Seeing Blind

Chapter One

    Jacob sat in the principles office, leaning back in the soft seat while he listened to his mother, Carol, and his new (and first) principle, Mr. Marks, talk about him as if he weren't there. His cane was leaning against the side of the seat and he wore a sweatshirt with the school logo on it.
    It was only a few minutes more before he heard the door open and then close. He then heard a very sing-song and airy voice speak.
    "Hi. I'm Carrie," She said happily.
This was Carrie Blue. Jacobs 'escort'. She was to stay by his side at all times and help him get around the school.
    Jacob was blind. Long story short: he'd been that way since birth. He didn't have creepy white eyes and his eyes didn't roll lifelessly around in his skull. In fact, his mother said he had pretty eyes. But who was he to be the judge of that?
    "And you must be Jacob," Carrie said, cutting into his thoughts with that voice of hers.
    "That's me," he responded softly, turning his head up in the direction her voice came from. He practically heard her smile as she took his hand in her warm one and shook it.
    "I'm Carrie. I'll be your guide dog through the chaotic halls of this hellish highschool, at your service." He could almost picture her doing some sort of salute. He guessed she was in a drama class or theater. She seemed that type of girl.
    "Honey, why don't you and Carrie go tour the school while I talk to your principle." His mother said, cutting in (as always). Jacob nodded.
    Carrie took his hand and led him out of the chair he was in and into the hallway. He barely had enough time to grab his cane as he was wisked away.
    Here's the thing about being blind: there's none of that bullshit about having super hearing or that your other senses get stronger. Jacob was not a superhero (no matter how much he wished). But he developed a unique ability to be able to tell someone's emotions, what they're doing, and their personalities just by their voice. For example, Carrie was extremely energetic. He could tell she was the motherly type (good with kids and all that) but that she was also very theatrical and saw the good in people. He liked this very much about her, as it was a sparse trait these days.
    Their first stop was the library. Jacobs mother must have told the principle he liked reading. Being blind, Jacob didn't have a whole lot of options but sometimes he listened to audio books and he could occasionally find ones in braille.
    Carrie held his arm along the way to guide him. Once they stepped inside, he was immediately hit by the fresh scent of the books. The many pages only touched and read by a select few intellectuals who still read books, the beautiful leather bindings so carefully crafted, and of course the ink which held great lands and possibilities only open to those who dream.
    He sighed happily and was pleasantly surprised when he heard Carrie sigh happily with him. He felt her grasp his hand as she quickly led him to a section of the library.
    "Since this is a school with very good funding, we were able to invest some of that money into a selection of books in braille," She said. Another smile. But this time Jacob smiled as well.
    Jacob went into the isle and pulled out a random book, feeling along the spine and over its face. 'Dickens," he thought happily. He felt another, this one more current as it was a YA novel. He spent several minutes there, feeling for the books. Jacob could feel Carrie's eyes on him but he was used to all the staring.
    After a few more minutes, they eventually left the library and headed for their next stop. This one was the theater class. They were going in order of his class schedule which he shared with Carrie so their were some of both of their classes mixed in.
    Carrie showed him the clothes the actors performed in and the stage Carrie described to him as 'gigantic' and even the room filled with the many props used over the years. It made Jacob smile when she talked with so much passion. He could hear in her voice that she truly did love the theater.
    They spent hours touring around the school, laughing and making jokes. Jacob hadn't smiled this much in so long. It felt good.
    By the time they came back to the principles office, they were like old friends. Jacob's mother was clearly very pleased with this. When it was time to go, Carrie hugged him and then hugged his mother too before they left. Jacob was still smiling in the car. Until he got home.
    When he stepped foot into his house, his mother right behind him, Jacob's nostrils were immediately invaded with the thick permanent smell of cigerette smoke. He would have gagged but he was so used to it. He could hear the t.v blaring and knew his father was still sitting on the couch like always.
    Jacob kept his head down and ran up the stairs as fast as possible to the room he shared with his little sister, Kaitlyn.
    "Jake!" He heard Kaitlyn squeal before she leaped from her place on the top bunk of their bunk bed and into his awaiting arms. He smiled and caught her easily before hugging her tightly and sitting down on the bottom bunk with her.
    "How are ya Jitter-bug?" He asked, kissing her head. Kaitlyn let out more giggles before answering. The nickname always made her giggle.
    "I lost a tooth today!" She said proudly. He felt her drop a small bead-like object into his hand that he could only assume was her tooth. This made him smile even more.
    "You did? Well put it under your pillow for the tooth fairy tonight." Jacob handed her tooth back and Kaitlyn climbed onto her bed again and put it under her pillow.
    His mother suddenly cracked the door open, the door announcing her with a loud squeak.
    "Jacob. Tuck your sister in and head to bed. School tomorrow for you," His mother said before shutting the door. Jacob's smile faltered but he fixed it before tucking his sister in. He kissed her head and then turned off the lights. Kaitlyn obediently lay down under the covers and went to sleep.
    He lay down in his own bed and pulled out a five dollar bill from his pants pocket. He had found it on the road earlier that day when it got caught on his shoe. Jacob dropped the money into a jar he kept hidden under his bed.
    One day, he planned to buy an apartment with the money and take his sister away from this place. He was going to give her the life she deserved.
    Jacob could still hear the t.v blaring before he drifted into sleep. One day, he'd leave this place behind and never look back.