Family and home part 4

Auggie sat at his desk and had just finished the report he had to type for Joan, when he remembered that he had to pick up Jeremy at Kindergarten. The day had passed so fast, and he did not know what time it was. His sensitive fingers felt the time on his Braille watch and he realized, that he had to leave if he did not want to be late. He shut down the computer, opened the top drawer of his desk and fished out his white folding cane. Annie was still working and would come home late. So it was his job to take care of his son. Five minutes later Auggie was on his way to the bus stop. He needed a bit of fresh air so he had decided to take the bus instead of the regular car service. The bus stop was only about 500 m down the street and he knew the way. Auggie stood at the bus stop and waited. Two minutes later he heard the bus arrive, and walked towards the sound. He found the door with his cane, counted the steps whilst holding his cane in a vertical position and showed his ticket to the driver. The advantage of being blind was, that he could use public transport for free. Auggie took a seat close to the door and folded his cane on his lap.

After ten minutes the bus stopped Auggie got out and made his way to the Kindergarten to pick up his son. He counted the steps from the bus stop and after 300 m he stopped, crossed the street after listening to the traffic, and finally reached the building. Sweeping his cane back and forth he walked in. "Can I help you Sir?" He heard a voice right behind him "Yes, I am here to pick up my son Jeremy" The Kindergarten teacher looked at him and was a bit surprised. Then she said "Oh, you are Mr. Anderson? I did not know that…" and then she stopped. Auggie understood and replied "You did not know I was blind, right?" The young Kindergarten teacher blushed and said "Yes, up till now I have only met your wife. Would you please follow me." Auggie followed close behind her, using the sound of her heels for orientation. They entered a room where 5 or 6 children were still playing. When Jeremy spotted Auggie, he immediately ran towards him. "Let us go home Daddy" he said. The Kindergarten teacher looked at him and said "Jeremy, I guess there is still something to do for you before you can leave." With a roguish grin on his face Jeremy started walking to the table where he had sat before and started to collect the pieces of the puzzle he had been solving until Auggie had arrived. The other five kids in the room stared. They had never met Auggie before and they had never seen a blind person with a cane either. After Jeremy had cleared up the table he took Auggie´s hand and both left. The Kindergarten was not so far away from their house and therefore Auggie and Jeremy walked home. On their way home Jeremy suddenly asked "Daddy, do you know what it is like to see?" Auggie stopped, turned towards his son and replied "Yes, I have not always been blind. I went blind when I was an adult already." They continued walking along the sidewalk when Jeremy asked again "So, Daddy you know what red, blue or black looks like?" "Yes, I remember all the colours although I cannot see them anymore" Auggie answered and smiled because he found it interesting how much his little son worried about him.

The next morning Annie took Jeremy to Kindergarten. Soon after his arrival Jeremy found himself surrounded by his little friends. They all asked him "Was that your Daddy yesterday?" And Jeremy answered "Yes, my Dad picked me up yesterday." "And why did he hold that strange white stick in his hands?" Susan asked "That is not a stick, that is a cane." Jeremy said in an almost condescending tone. "And what is this cane for?" Susan insisted. "My Daddy is blind, he cannot see and he uses the cane to get around." Jeremy explained. "With the white cane he can feel what is in front of him when he walks." Susan still did not understand what Jeremy had explained to her but she said "Ok" and went to look for an interesting toy to play with. "You are a poor boy" one of the other kids said. "Why?" Jeremy asked. "Because your Daddy cannot see and he cannot go for a walk with you, he cannot read stories to you and he cannot play with you." Now Jeremy was annoyed. He loved his father and shouted "You are a liar! What you say is not true! My Daddy reads to me fairy tales every evening from his Braille book, we go to the park to feed the ducks, he plays with me and he knows the names of ALL THE BIRDS when he hears them chirping in the garden." The other boy was impressed but still a bit incredulous and asked "But how can he read when he cannot see?" "He reads with his fingers from a book with little dots." Jeremy said. He was proud that he knew so much about his Daddy and could defend him. "Nobody can read with their fingers" the other boy said "That is impossible." "But MY DADDY CAN and he is the best Daddy of the world! If you do not believe me, you can come and visit me and see for yourself." Jeremy said.

Late in the afternoon Auggie returned to pick up Jeremy. He had memorized the way to the room and swept his cane to find the door. Jeremy saw him and asked "Daddy, can we take Justin home with us. He wants to play with me?" "It is okay with me" Auggie said "But we have to ask his Mum first." Minutes later Justin´s Mum arrived and allowed her son to play with Jeremy. Hand in hand Auggie and Jeremy walked home and Justin followed them. The boy was surprised how easily Auggie handled the cane. When they arrived at home, Auggie opened the fridge to get out some milk and went to look for some cookies, too. Jeremy and Justin enjoyed their little snack and after a while Jeremy said "Daddy, could you read a story to us? Maybe the one about the little cat and the three mice? Justin does not believe you can read." "Of course I can read." Auggie said and then he turned into Jeremy´s direction and said "Go, and get the book from my desk. You know which one it is."

Jeremy left the room and seconds later he returned with a huge Braille book in his hands. Auggie had taken a seat on the couch and now Jeremy placed the book on Auggie´s lap and snuggled down next to him whilst Justin took a seat in an armchair. Auggie let his fingers slide across the pages, found the page with the story that Jeremy wanted to hear and started reading "Once there was a little cat named Sally and her best friends were three mice…." Justin was fascinated and watched Auggie when he slid his fingertips across the pages. By the end of the story Jeremy asked "Do you now believe that my Daddy can read?" Justin nodded. Two hours later Justin´s mother arrived to take her son home. When she walked through the door Justin ran towards his Mum and said "Mummy Mummy…..Mr. Anderson can read with his hands." "That is impressive." Justin´s mother replied and then she added "Thank you Mr. Anderson for letting my son play with Jeremy". "It was a pleasure." Auggie smiled. And then Justin and his Mum left. "You are the best Daddy and I do not mind that you cannot see." Jeremy said and looked up to his Dad. "And I am proud to have a son like you" Auggie answered and pulled Jeremy into a hug.