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"I spoke to your nurses at the hospital and

found out what you like" she explained briskly.. "It

saves waste and time."

She put the tray table over my legs, pulled me

into a sitting position and patted down two pillows

behind me so quickly and efficiently. I barely had

time to take a breath. Then she stepped back and

suggested I start eating before my soup got cold. "Thank you," I muttered, She stood watching

me for a moment. I half-expected her to begin

criticizing the way I ate and telling me how she knew

a better way because of her experience with

paraplegics.

"Have you lost much weight since the

accident?" she asked.

"Seven or eight pounds. I suppose," I said. "You're better off being lighter," she said. "not

that I imagine you were ever heavy. You don't look

like the type."

"What type is that?"

"The type who would let her figure go," she

explained. "I've had to deal with patients nearly twice your size. It's no picnic, believe me," she said. The moment she said it, she paused. I looked at her and I thought for a moment, she would smile or laugh and

the ice wall between us would finally crack.

But just at that moment instead, we heard the

front door open and close and the unmistakable click,

clack of Aunt Victoria's heavy-heeled shoes as she

came marching into the house and down the corridor

toward us. Mrs. Bogart spun around to greet her. "How's she doing?" I heard Aunt Victoria ask. "As well as could be expected," Mrs. Bogart

replied in a rather noncommittal voice. She glanced

through the door at me and then walked away as Aunt

Victoria turned into my room.

She wore a much more stylish blue skirt suit