by J. P. Larson
“Alex, you have better perspective. Do we form a right angle to your path from the door?”
Alex looked behind him, then at the two women. “If you step forward a half meter, Liz.”
The women readjusted, then set the coins down at their feet.
“Tomorrow, before we come get you, we’ll move the far coin close enough that you can see it as you walk past, but it won’t be in your way. Will that do, Alex?” Elizabeth asked him.
“Thank you. Who wants to push me around?”
“Oh, I think it’s my turn, Alex,” said Pamela.
* * *
Alex made it to the dining room door the next night.
* * *
He barely made it into the main house the night after. He told a joke about it and asked to be pushed around outside after dinner. It was a beautiful night.
* * *
“I’ve got two steps left, Liz.” He was leaning heavily at the door to the dining room. “But maybe only one and a half.” He looked around and noticed Jim, the servant who had talked to him, standing in the shadows. “Liz, do you mind if I ask your staff do something for me?”
“You haven’t been all along?”
“Of course not. Your staff, not mine.”
“Feel free, Alex.”
“Jim, could you get one of the stronger men to come here? Quickly?”
“Yes, sir. Alex.”
Liz looked at Alex, but didn’t say anything. Jim stepped aside, and a much younger man appeared.
“Alex, this is Dan. He’s the gardener. He does the bushes outside your window.”
“You do a nice job, Dan. Would you wait inside the dining hall and steady me if I overdo it?”
Alex needed help when he finally lowered himself to the chair, three steps inside the dining room.
“It’s those stupid doorways,” he said. “Getting through them and far enough away so you can get the chair behind me.”
“You won’t need to do this very many more times, Alex,” Pamela told him.
“I believe you’re right. Liz, why haven’t you had any guests for dinner?”
“Did you have anyone in mind?”
“The doctor, the therapist. Is Jane’s Gift in system?”
“She’s scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Sometimes she’s late.”
“Great timing, I would say. The night after tomorrow? I won’t make my chair tomorrow. I might not that night. But we’ll have guests anyway?” He paused. “I’m sorry, Liz, I’m being rude.”
“Not at all, Alex. That would be nice. What if you don’t make it?”
“That’s okay. I’ll say something funny and try not to land on my face.”
* * *
Alex made it to the table the next night, but not his place at the table.
* * *
“We have several guests tonight, Alex.”
“Hello, Liz. Who came?”
“Doctor Tate, the therapist, Nurse Anders – Pamela added her to the list. And the Gift is in.”
“Good Lord, you didn’t invite them all, did you?”
Elizabeth laughed. “No. Kari and Linda are here. And a Ms. Danforth, who I don’t know.”
Alex smiled. “She changed my life, Liz. She’s the one who fixed my hyper drive. I never thanked her properly.” He paused. “No one is going to be shocked when they see me walk?”
“No, Alex.”
“Let’s do it.”
Alex didn’t slow down at the right turn. He walked right into the main house. Pamela was waiting, and he leaned on her for a moment, then straightened. He could hear voices from the dining hall, then it got quiet. Looking through the doorway, he could see several familiar faces.
“Alex, it’s crowded in there. The staff was hanging around.”
“Do you mind, Alex?” Elizabeth asked him.
“Oh, I hope I don’t fall over,” he said. He looked at Elizabeth.
“Go on in with that, Liz, if you would. I’ll make it to the door for sure. And I’m feeling rather determined. And Liz, if I make it to the table, can I sit in a real chair?”
She laughed. “I’ll have Jim standing by with one for you.”
“Thank you, Liz. Pamela, I love you.”
She kissed his cheek, then he straightened and looked across to the dining hall. He strode forward, or at least shuffled.
When he arrived at the doorway to the dining room, he leaned against the door frame and looked around. The room was crowded, but the path to his seat was clear, with room for Liz to maneuver the wheel chair as needed. He looked at the familiar faces.
“I’m sorry to keep you all waiting,” he said. “I just got in from my five klick run. Now, let’s see if I can avoid tripping over the grain in the wood floor.”
Alex stepped through, then leaned again. Pamela held out a hand, which he squeezed briefly, then he straightened up and took a step towards his place at the table. He got halfway to his place before he stopped. Pamela was instantly at his side, and Liz had the chair ready. “Not yet, Liz. And Pamela, I’ll do this alone, if you’ll catch me when I fall.”
“You aren’t going to fall.”
Alex leaned on the cane, judged the distance, and made it another two steps.
“Liz, did you have to set me at the far end of the table?” he said, panting.
“Of course, Alex. I couldn’t make it too easy for you.”
“Well, let’s see if we can get this over with,” he said. “Looks like four steps. I can make two. After that, we’ll see how much further being a stupid, pig-headed, stubborn, disobedient, ungrateful, off-worlder man gets me.”
Alex straightened, stepped forward, paused, stepped forward, and leaned on his cane.
“Enough, Alex,” said Pamela. “Mother, bring that chair over here.”
“Hmm,” said Alex through gritted teeth. “Now we get to the ‘disobedient’ part.” He straightened and quickly took the last two steps, then leaned heavily on the table. Jim quickly slipped the chair behind him. Pamela and Elizabeth were immediately on both sides and lowered him into the chair.
While Pamela and Liz were hugging him, the staff burst into applause, quickly joined by the others in the room.
Alex finally looked up, gave his wife and his mother-in-law a final squeeze, then held up a hand. The room died down.
“Thank you,” he told them. “You have just witnessed a most amazing event. A man, with support from some very lovely people, walked to dinner. It’s amazing, how such a simple thing can make a guy so proud.”
There was another brief round of applause, interrupted by the Doctor. “Mr. Grey-“
Alex interrupted her. “Wait. It’s been ‘Mr. Grey’ this, and ‘Mr. Grey’ that for months. After all this, do you think you could possibly call me ‘Alex’?”
“My name is Wendy, Alex. As I was saying… I just thought you should know. You’re the first patient who has done what you just did.”
Alex looked startled. “But I thought…”
“I know what you thought. If you knew the truth, you wouldn’t have known you could do this. The other patients can walk. Some of them. They can get up, walk slowly across the room, and sit down. I am very, very proud of you.”
Alex blinked his eyes at her for a minute. Then he looked at Pamela. “Did you know this?” She nodded. “Liz?” She nodded, too. He looked at both of them. “So, I do believe we have just discovered what Liz meant when she said she would lie to me under ‘extraordinary circumstances’.”
“Yes, Alex,” she said. “I believe we have.”
Alex turned back to the doctor. “Doctor. Um. Wendy. Thank you for telling me. And thank you for waiting to tell me.” He looked at Pamela and Elizabeth. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Alex.”
“Alex? That must be three or four times you’ve called her ‘Liz’. She lets you call her Liz?” Linda said in surprise. Alex just smiled. “She doesn’t let anyone call her that, Alex.”
Alex shrugged.
Pa
mela was still kneeling next to Alex on his left side. She looked distant for a moment. “You know, she didn’t even let Daddy call her that. Even he called her ‘Elizabeth’.”
Alex turned to look at his mother-in-law, studying her for a moment.
She smiled.
“Good heavens, no!”
“Well, everyone please mark their calendars. Exactly one year from today, 5 K race, here.” He paused. “A dance afterwards. If you don’t mind, Liz.”
“We’ll plan it for months, Alex.”
Alex looked at the doctor, matching her gaze. “Care to make a wager against me, Wendy?”
“You won’t possibly win that race, Alex.”
“No, but I think I can finish. And that’s good enough for me. And that evening, I will dance. One dance with my wife. One with my mother-in-law. And one with anyone else my wife will allow me to dance with.”
The doctor smiled. “I think my money is on you, Alex.”
“Hey,” said Alex. “There should be a coin around here somewhere. Hmm. Two coins, actually.”
“They’re right here,” said Linda Dawson, gesturing to the coins on the floor. “I started to pick them up earlier, figuring someone had dropped them, but the staff had kittens and begged me not to. Did you care to explain?”
“That’s how far I got last night. Could you hand me the large, silver one, please?” Linda bent down and picked up the coin, handing it to Alex.
Alex looked at the coin thoughtfully, then set it on the table in front of him. “I won’t be needing this anymore,” he said. “But I hate to just spend it now.”
Pamela held out her hand. Alex picked up the coin, looked at it once more, then handed it to her. Pamela closed her fingers around it, then looked at Alex with a smile. “I know just the thing.” She looked around the room, and her eyes found Jim standing along the wall. “Jim, do you need to measure?”
“No, Ms. Grey. There’s no pool tonight. Everyone wanted the same slot.” Alex smiled, but didn’t say anything.
“Then may I have your coin, too?” Pamela asked politely.
“Of course, Ms. Grey.”
Linda bent down and retrieved the small, copper coin, looked at it briefly, then gave it to Pamela. Pamela looked at both coins before pocketing them, then kissed her husband’s cheek. “I’m very proud of you, Alex.”
Alex beamed. “Pamela, I don’t understand something. Why is everyone still standing? Aren’t they hungry?”
* * *
Pamela helped Alex into bed, then moved around to the other side and climbed in with him. She moved over next to him, and the two cuddled and kissed for a time. Alex laid back, and Pamela put her head on his shoulder, looking at him.
“Tired?” she asked him. “Want some help?”
“Yes. And no. I want to talk for a little bit.”
“You’re not talked out? You were very gracious tonight. Polite, outrageous, funny.”
“I didn’t embarrass you?” Pamela laughed at Alex’s suggestion.
“I want to ask you something,” Alex said. “I want to first tell you that, whatever your answer is, it’s okay. But I don’t want to be left wondering.”
“That’s fair, Alex.”
“Your father called your mother ‘Elizabeth’ like I call you ‘Pamela’?”
“Heavens, no!” Pamela said quickly. “Mother thinks that ‘Liz’ is very intimate. Grandma called her that. Grandpa did not, except sometimes. She has a few very old friends who call her that. And now you. I’m very surprised. But more importantly, I’m very pleased.”
She kissed his cheek quickly, then laid her head back down. “When we were trading first names, I asked you about the common list of shorter names for ‘Alexander’. You said they were all okay except ‘Al’. Do you think ‘Al’ is too familiar?”
“I just don’t think it fits me.”
“I don’t think ‘Pam’ fits me, but ‘Pamela’ does.”
* * *
“Wait for me, Alex,” said Pamela.
“Hurry up, or you’ll be late for dinner,” he replied, turning the corner into the long hallway. Pamela rushed to catch up.
“It’s not a race!”
“Shouldn’t have stopped to tie your shoe.” Alex continued his three-legged path down the hallway: too feet and one thin cane.
“I’m wearing boots. Didn’t you notice?”
“They’re going to be fun to help you take off later,” he said. “Are they new?”
“No. Hmm. You know, I don’t have any new clothes.”
They reached the entry to the main part of the house. Pamela stopped to allow Alex through without the risk of bumping him.
“Oh, after you,” he told her with a flourish. “I insist.”
“But Alex, you’re not allowed to insist until we get off planet. You continually shred those lovely wedding vows you promised me. Now get moving.”
“Yes, Wife,” he said, stepping forward. “Keep up, now.”
Laughing, she followed him into the dining room and held his chair as he sat down. Elizabeth was standing behind her own chair waiting for them. Alex looked at her.
“You know, Liz. I continue to amaze myself at just how inconsiderate I have been to you. All these times I come sit at your table, and not once have I taken the time to hold your chair for you. I’ve been a lousy gentleman.”
The women laughed. Elizabeth studied him for a minute before replying. “You really would, wouldn’t you? Hold my chair for me.”
“Another social faux pax? Oh, I wouldn’t do that. Unless there was a really big audience with lots of important people watching.”
“Alexander,” she finally replied. “If you ever, ever purposefully embarrass me like that in front of important people…”
“Yes, Elizabeth?” he asked sweetly.
“I will move your quarters upstairs,” she said, finishing the threat.
Alex thought about it. He thought about all the stairs he would have to climb to make it to his room. He thought about trying to maneuver his wheelchair up and down the stairs. Right. That was going to happen.
Wondering how soon before she actually filled the house with important people, and considering his recovery rate, Alex smiled and said nothing.
Pamela sat down and looked across the table at her husband. She studied him for a moment, then turned to her mother. “I think I have just seen you make a political mistake, Mother. He’s being very quiet. It’s usually not good when he’s quiet.”
Elizabeth sat quietly for a moment. “Alex, that was the must amusing threat I could come up with. You were teasing me, so I teased you. Do we need to have a serious conversation about why, if you really think about it, you would never purposefully embarrass me?"
“Oh, sure, ruin my fun. Just when I was wondering if you could line up an important state dinner sooner than I’m willing to be stuck upstairs.”
“There’s one three nights from tonight.”
“Oh.” Alex thought about it. “That’s definitely far sooner than I’m willing to get sent upstairs. You win twice. So, I should hide that night?”
“If you do, you’ll be the only missing Grey Ghost crew member. I think that might be inappropriate, seeing as how the Ghost was your wedding gift to Pamela in the first place.”
Alex controlled his voice carefully. “There are a few problems with your plan, Prime Minister.”
“Alex!” exclaimed Pamela. “What’s wrong with you?”
“One,” he said, counting off his fingers. “I haven’t any clothes appropriate for a state dinner. My dress clothes are all frozen stiff on Swanson’s Pride.”
“Two,” he continued. “Perhaps things
are different here than they are on Random Walk. But back home, official state dinners always include a written invitation, and the invitation is expected to arrive at least two weeks before the event. I have received no invitation. Either you do things differently here, or I haven’t been invited.”
“Three,” he added. “Both of you have probably already considered number one. I suspect I do have a very nice set of clothes here somewhere, picked out and paid for by my wife. I suppose she’ll come dress me and hold my hand when I cross the street.”
Pamela set her teeth. Elizabeth watched Alex sadly.
“Four. I bet you have already taken care of two by inviting my wife. As her husband, I certainly don’t require more notice than it takes to be dressed properly.”
“Alexander,” Elizabeth said quietly. “I can never predict the things that will make you angry. However, I do not understand why you choose to get angry instead of deciding to just try to work with me.”
Alex remained quiet.
“To answer your concerns. One. Pamela, you were going to ask Alexander something over dinner. Now would be a really good time to ask him.”
“I was going to ask you to go shopping with me tomorrow,” she told him. “Now, I’m very much inclined to go alone and pick out clothes for both of us. I think you would look adorable in whatever I picked out.”
Alex set his arm on the table and shamefully lowered his forehead to it, hiding his face.
“I do believe that addresses both numbers one and three,” declared Elizabeth. “Two. Captain Grey received notice very late this afternoon that the Grey Ghost, with a number of Random Walkers recommended by Admiral Swanson, will arrive late the day after tomorrow. When Captain Grey informed me of this, which happened while you were cleaning up after your afternoon physical therapy, I offered to host a party welcoming them to our world. The invitations will be sent out this evening. This is the first time either of us have seen you since we heard the news.
“I believe that addresses point four, as well, Alexander.”
Alex raised his head. “Elizabeth, Pamela. I have become hypersensitive. I am sorry.”
“Alexander, your behavior was that of a teenager,” explained Elizabeth. “You are afraid that you are becoming complacent, and you expend significant efforts to rebel in order to prove you can. I really wish you would realize no one is trying to put you in a gilded cage. It would be much easier for all of us if, while you are here, you tried to enjoy it.