for today, we'll try again on Monday. Why don't we get you back onto the table so I can show Phoebe the exercises you'll need to do tonight to avoid any muscle strain."
Nancy didn't argue she grit her teeth and bit her tongue with every push and pull they made on her legs. After all was done Nancy hopped back into her wheel chair and headed off to the changing room so she could wash off the sweat before going shopping, leaving Jamie and Phoebe alone to talk.
"Phoebe, I'm going to warn you, this is going to get harder before it gets easier."
"I know."
"You will need to be very patient with her, but she needs to be pushed a little to keep trying. I didn't want to push her on the first day, that would only make her give up. There are times when I am going to have to push her so hard, she may cry. I don't want to have to go that far, but I may have to. Maybe if she gets angry enough, it will help."
"It might. I mean, anger is a very strong emotion."
Nancy came out of the changing room a few minutes later hair still wet and smelling rather clean considering she couldn't take a shower.
"Can we go now, Pheebs?"
"Sure. See you Monday, Jamie."
"Wait before you go. Nancy Phoebe mentioned you were having some trouble getting your braces around. I have this for you and it'll just take a minute to hook it on the back of your chair."
Jamie hooked a few snaps and hooks on the back of Nancy's chair then snapped her leg braces and crutches into place. Nancy was not happy.
"Great! Now I don't have to carry them, I can just take them, EVERYWHERE. Bye."
"Nancy…"
"I know, I know, sorry Jamie. Thanks, see you later."
"Bye."