Finally Home

97. Samantha

I went back to school Monday. In my wheelchair. Exactly the way I did not want to return. I wasn't happy and Mom and Dad knew it. But, they were being their disgusting positive selves and reminding me my friends were still my friends and they don't care about my leg.

But I do.

I mean, I left school three weeks ago with two legs and a crutch. Now I'm coming back with no crutch (yet) and missing one of my legs. I'm nervous. This is big. And very noticeable.

I sighed as Dad pulled up to the school.

"Ready?" He asked.

"No," I said. "Can't I start tomorrow?"

"And if I let you, what would you say tomorrow? Come on. It's not going to be so bad. And I'll see you after school."

I looked at the school doors. Jill and Blaine were waiting. Dad got out of the car and got my chair out of the bed of his truck. I groaned internally as I opened my door and waited for him to come around.

He helped me out of the car and into my chair and got me all settled.

He put both hands on the sides of the chair and looked me straight in the eyes.

"You are brave. You are smart. Your friends love you and will be there for you. You are still you. So go be the best you and I'll see you after school. Okay?"

I nodded at him. He kissed me on the head.

"And if it's really that terrible, call or text me. Okay?"

"Okay," I said.

"Now, go be smart."

I smiled as I turned my chair and wheeled over to Jill and Blaine.

"Morgan's going to be late. Otherwise he'd have been here, too," Blaine said.

"Is Morgan ever on time?" I asked. We laughed. Morgan has never made it to school on time since the first day.

Jill and Blaine walked beside me chatting away. I rolled into the hallway and people stopped. And stared.

I went to turn around and leave but two hands grabbed the handles of my chair and stopped me. I looked up and Morgan was standing behind me and glaring at the people staring at me.

"What's the matter with you people?" He growled. "Haven't you ever seen a one-legged person in a wheelchair before?"

I covered my face with my hands and groaned.

"Morgan!" I whisper yelled.

"Move along. Nothing to see here. Just a classmate coming back to school after three weeks," he continued.

People started moving finally. And murmuring.

"Isn't that the captain of the girls' basketball team?"

"Guess not anymore."

That one hurt.

"What happened?"

"Dare you to ask!"

"Dude! You don't go around asking people how they lost their leg!"

I rolled my eyes. Okay. It wasn't so bad. But god are people stupid.

As I was about to start heading to my locker, the principal came out of the office.

"Samantha, welcome back," she smiled. "We were so sorry to hear about your surgery and everything. How are you?"

"I'm okay," I said.

"Good. Well, I came to give you this," she said, handing me a key.

I looked at her confused.

"It's the elevator key. I don't expect you're going to want to try the stairs?"

Duh.

"Right," I said. "Thanks."

"If you have any issues, any problems, just come let us know."

"Okay. Thanks," I said.

I turned my chair and rolled along after my friends.  Jill and I went to our lockers and headed to homeroom. That was when I realized I was going to have a problem. My chair didn't fit at my desk because our desks are attached to the chairs.

"Samantha, welcome back!" Our homeroom teacher said. "We've ordered a desk for you. It hasn't arrived yet."

"Oh. Okay. Thanks," I said.

I just rolled to the back of the class, away from my friends in the middle.

When we went to our first classes, I realized this was going to be an issue in every class. But then, my friends, they moved their seats to sit by me instead of me sitting alone. I smiled. Dad was right. Loathe as I am to admit it.

At lunch, balancing my tray was a bit of an experience. But at least I could just sit at the end of the table and fit.

People did stare and I heard some comments. But for the most part, people left me alone.

At 2, a student knocked on the door of my classroom interrupting the end of the lesson.

"Hi. Sorry, but Coach said she needs Samantha Joseph in the gym."

"Samantha, you'd better get going then," the teacher said. I packed up my stuff, confused, got my bag hung off the back and left.

"What did Coach want to see me for?" I asked.

"I dunno," the kid said. "She just asked me to come get you."

I shrugged and continued along to the gym.

The kid held the door open for me and I rolled into the gym.

"SURPRISE!" Another cacophony of voices yelled. I finally took in what I was seeing. My basketball team. In wheelchairs. And another team in wheelchairs. Kaitlyn was with them.

"What is this?" I asked. Dad came from behind me. He and Mom with Rosie and Junie and Uncle Josh and Aunt Debby (Uncle Brendon and Aunt Sarah went home on the weekend) were all there.

"It's a basketball game," Dad said. "Come on. Put your jersey on."

He handed me my school jersey.

"Let's go, Joseph," Kaitlyn said. "If you think I went hard on you in your backyard, you've got some learning to do. Good thing we're in a school."

"Is that trash talk?" I asked, pulling my jersey on.

"Yeah. I kinda suck at it," Kaitlyn laughed.

"Welcome back, Samantha," Coach said. "Your parents set this whole thing up."

"This is awesome. Thanks," I said to them.

"Joseph! Get your butt in gear!" Coach said.

My team was kinda hopeless in wheelchairs. They kept hitting the wheels and sending the ball flying across the court. But we had fun.

Kaitlyn's team crushed us, 175-20. With most of those baskets being made by me.

By the end, we actually had a crowd watching in the gym.

It was fun. It definitely helped.

Kaitlyn and I exchanged phone numbers and emails and promised to keep in touch. She said she was going to follow my basketball career.

My parents. Man. They just keep making sure I don't give up.

They gave me the confidence boost I clearly needed.