Refined By His Fire

by Cathy Conradie

  Chapter Seventeen

  The crisp morning breeze plays over his cheeks as Adrian experiences the strong muscular movement underneath him accompanied with the sounds of Majoor’s rhythmic footfalls and heavy breathing.

  Approaching the homestead, Adrian sits back in the saddle and very gently pulls back on the reins to encourage Majoor back into a slower canter, trot and walk.

  Adrian lets the reins go, stretches and breathes deeply. He couldn’t shake the feeling that all their misery was something of the past and that something good was to happen.

  Adrian bends down and puts his arms around Majoor’s neck.

  “Can you feel it too, boy?”

  Majoor sneezes and Adrian laughs.

  “I know you understand. Big things are lying ahead. I can’t put my finger on it, but all I know is all our troubles are over.”

  Adrian hugs Majoor again.

  “I love you, big guy.”

  Majoor whinnies.

  “Thanks man. But you’ll have to wait for your feed when we get to the stables. You wanted to run around like a crazy thing.”

  Barry approaches them from another direction, slowing down. He is all sweaty of his morning jog.

  “Hey, old man. Thought I might catch ye here.”

  “Yes, Engelsman. Want a lift?”

  “Aye.” Barry smiles and agilely, but softly mounts Majoor, sitting behind Adrian.

  “So, what’s the story of all stories on this beautiful day that you have missed out on a beautiful, early outride?”

  “Much too early to me liking. Ye left at about half past five. Still nippy at that time of morn.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Excuses, excuses. But—” Adrian halts at the barn and Barry dismounts first.

  “I’d rather have my workout on Majoor than putting on my running shoes. How far did you run this morning?”

  “Just about ten kilometers.”

  Adrian groans softly as he dismounts and laughs.

  “At the speed you go, you can count it almost as twenty kilo’s. Sometimes I feel ashamed, knowing that you are fitter than I am.”

  “I may be more running fit than ye, but you are more supple and athletic, more sportive than I am. If I play rugby now, they’ll pick me up for dead.”

  After saddling off Majoor, they make their way to the cottage.

  Adrian puts away his riding hat and whip.

  “Anyway, happy birthday, old man.”

  Adrian turns around, smiles.

  “Thanks, Engelsman.”

  Barry presents Adrian with a small gift and smiles.

  “Hope ye will appreciate that.”

  Adrian sits down and opens the small square box. He chokes back the emotion.

  “Good grief, Barry! Do you have any idea how expensive these watches are!”

  Barry takes a seat opposite Adrian, laughs softly.

  “It doesn’t matter, old man. I wanted to say thanks for all these years, for your friendship that means more to me than words can ever describe. If it wasn’t for ye, I would never have made the most important decision in me life to become a Christian. I never would have gotten me life back on track. This is the least I can do.”

  “Don’t give me all the glory, Barry. I was merely a tool in God’s Hands.”

  “And a very obedient one, too.”

  Adrian is quiet for a while, taken aback by the moment. He stares at the expensive Michel Herbelin watch on his arm.

  “So,” Adrian clears his throat.

  “Any other surprises in store?”

  Barry smiles.

  “A cricket match at Newlands. South Africa against New Zealand. Its whole total new way of playing limited over cricket.”

  Adrian tries to smile.

  “Are you setting me up here?”

  “No.” Barry replies innocently.

  “Adrian, ye can’t run away from cricket forever. At least try to enjoy it as a spectator then. They started with a new type of cricket end of last year. It’s like limited over cricket on steroids. They play 20 overs a side.”

  Adrian shoots Barry a double take.

  “Just how do you defend 100, 120-something?”

  Barry laughs.

  “No, old man, ye clearly don’t understand. It’s not those small total.”

  “Well . . . where, which location are the tickets?”

  “Grass embankments. Thought we might have a nice braai, some beer and great cricket action.”

  Stopping at the cricket stadium that afternoon, Adrian is overwhelmed by emotions he didn’t allow himself to feel for a very long time. He stares at the cricket nets, recognizes the team bus close to the changing rooms and closes his eyes.

  Barry puts his hand on Adrian’s shoulder.

  “Ye okay?”

  “It’s strange to stand here from the outside. I can’t help to wonder what mischief everyone is up to in there.”

  Adrian turns around, takes the cooler box and one of the camping chairs.

  “Do we have everything?”

  Barry notices Adrian is desperately trying to change the subject. It is painful to know that everything in Adrian is yearning to be part of the cricket side again, but Adrian’s fear was so overwhelming after everything that went wrong that he hasn’t picked up his bat since.

  “Aye. Let’s see if we can pick you a nice girl along the way.”

  Adrian laughs.

  “Forget that, Engelsman. I’ll never marry.”

  They enter the stadium and proceed to the grass embankments before making themselves comfortable.

  The two cricket sides are on the field with their warming up exercises and in the process of catching exercises, one of the Protea cricketers hits the ball too hard. It heads toward Adrian and Barry and Adrian catches the ball as if it was the most natural thing to do.

  Adrian walks to the boundary and Smitty runs closer.

  “Hey, Smitty! How are you?”

  “Great, buddy, great. You are looking very fit and healthy. Very happy too. Did you get married? We haven’t heard of you for a very long time.”

  Adrian smiles.

  “No. I’m not married. I don’t even have a girlfriend anymore! But I am terribly busy.”

  “Well, after the match, why don’t you and Barry come upstairs and have a drink with us, have a chat? I’m sure that will be a surprise to everyone.”

  “I can’t pass that offer. Enjoy the game, buddy. Tell everyone I say hey.”

  Smitty smiles and returns back to practice.

  Adrian takes a seat on the blanket and cracks open a cider.

  “Hope you are not in a hurry, Engelsman.” Adrian says.

  “We’re invited to the post match celebrations.”

  Barry laughs.

  “They seem certain they’ll win!”

  “There is no way we’ll lose.”

  The following morning after sleeping a bit late because Adrian and Barry came back very late the previous evening, Barry walks onto his car to get some CD’s out that he has forgotten inside the car.

  Barry smiles to himself about the previous night’s happenings at Newlands. Adrian was extremely impressed about the new format in which the cricket was played, but whether Adrian was going to play cricket again was another matter . . .

  Barry sticks the key in the door and frowns at the strange hissing sound close to the car but when he sees what it is and where it comes from, it’s too late. The burning sensation in his eyes and the painful bite follows almost simultaneously.

  Barry screams in shock and tries to wipe the wetness off his face. He knows he must get to the cottage immediately, but his blurry vision is failing fast and the panic starts setting in.

  Barry stumbles forward and tries to phone Adrian on his cell phone, but he can barely see anything . . .

  Adrian frowns to himself. Barry is taking awfully long to get out the CD’s out of the car and the cars weren’t parked that far away from the cottage.

  Adrian leaves the cottage and wa
lks to the parking area where the cars are parked and it is there where he comes across a very disorientated Barry.

  “Barry? Hey, Engelsman, what happened?”

  “Adrian! Thank goodness you are here! Just help me to get to the cottage, please! I think I’ve been bitten by a snake.”

  Adrian’s blood runs cold, but he forces himself to stay calm for Barry’s sake.

  “Where’s your key?”

  “I don’t know! I can’t remember!”

  “Slow down. Take it easy. It’s all right. I’m here.”

  After a while’s search, Adrian finds Barry’s car keys. He helps Barry into the car and they speed off to Somerset West Medi-Clinic.

  “Did you see anything, Engelsman?”

  “No. I was busy unlocking the door when I heard this strange hissing noise. When I saw where it came from and what caused it it was too late.”

  Adrian notices Barry attempts to rub his eyes.

  “Don’t rub your eyes, just leave it.”

  “It burns like hell.”

  “I can imagine, but just hang in there. We’re almost at the hospital. Do you feel faint or anything like that?”

  “I’m terribly nauseous, feels like someone is sitting on me chest.”

  Adrian’s mind reels. It is very difficult to determine what type of venom it could be without seeing the actual snake. It could probably have been a rinkhals.

  Adrian stops at the hospital and rushes into the ER to get assistance before the personnel run out with a gurney. Adrian helps Barry onto the gurney and Barry lies down.

  “You’ll be okay now. They’ll take good care of you.”

  Barry grips Adrian’s hand.

  “Please pray for me, old man . . . I feel so scared . . .”

  After quite a while the attending doctor informs Adrian that he could visit Barry.

  Barry’s eyes were covered and bandaged. Barry was lying on his side with his back toward the door and he is crying softly.

  Adrian approaches him from the other side and puts his hand on Barry’s shoulder.

  “Hey, Engelsman.” he says softly.

  “Adrian? Are ye here?”

  “Yeah. Are you feeling a bit better?”

  “The doctor was here . . .”

  “I know.”

  “No, no. The eye specialist . . .”

  Adrian takes a deep breath. This couldn’t be good news . . .

  “What . . . what did he say?”

  Barry stays quiet for a very long while.

  “I’m blind, lad . . .”

  Barry’s body shakes with the sobs tearing through his body and the emotion overwhelms Adrian too.

  “Are you sure? I mean . . . Good gracious! No! Are they sure?!”

  “Me lenses and corneas are damaged . . . there is nothing they can do . . . only a transplant and . . . well, we all know how likely that will be . . .”

  Adrian rests with his head in his hands and weeps. He bravely dries his tears after a while.

  “What will happen to me now, Adrian? I’m useless!”

  “No . . . no you’re not. Don’t say that . . .”

  “It’s true. Just how am I supposed to do me work now? I’m a policeman! I don’t want to do anything else!”

  “We’ll find a way, Engelsman. You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone. We are all here for you.”

  Arriving on the farm the next day after Barry was kept for observation and treatment, Adrian couldn’t shake the feeling that this whole affair was going to shatter Barry’s spirit.

  Adrian knows that Barry is traumatized and that he will need time to work through the shock, but Adrian has a feeling that it will stretch far beyond that.

  Barry opens the passenger’s door of the car and gets out.

  “You go right ahead, old man. I’ll be there by Christmas.”

  “It’s okay, Barry. I’ll walk with you.”

  “No! Just . . . just leave me, okay? I got it!”

  Adrian sighs.

  “Okay then.” he worriedly watches Barry walking on, but Barry is completely lost in direction.

  “Just let me help you to get to the door at least.”

  Barry and Adrian walk inside and Barry takes a seat on the couch.

  “I um . . . I’m going to get your stuff from the car. I’ll be right back.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Adrian goes to the outside before proceeding to the main house. He knows that Chrissie will be sleeping for preparation for her night shift, but he needed her advice and wisdom.

  Adrian tentatively stands in the doorframe of his parents’ bedroom and Chrissie becomes aware of Adrian’s presence.

  “Mom, I’m sorry I woke you up. I know you’re working tonight.”

  Chrissie smiles reassuringly.

  “It’s all right, my love. Come here. What’s wrong?”

  Adrian takes a seat next to her on the bed.

  “Do you . . . do you think they can help Barry, Mom?”

  Chrissie takes Adrian’s hand.

  “He is not going to make it, Mom. He is already depressed and refuses any help.”

  Adrian starts crying.

  “It’s terrible seeing him like this! I don’t know what to do, I don’t what to say!”

  Chrissie takes Adrian in her arms and rocks him gently.

  “You need to keep on praying for him, my son. The emotion he is going through is very normal. He must go through the anger phase too. Unfortunately this will mean that your friendship will be tested severely.”

  “But he never deserved any of this, Mom! He didn’t . . .”

  Chrissie kisses him softly.

  “No, he didn’t, my love. But God knows why He allowed this to happen. We’ll never understand it.”

  “But someone will have to be able to help him, either way round . . .”

  “I’ll make some calls. I might have a couple of contacts that can help Barry until a more permanent solution comes through.”

  To Adrian’s relief, Chrissie got in contact with the Guidedog Association of South Africa and organized for Barry to go to Johannesburg for eight weeks to the facility where the staff would not only teach Barry to walk around with his new companion, but also there were people that would do counseling and help Barry to work through all his emotions. This all happened in only two days after Adrian asked Chrissie’s advice.

  When she woke Adrian up with the news, his joy knew no bounds and he eagerly packs Barry’s bags for the journey.

  “Morning, Engelsman!” Adrian tries his best cheering Barry up as he draws the curtains, allowing the morning sun to enter the room.

  Adrian sits down next to Barry.

  “I have great news for you!”

  “Whatever.”

  “No, no, serious! My mom bought you plane tickets to Johannesburg. There are people that can help you there.”

  “Och, like what? To make me to see again?”

  “No, it’s the Guidedog Association of South Africa. People know exactly what you are going through right now. They are also going to teach you to work with a guide dog. You are going to get a new companion!” Adrian says excitedly.

  “Great, what am I up for now? Blind K-9?!”

  “Barry—”

  “Forget it! I don’t want to go! Okay?”

  “Well, Engelsman, you are not going to literally lie down here all the time and feel sorry for yourself. You are going out there and you are going to figure this out.”

  “Fabulous. Why don’t ye just get me gun from the safe, let me get it done and over with. I’m not of use to anyone any more.”

  “Barry, understand this: I love you, okay? But I am so tired of this. I understand that you are in shock, that you are angry. But you are blind. You are not a vegetable, nor a complete idiot. Life goes on out there, whether you like it or not. It’s not waiting for you. You are challenged. You are not disabled. I’ve packed your bags. I’m making us a
nice decent breakfast and then we’re going to the airport. I’m taking you to the Guidedog Association and then I need to come back.”

  “So now that because ye have a blind friend who is of no use to you anymore, you are tired of me and dump me somewhere else to forget all about me.”

  “That’s enough! I have put your clothes at the foot end of the bed. Get dressed so long. We have an hour before we need to leave for the airport.”

  Some eight weeks later.

  Adrian anxiously awaits Barry at the airport in Cape Town. Barry hasn’t kept much contact with Adrian in the past eight weeks, but Adrian never took it personally for one second. Barry had to a lot of emotions to work through in this difficult time and he had to learn how to adapt to his new circumstances.

  Among all the crowds of the arriving passengers, Adrian notices Barry coming as well. He cannot believe his eyes. It was if it was the old Barry standing there . . .

  Adrian walks closer to the barricades.

  “Barry!”

  “Hey, old man! What’s up? I’m coming, just hang in there.”

  Barry agilely makes his way through the crowds and politely refuses any help from curious and sympathetic fellow passengers.

  “I’m right here, approximately at ten ‘o clock direction, Barry.”

  Barry finds his way before hugging Adrian close.

  “It’s so great to see ye!”

  Adrian laughs heartily, for the first time in almost nine weeks.

  “Engelsman, you are back in full gear. If you are joking and fooling around, you’re back.”

  Adrian gets down on one knee and affectionately strokes the black Labrador which immediately licks Adrian’s hand.

  “So, who is your new partner in crime?”

  “Tennessee. He is pretty, isn’t he?”

  “No, he is gorgeous. How old is he?”

  “Two years. Do ye think Nero will accept him?”

  “Oh, piece of cake. I think they will both enjoy the companionship.”

  “Where is the baggage point?”

  “Just carry on in the twelve ‘o clock direction.”

  “Well, I hope ye are all ready for me at the station. I’m going to start working tomorrow. Won’t be in uniform, but I know I can still make a big difference.”

  “And it will be a great privilege to have you back. We missed you terribly. It was so quiet at the station without you.”

  Adrian takes Barry’s baggage and puts it on the trolley so they can make their way to the car, but Barry stops Adrian.

  “Adrian, I . . . I owe you one hell of an apology.”

  Adrian frowns.

  “Why? What are you talking about?”

  “I haven’t been much of a friend to you in this last nine weeks. I was so hurt, so scared and depressed. I felt so alone and ironically, I pushed away the people that love and cares for me. I was hell to live with.”

  “That you were, but it’s okay now. It’s all over.”

  “I just want to say thank you for everything. Thanks for being so stubborn with me and keeping me on the right track. And . . . for what it is worth. I’m so sorry for everything. I hope that in between everything, ye will be able to forgive me.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  Barry shoots Adrian a double take and Adrian smiles.

  “There is nothing to forgive. It’s been forgiven long time ago. It’s already forgotten. I told you back there when we were in College, I’ll always be there for you, no matter what.”

  Arriving at the farm after unpacking his things, Adrian persuades Barry to accompany him to the barn to see the horses and to ride.

  “I don’t know how ye want to do this.” Barry says.

  “If you think I was scared when I first came here, I’m even more scared now.”

  “And like your first time, I’ll saddle you Hantam. I promise you, Barry, horses are so sensitive to disabled people, you won’t believe it. I think this will do you the world’s wonder. Riding is so good for the soul.”

  After saddling Hantam, Adrian hands Barry the reins.

  “Walk with him to the outside. It’s okay. I’ll walk beside him on the offside.”

  “Do ye really think I’ll manage?”

  Adrian laughs.

  “You know what? I’ve read about a completely blind rider that does show jumping, in Britain. And that rider almost jumps the same height I do when I practice.”

  “No ways, you’re putting me on!”

  “I’m serious. So you say you are going to go to the station tomorrow?”

  “Can’t wait. You can’t believe all the things they taught us there. It was more than just the orientation with the guide dogs. Ye were right. Life carries on out there.”

  Adrian stops Hantam and carefully helps Barry to mount.

  “This feels very akward.” Barry says.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got him for you. We’ll go to the lunging ring and I promise, I won’t let him go unless you feel comfortable for me to do so.”

  A week later, Barry’s life was about to change radically.

  Adrian is on his rest days and on his way to the barn to tack up Majoor when his cell phone rings.

  “Hello, Adrian speaking.”

  “Good day, sir. You’re speaking to Mimi from Dr. Meyer’s consulting rooms at the Centurion Eye hospital, how are you?”

  “I’m good, yourself?”

  “Well, I hope I can make your day and that I have good news for you, sir. I understand that your best friend is up for a lens and cornea transplant.”

  “Yeah, but . . . whenever that’s going to happen, we don’t know.” Adrian sighs discouragedly.

  “It normally takes very long, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, we were hoping to help him tomorrow.”

  The bridle falls out of Adrian’s hand.

  “What? Are you serious? Really?”

  The receptionist laughs softly.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Is it for both transplants?” Adrian asks carefully.

  “I’m sorry, I . . . I know it is presumptuous.”

  “It’s okay, sir. Yes, it is for both eyes, both the lens and the cornea transplant. Do you think you will be able to be there at six ‘o clock tomorrow morning?”

  The tears of emotion starts flowing over Adrian’s cheeks.

  “Absolutely! Ma’am, how . . . how did you manage this so quickly?”

  “I’m sorry, sir. That is private information, we can’t disclose it.”

  “Of course, the family. I’m sorry. Well, please, they must know this. They must know that they are the biggest answers to a prayer and an even more bigger blessing than they could have imagined.”

  Adrian greets her and disconnects. He goes down on his knees right there with the tears of gratitude flowing freely.

  “Oh, God . . . I don’t know what to say . . .” he prays aloud through his tears.

  “Thank you so much! You are so Almighty, so faithful . . . thank you for hearing our prayers and thank you for keeping us true to our faith in You . . .”

  Adrian made all the necessary arrangements very fast before he left for the station. He enters the charge office, causing Tennessee to stir.

  Barry turns around.

  “Hey, old man, thought ye will be riding or keeping yourself busy with all kinds of other trivia.”

  “How did you know it is me? You know that you just keep on amazing me all the time this last couple of days. It’s like you have supernatural vision now or something.”

  Barry laughs.

  “I heard your footsteps when ye came in.”

  Adrian shakes his head in amazement.

  “I don’t know how you can because I am wearing my tekkies.”

  “I know exactly who comes when.”

  “Just like you know when my mug is empty. How you know all that, I’ll never know. Are you done here?”

  Barry presses a button on his watch and listens to the time.<
br />
  “It’s a bit early to leave, isn’t it? It’s only three ‘o clock.”

  “We need to go somewhere.”

  “Where?”

  “That is a surprise, Engelsman.”

  “I’ll put Tennessee on you to lick ye to death if you don’t tell.”

  “Nope, no such luck. Come, time’s running.”

  After spending the night at Adrian’s brother in Centurion, Adrian and Barry leave for the Unitas hospital very early the next morning.

  “Are ye still not going to tell me where we are going?”

  Adrian smiles.

  “No. But I know you will figure it out eventually.”

  “I’m just curious about the fact that we left Tennessee at home.”

  “Oh no, shame man. He was sleeping so soundly and warm. I couldn’t wake him up.”

  After a while, Adrian parks the car at the hospital and he carefully helps Barry to get out before they make their way to the reception.

  Adrian completes all the necessary forms and helps Barry to sign them before they proceed to the ward.

  “Adrian? Why are we in a hospital?”

  Adrian tries to act dumbstruck.

  “What makes you think we’re in a hospital?”

  “Because I can smell it, old man.”

  “Well . . . hopefully, in a couple of hours, God willing, we will have the old Barry back.”

  Barry becomes overwhelmed by emotion.

  “Are ye serious? Adrian, are you really serious?”

  “Yes, I am. They are going to do a lens and cornea transplant for you, in both eyes.”

  Barry starts crying softly.

  “Thank you, Lord . . .” he prays softly, overwhelmed.

  “Thank you . . . I . . . I don’t know what to say . . .”

  Adrian puts his arm around Barry’s shoulders.

  “I don’t deserve any of this . . .” Barry says softly.

  “Why are ye and God so faithful to me?”

  Adrian kisses Barry softly on his head.

  “Because you are special. Because God loves you. Because I love you and you are my best friend. I can never, ever leave my partner behind.”

  Adrian anxiously waits outside the operating theater. He knows that everything will go well, but it remains a very delicate operation.

  The surgeon emerges from the theater, smiles.

  “Adrian?” he sticks out his hand.

  “Yes. Is . . . Is Barry going to be okay, Doc?”

  “The surgery went very well. It was a huge success. I’m going to remove the bandages tomorrow. But please, he needs to take it very easy. Any hard hit on the head can tear the lenses or corneas loose. What occupation is he in?”

  “Barry is a policeman. But he was working in the charge office after the accident.”

  “Well, please keep it like that for at least another eight weeks. If he is the sporting type, I suggest that he will abstain from it too for that time. He needs to take care of himself now.”

  “Doctor, I can’t thank you enough.”

  “It’s okay. I’m very grateful I was able to help.”

  Adrian smiles and proceeds to Barry’s ward.

  Barry is awake, but he is still very much groggy and under the weather.

  “Hey, Engelsman, you okay?”

  “Aye, but it burns like hell . . . I can’t wait for them to take off the bandages.”

  “The doctor said he will do that tomorrow. And then, you will have to take it very easy for a while. It’s a very delicate healing process.”

  Just after breakfast the next morning, Dr. Meyer enters the room. He greets Adrian and Barry.

  “How are you feeling, Barry? Slept okay?”

  “I couldn’t sleep, was too excited.”

  Dr. Meyer smiles.

  “Let’s not keep you in suspense any longer.”

  He softly starts taking off the bandages and gently removes the cotton wool over Barry’s eyes.

  “You can open your eyes now.”

  “Hurts quite a bit.”

  “It’s normal. It will hurt a bit like that. In a week or two, you’ll become crazy of all the itching of the stitches healing, but you must not try to rub your eyes. You must be very careful. Best you can do for yourself is to wear very dark sunglasses for a while.”

  Barry slowly opens his eyes and keeps blinking. It takes a while for his vision to become clear, but then his vision starts to blur again because of the emotion whelming up in his eyes. He starts crying softly.

  “I can’t believe it . . .” Barry whispers.

  “I can’t believe it . . .”

  “What is it, Engelsman?”

  “I can see again!”

  Barry embraces Adrian.

  “Oh, God, I’m so overwhelmed . . .” Barry says softly, very emotional.

  Adrian and Barry shares tears of joy for a while before Barry lets Adrian go.

  “How did ye arrange this?”

  “On that day that you were released, I asked my mom to help us. She came in contact with all the people here, but you know exactly where this comes from. God will never let you go, Barry. Never.”

  One night in the middle of July, Barry enters the lounge where Adrian is sitting, watching some movies.

  Barry laughs mischievously and Adrian turns around, amused.

  “What’s up, Engelsman? Why are you laughing at me?”

  “You’re sitting under that blanket, just like an old man.”

  “Well, it’s bloody cold, in case you’ve missed it.”

  “I was wondering if your hiking boots were ready to explore?”

  Adrian frowns lightly as Barry passes him a sherry.

  “I’m sorry. You’ve lost me completely. What are you talking about?”

  “A two-week holiday tour to the United Kingdom, including Scotland.”

  Adrian’s face lights up.

  “Get out of here! Are you serious?!”

  “Aye. Why not? Ye have only been to Australia. Your passport in order?”

  “Yeah, no problems. But what about the new visa regulations for the UK?”

  “When did ye get your passport?”

  “About . . . six years ago.”

  “You are safe. Only the new passport holders need that new visa. Besides, I was born in Scotland and we’re going together.”

  Adrian’s eyes shine bright, excited.

  “I’ve always wanted to see the Big Ben, go to the Madame Tessaud’s . . . This is awesome! But we are not going if you don’t show me where you have grown up in Scotland.”

  Barry laughs.

  “There is no way that we will go there and I don’t show you.” he says, but he becomes very serious, instantly.

  “But there is a catch, though. In the short time I didn’t have me sight, I realized how lucky I was to have all me senses. Therefore, this time, I’m preaching ye now. Adrian, I really want you to play cricket again.”

  “Barry, please don’t.”

  “No, no, Adrian. Ye are not going to run away from this every time. You have a talent. Ye must use it. Please, please promise me, please do me this honor and promise me that you will play cricket again from this coming summer.”

  Adrian looks at Barry and closes his eyes as he sighs.

  Adrian knows that he is cornered. He knows like when he forced Barry to pick himself up again and to bulldoze life after the accident, that Barry is forcing him to do the same. Adrian knows that he needs to shake this fear he had deep inside and that he must stop believing the lie that he is bad luck. Circumstances merely were happening simultaneously.

  Adrian opens his eyes, looks at Barry.

  “Okay, Engelsman. I give up. And I promise that, as soon as we get back from the UK, I will start to practice again and I promise that I will make myself available for selection.”