Truly Blind | p. parker

vi • of finished projects

The lock clicked and you swung the door open. "Hey, May, I'm here!" You kicked the door closed and stuffed the key into your pocket.

"Snacks are on the table and Peter's cleaning his room," May said from the kitchen. It sounded like she was moving something heavy.

You dropped your bag on the couch and entered the kitchen. May was holding a big box. "What's this?" You nodded to her load while plucking an apple slice from the plate on the table.

"It's the spooky time of the year, right?" May set the box on the floor and pulled out a jack-O-lantern decoration. "Gotta get ready."

You grinned at her antics. "So, Peter's cleaning his room?" You raised an eyebrow and bit into the apple slice.

"Yes," May set a ghost decoration on the counter. "You'd be surprised at what that boy has been able to accomplish in his life."

Shaking your head with a smile, you grabbed the plate of apples and turned to go find the boy in question. While passing the living room you maneuvered around the chair to Peter's desk and reflected upon the last time you'd sat there. It had been a few weeks at least, when you'd decided to build that calculator.

With that on your mind, your pace quickened and you reached Peter's door. You were about to knock when it flew open and Peter, back against an impressively clean room, stood there with a satisfied smile. "You're late."

"Psh," you said. "Only because I stopped at Delmar's for you."

Peter punched the air and let you in. "You know how to motivate me."

"Dang straight." You set the plate on the desk and plopped down into his swivel chair. "Should we get started then?"

"We can finish today." Peter said, placing one hand on the edge of the desk and another on the back of your chair. "If we work fast, which we always do..." He went on to describe your last few steps in completing the project. "And then I can eat that delicious slice of heaven waiting in the kitchen."

"What, May's pumpkin bread?"

Peter shook his head. "Very funny."

It was weird, things had changed so suddenly between you and Peter. After MJ and Betty had vouched their support for your interaction with him, you found that it was easier to be around him and you actually wanted to see him grow.

You found it difficult to determine when exactly you had become friends with Peter, or when exactly May had slipped you a spare key, or when exactly the two of you had begun hanging out at school regularly, but regardless of when it had all begun, it was undeniable that you were now friends with the blind kid.

And honestly, you weren't upset by that fact.

It took the two of you a little over an hour to complete the calculator.

"Done." Peter announced. "Finally."

"I can't believe it took us a whole two weeks." You pushed your sleeves back down and admired the finished product.

It was a clunky old calculator with added braille dots on the top of each key, and about a dozen wires connecting it to a complicated looking battery, which was then plugged into Peter's box computer. Any time a key was pressed, the computer read it aloud.

"Yeah, well, stuff like this used to take way less time. It's a lot harder not being able to see."

"Hey, I tried my best to describe those parts to you." You leaned back in your chair. "Plus, I've never been dumpster diving for electrical parts. All of this was new to me."