potato for Samy, she didn’t look at either Leini or Papi.
Helping Tatta, their live-in maid, clear the table after the meal, Leini was on her way to the kitchen when she heard two sharp bursts on the doorbell. Grandpa and Grandma Britta! Excited, she almost dropped the stack of dishes she was carrying and ran to see as quickly as she could put down the plates.
“Happy birthday, my princess.” Lifting her off the floor, Grandpa hugged her to him.
* * *
Leini was content to have Paula’s company at least part of the way to and from school. When she slipped on a patch of ice, Leini would have dropped to her knees hadn’t Paula caught her by the arm.
“Watch out, Leini. Can’t you see where you put your feet?”
“You know I can’t. When the weather is bleak and foggy like today, everything seems to melt together. I can’t make out dents or see the end of the pavement. I can’t help stumbling and I seem to bump into things a lot.”
“Gee, I don’t understand how you stand it. You can’t take part in any of the fun at school. You can’t play ball, ski or any of the other stuff we do because you don’t see well. That’s terrible.”
Reluctant to get drawn into a discussion about her eyes, Leini thought before answering. “It’s not so bad,” she said at length. “Maybe I can’t do any of those things, but I read and listen to music, lots of other things, like the movies. You know I love the movies.” She made her voice firm as if it didn’t matter that she couldn’t take part in sports, or wasn’t one of the crowd
Leini suffered during these twice-daily treks between home and school. Her eyes ran from the cold, tears freezing on her stiff cheeks. The cold was a fact of life. It was a nuisance, but she didn’t let it bother her. Eventually the weather would break, and the snow would thaw.
Paula took her hand, held it tight. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
Leini’s reluctance was huge as a boulder inside to be talking about this sensitive matter. “What’s it to you? Why do you want to know?”
“You’re my almost sister. I want to understand what it’s like for you.”
“Okay. The ophthal…the eye doctor calls it a visual impairment. It’s quite a handicap. When I was about two years old, it started as a squint. Over time, it grew worse, made me see double every now and then. Now I see double more and more often.” A sob, like a hiccup, got away. “It’s hell every day. Long distance, I hardly see at all. Middle distance, my world is blurry. Up close, I see double.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed I often stumble and walk into obstacles, I send objects crashing to the floor when I misjudge a horizontal surface. I’m afraid all the time—of hurting myself, or breaking things. So far, nothing dramatic has happened.” One day, something may go seriously wrong . She grinned at Paula to hide the sadness inside. “Thanks for listening, for being my only real friend.”
When Leini finally reached her building, her whole body was stiff from the cold. Harry opened the heavy front door, a welcoming smile on his freckled face. His big paw closed around her arm to keep her from slipping on the icy step. With a deep sigh, like a sob, relief lightened her as she scuttled inside the comforting warmth of the foyer.
“You made it, Leini,” Harry said. “Such a brave girl.” He held a steaming mug of chocolate to her. “Here. Before you go upstairs, have a hot drink to thaw you.”
Leini couldn’t see through her glasses, fogged over by the change in temperature. Her lips and face were so stiff from the cold her attempt at a smile turned into a grimace. Before she could remove her mittens Harry held the mug to her lips. She took a few sips of the rich drink, warm and soothing.
“Pity no trams or buses go to your school.”
Shrugging, she continued sipping until the mug was empty, as she gazed over the rim at him.
“Thanks, Harry. That helped. I feel warmer already.” She
Helping Tatta, their live-in maid, clear the table after the meal, Leini was on her way to the kitchen when she heard two sharp bursts on the doorbell. Grandpa and Grandma Britta! Excited, she almost dropped the stack of dishes she was carrying and ran to see as quickly as she could put down the plates.
“Happy birthday, my princess.” Lifting her off the floor, Grandpa hugged her to him.
* * *
Leini was content to have Paula’s company at least part of the way to and from school. When she slipped on a patch of ice, Leini would have dropped to her knees hadn’t Paula caught her by the arm.
“Watch out, Leini. Can’t you see where you put your feet?”
“You know I can’t. When the weather is bleak and foggy like today, everything seems to melt together. I can’t make out dents or see the end of the pavement. I can’t help stumbling and I seem to bump into things a lot.”
“Gee, I don’t understand how you stand it. You can’t take part in any of the fun at school. You can’t play ball, ski or any of the other stuff we do because you don’t see well. That’s terrible.”
Reluctant to get drawn into a discussion about her eyes, Leini thought before answering. “It’s not so bad,” she said at length. “Maybe I can’t do any of those things, but I read and listen to music, lots of other things, like the movies. You know I love the movies.” She made her voice firm as if it didn’t matter that she couldn’t take part in sports, or wasn’t one of the crowd
Leini suffered during these twice-daily treks between home and school. Her eyes ran from the cold, tears freezing on her stiff cheeks. The cold was a fact of life. It was a nuisance, but she didn’t let it bother her. Eventually the weather would break, and the snow would thaw.
Paula took her hand, held it tight. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
Leini’s reluctance was huge as a boulder inside to be talking about this sensitive matter. “What’s it to you? Why do you want to know?”
“You’re my almost sister. I want to understand what it’s like for you.”
“Okay. The ophthal…the eye doctor calls it a visual impairment. It’s quite a handicap. When I was about two years old, it started as a squint. Over time, it grew worse, made me see double every now and then. Now I see double more and more often.” A sob, like a hiccup, got away. “It’s hell every day. Long distance, I hardly see at all. Middle distance, my world is blurry. Up close, I see double.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed I often stumble and walk into obstacles, I send objects crashing to the floor when I misjudge a horizontal surface. I’m afraid all the time—of hurting myself, or breaking things. So far, nothing dramatic has happened.” One day, something may go seriously wrong . She grinned at Paula to hide the sadness inside. “Thanks for listening, for being my only real friend.”
When Leini finally reached her building, her whole body was stiff from the cold. Harry opened the heavy front door, a welcoming smile on his freckled face. His big paw closed around her arm to keep her from slipping on the icy step. With a deep sigh, like a sob, relief lightened her as she scuttled inside the comforting warmth of the foyer.
“You made it, Leini,” Harry said. “Such a brave girl.” He held a steaming mug of chocolate to her. “Here. Before you go upstairs, have a hot drink to thaw you.”
Leini couldn’t see through her glasses, fogged over by the change in temperature. Her lips and face were so stiff from the cold her attempt at a smile turned into a grimace. Before she could remove her mittens Harry held the mug to her lips. She took a few sips of the rich drink, warm and soothing.
“Pity no trams or buses go to your school.”
Shrugging, she continued sipping until the mug was empty, as she gazed over the rim at him.
“Thanks, Harry. That helped. I feel warmer already.” She
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