“Diáz, good morning,” I replied.
“Work first, play later!” This was something Diáz said every morning. What it meant I wasn’t exactly sure because I don’t play at all, now or later. I guess it was just one of those things!
I sighed. I didn’t feel like work today. I wanted to let my mind just drift away. No, I had to come back to reality. Latin, that was first up.
Maths, Physics, Geography the day dragged on and on. Diáz knew I was not in the mood and this was never something he took lightly to. Any minute now he will start this whole tirade, he takes things too personally sometimes. Here we go.
“Is there any point in me being here?” It was a rhetorical question I knew the drill, say nothing.
“ Being in a wheelchair does not make you special, you still have to work, just the same as every boy your age. I can’t one day decide I don’t feel like teaching and not turn up to my job. Is that how you want the world to work, oh I don’t feel like it today!” This time Diáz seemed a little more cheesed off than usual. How could he say that? He doesn’t know what it is like for me in this thing. He has no right to tell me what to do. After all he is not the one in the wheelchair. I thought he was my friend, I guess I was wrong! I just didn’t feel like work today! Okay!
“ I am going home as there is just no hope with you, is there?”
“You’re right there is no point. Who in their right mind is going to give me a job anyway. There is no point in my education.”
“Cameron just grow up, when you have re-thought your outlook on life than give me a call, we shall take it from there. I have no more to say to you.” With that Diáz snatched up his bags, briefly exiting the room, I could hear him storming down the stairs. I wanted to call after him but something held me back.
I had lost him, my only friend; I didn’t know what to do! I pondered on what Diáz had said,
“Grow up.” What had he meant? I wasn’t exactly sure but I think it was along the lines of get a life. I did need to get a life and to get over the wheelchair issue. I am in it. Now deal with it! I had to sort my life out. Drowning in a hole of self-pity was not where I wanted my life to take me. There was hope for me, there had to be.
I could talk to my parents. They would understand. They had before. When I wanted to stay in my room they respected my wishes. Surely they would help now, but is that what I really want? Sorting my life out is harder than I thought. I ought to take a grip of my life, me personally, not my parents, and I need to hold on. After all this is my life. I am going to take action; I am going to make it a good one. Well I am going to try!
Where I would start left me at one place and that place only, the church had a youth group that met on Friday evenings, today as it happens. Diáz had told me about it, but I hadn’t wanted to go. What if they mocked me? Why would anyone want to be friends with me – I wouldn’t fit in. They would torment me but I would never know unless I went, so that is what I am going to do! Tonight is my chance and I hope it will be all right on the night!
My parents were after all quite sympathetic and insisted on driving me there. I was petrified, I wanted so much to take the easy option, turn around and go home. Earlier this had not been as daunting but as the time came closer and closer I felt sick as the nerves tumbled in my stomach. “It will be fine; there is nothing wrong with you,” I told myself over and over again but I knew it was no use. I knew it wasn’t the truth. On arrival I was lifted out the car and the reality of it all hit me slap bang in the face.
“9.30, I’ll pick you up, is that okay Cameron?” Mum whispered as she climbed back into the car.
“Yep, bye mum,” I nearly choked on the words as they left my mouth. This was the final moment, the decider of the rest of my life. I rolled slowly towards the door. It was open already and a stout, jolly man who reminded me of Father Christmas came out to meet me.
“ Come for the youth club?” the man inquired with a smile that touched the corners of his face.
“ Yes…” I muttered. “ My name is Cameron.”
“ Well I’m Pete, welcome to ‘Hectic’. Come in, I will introduce you to the gang.”
“Um… thanks.” I didn’t know what to say. His smile still beamed towards me and it never faded.
I felt at home within five minutes and the other two hours flew past quicker than lightning. No one had mocked me, at least not to my face and, for once in my life felt alive with people of a similar age. Another boy there, Ben, was also disabled. He was an optimistic character, whose charm I loved.
“ Did you have fun Cam?” Pete said to me at the end. “ Will we see you next week because I am sure everyone would like too?”
“ See me, you’ll definitely see me!” For once in my life I felt on top of the world where I could clearly see the future and nothing was going to bring me down. With that feeling I wheeled out of the old church hall, eagerly awaiting next Friday.
I had finally come out of my shell; I had met people who wanted to be my friend, because of who I was and not for any other reason. Trust me, this was the best feeling in the world. My life however was still far from perfect, but I knew that this evening would shape the rest of my life. I had only one person to thank for that. I had to call Diáz, he had to know.
