When we are no longer able to change a situation- we are challenged to change ourselves. - Viktor E. Franki
Shelby's sister joined the Cliff Hangers at lunch one day. Chris watched their interaction and realized that Shelby was good with children. She instinctively wanted to protect children. Chris mentioned her thoughts to Ezra, later when they were alone working on a project for science class.
"Is it just with her sister or kids in general?" Chris asked.
"This one time, the little girl from the diner in town, was camping with her mom and got lost. So we all co-ordinated with search and rescue teams to look for her. The girl fell over the edge of this cliff and held on. Shelby climbed up the cliff and rescued the girl, without any help or harness. She made me promise to tell no one and pretend I saved the girl," Ezra explained in hushed tones.
"Wow. So I guess she isn't as scared of heights as we all thought."
"Why do you want to know?" Ezra asked.
Chris didn't answer right away. "Well you know how she's been a little down, after Scott finished his mountain climb for graduation? I was thinking if she's good with kids, she can work in town at the daycare. Then maybe she graduates at the same time as Scott."
Ezra nodded, "you should suggest something in our group session and see what Peter says."
"Maybe," Chris said indecisively. "Or I could just plant the suggestion in Peter's mind."
Ezra laughed, "good luck with that. You'd have better luck with Sophie."
"Hmmm, I think you're on to something. And Daisy is going to help me with that plant, without her realizing it too."
"Ambitious, I'll give you that.... Why do you want to help Shelby?"
Chris shrugged, "they're both my friends and I want to see them happy. So why not?"
"You know what Shelby is like. I think you're going to create more drama, instead of helping."
"You just watch EZ, it'll work out."
Juliette joined the conversation. "Isn't she already going every week to that horse farm, and helping the kids there?"
Auggie confirmed, "Shelby's been going there since that abused horse followed her here. Remember how it got sick and we all stayed up walking it around to keep it alive?"
"I remember that," Juliette said. "Shelby didn't want to care about the horse, but in the end she couldn't help it. But Peter said we couldn't keep the horse because there was no safe place for it. So it went to a local farm."
"Wow, I didn't know that," Chris said.
"Yeah we found out the horse had run away from an abusive owner. He was just like the rest of us; running from our problems." Auggie sighed and Juliette held his hand.
Chris asked, "so what does Shelby do at the farm?"
Ezra answered, "take care of the horse and lately she's been helping the little kids, by leading them around on the horses."
"I'd love to work with the horses... the kids, not so much," Chris revealed.
"Maybe with good behaviour Peter will let you go with Shelby one day," Juliette suggested. "He let me go once." She didn't feel like elaborating why it was only one time.
"Cool. So what does 'good behaviour' consist of?" Chris asked.
Her friends all laughed and rolled their eyes. "Just be happy they let you do the marathon," Ezra teased.
Chris and Auggie finished lunch and then went off to art class. It wasn't yet start of class, but they hadn't finished their assignments and wanted the extra time. Juliette had a one on one with Peter and Ezra was going to his chemistry class. That was one class he truly enjoyed and not for the same reasons he had when first arriving at Horizon.
As was the usual, Juliette first went to the nurse to be weighed and have her blood pressure checked. She passed Daisy, coming out of the room. "Hi!"
Daisy replied snidely, "gain any weight yet?"
"Ouch, what's eating you?" Juliette retorted.
"Leave me alone Twig," Daisy replied, turning on her heal and walking in the opposite direction.
"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today," Juliette said under her breath.
But it wasn't the usual grumpiness that made Daisy lash out at everyone she came in contact with. Finally Shelby took her by the arm and bluntly asked her what was going on. She wouldn't take silence as an answer and pushed the truth out of her friend, with her direct bluntness.
"I felt a lump in my breast and the nurse is concerned enough to have Sophie take me to the hospital in town," Daisy whispered.
Shocked Shelby hugged her friend, "it's probably nothing. But do you want me to come with you?"
"No, but thanks." Daisy declined.
"When are you going?" Shelby asked gently.
"After Sophie's one on one with Mark. So in about twenty minutes.... It's strange how things change, how the threat of true death makes you want to live more than ever."
"Awe Daisy, you're strong and you're not a death angel like your dad said."
"Thanks Shelby," Daisy sniffed.
Shelby stayed with Daisy, even after classes started again. Sophie told her to go and Daisy waved as they drove away. Shelby went to her class, but couldn't concentrate on anything, she was worried about her friend. This situation was one thing that no matter how Daisy tried, she couldn't change anything. They all could fix themselves mentally, but when it was a physical health issue like this, the game of life changed.
