Auggie and Annie Family and Home part 8
Auggie paid the cab driver, opened the door, unfolded his cane until he heard the units snap into place, tapped the cane twice on the ground and made his way to the door. Almost 9 years had passed since his last visit. It was a long time, but his memory was still fresh. He knew the way in and around the centre and did not need any help. This was the place, where he had learned a lot about living as a blind person. His stay at the centre had had a long lasting impression on him and that kept his memory fresh and clear.
He walked along the gravel path to the door, climbed the three steps and waited for the electric glass door to slide open. Then he oriented himself a bit, turned to the right and walked straight to the reception desk. The receptionist was talking on the phone and so Auggie waited.
Twenty seconds later, the friendly receptionist hung up and asked „How can I help you Sir?"
„My name is Anderson, I am the new IT instructor and I would like to talk to Mrs. Garcia.
„Sure" The receptionist turned towards the phone again, and made a call.
A minute later a middle aged woman with black curly hair and slightly overweight arrived and welcomed Auggie.
„Nice to see you Mr. Anderson. We really could use your help here. We have so many students here, that our current IT instructor Mr. Darcy is really overworked. Welcome to our team" Mrs. Garcia smiled and then she added.
„Your face seems familiar to me, have we met before?"
Auggie turned towards her and replied „We actually did. I was a patient here about 9 years ago, right after my accident in Iraq."
And then Mrs. Garcia seemed to remember „Oh yes, the soldier who was in a bomb attack...of course. Most people here have gone blind by progressive eye conditions. We seldom have patients who have gone through something like a bomb attack" She epxlained.
„Do you want to take my arm?" I will show you to the IT room. We have switched places. The IT rooms used to be on the first floor, now they are next to the dining room" Mrs Garcia said.
Auggie grabbed the lady´s elbow and had her lead the way to the room where computer and IT lessons took place.
Two minutes later, they arrived. Mrs. Garcia led Auggie to his desk and showed him where the Braille printer and the instruction material in Braille was.
„The students will arrive shortly. It is their first day here, so you will have to start from scratch so to speak" Mrs. Garcia said „Good luck on your first day. If you have any questions my office is directly opposite of this room".
Auggie folded his cane, put it into his messenger bag, put the messenger bag on the desk and took a seat. He was excited. He had never been a teacher before but he was sure that he could explain the details of working with screenreader and refreshable Braille display to the students.
Auggie slid his hands across the Braille instruction material for beginners. It seemed all very detailed and well explained. He remembered HIS first day in the IT room of the centre. He had felt like a newbie, like somebody who had never worked with a computer before. Working with a computer sighted was one thing, but using it blind was a real challenge. And he had mastered it. Step by step he had regained almost all of his IT and hacking skills. He was still good.
Now, he hoped that he could be of assistance to other blind people, whilst investigating secretly what was going on in that centre. There were still fifteen minutes time until his first lesson started. Auggie used them to become familiar with the room. He cautiously walked through the room his right hand slightly extended to the side, taking in the distance from his desk to the front row.
He continued walking. There were 4 rows with 5 chairs each. Five steps from his desk to the first row. 12 until the last row. Reaching the last row, Auggie walked to the right, trailed his hand along the wall and found two windows. He opened the first one to get some fresh air before he walked slowly back to his desk.
Five minutes later, Auggie heard the tapping of various canes and the first students arrived, trying to find their way into the room. One student after the other dropped in and at exactly 9 o´clock Auggie closed the door.
„I hope we are complete" he said and grabbed the list with the names of all participants from his desk. Auggie read every name from the list aloud, waiting for the people to confirm their presence.
„I am your IT instructor and my name is Anderson" Auggie introduced himself after he had checked that the group was complete. And in order to lighten the mood a bit, he said „ We have something in common, this is YOUR first day here in the IT room and MY first day as a teacher. But don´t worry, I am an expert in technology, I just needed a few victims to try out my teaching skills"
Now some of the students laughed. Auggie´s very own sense of humour had broken the ice.
„I hope we will work well together" Auggie said before he started to hand out the instruction sheets to each student.
The first morning went well. Auggie walked from one desk to the next, explaining the use of the Braille display and giving advice for the use of the key combinations for the screen reader.
Around noon, when the last lesson was almost over, Sabrina, one of the students asked.
„Mr. Anderson, are you also blind?"
„Yes, I am completely blind, why do you ask?"
„Well, I have already had my reservations about working with a computer sighted, and now I have to try it blind. It is amazing how a blind person can be so proficient with computers. I never thought that this was possible."
„Well, I had been in IT before my accident and so I knew a lot about computers. Re-learning was not easy for me either but I did it and now I am glad that the effort paid off" Auggie replied.
„I hope that I will soon get the hang of all that tech stuff as well, Sabrina said before she packed her bag and left, swinging her cane back and forth in front of her.
Two hours later, Auggie was back at home. Annie was still in Langley and Jeremy had gone home with Tom after school. Tom did not live far from the Anderson´s house and Auggie knew the way. After he had dropped the IT instruction material he had carried in his messenger bag on the desk, he made his way down the stairs again to pick up his son.
A quarter to 4 Auggie reached the house of the Henderson family. He felt for the door bell, rang and waited. Shortly after, Tom´s mum arrived and opened the door for him.
„Oh Mr. Anderson, a pleasure to see you, you surely want to pick up your son" she smiled before she asked Auggie to come in.
„The kids are playing in the garden, do you want to come with me?"
„Yes, but could you show me the way please?" Auggie asked. He felt a bit uncomfortable. Even after being blind for so many years it felt awkward to ask for help when he met new people or when he was with people, who did not know him well. With Annie things hat been easy from the very beginning. She had a natural way to offer her help and he had enjoyed taking her arm from day one.
Tom´s mother was a bit unsure about how to react. Auggie sensed her insecurity and said
„Could you give me your arm, then I can easily follow you."
Mrs. Henderson now came a bit closer and offered Auggie her lead and he followed her into the garden where Tom, Jeremy and two other class mates were playing.
Jeremy spotted his father as soon as Auggie stepped onto the terrace.
„Daddy, we have been playing soccer. I made three goals and the others only one!"
Jeremy was proud of his achievements.
„You are a great player" Auggie said „But now we have to go home. Mum will be there in a while and we will have dinner"
„Can´t we play a little bit longer?" Jeremy asked
„No, you have had the whole afternoon together. You can continue playing tomorrow. We really have to leave now. Besides, we will have chicken and potato salad today."
„Great, that is my favourite dish" Jeremy grabbed his school bag and his jacket from the chair on the terrace and took Auggie´s hand leading the way to the door.
„Bye Mrs. Henderson" Jeremy said and waved before he led his father down the three stairs.
When Auggie unlocked the door of his house he could already hear Annie working in the kitchen. She had just heated the oven and was about to push the chicken in.
„We are back" Auggie called, folding his cane and leaving it on the dresser in the corridor.
Jeremy ran towards Annie and threw himself into her arms. „Mum, Daddy said I am a great soccer player. I made three goals in one match!"
„Wow!" Annie was impressed „Maybe you´re gonna be a soccer pro one day, my son."
Then, Jeremy ran up the stairs to his room and when he had put his school bag on his desk chair, he sat down on the floor and continued with his Lego house.
„How was your first day Teacher Anderson" Annie teased and nudged her husband.
„I think it went well...although..." Auggie stopped
„Although what? Spill it Auggie Anderson" Annie was curious to learn the whole story.
„Well. it brought back memories of my first days at the centre when I had just gone blind and those memories were not very pleasant." Auggie admitted.
„I see" Annie said in a sympathetic tone and then she placed a kiss on Auggie´s mouth after hugging him tightly.
„I know what you have gone through. But that is past tense, you have gotten over it and you have created yourself a whole new life despite being blind. You can be very proud of your achievements"
„I am" Auggie said and Annie could see what he was trying to hide. His eyes were getting wet but he would not let out what he felt. After all he was still a soldier.