Fayette

 Fayette

Thirteen-year-old Fayette “Fay” Marigold was petite for her age but had the biggest personality and mind. She was fearless, opinionated, loud, and sometimes a troublemaker with the cockiest grin which seemed to make her impish attitude stand out even more. Even though she thought that telling people was as unimportant as knowing the names of the Kardashians, she was also born with cerebral palsy. She was in a wheelchair and her speech was slightly garbled but she lived a regular life and never became a poster child for the pity party. She was actually more of an advocate for the rebellious and the smart ass.

One brisk, fall evening, she went to a Halloween carnival with her sixteen-year-old brother Warren. Fun, creepy music and the sound of children laughing and squealing surrounded them with the smell of buttery popcorn and sweet cotton candy in the air.  She and Warren were waiting in line to go on a roller-coaster. When they first arrived at the line, the ride was already going and they were only letting six people at a time go. Fay saw a lot of spooky things at that carnival but none were as beastly as the boy that was standing in front of them. The boy was much younger, around ten or eleven and he was staring a hole through her. Of course, the boy’s parents were nowhere to be found.

Fay said to the boy sarcastically, “You never saw a person in a wheelchair before, right? It’s okay, just remember to blink though or your eyes will burn.”

Warren chuckled in his throat. She didn’t think that the rude boy understood her but he did and began to pick on her.

“You talk weird,” said the boy wickedly, “Um, this ride is for normal people…only and you ain’t normal.”

“You think so,” exclaimed Fay with fake excitement, “Really?” Thanks!”

“Man, I bet that it ain’t no fun having a wheelchair girl for a sister,” said the boy to Warren, acting like she wasn’t there, “Sorry that she is like that.”

“Whatever kid,” said Warren dryly, glaring at him.

“Sorry?” Fay laughed, “Why are you sorry? Did you create cerebral palsy?”

Still ignoring her, the boy said, “I bet that she can’t do nothing on her own.”

“Shut up kid before I---!” began Warren, becoming furious, his big fists turning white. Fay stopped him with an assuring smile.

“It’s true,” she replied sardonically, “I can’t walk, I’m just one of the fastest in any wheelchair race. My handwriting is crummy, I can just type ninety words per minute on the computer. I can’t talk clearly, I’m just unafraid to speak my mind. You’re sooo right. I can’t do anything at all.” 

The boy looked puzzled. She and Warren just laughed. Then, the roller-coaster was beginning to stop and the boy gave her an evil smile. He said mockingly to her, “Uh oh, there’s five people ahead of you and only six is allowed. Looks like your brother will have to leave his wheelchair sister behind.”

She just grinned.  The ticket taker then walked by. The boy tried to give his ticket and walked on but Fay held up a blue pass and the ticket taker stopped him, letting her and Warren go in front.

“Hey,” he exclaimed, “I was here first!”

“I’m sorry,” said the ticket taker, “She has a disability pass and he needs to accompany her. You have to wait. We only so much room and I heard how you were treating this nice, young lady.”’

“But that ain’t fair,” he yelled.

“If only you were abnormal like me…,” she smiled, as Warren picked her up from her chair and helped her into the ride.

“You are only gettin’ special treatment cause you’re in a wheelchair,” he bellowed.

“Well, it pays to be the wheelchair girl,” she said cheekily, winking as the roller-coaster rolled away and leaving the little boy behind.    

(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2013 

This is a funny satire, poking fun at all of the bullies throughout my life and at myself. It was fun to write.