Me and Charley

31. Going Home Blind

Mom unlocked the pickup and I got in. A heavy silence enveloped us as we began the journey home. The sounds and smells of the city drifted in the open window. When we reached the highway I said, "Mom, I'm so sorry."

"For what, Trey?" she asked.

"For being such a burden to you."

"Trey, what are you talking about?"

"Mom, what can I do now? I'll just be a good-for-nothing burden."

"Trey, don't say that. There's lots you can do. You'll find your way."

"I can't be an architect, that's for sure."

"Trey, something will be there for you. You know more math than Einstein ever forgot."

I had to chuckle. "Not quite, Mom."

"Well you will, by the time you get your education. Trey, you don't realize how gifted you are."

"Yeah, I can make real good geometric baskets and brooms in the blind school."

"Now Trey, you know you can do a whole lot more than that. Look at Sammy and Simon. They're very bright and I doubt they're into baskets and brooms."

"You know, Mom, we hardly ever talk about their school. Maybe they don't like it."

"Smart kids get bored with school sometimes. You do, I know," Mom said. "Do you remember when you first met them, the day of the eclipse?"

"It was the day before the eclipse, Mom."

"Well anyhow," Mom said, "they understood those Braille books with the diagrams of the solar system and all that. You've often said how smart they are. Have they ever asked you for help with math and science, like Sebby and Charley do sometimes?"

"Other kids too," I said, "but not Sammy and Simon, no. I never thought about that."

"And your classmates wouldn't keep asking you if you weren't helping them to understand. Maybe you'll teach math."

"That'd be hard, Mom,"

"Trey, everything will be hard for you, but not much will be impossible."

"How about driving?" I would be sixteen in less than six months.

"Well I imagine that's possible but you'd better not do it, for everyone's sake."

I chuckled again as I imagined everyone running for cover. Then I said, "Maybe it's like Charley says his dad says, God gives the biggest battles to his best soldiers. You know what, Mom? Charley told me he'll take bein' crippled over bein' blind any day."

"Yes, you've told me that before. Either one's a very hard road," Mom said.

"You know what Simon and Sammy say? They think it's harder to lose your eyesight than bein' born blind like they were."

"What do you think, Trey?"

"I dunno, Mom. Like just now, I could picture me in my mind drivin' and everyone runnin' for cover. Sammy and Simon can't have any idea what that would look like. I can't imagine livin' like that. But not to see anything new ever again, I just dunno." Sudden tears came and I had to blow my nose.

"Trey, are you all right?"

"Not really, Mom. Sorry."

"It's all right. You're doing lots better than I thought you would."

"How about you, Mom?"

"Maybe I'll have a good cry when we get home."

"Aw, Mom..."