Four Years Later (Daniel's 14, it's 1979)
Daniel walked up the steps of the high school, grateful beyond words that summer vacation was over. He hated being at the mercy of his social worker, who insisted that he not be allowed to take college classes during the summer vacations. She was concerned that too much school work was not good for his social development.
At fourteen, he was still the youngest and smallest in the junior class at the high school, and at least four years younger than anyone else in his college courses. He was grateful that he only had to spend half a day behind the brick walls of the institution of torture adults called high school. At least at Columbia, no one tracked his every move – except Aunt Barbara. Only she and Amy had remained a constant in his life through the half dozen foster homes during the past four years.
He stopped and waited by the water fountain where he and Amy had agreed to meet on the last day of school, that past June. Within a few minutes he heard her calling.
"Daniel? You here yet?"
"Amy! I'm over here, next to the water fountain."
"I'm so glad I found you! I had nightmares last night that I'd never be able to find my classes or that I'd keep walking into walls or that you wouldn't show up and I'd be completely alone." Amy threw her arms around him and clung for dear life.
Daniel grinned to himself. A nervous Amy was different. She was usually the one who tried to convince him that he would be okay.
"Amy, you were president of your eighth grade class. I really don't think you could ever be completely alone. Everyone likes you." Daniel briefly returned her hug, then squirmed out of her grip.
"But I'd feel alone without you, Daniel. You've been my best friend since fourth grade and you already know where everything is in the high school building." Amy grabbed his hand. She wasn't letting him sneak away from her.
"What's your first class? I'll take you and make sure you get to every class, until lunch when I leave." Daniel placed her hand on his arm and guided her away from the wall and into the hallway.
"English." Amy had memorized her schedule weeks ago and had made her father guide her through the building many times. She already knew how to get to each of her classes, but she wanted Daniel around. They'd have no classes together as he was officially a junior and she was only a lowly freshman.
"Mrs. Younghusband?"
"Yes."
"She's great. You'll love that class. She does make you write a lot of papers, but she's great at leading literary discussions." Daniel continued to sweep his cane in front of him, wishing he were old enough for a guide dog. He stopped in front of Amy's first class. "What class is after this?"
"Algebra I. Yuck! Math is so not my favorite subject." Amy shifted her notebook so she could hang on to Daniel a bit longer. She'd never noticed how "Daniel" he smelled before. She was sure she'd be able to find him just by scent alone in a room full of people.
"Well, don't leave English until I come back for you. 'Kay?"
"Sure. Thanks for putting up with me. I feel so stupid today." Amy leaned against him briefly.
"Hey, what else is a best friend for? See ya." Daniel headed off for his US History class, hoping that he would be able to stay awake. American history was the most boring subject.
Daniel suffered through the four classes the school required him to take for graduation credit. He was surprised to discover that he actually enjoyed the music class he had ended up taking, since the piano lessons had been the only thing that fit into his schedule. By the time he'd listened to the teacher play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," he was committed to learning to play well enough to play that song. His mother had always wanted a piano so she could teach him to play. He owed that much to her.
XXXXXXXXXX
Daniel pushed his damp hair out of his face, glad that the first day of phys ed torture was done. He hated having to shower with all those other boys, even if none of them could see him well. He felt puny, exposed and defenseless.
He turned left and headed for Amy's last class to pick her up for lunch. He figured he'd have just enough time to grab a quick sandwich before he headed for the bus stop to take him across town to Columbia for his two afternoon classes there.
"Amy?"
"Here, Daniel."
"Ready for some yummy cafeteria food?" Daniel cheerfully asked.
"Yeah, sure. Greatest food in the world." Amy joined in his silly mood.
"So, how was your first morning in high school?" Daniel slid his tray along the metal counter while the lunch room ladies plopped food into his plate.
"Well, it would have been a lot more fun with you there." Amy missed having any classes with Daniel this year.
"Yeah, well, we can't all be as funny as I am." Daniel grimaced as she poked him in the side with her elbow, almost dropping her tray.
"Hey! Watch the ribs! I'd really like to keep those for another sixty or seventy years. They help keep my insides on my inside."
Amy giggled as they found a free table. "So what classes are you taking this year at the university?"
"I'm taking pretty much general ed classes. Aunt Barbara had to work really hard to convince the university to take me at all. Between being only fourteen and being visually impaired, they didn't think I could do it. The condition was that I continue here and get my high school diploma. I passed the SAT with a high enough score so that I don't have to take any math classes – thank goodness for that."
"So what are you taking?" Amy began crunching away on her apple.
"Masterpiece of Western Literature and Philosophy, Intermediate Latin, Masterpieces of Western Music, and Introduction to Anthropology. They wouldn't let me take more and Barbara had to really fight for them to let me take that much."
"Daniel, you're the only fourteen year-old I know who complains about not enough school work." Amy thought for a minute. "How are you doing this? I mean, being blind, how are you reading the books and taking notes in class?"
"I tape the lectures so I can type up Braille notes later and with my new glasses and some good magnifying lenses, I can see just well enough to read the textbooks. It takes longer and I get headaches a lot, but it's worth it." Daniel checked the time on his watch. "Amy, I've got to go now or I'll be late. See you tomorrow."
XXXXXXXXXX
That night, Daniel sat in the college library typing up his notes from Latin class into Braille. He checked his watch and realized that he had to hurry to get back to the Institute before lights out at 10 o'clock. He had just finished shoving the last of his books into his backpack when a shadow moved across the table where he sat, blocking the light.
He stiffened and listened for movement, then relaxed when he caught the scent of Aunt Barbara's signature perfume and heard Chester's slight whimper of recognition. "Aunt Barbara? Were we supposed to meet today?" Daniel turned in the direction of the shadow and reached down to scratch the seeing-eye dog on his head.
"Hi, Daniel. No, but I received some news today that I thought you needed to hear now." She took the chair next to Daniel and reached out, searching for his hand.
"Ruby called from Italy. They're coming home next month. George is going to be stationed back in New Jersey and they're moving back into their home in Brooklyn. They wanted me to let you know that they'd like to have you back with them."
Daniel slumped back in his chair. He had known that they would be coming home soon. They had continued to write to him, sending little gifts from the Middle East and Europe during their travels. He hadn't dared to hope that George would be able to come back to his old posting, that wasn't usually the way the military worked.
"Daniel? Did you hear me? You haven't said anything."
"I heard. I just don't know what to say. I never really thought that they'd actually come back to New York." He pulled his glasses off and pinched his nose, trying to avert a threatening headache. "That…that's great."
"You don't sound as if you think that's great." Barbara had to stifle her desire to engulf him in a hug. She knew he badly needed a good hug and she knew he could close himself off from her if she gave him one.
"No…no. It's good…um…just a little…unexpected." Daniel put his glasses back on and sat still, blinking.
"Come on. I'll walk with you to the bus stop. I know you need to get back to the dorm and it's almost 9 o'clock."
"Sure. Just give me a second. I'd almost finished packing up when you came by."
Barbara listened as he finished stuffing a couple of books into his pack. "So, tell me, how was your first day in college?"
Daniel grinned and she heard it in his voice. "It was frightening, exciting and overwhelming. I loved every minute. I have no idea how I'm going to keep going to high school for two more years. Amy's the only thing that keeps me from being bored out of my mind."
Aunt Barbara took Chester's harness in her right hand and Daniel's arm in her left. "Come on. Let's let the blind lead the blind, shall we?"
Daniel chuckled, "Technically, it's the blind dog leading the blind - leading the blind."
"Oh, good grief!" Barbara hugged him and grabbed his hand.