“I have become more appreciative of the handicapped!” Ruby was reclining in the backseat of the wagon and yelling her conversation to Archie, who was driving. “Thankfully, I am only doing this for a month.”
The days since Ruby was put into a wheelchair with her broken leg had been difficult ones for her. Her latest misadventure was at the guide-dogs ceremony, where Hambut Proudfoot was officially united with his new guide dog Socrates. “Before I go in”, she told Archie, “I need to use the lavatory.” Archie compliantly pushed her up to the door.
“Sir! That’s the lady’s room!” barked a nearby attendant.
“I know” Archie replied, leaving the attendant embarrassed as she took in the whole picture.
The door to the lavatory was angled and very cumbersome to enter with Ruby’s long leg jutting out like it does. With some angling and retrying Ruby was finally inside, heaving a sigh. “Okay”, she thought, “step 1 accomplished.”
She surveyed her surroundings, and looked for the wide door indicating the handicapped stall. She approached it, only to find it locked. “I wonder if there are others” she thought, and began to roll down the line of stalls. She went around a corner, found nothing, and she could not get herself back. She heaved another sigh.
“Is there any way I can help you?” came a voice from behind her. Ruby, unable to turn, said, “Oh yes, please!”
The kind stranger backed her up, turned her around and wheeled her up to the now open original handicapped stall. Ruby managed to roll herself in,take care of things, and get herself out.“Okay”, she sighed, “step 2, accomplished, on to step 3”.
She rolled up to the sink to wash her hands. Her jutting out leg made this especially difficult, requiring her to remember how to parallel park while she maneuvered her wheelchair sideways. It was a difficult reach, but she was able to get some soap on her hands and get them washed. She looked around for a towel. She saw the dispenser. It was going to require some heavy maneuvering to get into a position to get one. She was sitting with her hands wet, still contemplating how to approach the towels, when one appeared in front of her.
“Here you go” said another kind stranger as she tore off a towel and handed it to Ruby. This same kind stranger then aided Ruby in getting out to where Archie was to receive her. With more angling and maneuvering, Ruby was finally free of the restroom.
““Whew!” That was quite an undertaking!” she said to Archie. “I am so very thankful for the kindness of strangers.”
