Waiting For Sarah Read Free Page B

outside. They shouldn’t be here more than a month or so.”
    The din of hammers, saws and drills seemedlouder in the second week. “I hate this place,” he said.
    Norma hid her hurt feelings. “The work will soon be finished.”
    â€œWhy have you got leaks? Why is it taking so long? What’s the matter with this damn place anyway?” He noticed his aunt flinch, but didn’t care.
    â€œMoisture gets through the siding and rots the drywall. We sued the developer. It has taken two whole years to make them do repairs.” Norma watched Mike’s face as she explained. It was the first interest he had shown in anything in a long time — a negative interest, but a positive sign, she reckoned.
    One evening after supper, when she noticed him staring trance-like at the pattern in the tablecloth, she said, “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Mike.”
    He looked at her. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI know how much you miss your parents and Becky. But the accident was just that: an accident. None of it was your fault.”
    â€œYes, but ...” He shook his head. His eyes glistened with angry tears. “Why should they be gone, while I ...?”
    She grasped his hands. “Sometimes there are no answers, Mike. Life is like that: a puzzle. But God has reasons for everything, even if we don’t understand. Your mother and I were very close, almost like twins. I miss her very much also, and Becky and your father. You are Joanne’s son and you’re a fine brave boy, Mike. But your mom and dad and Becky are no longer here with us. You’ve got to let them go.”
    He shook his head and wheeled away to his room.

7 ... time to start living
    He started going out alone, away from the constant noise of the builders. The din made him angry; there was no peace. He pushed his wheelchair along the hallway, around and over the obstacle course of the contractor’s equipment, and took the elevator down from the third floor, where he had to maneuver his chair around ladders, building materials, ropes and tarps in the entrance lobby. Then he wheeled himself along the sea wall to the marina at Stamps Landing. It was quiet there, with only the tinkling conversations of bells on sailboat masts breaking the silence. He sat and watched the lazy activity in the marina and the silent boat traffic in False Creek, which isn’t a creek at all but an inlet from the sea. But even here he found no peace.
    Weekends, Norma offered to push him all the way to the Granville Island Market, but his friend Robbie took over that job instead. Mike enjoyed his outings with Robbie.
    Norma brought up the subject of the supportservices. “You must be reasonable, Mike. Your therapy wasn’t finished when you left Rehab; there’s still much that can be done. Dr. Ryan says you should have prosthet — ”
    â€œRyan’s a jerk. I don’t need anybody poking at me and asking questions.”
    â€œMike, Rehab calls me at work. They’re worried about you. As well as Dr. Ryan there’s a physiotherapist named Finch, and a man named Taylor from the School Board who complains that you won’t open the door. What am I supposed to do?”
    â€œTell ’em to go to — ”
    â€œWell, if you won’t listen to Rehab at least you’re well enough to go back to school,” Norma interrupted firmly. “You can’t mope about like this, doing nothing, staring out the window or sitting on the sea wall watching the boats all day.”
    â€œI don’t want to go back to school.”
    â€œYou’ve got to go. Your mother wouldn’t like it if you didn’t. Joanne wouldn’t want me to sit idly by and watch you become an under-educated, anti-social hermit. I won’t allow it. It’s time to start living again, Mike. School is the perfect place to begin.”
    â€œI hate school.”
    â€œYour mother told me you liked