“Then whose?”
“Needs a rider first.”
My daughter looked at the machine.
Then at her wheelchair.
“I can’t.”
Bear nodded.
“Not today.”
That answer irritated her enough to try.
The first transfer took twelve minutes.
Bear did not touch her until she asked.
She hated that.
“Help me.”
“You haven't asked.”
“I just did!”
“Good.”
He supported her elbow.
Nothing more.
Once seated, she gripped the hand cranks.
The tricycle barely moved.
She groaned.
“This is stupid.”
Bear sat on a stool.
“Yes.”
“I hate it.”
“Okay.”
“Take me home.”
I stepped forward.
Bear looked at me.
Not commanding.
Just asking silently for a moment.
I stopped.
Bear asked my daughter:
“Home because you’re done?”
“Yes.”
“Or home because you couldn't do it immediately?”
She glared.
“I hate you.”
“I've heard worse.”
She tried again.
The tricycle moved six inches.
Then another foot.
By the end of the afternoon, she traveled halfway across the garage.
The following week, she crossed the whole garage.
Two weeks later, the driveway.
Then came the fall.
She tried transferring independently.
Her arm slipped.
She landed hard on the padded garage floor.
The sound terrified me.
I rushed forward.
Bear raised one hand.
Not blocking me.
Just asking.
My daughter screamed.
“I HATE THIS!”
She slammed one fist against the floor.
“I HATE YOU!”
Bear lowered himself onto the floor several feet away.
He removed his own prosthetic leg.
Set it aside.
Then sat.
My daughter stared through tears.
“You’re supposed to help me!”
“I am.”
“You’re doing NOTHING!”
Bear nodded.
“Yes.”
She cried harder.
He waited.
Finally he said:
“Falling doesn't get the last sentence.”
She glared.
“What does that even mean?”
“Means you're on the floor.”
“Story isn’t over.”
She screamed:
“I CAN’T GET UP!”
Bear nodded toward the workbench.
“Probably can.”
“I CAN’T!”
“Then stay down.”
My daughter stared.
Bear leaned back against a cabinet.
“Floor’s not going anywhere.”
Minutes passed.
My daughter stopped crying.
She looked at the bench.
Then her chair.
Then Bear.
He said nothing.
She pulled herself closer.
Grabbed the bench.
Used both arms.
Failed.
Tried again.
Failed.
Third time.
Her shoulders shook.