just wasn’t going to work, and I clearly could not survive by binging on days old fruit.
I needed help.
I managed to handle what needed handling but I was exhausted and desperate to make things as easy as possible for future bathroom visits. That meant getting rid of all the rugs in my way, the towel rack beside the shower and the small table in the hallway. Those were all obstacles that took time to maneuver around and when you’re in need of the bathroom and stuck in a wheelchair, time to maneuver is a costly luxury.
If Halley knew any of this she’d try giving me an ultimatum. The nurse or adult diapers. I could practically see her pointing that sharp index finger at me like a loaded gun.
Flor is right next door. So is her friend Matt. I could ask them for help.
No. I wasn’t going there. I had enough to confront with Flor. Adding my current dilemma into the mix just wasn’t a good idea. Besides, what would I say? “Hey, Flor, listen, sorry about my sister treating you like you were gum under her designer stiletto, but could you wheelchair-proof my brother’s apartment and feed me?”
My cell phone began ringing in my lap, jolting me from the path my thoughts had stumbled down.
“Martin, what’s going on, brother?”
“Not much. Just got home. How are you doing?”
“I’m starving.”
“Do you need me to bring some food? Do you need anything from the pharmacy?” He sounded tired and I felt bad for asking him to do anything this late in the evening. The man was old enough to be my father and if Martin was anything like my mother, he was likely in his pajama’s right after dinner. So, I lied.
“I’m actually good for tonight but maybe tomorrow. I’ll let you know. My assistant is going to take care of shopping for me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, yeah. You know Halley. She’s a control freak. She made sure I was pretty well set up here. My assistant is going to get whatever she missed. No excuses to screw up and piss her off…” I trailed off.
“Well, okay, but I can be over to your place if you need me. Just call or send me a text and I’ll be by. It’s not like we live that far from each other. Sound good?”
“Yes. Thanks, Martin. I really appreciate it. Everything.” I wouldn’t tell him that I had chosen to hang out at Tommy’s place. He’d want to dissect that decision and I could tell he was too tired and I was too…too everything right then.
“I know you do, bud. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Alright. Good night.”
“’Night.”
I pecked out a text message to Conrad, giving him instructions for the next day and a shopping list. He was going to be covering my ass for the foreseeable future, which meant he needed plenty of instruction. He’d also need plenty of coffee because he was now doing both our jobs. I felt bad for the guy. Particularly because he’d be dealing with Halley alone, a fate no man deserved. It still baffled me that she was married to a pretty good guy and their marriage seemed to be a happy one.
“I’ll never understand why you love this stuff so much,” I mumbled, tossing Tommy’s astronomy book back to him on the couch.
“That’s because you’re dense.” His voice squeaked and I refrained from teasing him over it. Pretty soon he would have a deep voice like mine.
“Very funny, nerd.”
“The girls like it,” he retorted with a grin in place.
“I do okay on my own, thanks.”
“Sure you do.”
“What? I do. Just ask Amy Fitzsimmons,” I leaned in whispering.
“Hey, have you heard about the new asteroid they found? It’s some ways away but only just now visible to our lenses. Cool, huh?”
“Can’t say that I have.”
“Mr. Glover at the science building made a whole presentation for me and the other kids yesterday.”
“All three of you?”
“Shut up. If The Intercity Children’s Science Organization had more funding, I bet we’d have plenty of other kids spending time there. People just don’t care about
I needed help.
I managed to handle what needed handling but I was exhausted and desperate to make things as easy as possible for future bathroom visits. That meant getting rid of all the rugs in my way, the towel rack beside the shower and the small table in the hallway. Those were all obstacles that took time to maneuver around and when you’re in need of the bathroom and stuck in a wheelchair, time to maneuver is a costly luxury.
If Halley knew any of this she’d try giving me an ultimatum. The nurse or adult diapers. I could practically see her pointing that sharp index finger at me like a loaded gun.
Flor is right next door. So is her friend Matt. I could ask them for help.
No. I wasn’t going there. I had enough to confront with Flor. Adding my current dilemma into the mix just wasn’t a good idea. Besides, what would I say? “Hey, Flor, listen, sorry about my sister treating you like you were gum under her designer stiletto, but could you wheelchair-proof my brother’s apartment and feed me?”
My cell phone began ringing in my lap, jolting me from the path my thoughts had stumbled down.
“Martin, what’s going on, brother?”
“Not much. Just got home. How are you doing?”
“I’m starving.”
“Do you need me to bring some food? Do you need anything from the pharmacy?” He sounded tired and I felt bad for asking him to do anything this late in the evening. The man was old enough to be my father and if Martin was anything like my mother, he was likely in his pajama’s right after dinner. So, I lied.
“I’m actually good for tonight but maybe tomorrow. I’ll let you know. My assistant is going to take care of shopping for me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, yeah. You know Halley. She’s a control freak. She made sure I was pretty well set up here. My assistant is going to get whatever she missed. No excuses to screw up and piss her off…” I trailed off.
“Well, okay, but I can be over to your place if you need me. Just call or send me a text and I’ll be by. It’s not like we live that far from each other. Sound good?”
“Yes. Thanks, Martin. I really appreciate it. Everything.” I wouldn’t tell him that I had chosen to hang out at Tommy’s place. He’d want to dissect that decision and I could tell he was too tired and I was too…too everything right then.
“I know you do, bud. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Alright. Good night.”
“’Night.”
I pecked out a text message to Conrad, giving him instructions for the next day and a shopping list. He was going to be covering my ass for the foreseeable future, which meant he needed plenty of instruction. He’d also need plenty of coffee because he was now doing both our jobs. I felt bad for the guy. Particularly because he’d be dealing with Halley alone, a fate no man deserved. It still baffled me that she was married to a pretty good guy and their marriage seemed to be a happy one.
“I’ll never understand why you love this stuff so much,” I mumbled, tossing Tommy’s astronomy book back to him on the couch.
“That’s because you’re dense.” His voice squeaked and I refrained from teasing him over it. Pretty soon he would have a deep voice like mine.
“Very funny, nerd.”
“The girls like it,” he retorted with a grin in place.
“I do okay on my own, thanks.”
“Sure you do.”
“What? I do. Just ask Amy Fitzsimmons,” I leaned in whispering.
“Hey, have you heard about the new asteroid they found? It’s some ways away but only just now visible to our lenses. Cool, huh?”
“Can’t say that I have.”
“Mr. Glover at the science building made a whole presentation for me and the other kids yesterday.”
“All three of you?”
“Shut up. If The Intercity Children’s Science Organization had more funding, I bet we’d have plenty of other kids spending time there. People just don’t care about
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