The Lying Mirror

by alvinna edwards nwoko

  Jack had already explained to the Lab crew, Linda’s unabated cruelty towards her fellow man and she was not to be taken seriously in her state of confusion.

  Why am I here? Linda asked Jack, as she noticed he was sitting in a corner of his room watching her awake.

  Because you tried to kill yourself, Jack replied dryly.

  What give you the right to interfere with my life? Linda countered in her snobbish way, the way only Linda could drive her knife straight for the heart.

  Because you, Linda, you have no clue why you are, who you are or what you are.

  Because you, Linda, you have caused so much pain to so many people you have caused the destruction of your own life.

  Because of you Linda, and only you, you have no friends, no one who care about you, and no one who wants to be around you, Jack finished as his Jack-Mobile came to a stop near the bed where Linda lay.

  Jack held up a large hand mirror to Linda’s face so she might see herself, because of you Linda, and only you, wanted to see me like this.

  This was the first time Linda had seen her face since the night of the attack. She saw herself hideous, deformed, and useless to society. As tears found a familiar path down her face, she snatched the mirror from Jacks hand and flung it to the floor where it shattered into small pieces like her life.

  You have a team of wonderful, gifted experts from the lab to help see you through this trauma, you will treat them with the upmost respect and thanks, and you will receive your lessons from your Professors weekly. I will take your finish work to the Dean who in turn will make sure your Professors receive them timely. Which means you will be responsible for finishing your work timely also.

  If you choose not to comply with these demands, all assistance from me and my team who are acting on my behalf will cease care to you.

  You will be allowed into the world as you are and face the ridicule you inflicted on others.

  Is this clear Linda? Jack asked in the harshest demanding voice he had ever used on anyone. Are you in agreement? Asked Jack again. Since there was no answer from you the first time, I’m assuming you are just being disrespectful again.

  Linda, speechless only shook her head up and down in consent. She could not believe all of these things had happen while she was unconscious. Who had bathed her? Who brought her clothes and private under clothing to Jack’s apartment? Who were these people who took the time to care for her?

  The lab rats came and went on schedule and one by one the lab rats introduced themselves to her and explained what their function was in the whole scheme of things.

  Doc made his regular visits and was pleased to see Jack had succeeded where he had failed. Jack, you got the Lord on you back boy. Doc had told Jack often how God had his back and how blessed he was to even be alive. Keep up the good work Jack, she just might become human.

  Sunday, a female lab rat, and one of the most discerning, went to Linda to help her out of bed. It was time, and Linda was refusing.

  Then you shall lay in your own filth. You shall stink to the high heavens, and I will not allow any one in to aide you until you release your arrogance and start to help yourself on to your road to recovery. Our tasks cannot be done alone, we need your help. However selfish you might want to be. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME! Linda!

  Sunday finished in Linda’s face and looking directly into her eyes, with a pleasant smile on her face. I have neglected and sacrifice my own studies for your recovery. If you’re looking for pity you will not find it with us. There is no time for us to indulge you while you lay in self-pity. It is time for you to get your ass out of bed and help us help you.

  Linda struggled to raise herself up from her pillows. Sunday reached to grab Linda's underarm to help her, and Linda allowed it.

  Sunday entered the day’s interaction with Linda in the log book for the next lab rat to assess and improve upon if they could.

  Jack was most impressed with the calculating, analytical nurturing of the lab crew to his patient.

  Linda didn’t realize it but day by day she was indeed improving. Her treatment towards her care givers had improved to the point of tolerance and respect.

  Chapter

  9

  Ant tried calling Jack’s cell phone; he must be in class or was giving someone a ride to or from class. A few hours later on the fourth try Ant was finally able to reach Jack.

  Jack! Jack! Where have you been man? I’ve been trying to reach you all day. Good news man! Real good news!

  What! Jack asked curious.

  Can you make it to the lab in thirty minutes?

  I’m finished with classes for the day, sure I can be there. How’s thirty-five minutes, can you wait?

  Yeah man, but get over here quick, you’ll going to want to see this.

  I’m on my way Jack said and sped his Jack-Mobile full speed in anticipation to see what Ant found so important.

  Jack reached the lab just as Ant was putting a final ingredient in a glass bowl. Hey! Ant! Ant! Jack called out, not knowing which way to go.

  In here! Ant called back. Yeah, in here Jack. You’re not going to believe this. We’re in here!

  Jack steered the Jack-mobile into one of the test rooms of the lab. The stainless steel room with six pig’s heads on a stainless steel table is where Jack found Ant and three other lab rats with thick gloves on, poking and squeezing the skin of the pigs.

  Ant took a brief moment to look up at Jack as he was entering the test lab. Good, good you’re here man, Ant said to Jack then motioned for him to come closer.

  Jack do you remember when I told you about Linda’s formula? And that the Professor wanted to meet with her about changing her measurements. Well we have found out that it works, Ant said proudly smiling enormously at the other lab rats. Linda’s formula was correct, just too strong for human skin.

  Here, come here, and let me show you.

  Ant went to the first pig’s head; here Jack is Linda’s original formula. It ate the skin right off the pig’s head.

  Jack fought back the bile developing in his throat as he disgustingly peered at the first pig’s head.

  So? Jack questioned.

  Ant rushed to the head of the second pig. This, Ant answered to Jack’s so, question, is the remix of Linda’s formula, with the help of the Professor and our lab crew.

  You see Jack, the skin is in tack.

  Jack could not understand why Ant thought this was so urgent that he had to call him over to the lab with such haste.

  What does all of this have to do with me? Jack asked.

  Ant answered Jack’s question in disbelief that Jack did not see or understand what was obvious to him and his lab rats.

  Jack all six of these pigs before losing their heads was severely disfigured. Each one of them was heavily scared for more than a year. This stuff actually works, Ant said in a moment of euphoria, and smiled his reply to Jack.

  After regaining some measure of composure, Ant pointed to the head of the third pig, and in a calm and assuring voice, tried to make Jack understand.

  Jack, the circles on the pig’s face is where we applied the remix. Only red tracks like burns remains, the fourth pig’s head we applied a second application of the remix on the scarring area. The scar and redness inside the circled area are gone, completely.

  Ant moved between the fifth and sixth pig’s head and arrogantly with a show of hands pronounced theatrically, and this, my fellow is the final result in two weeks.

  Jack stared motionless, dumfounded at the last pig’s head, with his mouth agape Jack could not find the will or the words to express his awe. Are you telling me Ant that this formula of Linda did this?

  No! Ant answered boastfully, the remix did.

  Now what? Jack asked.

  One of the lab rats stepped forward excitedly pushing Ant out of his way so he might get closer to Jack and to answer the question for Ant.

  Now, my friend, we test it on a human, your human, and if we are correct your human has just
become a very wealthy woman.

  What you are seeing Jack is the result of only two weeks, two week! Of testing, the lab rat was so excited we started talking so fast, sweat was dripping down his brow and Ant had to slow him down so Jack could keep up and understand.

  Do you know what this would mean for other burn victims, crash victims and the cosmetic industry?

  Wait! Wait! Slow down, slow down the reason we have this problem in the first place was because of Linda’s vanity and envy. Lord knows Linda is not ready for this.

  We still have her mental state to deal with. As Jack made his objection he shook his head repeatedly no, no, no, no, and his final thought was hell no! Linda’s mental state is fragile and in need of time and a gentle touch, friends and then more time.

  Chapter

  10

  Jack entered his bedroom, which for the past several weeks have been occupied by Linda. Linda never came out of the bedroom, Jack’s bedroom had become a safe haven from the social life.

  The fact of the matter is Linda felt so embarrassed of the treatment she was getting from Jack and his host of friends, she was having a hard time facing them. No one had ever done for her what they were doing. Her grades were improving, they showed her new and improved techniques in studying so she could retain the information longer, and they stayed up with her for hours just talking small talk.

  Linda found herself hard pressed to be disrespectful, and for the first time in her life she didn’t want to be.

  Hey Lin, Let’s go to the pizza place and order pizzas for everybody, you up for it? We have to get some sun on your skin before you turn white as a sheet and your scars will be more pronounced. The pizza place is not on campus and rarely do any of the students go there.

  Before Jack could keep begging, Linda cut him off with a quick and defiant NO!

  Listen Linda, Jack continued, I’ve learn to love your hard opinions and arrogant ways, but now it’s time.

  Time for what? Linda asked frighten.

  Time for you to see the world through my eyes this time and time for you to start living again, really living.

  I bought you a scarf and sunglasses, before we get the pizza I want us to make one stop first. Now get dress and that’s an order not a request.

  Jack in his Jack-Mobile backed out of the bedroom smiling from ear to ear never taking his eyes off of Linda. And all Linda could do was stand there and stare at Jack ridiculous grin as he bumped into the doorway as if he was in a comedy skit.

  Don’t have me come back in here to retrieve you, Jack said to Linda as he was closing the door.

  Jack waited outside his apartment for almost a full hour, not knowing Linda was just beyond the door but wouldn’t go any further.

  Jack turned his Jack-Mobile to go back in to the apartment to see what was keeping Linda when behold, Linda, scared stiff and unmoving.

  Well don’t you look… well.

  You can say white if you want to Jack. I know I need the sun. But Linda did not move from her spot.

  Jack wheeled his chair to her and pointed for her to hop on. Come on it’s going to be fun.

  In your lap? Linda pointed to Jacks paralyzed legs.

  No, on your bicycle built for two, silly rabbit. Yes on my lap. You forget I have no feeling from the waist down.

  It’s been a long time since Jack made that comment. Now was not a good time for reflections and he still didn’t like the way it sounded, but this was the hand God dealt him and thanks to God his hand held a tray of aces.

  Hurry up we’re going to miss the bus, Jack told Linda.

  Linda had never been on the Jack mobile nor public transportation before so she felt a little embarrassed, a little apprehensive and very excited.

  Jack acted as if the metro bus was his own private limo and it gave Linda pause to wonder why.

  The metro bus pulled up to where Jack and his companion were waiting, down came the lift without Jack even asking and this very black very old gentleman greeted Jack with a JACK-O! Loudly so the entire bus would know Jack was boarding.

  In return Jack greeted the bus driver by his nickname HARD DRIVE!

  As Jack gave the bus fare for two, for two transfers in return, the entire occupants on the bus greeted Jack in the same manner as the bus driver.

  The bus driver waited for Jack to secure his chair in the wheel locks before he drove away to continue his route.

  Hey JACK-O, missed you man, yelled the bus driver over his shoulder to Jack. Jack gave everyone on the bus a hearty hello, a wave and a smile while he yelled back to the bus driver miss you too Hard Drive.

  Linda didn’t know what to do with herself and Jack noticed. Next to me he told Linda, sit here, Jack motion with his head to a seat.

  Linda was very grateful to have Jack around he seemed to make everything look so easy.

  A small conversation struck up between Jack and one of the passengers sitting next to him. Linda was at awe at how easy it was for Jack to hold a conversation with someone who were clearly mentally handicap. The poor guy kept repeating the same questions to Jack over and over and each time Jack had a different answer. Not just a revised answer to the same question but a different answer every single time, and Jack never showed any sign of becoming irritated.

  The bus went up this road and down that road, passengers got on and passengers got off. We made left turn then right turns, I’m diffidently lost Linda thought to herself.

  Lost yet Jack asked Linda, laughing and teasing her. Just two more blocks then it’s our turn to get off. At least for a while, then we need the bus to get back home.

  After going another couple of blocks Jack asked Linda to pull the cord that was hanging on the wall of the bus, our stop is coming up. Jack watched Linda with silent awe as she never hesitated to follow his instruction. Linda was grinning from ear to ear just because she asked to pull the cord.

  Linda had never been on public transportation before and like a little child Jack let her interact with the bus by pulling the cord. A child indeed Jack thought.

  You know Linda, these buses will take you anywhere around the city and then some, you just have to know the street where you want to go, and not be afraid to ask questions.

  That’s right little lady, the bus driver yelled over to them. I’ve been driving these buses since I was thirty and I’m now seventy-one, time to retire and next week is my last week. Take Jack-o’s advice, if you’re going to take the metro. There are lots of people on these buses who know every inch of this city, and they love it when they can tell a rookie how to use the system. These buses are all they know and it will do them good to feel important every once and a while, it gives them a since that they might be a little smarter than someone else. Just for a moment it helps them to feel special. Jack-o glad I had the opportunity to see you one last time before I retire, or maybe I’ll see you on the bus one day when I’m a rider.

  See you later Hard Drive, Jack called with his back to the driver as the lift place him securely on the curb.

  Why did you call that driver Hard Drive Jack?

  Because for as long as I’ve been taking his bus, if he knows you’re running late he put the pedal to the metal and get you where you have to be on time. And, he does that for everyone on his bus, not just for me. All you have to do is tell him you’re running late, not all bus drivers are like him he’s true blue. Good guy Hard Drive. I’m going to miss him.

  Okay Linda back onto your trusted steed.

  The Jack-Mobile sped he and Linda to the rehabilitation center at the hospital. At the rehabilitation center Linda saw people with one limb, no limbs, blind, mentally handicap, and yes burned victims, crash victims and victims with MS, victims, victims, victims all over the place and they were acting like they were having fun, interacting with each other and waving at and calling out to Jack as he went by. Jack finally ended up at his therapist office, where it appear she was waiting on him.

  Come, come, come on in Jack. Is this the young Lady you told me about?


  Ms. Eevan was a small statured short black woman with black hair that was severely pulled to the back of her head tightly. She had a personality of fire and ice, and displayed a no nonsense respect for her job and expected you to want to do better. And it takes a long of time to know which one was coming at you first, the fire or the ice, and she liked it that way.

  Yeah, ah, Ms. Eevan this is Linda.

  Do you mind? I saw an old friend down the hall and would like to say hello. Be back in a minute. Just before Linda could protest Jack was already leaving the office.

  Well that was obvious, Linda said annoyed.

  Jack has never been subtle. Here, Ms. Eevan pointed to a sofa for Linda to have a seat. Jack tells me you are a burn victim.

  Did Jack tell you why?

  No, Ms. Eevan answered. Jack told me he had a friend who needed my help. May I see your burns? Ms. Eevan reached to remove Linda’s scarf and Linda recoiled at the thought of the therapist presumption.

  You don’t have to be afraid Linda. Part of my job is to conceal that which you might not want seen. May I? Ms. Eevan pointed to Linda scarf.

  And this time Linda removed the scarf herself and let her gaze fall to her lap.

  Ms. Eevan reached towards Linda’s face held her chin up with the gentlest touch Linda had ever felt.

  Come to the light Linda. I want to see your face in the natural light.

  Linda got off the sofa and went to where Ms. Eevan was standing near the window.

  Let me see now… Ms. Eevan turned Linda’s face this way and that, hemmed and hawed, and said to Linda’s surprise we can fix that.

  How? Was Linda’s single reply.

  Make up. I’ll show you how to apply it, you’ll go home and play with it a few days then come back to me and we’ll see if you need more training.

  Now?

  Yes! Of course. You’re pretty good with one word sentences aren’t you, Ms. Eevan teased.