Auggie and a new life in the dark 8
Auggie had just finished his breakfast when the doorbell rang. He made his way to the door and opened. A moment later he heard a familiar voice. „Mum" he exclaimed with surprise and a second later he was pulled into a firm hug.
„Hello August" Gloria Anderson looked at her son who was still surprised about the unexpected visitor, then he made a few steps to the right and offered „Come in and make yourself at home".
His mother entered his flat trailing a small suitcase on wheels behind. She noticed how neatly organized the flat of her son was since it was the first time that she visited him. „This is a really nice apartment" she stated. „Yes, I really enjoy living here"Auggie replied „It is perfectly located with bus stops and shops close-by".
Gloria Anderson had taken a seat on the white leather couch and watched her son who crossed the room and walked towards the kitchen area. „Would you like some coffee Mum, I have just made a pot" he offered and Gloria nodded. Then she remembered that her son could not see and she added. „Yes, please with lots of milk but without sugar. But let me pour the coffee". „I can do that alone Mum, I am blind not incapable." And with these words Auggie took a second cup from the shelf, put his right index finger below the rim and poured the coffee. Then he made a few steps to the right opened the fridge to get some milk and added the milk to the coffee. If Gloria had not known that her son could not see she would not have noticed. He moved with such a confidence that she almost forgot his disability.
„What brings you to my place Mum?" Auggie started the conversation when he had taken a seat next to his mother on the couch. Gloria took another sip of coffee, looked at Auggie and said „Well, I have not seen you since you came back from rehab and I wanted to see how and where you live. I was invited to a friend´s birthday party and since Elvira lives only a few kilometres from here I decided to see you, too." Auggie had carefully listened to his mother´s explanation but he felt still a bit uncomfortable. He loved his mother but he knew that she had a problem with his visual disability. He did not know how to talk to her since she avoided anything that had to do with his blindness. „Mum I did not expect your visit. I have to go to work now. My car service will arrive soon. I would love to take you to my favourite Italian restaurant when I get back this evening". And then he grabbed his messenger bag and his folding cane from the kitchen table and made his way to the door. There he unfolded the cane and went downstairs where the driver was waiting for him.
Gloria Anderson was now alone in the apartment and she had time to explore her son´s new environment. Everything had its place in Auggie´s apartment and at second sight she noticed that this home was the home of a blind man. The books on the shelf had Braille labels, a Perkins Braille writer, a stylus and a Braille slate stood on the desk next to a laptop with a Braille keyboard. Even in the bathroom the various bottles of shampoo, body lotion and after shave had Braille labels. The stove, the washing machine, the dishwasher and the microwave oven had tactile dots and on the dresser next to the door she also noticed Auggie´s spare cane neatly folded up. Auggie had been blind for more than a year but still she had not got used to his new condition.
It had been a long day. Auggie sighed, shut down his computer, grabbed his cane from the top drawer of his desk and made his way home. He had made a reservation at the Italian restaurant and wanted to pick up his Mum at his apartment since she did not know the way. Twenty minutes later he arrived at home. This time he took the stairs instead of using the elevator. He needed some excercise. He had been sitting at his desk all day and his legs felt a bit stiff. Holding his cane in a vertical position he counted the steps. When he reached the door of his apartment he took his key from his pocket and slid the door open. His mother was still sitting on the couch flipping through a fashion magazine when he entered. „Hey Mum" Gloria Anderson looked up and stood. „Hey son, I hope your day at the office was not too stressful" Auggie smiled and thought to himself „if she only knew where I really work".And then he said „I hope you are hungry. I have made a reservation at DA GIANNI my favourite place for Italian food". „Yeah, indeed I am hungry" Gloria answered and took her handbag from the couch. Auggie made his way to the door, cane still in his hand and said „may I offer you my arm Mylady?"
His mother hesitated, cleared her throat and said „Why don´t you leave your cane at home?" Auggie looked into the general direction of his mother and said „Why should I? I need the cane to walk around safely." His mother blushed slightly and then she said „But you got me, you can take my arm and I can guide you." Auggie knew where this conversation was going and he started to get a little mad at his mother. Slightly annoyed he said „Mum we had this conversation before. I AM BLIND and this cane is part of my independence. After more than a year you should have gotten used to the fact that I am not the person I used to be anymore." Gloria Anderson looked at her son and stammered „I , I ...I ….sometimes ….. sometimes...try to forget that you cannot see, it is still so painful to see you walk around with this „white stick" in your hand. When you are at home you look so „normal" you move around like anyone else. But seeing you walk around like that hurts me so much". Auggie did not know how to react. Should he get mad because his mother could still not accept his disability? He knew that in public places she felt ashamed to have a son who walked around with a cane. But then he felt pity for his mother because she was unable to accept what he had accepted long time ago. But nevertheless he was not prepared to give in. He said „Mum, I am going to take this cane with me when we leave! The cane is part of what I am and I am not ashamed of being blind and you should not feel ashamed either. Gloria had visited her son only once when he was still in rehab and since then she had only received phone calls from him from time to time. She had never really seen him walk but now she was surprised about his confident stride when she walked next to him along the sidewalk. After five minutes Auggie stopped, turned to the right, walked straight ahead and after a few metres he said. „Here we are Mam". Gloria stood there in awe. She was astonished at how easily her son had found the way to the restaurant. If she had not seen the cane in his hand she would not have noticed that he was blind. With the tip of his cane Auggie found the door and opened it. „Buona sera Signore Augusto" sounded the voice of Gianni, the owner through the room when he spotted Auggie and his mother. Then he led them to a free table and took their order.