Carl Jr. Said, “Whatever.” He and Carl picked up the items and started for the car.

Julie started to apologize. Carol shook her head. “Let’s have some fun shopping then head to the car. I know what this is about. I am a drunk. I work with drunks. Until a person admits they are a drunk there is no way to help them. I can’t claim to be very smart. I ignored the first warning. I lost my leg in an accident. I had to nearly kill myself the second time falling down steps at home to understand the wake-up call.”

“I was hoping one of them would. You know. I am tired of worrying about both of them. What if one of them does this to someone else?” She pointed to her leg.

“They will have to live with it. And the other person will have to live with it.”

They shopped together till Denise called them on the phone, then they met and headed to the car. She and Janice sounded like they had been on a high. “Mom. You should have seen Denise, dancing with her peg leg. I wish I had one like that.”

“Don’t you have a leg like it?”

“The only thing we have is the temporary one they put on us when we had our surgery and the cosmetic legs we had on tonight.”

“Every amputee should have a peg leg. There are places that only they are good for. The beach is an example, the sand is hard to walk on with crutches alone and it is bad for the cosmetic. I usually take one crutch.” Carol explained.

“You mean on the beach with, I mean a bathing suit.”

“Well, I don’t do a two piece any more.”

Julie stopped to look at a display for a minute. Carol stopped next to her. “Your leg, I mean the end of it, it is different than mine.”

“Yes. I had my stump revised with a new surgery.” Carol explained it to Julie.

“You say it helps you with your leg and getting around?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if, you know, Janice could have it?”

“Do you think she would want to? It is another surgery.”

“I think she would want anything that would help.”

“What about you?”

“I would want the best for her. I don’t matter.”

At the car the two guys handed Diane the immobilizers and the eye patches. She took the braces but handed back the eye patches. “Keep them as a reminder of tonight.”

“Gee. Thanks. You embarrassed me in front of my friends.”

Diane shrugged. “I bet you have embarrassed your sister a few times. Call it even.” She, Denise and Carol got in the car with Patti. Carol watched as Diane go into the driver’s seat.

“Well at least they aren’t driving drunk tonight.”

“But how long will it be till they do and hurt someone?” Denise asked.

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Karen Chapter 36 – Dinner with the Higgens Family

Karen Chapter 38 – the Challenge Bears Fruit