Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Richard
Somewhere between my two hours at the library and biology lecture, I had a half hour to run an errand, and grab a quick lunch on campus center west. As I sat there alone enjoying the sunshine, Nuerta came and sat with me. Nuerta had recently met some guy and was going on and on about how she couldn't wait to see him again. While she spoke, and I ate, Richard came by. Richard is a quadripalegic who uses his mouth to steer his wheelchair in whatever direction he'd like. Nuerta and Richard are friends, I have only seen him from afar, and much like everyone else, I don't speak to him. Richard was upset because Nuerta would not go digging into trash cans to retrieve bottles and cans for him. Nuerta got upset with Richard because he would not respond to her. Nuerta then got up and left me seated there with Richard across from me. I continued to eat my lunch all the while afraid that he would drool or do something that would make me lose my lunch or get grossed out. Another lady came by and put her empty plastic bottle in Richard's recycling bag. A young man was about to drop a glass bottle into the trash can behind me when I yelled out 'WAIT!' 'Give it to Richard.' The young man had a puzzled look on his face, but complied with the request. Richard made a barely audible sound as if to thank him. So, again, here I was enjoying what was left of my lunch with Richard and when I was done with my Sobe Green Tea, I too gave my bottle to Richard. I like Richard, he's nice, and he recycles.
# posted by Kireidesu @ 12:28 PM 
