Page 14 of Champagne Nights

“I hope you like chicken.”

“I do.”

I stood there and watched as she cut up some cucumbers. I was getting overly nervous that she was going to cut herself.

“Can I help you with anything?” I asked. “Maybe I can cut those cucumbers for you.”

“Thanks, Ethan, but I got this. Am I making you nervous with this knife?”

“Just a bit.” I chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I cook all the time. I know what I’m doing. I was trained.”

“Trained?”

“After the accident, my aunt sent me to Lavelle Institute for the Blind. I learned to read Braille, and they taught me how to live independently. I’ve had many years of training. So don’t worry about me cutting up some cucumbers.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t?—”

“Don’t apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for. A long time ago, I accepted that I make people a little uncomfortable. That’s how the world works. People think they have to be careful around me, and they don’t. I’m just like everybody else. The only difference is I can’t see.”

“And you’re probably a hell of a lot smarter than most people,” I spoke.

“I don’t know about that.” She laughed.

She finished making the salad and took the bowl over to the table.

“Let me help with something.”

“No. Just go sit down and relax. I’ve got this.”

I sighed as I sat at the table and watched her pull the chicken from the oven. She inserted a thermometer in the middle, which read her the temperature.

“Perfect,” she spoke as she took down two plates from the cabinet and placed a piece of chicken on each with a baked potato and green beans.

She stood in front of the table, holding the plates. “Which seat are you sitting in? Twelve o’clock, three o’clock, six o’clock, or nine o’clock?”

“Umm.”

“Look at where I’m standing and pretend you’re a clock.”

“Twelve o’clock.” I smiled.

She walked over and set the plate perfectly in front of me while setting hers at three o’clock.

“Would you like some wine?” she asked.

“I’d love some.”

“Red or white?”

“Whatever you’re having.”

I sat there in amazement at how flawlessly she cooked and served dinner. She set my wine glass down in front of me and then took her seat.

“What do you do all day?” I asked as I cut into my chicken.

“I read and tutor kids online during the summer for extra income.”

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