I'm Blind Not Fragile

Chapter 2

"I love you too Eric"

I smile then start walking to school. I know the rout by heart so I can get there in only like 15 minutes. I put my earbuds in my ears arms plug them into the iPod Eric's set up music on for me.

I know what you're thinking "Wait, isn't she blind? Doesn't she like have to hear to be able to navigate?!"  Well my answer to you, you critical suspicious person is yes, and no. If I'm unfamiliar with the area I'm in or for some reason I don't have my cane with with then yes I need to hear. But when I've walked the same route for 10 years and everybody knows me and looks out for me, I really don't need to hear. Plus I'm pretty skilled with this cane by now.

Don't you worry child by Swedish house mafia starts to play through my earbuds.

There was a time, I used to look into my fathers eyes.

In a happy home, I was a king a had a gold throne.

Those day are gone, the memories on the wall, I hear the songs from the place where I was born.

Up on a hill across the blue lake that's where I had my first heat break, I still remember how it all changed

My father said, don't you worry don't you worry child, see heavens got a plan for you

Don't you worry don't you worry now, yeah.

After about 3 more songs I smell the bakery which means I'm almost to school. I take my earbuds out to be greeted by New York City sounds. Car horns, shouts, metal in metal clanking from the homeless' coin cans. All these sound brought me comfort. I'm a city girl through and through, I don't think I could take the quiet of the country. I know how to defend myself if a have to, though that never really happens. Really I only ever defended myself against one of my classmates older brother Ryan, who was getting a little to handsy when he was escorting me to my next class, in 6th grade. It's actually a long story, one that I might even tell you later. Emphasis on the might.

First of all I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon mugging blind kids. Thiefs honor or something of the sort.
2nd everyone who lives or works on my route to school sees me as their own daughter/sister/some other family member. Everyone has taken me under their wing. For example Mr. Shallen, who owns a small bakery/cafe called Shallens Shack, gives me hot chocolate in the winter.

I'm even protected by the local gang, which also happens to be the most feared gang in Brooklyn, maybe even New York.

Oh and now you're probably expecting me to explain to you how it happened. Only because I'm a crowd pleaser is why I'll tell you the story. Grab your popcorn, gummy bears, and chocolate milk people this may be a long one.

Let's see, when I was around 8ish I begged my parents to let me walk to school alone for the first time. They said yes obviously. I mean if they said no then I wouldn't have told you I asked would I?
Anyway back on track.

I did exactly what they feared I would do, and got lost. Well it wasn't that dramatic. I forgot if I had just passed Mr. Shallen's Shack or Mrs. Sherry's clothing shop, I know stupid right?

Knowing someone who could see could help me I listened for someone nearby. Sure enough a couple paces away I heard a man talking and using some words I didn't know, which was not uncommon, I didn't know a lot of words back then. I walked up to him and hearing that he hadn't stopped talking I knew he hadn't noticed me there yet. Also not uncommon, I'm told I was very short at that age (And still now). I was slightly under 4' tall. I tugged a little on what I assumed was his coat. With that the man finally stopped talking. I put my hand behind my back holding my cane. One of the men whom Shawn was talking to said "Shawn you got a squirt at your leg." I hear 4 guys chuckle, including Shawn and the other guy who spoke.
"Scram kid" one of the other guys said. The three of them laughed but stopped suddenly. I heard someone kneel down, I assumed it was Shawn.
"Lost hun?" He asked me concern in his voice. I casually turned to his voice so I would face him. One of the other guys suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, she's hiding something behind her back!" I am?
"The Chamberlain gang must be training young these days, spy's are usually older." Suddenly I was turned around and my cane was yanked out of my hands. I gave a surprised squeak.
"What's this?" Someone asked. Shawn sighed. I suddenly smelled a mixture of dirt and metal as I got a small breeze on my face.
"Blind." Shawn simply states. See unlike most blind people my eyes look totally normal. They aren't clouded or white or pupiless, they look like everyone else's eyes.
"What?" The guy asks
"This little girl is blind. And that you idiot is most likely her cane, don't break it I don't know if those things are expensive." Shawn explains.
"How do you know? She could just be carrying the thing around."
"Watch" Shawn says bored. I smelt the dirt and metal agian with a small breeze. It made me wrinkle my nose. I guessed he was waving his hand in front of my face.
"Woah that's creepy" the guy said
"Her eyes would have followed my hand if she could see, plus notice how she doesn't actually look straight at you, she's always a little bit off. And Jake, if you ever question me again I will kill you. Got it?" Jake must have nodded because I felt Shawn's attention back on me. "What's your name sweetheart?" Shawn asks me.
"Gertrude but I like to be called Rain." I reply, completely oblivious to the violence in the conversation that just happened in front of me.
"Ok Rain, where are your parents?" He asks me
"My dad's at work and my mom's dropping Eric off at school." Being as open and kind as only an 8 year old can be.
"You're here alone?" He asks in disbelief, when I remember what I came over for in the first place.
"Yes. What time is it?" I asked seeing how much time I had left to get to school.
"9:13. Why are you out here all alone kid?" He asks
"About 20 steps behind me is it Mr. Shallens shack or Mrs. Sherry's clothing store?" I ask ignoring his question.
"Mr. Shallons shack. Answer my question."
I clicked my tongue twice to figure out which guy had my cane, because sound boundless better off of metal than it does flesh. I jumped up catching the guy by surprise and grabbed my cane. I started running as fast as my 8 year old legs could carry me towards school. "Thank you! I have to go now! Bye bye! Nice to meet you!" I yelled over my shoulder. I only had 7 minuets before school started. I only slowed down when I smelt the artificial grass of the school lawn. I used my cane to enter the building. I made it on time by the way.