Why Me? (Part 4)

They arrived a little early at the Davis’s and Jill’s’ nerves couldn’t have been more strung out. “Mom, I can’t go in there.” Jill told her mother. “Why not?” her mother said in confusion. “He is expecting to hear my reason for being in this chair!” she cried. “Honey, I know the circumstances that make up your accident aren’t easy to share, but I think Randy is different.” Martha told her with complete confidence. Jill looked away and then down at her legs. They were silent for a long while, then her mother spoke; “We’d better go in before they wonder why we are just sitting out here.” Jill’s’ mom got out and came around the van to help her daughter. Just as they were closing the door, Jill spotted Randy coming down the ramp of his back door. “Hey, I’m glad you made it! Ya never know if people are gonna find us here in the outback!” He called to her. She offered a weak smile and forced a laugh. He, of course, picked up on it right away. “Everything OK?” he inquired. “Sure, Yeah.” Jill lied. “Well come on in”. He directed them by turning his chair and going back up the ramp and through the back door. “Mom, their here.” He called. Jill heard footsteps— more than just one set. She sat up straight in her chair and clutched the arms so hard her knuckles turned white. The back entrance led into a large sitting room with high ceilings and hard wood floors. She noted that there were no rugs and the furniture was spaced widely apart.

   Jill’s’ mouth opened and her eyes widened at the sight of Randy’s’ entire family filing into the room. She felt extremely anxious and very overwhelmed. “Martha, Jill” Sharon said with authority, “I’d like you to meet my husband Rick, our oldest son Reece, Randy’s’ twin sister Brandy, and our youngest daughter Celia”. They all stood in a line to greet them like some sort of celebrity introduction. They all shook Jill’s’ and Martha’s’ hands and told them how glad they all were that they could come over. Jill looked at Brandy and then at Randy, “You didn’t tell me that one of your sisters was your twin.” Randy glanced at his sister and said simply, “I figured you might not come if you knew I had an evil twin.” Jill couldn’t help but smile and she tried to hide it so she wouldn’t appear rude. Randy looked around and then said to Jill, “Didn’t your Dad or siblings come with you?” Jill looked up at her mother and her mother was looking down at her, “Nope” Martha declared “Just me and the kid here.”  Jill still didn’t know how to answer questions like these. After seven years, she thought she could come up with something. Seeming to feel the tension in the room, Sharon spoke, “Well why don’t we head outside, the burgers are ready to go on the grill and the corn is ready to be roasted.”

   They all left in a single file line to go outside so Martha and Jill followed. As they reached the yard, Jill observed all the decking that went around the yard and quickly realized that they did this for Randy’s’ sake. It was so beautiful as the ramps led to various levels of their property. They had a large patio deck that held a glass table with five chairs and one open space. There was another table set up for additional company. “OK,” Randy’s’ dad Rick announced, “How does everyone like their burgers cooked?” Several excited answers filled the air. He turned his attention to his guests, “Jill, how about you?” She said in a quiet voice, “medium well please.” “sure thing. Martha, what’s your pleasure?” Martha told him that she preferred hers medium rare. “Now there is a woman who knows how to eat a burger!” Rick said jerking a thumb at Martha.

   After the meal was over and the adults were engrossed in a conversation, Randy took his opportunity. “OK, now’s our chance.” He said leaning in to whisper to Jill. “Huh?” she said in confusion. “Let’s go check out my collection.” He said as though they were going on mission impossible. He turned his chair around and said, “let’s go.” Jill hardly ever propelled her own chair and she felt a little uncomfortable doing it now. While Randy seemed to breeze through the yard like he was walking, she struggled to keep up. “Oh, sorry. I’ll slow down so you don’t get lost.” He meant it to be a light-hearted joke but Jill blushed in embarrassment. They went back into the house and he led her to a game room where he evidently kept his treasured Happy Meal toys. Sure enough, there they were, lining several shelves. “Here they are” he said with a dramatic wave of his arm. He reminded her of a male version of Vanna White. She looked around at all the different figures and laughed, “I can’t believe that I am surveying a collection of Happy Meal toys that belong to a seventeen-year-old.” She said. “Hey, you’re about to be a…” he trailed off. “How old are you anyway?” he asked remembering that he hadn’t found that out yet. “I’m seventeen too.” She said glancing down. He blinked once and then smiled. “Oh.” He said. He showed her a few of his favorites and scanned the rest. After a while he turned to her and said “So, feel like telling me your story now?” Her smile quickly faded. “Jill, I wish I could make you understand that there will be no judgment here.” He assured her. “I don’t care how you got in that chair, I just want to get to know you better.” He explained.

   She wanted so desperately to share her story with a friend, but he was still so new to her. “You really can trust me Jill.” It seemed to be so important to him that she know that. She looked up at him from under her lashes, “I CAN trust you can’t I.” It wasn’t a question but a realization on her part. “Yeah, you really can” he said again.  She took a deep breath and went back seven years in her memories.