The Winning Summer (2 page)

Suddenly, she felt a strong arm around her waist. The tray slipped out of her hands.

Crash!
The awful sound of glass shattering on the floor echoed through the entire house.

Supported by the strong arm, Skye managed to regain her footing before crashing into something herself. She struggled and groped. At last, her hands found the back of a chair. She was shaking from head to toe.

“Honey, are you all right?” Mrs. Chambers’ voice quivered as she wrapped her arm around Skye’s shoulder. “I got her—just in time!” Mr. Chambers said as he released his strong grip around Skye’s waist.

Still shaking, Skye gripped the back of the chair as though she’d never let go.

“I’m afraid you got a real taste of what it might be like to be blind,” Mr. Chambers said. “If I hadn’t caught you, you would have gone full force into the wall.”

“What happened?” Morgan’s voice echoed down the hall. “It sounded like an earthquake!”

“Skye dropped some glasses. But she’s okay,” Mrs. Chambers’ relieved voice declared.

Lowering her head, Skye slowly untied the knot of her scarf. In deep thought, she stared at the mess on the table and the floor.

Totally blind! The reality of not being able to see—anything—whirled like a tornado in Skye’s mind.

She felt so ashamed. “I am so sorry,” she whispered.

“We’re just glad you’re not hurt,” Mr. Chambers said, walking away. “I’ll get the sweeper, and we’ll clean up this mess.”

“It must be terrible to be blind,” Skye said. She brushed her long dark hair back from the sides of her face, seeing anew the beautiful scene beyond the sliding glass door. Down in the pasture, Skye’s sorrel horse, Champ, nibbled at his evening meal in a field of brilliant green. “Blind kids have no idea what a horse even looks like.”

Mrs. Chambers patted Skye’s shoulder. “Not if they’ve been blind from birth. They have it pretty rough, Skye.”

“But Katie lost her sight only four years ago in a car accident.” Mr. Chambers carried in a dustpan, broom, and vacuum sweeper. “That might be worse—having known what everything looks like, and now not being able to see anything at all.”

Morgan came down the hallway and stopped her Jazzy abruptly. “Wow! There’s glass everywhere!”

Skye stared at her foster sister, noticing more freckles on Morgan’s face than she ever thought she had.

“You know, I spend a lot of time thinking about different disabilities,” Morgan said, flipping back her long, frizzy red hair. “I’d much rather have cerebral palsy than be blind.”

“Why does God let it happen?” Skye asked. She looked into Mrs. Chambers’ blue eyes, already moist with compassion.

“If we knew that answer, we’d be God,” Mrs. Chambers said.

“Somehow, through all of their pain, people with disabilities are to praise him anyway.” Mr. Chambers ran fingers down both sides of his mustache then started to sweep glass shards into a dustpan. “God gives the strength.”

“I sure don’t know where I’d be without him,” Morgan said with a smile, “or without Keystone Stables. Here’s where I learned how to get my act together.”

“Hopefully, if God blesses our work, we’ll help other kids get their acts together,” Mr. Chambers said. “Four more this summer.”

“And teach them to praise the Lord through it all,” Mrs. Chambers added.

“I’d sure like to help Katie in any way I can,” Skye added, “but how do I do it?”

Chapter Two

S
kye, this box has Katie’s name on it.” At the front door, Mr. Chambers handed Skye a backpack-sized cardboard box.

“I thought all her stuff was brought in when she and her mother set up the room earlier today,” Skye said, struggling to balance it.

Mr. Chambers reached out a steadying hand. “You got it?”

“Yep,” Skye said.

“Somehow, this one got all mixed up with the boys’ boxes and suitcases,” Mr. Chambers declared. “Please take it back to Katie’s room while I help these guys get settled. Skye, this is Joey, Leonard, and Sam.”

“Hi, guys,” Skye said warmly.

“Hi,” they said almost together.

Skye studied the three boys clustered together on the front porch and surrounded knee-deep in baggage. All younger than Skye, she guessed, each beamed a smile that overshadowed the trademark of his special needs: a helmet, leg braces, and thick glasses.

“I can’t wait to see the horses,” Joey bubbled.

“Me too,” Leonard said. “I’m gonna ride all day every day!”

Mr. Chambers squared his cowboy hat and hoisted suitcases under each arm. He clutched two smaller bags in each hand. “Well, the sooner we get you guys settled, the sooner you’ll get to see the horses.”

Skye couldn’t help giggling. “Dad, you look like a pack mule with a Stetson.”

“Hmm . . .” Mr. Chambers laughed. “A mule with a hat—and a mustache?”

The boys burst into hearty laughs. “That is too funny,” Sam said. “A mule with a mustache.”

“Do you have any horses with mustaches?” Leonard asked.

“Not with mustaches, but they do have beards,” Mr. Chambers said.

“Beards?” Joey giggled.

“Well, kinda,” Skye said. “They have whiskers, but we shave them off with an electric razor.”

“What?” Sam said. “Ooh, I wanna see that.”

“Me too,” the other boys said.

“All in good time,” Mr. Chambers said, stepping inside the house. “Just grab some suitcases and boxes. Let’s get this show on the road!”

“And I’ll take this box to its new home for the summer—special delivery!” Skye turned and hurried through the living room, down the hallway, and stopped at the doorway of Katie’s room.

No Katie.

“Where is she?” Skye turned to her foster dad as he shuffled into the room across the hall.

“I think your mother took her down to the barn.”

“Ooh, the barn!” Leonard yelled as he tagged after Mr. Chambers. “I can’t wait.”

“Just lay the box on Katie’s bed,” Mr. Chambers said. “I’m sure once she finds it, she’ll know what it is, or what’s in it.”

“Okay, Dad.” Skye entered the girl’s room and placed the box on the bed next to a grocery bag full of snacks.

Turning to leave, her glance swept across the room and spotted a computer. Its screen saver flashed a kaleidoscope of colors.

“A computer?” Skye said. “A blind kid with a computer?”

Skye’s curiosity, like a pin to a magnet, drew her to the computer station in the corner. Carefully, she reached down and jiggled the mouse. Relinquishing its colors, the screen revealed the beginning of a letter someone had been typing.

“Dear Dad . . . ,” Skye read out loud.
But—how?

She glanced at the keyboard, which looked the same as any other. “Okay, she knows how to type,” Skye said, mumbling to herself, “but how does she know what’s on the screen?”

Skye sat in front of the computer, examining the keyboard from left to right and back. Completely engrossed, she placed her fingers on the board.

H-e-l-l-o, she typed and then hit the space bar.

“Hello,” an electronic voice said.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” Skye said. “This thing talks! Unbelievable!”

“What’s unbelievable?” A girl’s soft voice came from behind, launching Skye from the chair as though she had sat on a tack.

“Skye, what are you up to now?” Mrs. Chambers chided softly. “You know other kids’ bedrooms are off-limits unless you’re invited.”

Skye turned toward the doorway. “I’m sorry. But this computer talks! That is so cool!”

“Skye, this is Katie Thomas. Katie, this is Skye Nicholson, one of our foster daughters.”

The girls exchanged hellos. Skye studied the new girl.

Right hand holding a long thin cane, Katie leaned her plump body lazily against the door frame. Her blond hair, parted in the middle, framed a chubby face and hung freely, barely touching her shoulders. Bright green eyes, camouflaging her blindness, searched in the direction of the voice, appearing to study its owner as Skye studied back.

“Katie’s mother wants her to learn how to ride this summer,” Mrs. Chambers said. “That was Mrs. Thomas’ last statement before she left.”

“Even though I don’t want to ride any dumb ol’ horse,” Katie said. “I’d rather just spend time with my stuff in my room.”

“Well, we’re glad you’re here.” Mrs. Chambers placed her hand on Katie’s shoulder. “Now, I need to help Morgan finish getting supper ready. You two get to know each other a little better while the man of the house gets our boys settled in.” Mrs. Chambers turned and left.

Katie touched the floor with the point of her cane. Sweeping it back and forth, she walked slowly into the room.

Skye rushed to her side and grabbed her arm. “Let me help you.”

“For Pete’s sake,” Katie snapped. “I’m not a cripple!”

Skye pulled away abruptly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I—I—”

Katie stopped when her cane touched the bed. “Hey, look, I’m sorry I popped off. I know you meant well, but—well, thanks anyway.”

“I can leave if you’d rather be alone,” Skye said.
Morgan was right. People do treat blind people like they
’
re
crippled. I just did.

“Nah, that’s okay. My mother says I’m alone too much.” Katie was already sitting on the bed. She reached into the grocery bag, pulled out a box, and grabbed a handful of crackers. She ate them like she hadn’t eaten in a week. “Want some?”

“No, thanks,” Skye said.

“Grab a seat somewhere if you’d like. Back home, there aren’t any other blind kids in our school. I’m not exactly in the running for homecoming queen either. That’s one reason Mom brought me here. She thinks it will be good for me to get to know a horse—personally. Sheesh!”

Skye sat on the chair as though she were climbing onto a horse. She folded her arms on the chair’s back. “I just brought a box in. It’s there on the bed next to your bag of goodies. What about your dad?”

“That’s the other reason I’m here.” Katie sighed and found the cardboard box. She opened it and felt the objects inside. “Hey, Mom thought we left this box at home. I’ll have to call and let her know that all my electronic stuff is here. Great!” She started pulling out the items and laying them on the bed.

“Katie, what about your dad?”

“Oh, yeah. You might as well know that my parents aren’t living together, and they’re gonna get a divorce. It’s my fault. I know it is.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Let’s just say that I haven’t been the perfect daughter since my accident four years ago. I hate being blind, and I let everyone know it. My straight A’s went down the tubes along with all my sports, cheerleading, and other activities. Oh, yes, and let’s not forget my very good friends who never come around at all anymore.” Katie rummaged roughly through the box and slammed the flaps shut. She grabbed another handful of crackers and gobbled them down.

“Don’t you go to church?” Skye asked, staring at all the equipment on the bed.

“When I have to.” Katie’s tone darkened. “There aren’t any blind kids there either.”

“Aren’t you a Christian?”

“Yeah, I am. But God and I aren’t exactly on good terms since my accident. He could have prevented it, you know. I kinda put him in the same category with all my other friends who deserted me.”

“Wow,” Skye said with alarm. “Not having God on your side sounds pretty scary to me. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t go to him with all my problems.”

“Well, you’re not blind,” Katie said sarcastically but then quickly changed her tone. “Anyway, do you wanna see some of my stuff?”

“Yeah, if you wanna show it to me.”

Katie stood and reached toward the computer.

Skye stood. “You can sit here if you want.”

“No, no. You stay there. I’ll give you a demonstration. You can be my audience.” Katie’s face beamed with pride as she fingered the printer next to the computer. “Now, this computer system has special programs. Wait until you see what it can do. There should be a pile of books to your right, Skye. Grab one and open it to any page.”

Skye handed Katie an open book.

Katie punched a few keys on the keyboard and a program called Kurzweil appeared on the screen. She placed the open book in its appropriate place on the printer/scanner and poked a button. In seconds, the machine scanned the entire page into the computer, and a distinguishable electronic voice started reading the first sentence.

“How about that?” Katie’s round red cheeks sported half a smile. “I call this electronic voice Cindy. She’s what you call a speech engine. We spend a lot of time together, so I figure she needs a name. I can put any book, any page, in the scanner. If a book doesn’t come in Braille or as a CD or cassette, this is how I do my homework.”

Skye stared, her mouth open in disbelief. “I had no idea blind kids had things like this to help them.”

“Wait until I show you the stuff on the bed.” Katie bubbled with enthusiasm. “I have a calculator, a clock, and a dictionary, and they all talk. I even have a Braille Scrabble game. Do you like to play Scrabble?”

“Yeah, I love it,” Skye answered.

Katie reached over to the bed and retrieved a device about the size of a Walkman. “This is my very favoritist one of all.”

“What is it?”

“It’s called a book port.” Katie fingered it fondly. “With this little baby I can download e-books from the Internet using a standard USB port, and I can record music files from CDs. I can also put textbooks on here if they’re available as e-texts or digital talking books. This thing has eight different voices. I like Ricochet Randy the best. Oh, this is the best part. If there’s a book loaded in here, I can find any chapter, line, or word in the book with a key command. All I do is plug it into my speaker or headset, and I’m ready for hours of entertainment.”

“That’s unreal,” Skye said. “So you don’t really need the books in Braille?”

“Lots of times the books aren’t in Braille. That’s when I really need this book port.” Katie beamed the broadest of smiles. “When I tell people my favorite hobby is reading, I can imagine the kinds of faces they’re making. But I love to ‘read.’”

“Then with all this neat stuff, how come you’re not getting A’s in school anymore?”

“Well—I—,” Katie said.

“Girls, supper’s ready!” Mrs. Chambers’ voice carried all the way from the kitchen.