Day 235

Should be Day 239.

Once they were at school, Simon had to wait until everyone was off the bus before he could get off.  The Chipettes and Simon’s brothers walked slowly next to Simon, so they could maintain the same pace as him.

“It’s a good thing your locker is on the bottom row,” Eleanor remarked.

“Yes, it is.  Otherwise, I’d need to add another thing to my “Help Simon With” list.”

Jeanette put her hand on his shoulder.  “Try not to let it get you down, Simon.”

“It’s not.”

“Good.”

In class, the teachers were overjoyed to see Simon again.  They had removed his desk in the fron row so he could wheel right into its space.  Being around positive supportive adults and stimulating educational facts, Simon almost felt like his own self again.  The teachers treated him just like they would any other student, proving that even though he was in a wheelchair, his brain was still the same.

 

For the next few weeks, Simon adjusted to living in a wheelchair fairly well.  He ate at the breakfast nook, since it was the perfect height for his chair.  He got used to maneuvering around with his chair and even pushed himself to go pretty fast.  The people at school soon got used to seeing him there, and it was much less awkward for him.

Dave was relieved to see that Simon was adjusting to living in a wheelchair, but he still worried that his son might never be able to walk again.  He’d constantly ask Simon if he tried moving his legs that day or if he felt any changes.  Simon would reply, “No, but there’s always tomorrow.”  He couldn’t help but be proud of his son’s bravery and optimism.  There was just one worry in Dave’s mind now.  Simon wouldn’t go near his science equipment, not even after Dave had brought some of it up from the lab. 

Day 234: Going to School

Should be Day 238.  I'm not proud of how this turned out.  It was too choppy.

The Chipettes met Simon the next day in the living room.  Eleanor brought him some fruit that she had cut into different shapes to make them look more appealing.  Brittany had brought him a get well soon card signed by them and Miss Miller, while Jeanette loaned him some of her books so he could have a variety to read.  Simon was appreciative, and they all talked for about a half hour.

“When are you going back to school?”

“I, uh, I’m not exactly sure yet.  I’m a little nervous about going back.  I don’t want people to see me like this at school.  They’ll stare at me.”

“And if they do,” Eleanor piped up, “then we’ll stare right back at them.  Being in a wheelchair is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“But people will treat me differently.”

“If they do,” Jeanette said softly, “then they’re not actually your friends.”

“Thanks, girls,” he grinned sheepishly.

Simon went back to school that Monday.  Dave wanted to wait until Simon had regained enough strength and he felt comfortable enough about going back.  Simon wasn’t one hundred perent convinced, but it was the best he was going to get.

“Boys!” Dave hollered.  “The bus will be here any minute!”

“Coming, Dave!” Simon called through his open door.  He wheeled as close as he could to his backpack on the ground and leaned over to grab it.  He had to reach far, and he was almost afraid he was going to fall out of the chair, but he was able to get it.  He balanced it on his lap and wheeled out into the front hall.

Simon attempted to hang his head high as he watched the ramp from the school bus come down so he could get on.  It was embarrassing to have all this special attention, especially when he was accustomed to hiding away from everyone. 

Alvin walked on the ramp before him and called out, waving his arms about, “Clear the way, everybody!  Move your backpacks from the aisles!  Little brother coming through!”

Simon blushed as he wheeled up.  He could feel all the eyes burning right through him as they watched him to wheel to the back of the bus.

“Thanks, Alvin,” he said genuinely.

“Don’t mention it.  Maybe Dave should invest in a megaphone for me.  I could get good use out if it at home too.”

“Ha ha, I think not.”

Alvin crossed his arms in a pout and then glared at a couple guys in front of them who were whispering.  “Hey, you two!  You better not be whispering about my brother, or else!”

They ducked down and shut up.  Simon was grateful for Alvin’s protectiveness.

Day 233: Coming Home

Should be Day 237.

“Here we are!” Dave announced as he proudly opened the door.

There were red, green, yellow, and blue balloons taped to the staircase and walls, along with a sign by the stairwell that read, “Welcome home, Simon!”.  Theodore and Alvin were waiting at the entrance to greet him.

“Hi, Simon!” Theodore gave him a huge squeeze.  “We’re so happy you’re home!”

“We decorated the house and everything,” Alvin beamed.  “It’s like another birthday party.”

“Thanks,” Simon responded without much enthusiasm, “but I don’t feel much like celebrating.  Can I just go to my room?” he asked Dave.

Dave rubbed the back of his neck.  “We, uh, moved your bed and some of your things into the den.  We thought it’d be easier for you until you get out of this wheelchair.”

“You mean ‘if’ I get out of this wheelchair.”  And without waiting for a response, Simon wheeled into the den, bumping into the furniture and walls a few times on his way there.

Dave sighed.  “It’s going to take a while for Simon to accept this.  We should leave him alone for a little while.”

“Alright,” they sadly agreed.

This kind of behavior went on for a few days.  Simon stayed in his makeshift bedroom all day, reluctant to come out even for meals.  He would go from bed to wheelchair to bed again, either staring out the window or flipping aimlessly through the pages of his book.  Theodore visited him often to keep him company.  This particular day, Theodore was determined to make him smile.

“Hi, Simon!  How are you today?  I brought you more books from your shelf.”  Theodore set them down on the nightstand near Simon’s chair.  “I wasn’t sure which ones you’d want to read next, so I just brought them down in order.”

“Thanks,” Simon replied listlessly.

“Everyone keeps asking about you at school.  They wonder when you’ll come back.  I bet you miss school a lot.”

Simon sighed and stared outside. 

“The Chipettes want to know when they can visit you,” Theodore tried again.  “I told them I’d ask you.”

“I don’t feel much like visitors.”

“But they’re your friends!  They miss you!”

Simon turned to his brother.  “I’m sorry.  I just don’t want to see anyone.”

Day 232: The Realization

Dave sat in a stiff hospital chair with his head buried in his hands.  The monitors in the room beeped loudly, keeping track of Simon’s heartbeat.  The young chipmunk had been in the hospital for over twenty-four hours now.  Simon had been unconscious throughout the hospital ride and the surgery.  Dr. Hall said he wouldn’t know if the surgery had been successful unless Simon woke up.  There was nothing left to do but wait.  Dave had arranged for Alvin and Theodore to stay with Miss Miller and Chipettes until Simon was out of the hospital.  Dave intended on staying next to his son through the whole ordeal.  Everyone was beside themselves with worry.

A gentle rap at the door raised Dave’s head.  Miss Miller was standing there with five chipmunks crowded around her dress hem.

“They insisted on seeing Simon one more time today,” she feebly explained.  “The nurse outside gave us an exception, since they were so small.  I hope you don’t mind.”

Dave shook his head.  “There’s been no change.”

Theodore walked over to the bed and solemnly held Simon’s hand. 

“We brought him his spare glasses, you know, for when he wakes up.”  Alvin placed them on Simon’s face and stood behind his brother, looking past Theodore’s head.

“I brought some flowers.”  Jeanette held up a small bouquet.  “Maybe the smell will make him wake up.”

Dave nodded.   “Thanks.”

The other two girls stayed close to Miss Miller.

“How long to do you think he’ll be like this?” Eleanor bravely asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“He looks almost angelic, sleeping like that, Jeanette commented.  “I hope he’s not in pain.”

After lingering silence for a couple minutes, the group held their breaths when they saw Simon stir.  His hand wiggled, then his head, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Alvin, Theodore?  Dave, where am I?”

“You’re awake!” Theodore cried gleefully.

“You’re in the hospital,” Dave explained gently.

Alvin added, “There was an explosion in your lab.”

“But you’re gonna be just fine now,” Theodore beamed.

“Then why can’t I move my legs?” Simon asked silently, his eyes full of terror.

Day 231: The Accident

Simon came downstairs to his lab a minute later, the object he desired in hand.  “I thought I’d never find it.  Next time I’m writing down where I put it, so I’m not searching through all my boxes.”  Simon was always disorganized.  It comes with the whole “mad scientist” title.  He reached for another cookie and was puzzled to see one missing.  “Hmm, that’s peculiar.  I thought I had two left.”  Shrugging, he picked up the last one and munched on its sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness while he used the tool he needed.  Once that was done, he began comparing how much chemicals he had in his vials to how much his notebooks said he should have.  He only glanced at them a minute before sighing, “I’m tired of double-checking these experiments again.  My calculations should be fine.  Besides, I’m a genius.” He casually picked up a beaker and poured it into his experiment.   

There was a loud boom, and lots of thick, black smoke seeped underneath the basement door, causing the smoke detectors to go off.  Dave dropped the tax forms he had been holding and jumped to his feet.  “Oh no, what did Alvin did now?”

“Alvin?!” Dave ran out of his bedroom.  “Alvin?!”

Theodore had jumped with surprise when the alarms went off and immediately checked the oven.  “No, it’s not coming from me.  Who set the alarms off then.”

Alvin was walking through the front door when the smoke detectors beeped.  “Uh-oh!  What’s going on in here?”  He found Dave calling him from the living room.

“What did you do, Alvin?!”

“Nothing, I swear!”

“Then who is causing-“

“It’s coming from Simon’s lab!” yelled Theodore, who had followed the trailing plume of smoke.

“Simon?” Dave questioned, and both he and Alvin joined Theodore at the basement door.  Without hestitation, Dave covered his face with his arm, opened the door, and ducked under the smoke.  He coughed violently as he walked down the steps and called Simon’s name.

Alvin was on his tiptoes, peering down.

“Can you see anything?” Theodore asked frantically.

“No.  The smoke is starting to clear though.”

“I hope he’s alright!”

Dave waved away some of the smoke and gasped when he saw Simon, lying on the floor several feet away from his worktable.  His broken glasses were near his face.

“Alvin, call 911!”

Day 230: Bugging Simon

Should be Day 236.  I will be uploading parts of a Chipmunks story that my friend and I are writing.  He came up with the idea, and I am writing it.

It was a fine Saturday afternoon in March.  It had recently rained a few hours ago, so the weather was still damp and crisp.  Dave had locked himself up in his office because that was the only way that he was going to keep Alvin from bothering him.  He had to concentrate on filling out tax forms, and Alvin had been making that nearly impossible, with pestering Dave about his allowance or playing his harmonica in the office because it was a “quiet place away from his loud brothers.”  After Dave had locked the door, he had been able to get some peace.  Alvin had gotten tired of trying to aim spit balls at Dave from under the door.  At this rate, no amount of annoyance would sway Dave from giving him the money he wanted.

“I bet Simon would help me out,” Alvin thought, and his feet took him to the basement door.

Simon was deep in concentration at his worktable against the wall.  Several test tubes filled with different colored chemicals were strewn across it, and a Bunsen burner was at the center. 

“Heya, Simon!” Alvin greeted as he bounded down the stairs.

Alvin’s exclamation caused Simon’s hand to sway while he was pouring a vial of blue-tinted liquid into a beaker.  The liquid spilled on his table and traveled to his notebook.

“Alvin!” Simon groaned.  “You made me get my notebook wet!”

“Sorry,” Alvin replied.

Simon could tell Alvin meant the apology, so he let it go.  “Is there something you wanted?”

“Can’t I visit my favorite nerdy brother?”

“You don’t normally visit unless you want something.”

“Weeell,” Alvin drew up the word with a grin and walked closer to Simon.  “Since you mention it, I was watching TV today-“

“What else is new?” Simon interjected.  He was mopping up the chemicals that spilled with a wad of paper towels.

Ignoring the interruption, his brother continued, “I saw this commercial for a new pair of Bose headphones.  Apparently, they redesigned them.  They’re supposed to be super comfortable now, easily bendable, to shape to any head, and can block out the loudest noises yet.”

“And when you wear them, Dave will never be able to get your attention,” he rolled his eyes.

Alvin smirked.  “Anyways, I’ve been saving up my money to buy a new video game, but this is better.  Problem is, I don’t have enough money.”

“How much more to do you need?” Simon was facing his brother now, with his arms crossed.

“About thirty more dollars?” Alvin cocked his head in an attempt to make himself look as cute as possible.

“There’s no way I’m going to give you that much money.”

“Oh, come on, Simon!” Alvin tugged at Simon’s shirt sleeve. 

“No!” Simon shoved him off.  “I refuse to lend you anymore.”  He turned back around and finished cleaning up the mess Alvin had caused.