~ ~ ~
Nathan and Rachel's father finally arrived home, and they sat down to eat the Spaghetti and Meatballs their mother had made. As they enjoyed their meal, Nathan's mother reminded them of the Christmas dinner she was planning for Christmas Day. All their family was invited, and she explained there would be one person at the dinner that Nathan and Rachel had never met. This person lived in another state, and he was visiting their Grandpa Joe.
"Mr. Edwards now lives alone, like Grandpa Joe. He was wounded in the Viet Nam war," Nathan's father explains. "He lost his legs in the war, and I want you both to show consideration when he's here."
"I understand what you're saying, Dad," Nathan said. "I can show consideration by not asking an embarrassing question while he's here."
"That's right, son. He knows you might be curious about what happened to him, but you certainly don't want to ask how he gets in and out of his chair without legs. If he offers the information, that's OK, but it's not polite to ask," he continues.
Rachel listened to this conversation and wondered how this Mr. Edwards would get to their house if he couldn’t walk.
"Daddy, how will he get here if he has no legs?" Rachel inquired.
"That's a good question, Rachel. He has a wheel chair that he uses to get around. It has a motor on it, and he drives it like a car," her father clarified.
"Oh Daddy, can I ride on it?" Rachel asked.
"It's not for other people; it's only for him, Rachel," her father said.
"Now that you know Mr. Edwards will be in a wheel chair, please remember it's not polite to point or stare," their mother continued. You can look at him just as you look at anyone else, but don't stare at him. You both know that is not polite in any situation."
Nathan nodded his head while Rachel said, "Yes, Mommy."
"But Mommy, how will he eat with us if he can't sit in our chairs?" asked Rachel.
"That's a thoughtful question, Rachel," her mother responded. "We'll just remove the chair from his spot at the table, and he can use his wheel chair."
"Mommy, can I have a wheel chair?" asked Rachel. "Then I can ride around the house, too."
"Wheel chairs are not toys, Rachel," her mother explained. "I'm sure Mr. Edwards gets tired of sitting in his wheel chair, just like you get tired of walking. The difference is; you can sit down when you get tired of walking. Mr. Edwards can't stand up when he gets tired of sitting."
Nathan thought about Mr. Edwards and how sad it was that he couldn't stand up like everybody else, while Rachel thought about riding in his wheel chair.
Nathan & Rachel - The BIG Christmas Blunder Page 2
