Author Note: ….living with a new family…..adjustments to be made….

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Chapter 05 – Learning to Walk

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"…It's about ten steps to the patio door. Are you ready?"

"Eric," she said solemnly. "I don't think I'm ready for any of this."

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Jackie was sitting at the table with three breathing bodies around her. She could hear Red, a nose breather. Kitty had a little hitch in her throat and Eric was a mouth breather. She could hear the seconds tick by on the clock and the hum of the refrigerator as it clicked on.

"Well this is certainly uncomfortable." Jackie remarked. Red exhaled. "Thank God, I thought I was going to have to talk first."

"Okay, I don't want anyone getting weird, yes, I can't see. I'm wearing bandages but please don't treat me like an invalid. I can hear you and smell you and Eric; have you been working today or something? I have all my hands and fingers and probably look like crap. But I'm still Jackie. Do any of you have any questions?"

Kitty laughed much relieved. 'Oh honey, I just want to know your pain threshold. How can we know when your eyes are hurting?"

Jackie touched her bandages. "It's okay right now but they drugged me up pretty good before we left the hospital."

Eric spoke next. "I went to the library and read about this…vision loss…stuff and learned that we can help you get around without bumping into…stuff. Man, I can't talk good or something."

Jackie reached over in the direction of Eric's voice and found his hand. "That's okay. This lady came in to my room and showed me how to work my handy dandy cane. I just can't take my medications or go outside alone. I'll probably be a bitch a lot of the time…."

Eric snorted, "Tell us something new."

To his surprise, Jackie laughed. "I know I was horrible! I can't afford to make enemies right now so I promise to be on my best bitchy behavior." Jackie could almost feel the tension leave the table.

"Honey, we brought all of your belongings from Fez's apartment and put you in Laurie's room." Kitty said. Eric laughed, "Mom washed all the bed covers twice."

"Now Eric…anyways, it's all set up and later I'll show you what's in which drawer."

"Thank you Mrs. Forman. I appreciate you guys doing this for me." Jackie put her hands in her lap. She felt awkward and really hoped it didn't show. Red's chair squeaked as he slid back. His knees cracked as he stood up.

"Well, now that the Loud One's here, I'm going to watch TV. Rule of the house, when I'm watching sports, nobody speaks unless it's about sports." Jackie heard Red walk around the table and then felt him kiss the top of her head. She smiled at the gesture.

Kitty clapped her hands. "Eric, while I make lunch, why don't you help Jackie count steps to the downstairs bathroom and the upstairs. She may need to wash up or something." Kitty paused and said, "Jackie honey, I would appreciate it if you didn't go down in the basement alone just yet. We don't have hand rails and you'd take a terrible tumble if you missed a step."

Eric pushed away from the table and waited for Jackie to stand up. She did so, carefully and slowly. "It's okay Eric; I'm just trying to get my balance."

Eric looked at his mom who smiled. "I've heard that all you need to do is lightly hold her upper arm and guide her."

Jackie unfolded her white tipped cane and set it a foot in front of her. With Eric beside her, they counted off the steps to the hall bathroom. "Eric, I think I can take it from here. Excuse me."

"Uh Jackie, the light switch is on your left…oh, never mind I forgot you won't need it." Eric could have smacked himself in the head. Of course she doesn't need the light idiot! She can't see!

Jackie reached for the lid and pulled it down to sit on the closed toilet. She listened for Eric to walk away before she let the tears fall. Why was she pretending like this wasn't real? How could anyone understand how frightening this was? She had no one to lean on. She learned that her mom was gone – no one could find her. Jack Burkhart was still safely in prison. She didn't have her hostess job anymore. She had nothing. The Forman's were good people and they would only put up with a blind girl for so long….she had to keep up the pretense. God, this was so hard!

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There were 13 steps to the second floor and Jackie's new bedroom was the second door on the left. Eric's room was immediately across from hers and the Forman's was at the end of the hall. The bathroom was next to the Forman's exactly 8 steps from Laurie's/Jackie's doorway. Kitty opened the door and guided Jackie inside. "Honey, I made the bed with your linens and blankets and your pretty little pillows. Jackie could smell her belongings in this strange room and it was comforting. She counted the steps from the door to the bed. Kitty was standing next to the dresser. Jackie counted the steps to the dresser.

"I don't know how you do this at home, but I have all your lingerie in the top drawer, the second is blouses and your sweat pants. The third drawer is heavy sweaters and denim pants. The closet is five steps away and I hung all your slacks on the left and your dresses on the right. You're shoes are on the bottom."

"Thank you Mrs. Forman, that helps a lot. Could you get a pair of tennis shoes for me that I can keep by the bed? It would be easier to find than rummaging in the closet."

"Oh sure honey. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Jackie didn't know if anyone else was around so she whispered. "Can you shampoo my hair? I hate it so oily and icky."

Kitty laughed happily. "Oh Jackie, or course I can wash your hair. Would you like a bath now or before bedtime?"

Jackie didn't want to impose but she still felt like she had chemical on her face and she smelled like the hospital. "Now? I mean that won't put you off schedule or anything would it?"

"Oh, don't worry. If the boys get hungry they can make a sandwich."

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Eric was walking up the stairs at his dad's request. Dinner was late and where was his mother? He heard laughing and splashing coming out of the upstairs bathroom. The door was open and he thought his mom was scrubbing the tub but what he got was an eyeful of naked breast.

Soapy naked breast and his mother lathering long dark hair. Crap, Jackie was taking a bath and he was no better than a peeping tom! But still, it had been a long time since he had seen a perfect naked breast. Very quietly, he retraced his steps until he was at the top of the stairs.

"Mom, are you up here? Dad's hungry."

"Oh Eric, come here sweetie." Kitty replied.

Eric swallowed – his mom wanted him to go into the bathroom with a wet naked girl? He cautiously approached the door and was almost relieved to see Jackie wearing a bathrobe. Now he didn't have to worry or was it wonder….what was behind door number two?

Kitty got to her feet. "Sweetie, the floor is wet in here. Just point Jackie in the right direction so she can get dressed. I'll be down in the kitchen in a few minutes."

Jackie reached out for Eric's arm and caught his bicep on the first try and smiled. "This is a lot harder than it looks." She glanced his way as she spoke and Eric wondered what she saw behind those bandages. Still, he led her to the bedroom door and opened the knob, "Thanks Eric, I got it from here."

"Oh. Okay, if you need help, call." He stepped back as she closed the bedroom door. Should he hang out in case she needed help going down the stairs? Then he remembered her request earlier, '…. I'm wearing bandages but please don't treat me like an invalid."

The most difficult thing to forget was that she was a gorgeous young woman! Living with Jackie was going to be an experience!

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"Okay honey, your chicken is at six o'clock, green beans are at nine, cottage cheese is midnight and cheesy tots are at three." Kitty made sure Jackie was set up before she took her seat. Dinner went surprisingly well. Eric told Jackie about his new part time job and she was impressed that he got one so quickly. Kitty mentioned that Kelso and Brooke were bringing baby Betsy for a visit the upcoming Saturday.

Red had his full and pushed away from the table. "I'm going to watch some TV. Good meal Kitty." Jackie heard Red walk across the floor and counted his steps. Eric soon followed. "I have work early in the morning; I'm going to take my stinky self upstairs for a shower."

"Okay," Kitty smiled. "Jackie honey, after I wash dishes, we'll put in those drops and give you your next dose of antibiotics. Would you like to go sit with Red?"

"Actually, if you don't mind, I think I'm just going to go lay down for a bit and listen to the radio."

"Oh…okay, I'll bring the medicine up to you."

"Thank you Mrs. Forman. I really appreciate everything your doing for me."

"Oh, dear don't you worry about a thing. We just want you to get better. Run along. I mean don't run….just walk carefully. Ahahahaha."

Jackie made her way through the living room and past Red and tapped her way up the step to the staircase. Thirteen steps and she made it to the top. This felt like a major accomplishment! She walked right passed a naked Eric who was hiding behind a thin towel and she only said, "Good night Eric."

He was glad she couldn't see how embarrassed he was. "Good night Jackie!"

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