[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #139- Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken

Robert Newman newmanrl at cox.net
Tue Nov 25 03:31:09 UTC 2008


NFBtalk members
RE:  Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken

THOUGHT PROVOKER #139 is a story sent to me by Virginia, and her purpose is
to help others to not do as she once did. Though, grow she has and in a
future short story she'll show where she is now. (Growing pains are not fun,
but they teach.)


If you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect
responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn
from and that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info
<http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS
sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net 



THOUGHT PROVOKER 139
Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken

Co-authors-
Virginia Sblendorio
Robert Leslie Newman

"Want to go for a ride?" The voice on the phone was my older sister, who had
recently moved within a few miles from me. "I have to run to the supermarket
and pick up a couple of things."

"Sure," I said, I didn't need anything from the store, but not able to drive
any more, I relish any opportunity to go for a drive no matter how mundane
the trip.

Hearing my sister's car pull into the driveway, I flipped on the light
switch for my porch light as I stepped out, fingers brushing the handle of
my white cane where it rested upright in the corner. It would be twilight or
even dark by the time I got home. 

"Hey little Sis, where's your cane?" asked my older sister as I slipped into
the front seat? "I saw you feeling with your feet for those steps."

"Oh, just going to the store with you I don't need it." My answer was of
course to put her off. I wasn't going to share with her the extent to which
I resented my cane. I rarely used it. It made me stand out in a crowd in a
way I did not care for.

At the store's parking lot we found it to be nearly full and it was
necessary to park a long way from the entrance. On the way in we cut through
rows of cars, which worked well for me, because it put my sister in my best
visual range and easier to follow. However, nearing the doors there were
people going every direction, and I lost her in the crowd. But I made it
inside okay, but the inside lighting was so bright compared to the rapidly
dimming outdoors, I was essentially blinded.

"Little Sis, if you had that cane, you wouldn't have to just stand there,"
said my older sister. 

I clutched my older sister's arm as she snagged a shopping cart and together
we went up and down the aisles in tandem.

In the meat department, we found a manager's special on chickens. "Little
Sis, you love chicken. You should pick up a couple of these," urged my older
sister and I agreed. I selected two packages, tore the coupons off, and
pressed their sticky sides to my forearm. Since my sight began to fail me, I
have found many ways to "remember" what I cannot see. I have often purchased
things with "redeem at register" coupons attached, only to realize after I
got home that they were not redeemed. Now I take them off and stick them on
my forearm so I do not forget.

We finished shopping and headed to the registers to pay. Realizing my items
were to be first, I spoke up. "Those are the chicken's which were on sale."

"Ah, I don't see the." the cashier began.

"Oh, here they are," I informed him, peeling the stickers off my arm.
Relishing the opportunity to educate, I politely told him that I was
visually impaired. I explained why I stuck the coupons to my arm.

"Well ah...I'll have to call over a manager. Ah, company policy." 

When the store manager arrived, I again explained myself. 

"Interesting, but removing the coupons voids the discount," the manager said
and his tone left no doubt he was not going to budge.

I was speechless and angry and my thoughts ricocheted in my head like a
trapped bird. I thought about leaving the chicken and store immediately but
with my fierce pride, I was not going to ask my sister to leave that store
to go to another after filling a cart with groceries. 

Perhaps I should have had my white cane with me. Perhaps I should have
laughed it off. Ultimately, I felt powerless. I felt like a coward. I felt
ashamed of being blind, ashamed of allowing my emotions to get the better of
me and ashamed of being bullied. I paid for my order and went home with a
bellyache and a very angry sister.  Stupid cane!



Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info




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