Walker
I’ve been forced into helping with the setup for the Fourth of July party. Forced by Valentina, who hunted me down like a sniper on the prowl. I’d been hiding out in Dodds’s room playing cards, hoping I could avoid the whole thing.
Dodds, like me, was refusing to take part, even in the decorating, but Valentina had us assigned to jobs before we had a chance to even finish our round of cards. And there’s no sense in trying to argue with Valentina. Dodds got told to help out in the kitchen making pigs in blankets, and I’ve been told to help Sanchez in his bid to launch himself on the world as a DJ.
Valentina leads me to the cafeteria, where he’s setting up his decks. I’m not sure what help I can be, and I say this to Valentina.
“You got ears, haven’t you?” Valentina answers roundly. “So tell him what’s appropriate music to play. We’re going to have children and generals present. He can’t be playing any of that rap music with all the cursing.”
She dashes off and I fumble around for a seat until Sanchez pulls one over for me and guides me to it.
“Man, that woman had her way she’d have me playing Lionel Richie and Bruce Springsteen and nothing else. I’m not even allowed to play Miley Cyrus because she doesn’t want any twerking going on.”
I sit there while Sanchez busies himself setting up. Within a few minutes he’s playing Lil Wayne at deafening volume. It’s so loud neither of us hears the interruption.
“Gentlemen?”
Sanchez kills the volume abruptly.
“How are you doing?” It’s Doctor Monroe. Immediately my senses are on high alert, wondering if Didi is with him, but straightaway I know she’s not and register a dull disappointment.
“Hey, Doc,” Sanchez says. “Just setting up for the party.”
“I’ve got a visitor. He’s here doing some research. I was wondering if you two might have time for a quick chat with him.”
“Sure,” says Sanchez.
I say nothing. Research? I’m starting to feel like a caged guinea pig in this place. I try to think of an excuse to escape, but before I can the doc has left and Sanchez is introducing himself.
“And that’s Walker,” he says, obviously nodding at me.
I lift my chin in a vague greeting and wonder if I should hold out my hand, but I don’t. I can’t be bothered with niceties. I wonder if he can tell that I’m blind?
“Well, it’s great to meet you,” the guy says in the overly enthusiastic voice I’m starting to get used to. It’s the one people use when they’re uncomfortable around me. “I’m Zac.”
“So what can we help you with? What are you researching?”
“Well, actually it’s for a role I’m auditioning for.”
Auditioning for? He’s an actor?
“Wow, that’s cool, bro,” Sanchez says. “What’s the role?”
“It’s a paraplegic guy who takes on the government for the right to commit suicide.”
There’s a beat of silence before Sanchez fills it with a forced, “Huh, well, I guess you came to the right place. It’s paraplegic central here.”
Zac laughs and I grind my teeth. How exactly is that funny?
“What I want to do is find out what it’s really like to be in a wheelchair,” he goes on. “I want to understand what it’s like to know you’ll never walk again, never be able to do anything for yourself, never be with a woman.”
My stomach tightens into a knot.
“I want to get into the mindset,” he continues. “Really go method on this one. I’m thinking of borrowing a wheelchair from the center and using it for a couple of days to help me get more into the role.”
There’s another beat. Is this guy for real?
“You know, I’m not sure we’re the right people to talk to,” Sanchez says in the tone of voice he uses with superior officers he can’t stand. “And we got to get ready for the party and all.”
I feel Zac’s eyes rest on me. I turn to face the windows. He’s not getting anything from me either.
“Okay, well, maybe I’ll, um, go take a look around, see if I can find someone less busy.”
“You do that,” Sanchez says.
He takes his leave and I hear the door shut behind him.
“He wants to go method?” Sanchez mutters. “I know a few people might help him out with that one. Put him in a wheelchair for real.” He starts laughing and a second later Lil Wayne is blasting out of the speaker again.