Chapter Three: Once everything was over, we dropped Charlie off at his house and we went home ourselves. The house felt warm and soothing. The warm cherry blossom scent still lingered in the air. Dad had to pick me up from out of the car. You know, because I couldn’t walk and Mom got the wheelchair. “Can I go to bed now?” I asked Dad when we got in. “Of course, Jade Blade.” He tucked me into bed and Mom kissed my forehead. “It’ll be alright, honey oats. We’re going through this together. Goodnight, I love you.” She said as they both left my room. I didn’t think that any of this would be okay. I knew that this would be difficult but honestly, I didn’t feel like thinking about it. It just made me more upset. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. The day went by steadily. As expected, my classmates rushed up to me asking who I was and if I needed help. I told them that I was just born this way and that I had moved here a week ago. They pitted me and I found it as a great opportunity to make friends. Charlie caught up to me at lunch and volunteered to help me with things. Like holding my bags and helping me get used to migrating around the school in a wheelchair. The principal gave us permission to go into a vacant classroom during lunch hours so Charlie could help me figure out the functions of my metallic blue wheelchair. He said it looked really cool but I still felt out of place. Not an hour went by that I missed walking and dancing. Being able to twirl around and slide my feet. I felt like crying every time I thought about it but instead, I spoke louder to drown out the upsetting reality. Four weeks went by like this, and eventually, I was able to actually travel around the school by myself. My teachers offered that I could go to room H-2 so I could be with other kids like me, but I already knew what kind of people resided there, so I refused. The kids that learned there couldn’t walk or do things for themselves. I could! I can do a lot of things for myself! But they also said it was for my dyslexia. I was having trouble learning the words in the textbooks. Mom and Dad refused. Their reasoning was that I ‘was smart on my own’ and that ‘no condition is stronger than my knowledge and brainpower’. I didn’t think I was that smart. I was decent but not that good. Anyway, I stayed in my normal classes and did the things I normally would do. It took a while to get the hang of but once I did, I was grooving and zooming all over the place. Not as fast as I would have liked but fast enough. One day, I was lost in thought when I felt a jolt that brought me back to the present. I had run into Melody Brooks! “I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you!?” I apologized hurriedly. "No. I’m alright. Is anything scraped?" She asked on her Medi-Talker. I’ve heard people talking about it but I’ve never seen it in action before. It was really cool! “No, not that I know of.” I said, looking at my arms and hands. "Lunch is soon. Would you like to eat with me?" It took her a little while to type that. I thought about the last time someone asked to eat lunch with them. It was the thing that got me into this mess! I thought about saying ‘no’ but then I thought of what kind of person Melody is. A lot of people say she’s really cool and I know that I didn’t hear anyone call Josie cool.
Now that I look at it, I can see her amusement but also hurt flickered in her eyes. I didn’t know how I could see these kinds of things but they just appeared. “Sure. Also, did something happen? You look sad.” I asked, backing my wheelchair off of hers. She looked away. "My team did something horrible. I’m fine. Just a little angry". She said. I felt so bad for her. What did her team do? I knew that I couldn’t hear her tone but the rough way she breathed screamed ‘Don’t ask about it’. I kept my mouth shut and we went on with the rest of the day. When lunch came, I was very cautious. I didn’t want to be in the same situation as I was weeks ago. I told Charlie about eating with Melody and he asked if he could join because he was my helping buddy. She gladly accepted and we all ate together. The pizza didn’t taste stale at all but instead, it was very soft. The milk was extra cold and I was extremely happy. Charlie, Melody, and I had a great conversation about movies. Specifically, ‘Orison’. “Yeah! That part was hilarious!” Charlie laughed. “No, the best part was when-”. Melody was suddenly cut off by the sound of the bell. “Oh. Well, that’s that, I guess. See you later!” I called out to her as me and Charlie gathered our things and we walked outside to drop me off at my car. Mom and he helped me into my seat and fastened me. “That was fun,” Charlie said as he leaned over to hug me goodbye. “Yeah, it was,” I said, ruffling his hair a little bit. “Hey, honey oats! It’s time to go!” Mom called out from the front. “Alright, I have to go! See ya!” I said, shifting to face the front. “Okay, see ya tomorrow!” He said before kissing my cheek and closing the door. That was the beginning of something special. I used to move and twist any way I wanted to. I used to jump and hop and slide my feet to the beat. I used to do jazz hands and do the wave. I can’t do that anymore. Can’t do any of that. I can't move or do the wave. I felt bad at first but then I got used to it. I go to Spaulding Street Elementary School and my name is Jade Sadie. I’m in the 5th grade. I’m no longer quiet and lots of people know who I am. I like to sing and I used to dance but someday, I’ll reach my new dream. To help people like me. To grow a society that would help kids with conditions or traumatic events that changed their lives. I like to be Jade. Just Jade. Not Jade the dancer, or Jade the singer, nor Jade the ugly duck. Just Jade. Just crippled, curly brown-haired, blue-eyed, and difference-maker Jade. I have dyslexia and I have trouble figuring out if the letters on the page would dance forever, twisting and jumping about. But I will keep them steady someday. I will reach my dreams. With Charlie Stone and Melody Brooks, the friends I made along the way, I will be strong. I will do anything I set my mind to. No longer will I feel as if I can’t speak.
