“But to run?”

“You probably will never do a Olympic mile but there are a lot of us AK’s that do run. It is slower, it takes gobs of energy, but we do. There is one that runs on a peg leg!”

“Like this?”

“Well, it’s got a better shock absorbing tip and a better socket but it’s the same socket you will probably get when you get your permanent leg.”

“Is she good?”

“She finished in the two legged group in a state marathon two years ago. She was behind only the very serious runners but not far. Most of the TAB’s were behind her too. She did better than the AK’s that were using the expensive legs, even the men. She even beat all of the Single BK’s and a DBK that is a very serious runner. Several years ago that would have been considered impossible. And to do it on a peg, they thought she was crazy to try.”

“What’s a TAB? I haven’t heard that one. What are they missing?”

“They are currently missing the experience of being physically challenged. It means Temporarily Able Bodied. What you were a month ago.”

Laura wrinkled her forehead. “Huh?”

“TAB, temporarily able bodied. That means they have all of their function now but who knows about tomorrow?”

“Like I was a month ago, not thinking anything can happen.”

“Right. Now let’s get to the shower stuff.”

“Great.”

“Remember, not till the doctor says you can.”

“Yes.”

Betty covered the shower modifications. Laura took the information about the things she would need and placed it on the nightstand.

“Now are there any other questions?”

“Well, you made it sound easy, with boys. It’s tough there with two legs.”

“And you think that was different when I was eighteen?”

“Well, no, but that was you, you’re grown up.”

“I wasn’t when my leg was amputated. I was about one year older than you are now. And I was just as unsure of myself if not more so.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“No problem. I know what it is like to feel helpless and damaged and that is what you are feeling. You aren’t but you think you are and that is worse. I tore into about ten people in the first few weeks for various things. Most of them were really trying to help me. Getting accustomed to needing some help is a part of accepting what has happened to you.”

“But I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Nobody who will offer help really sees you as a burden. Only a few pity you. Most of them are saying, “Thank God that is not me,” or “God let me help her as a hedge against me needing some help some day,” and “God, let that help be there if I do need it.” Many people look at it as penance for past sins or an act to ward off bad things.”

“You know I have felt that way when I have helped someone. A lot of good it did me.”

“I’m here, your mom is here, your brothers are here, your dad is here, your friends are here. And they will be there for you. So you didn’t ward off the evil spirits by doing good, you will give someone else the opportunity to do good. And let them do it.”

“My brothers? Come on, they are skunks. Do you have any idea what they have done to me? I can’t expect any help out of them.”

Betty grinned, “Help sometimes comes from the most unexpected sources. I had one older brother and sister and one each younger. Every one of them has come through at some time when I really needed it and before my accident my older brother was a pain and my little sister was mean.”

“I hear you but I’ll have to see it.”

“If you don’t in five years, call me. By the way, Kathy Senft will be in some time soon. She is an LAK that is closer to your age. I think she will answer some of your questions. See you later.”

Laura Chapter 1

Laura Chapter 7

Laura Chapter 09