Wheelchairs of Death

Wheelchairs of Death

People who have disabilities should not be laughed at. The challenges they face on a daily basis are enormous. You don't believe me? Put on a blindfold and try to get to work. Rent a wheelchair and try to go to the grocery store. Everyone should be required to try one of these at least once.

It is no wonder that people in wheelchairs are, many times, overly forceful in their approach to getting around. I see wheelchair-bound people daily. And I see how others just ignore them, cut around them, and see them as a nuisance. If you had this huge disadvantage and no one seemed to care you would get militant.

There is this one young woman who rides the same train as I do. I have learned to go out a different door than the one she uses because if you get in her way she will mow you down. Her motorized wheelchair is fast!

Usually when the train pulls into the station an attendant brings a ramp for her to bridge the gap and height difference between the train and the platform. After she leaves the train she heads for the elevator where we meet. I use the elevator because I have a hip problem. We never speak.

I usually get to the elevator before she does and I always hold the door until she gets there. She has never said thank you. About a month ago, she beat me. We looked each other in the eye as she let the door close without me. Frankly, I was pissed! But rather than seek revenge I did exactly the opposite. I always get there first and hold the door until she gets on. And when I get downstairs, I hurry to the street exit door and hold it open until she passes through. She has never acknowledged me.

Today, as I held the elevator, I could see her coming. She was flying! Then just at the last second this guy came from nowhere and cut right in front of her. She slammed on the brakes. I thought for sure she would run the guy over, but she didn't. I pictured her falling out of the chair and onto the floor, but she didn't. I continued to hold the door for her. For the first time, she looked at me. Her facial expression could only be interpreted as, "What an idiot!" Then we smiled at each other as she drove onto the elevator. When I got downstairs, I held the exit door for her as she came speeding along. She passed through the door without looking at me as usual. I guess our moment had passed.

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