Alex Reborn

Chapter 9: Acceptance

We were all eating cereal when Mandi told me that I would not be going to school today, that instead, I had an appointment in Atlanta with Dr. Wade. She told everyone else that they had ten minutes to get to the bus.

"Mom, can Jen come with us?" I asked. Jen's face lit up with excitement.

"Why should Jen come with us?" Mandi asked.

"Well, Mom, she can help Dr. Wade understand how I am doing. Jen can tell him how I was before the accident, and how I have been afterwards, giving an unbiased perspective," I answered.

Jen jumped in: "I am sure Dr. Wade would be interested in understanding how much Allie has changed, and remained the same, since we do share a bedroom and spend a lot of time together, and we are twins. I would know those kinds of things."

Mandi thought about it for a minute. "Lord knows you two are twins. My hardest delivery, by a land slide eighteen hours of labor. Fine, you can come."

Jen, God bless her, is an amazing girl despite the rough patches we have had. I have no idea why Lexi could not get along with her. She can be annoying and aggravating at times, like when she sings at the top of her lungs in the shower, or elsewhere off key, deliberately, to piss me and everyone else off. But, she has been there for me the past few weeks, and I hope I have been there for her. Damn, I am sounding like a chick now.

In Mandi's Honda, Jen and I are reading the Harry Potter books together. We enjoy discussing the finer points of why Harry stinks, and Hermione is so awesome. No, I never read those books. When they came out I was in college, and didn't have much time for fun reading. When I did fun reading, I stuck to Stephen King, and Tom Clancy.

After a long drive that really did not seem that long, since Jen and I were having a good time reading and discussing, "Girls, I cannot tell you how proud of you I am. I love seeing you two finally getting along. I always hoped you two would have a relationship like I have with your Aunt Joann," Mandi said, with pride.

When we arrived at Dr. Wade's office around ten or so, Mandi told the receptionist why we were there. Mandi asked how much of a co-pay she would have, and asked about the total bill. The receptionist said that there was no co-pay, and that Dr. Wade would explain everything. The receptionist told Mandi that it would be about ten minutes or so.

Wade came out to greet us. "Mrs. Malone, it is so good to see you again. I hope you, and your husband are doing well."

"Allie, I want you, and Jen to stay here, while I go talk to Dr. Wade privately," Mandi said.

"Yes, Ma'am," we both replied.

"Come on back, Mrs. Malone." They walked to Wade's office. Once there, he asked, "So how is Lexi doing? She appears to be doing well. Do you have any concerns?"

"First, Dr. Wade, thank you for bringing my baby back to me. It has been a true blessing. Lexi now goes by Allie. That is just one of the many changes since your miracle cure. Before the accident Allie was a cute girl, but I hate to say as dumb as a post. Now her IQ has gone from an 90 to 155. We had to put her in the honors AP program because she was bored and causing a lot of trouble in her old classes. Her personality is almost completely different. It is almost like she is a different person, but then we see some hints of her old self every now and then. Before the accident, Jen, Allie's twin they truly hated each other. Now they are inseparable they have not been that way for a very long time. Allie has become very headstrong and defiant at times."

"I take it Allie has had some behavioral issues?" Wade asked with a grin.

"Calling them behavioral issues is like saying it is Georgia is hotter than Hell in August. You have no idea the behavioral issues we've had," Mandi said.