By: Kyle, Alia, Bruce, and Ryan A.K.A The Yellow Jello Marshmallows
I remember the accident. I was only 15 years old...it was horrible. I remember the sound of my head slamming into the windshield. The glass was going right into my eyes and the searing pain was unbearable. That's all I can remember then it went black. I didn't know where I was, but when I tried to open my eyes all I could see was a void of blackness. I was lying on a bed, then I realized my eyes were open. I was terrified. Then I heard the sound of the nurse's voice. She said "Katlen? You are in the Cohxhall Hospital's ER right now. "What's happened to me?"Well the doctor is going to analyze your eyes and see if there is any hope to aid your blindness." "BLINDNESS?!" I had finally realized the reason why I couldn't see anything. I was blind. I have heard about people who have been blind. They are treated differently.. I didn't want to be like that. Some of them were even driven crazy by the fact that they would never be able to see the world like a normal person would see them. But now that my seeing sense is completely lost, my hearing has improved tremendously. I could hear the dripping of the faucet down the hall; I could hear the vivid sound of the patient’s two rooms away from me coughing. Hey, maybe this blind thing could be of some use. The nurse came back and said "I'm, sorry kid but you’re out of luck. "What!” I said. The nurse had announced that I would be going home in a month, but that they couldn't help my blindness. I would see how blindness would really effect me. As Aunt Marie drove me a couple of months later she constantly asked questions about how I was doing in the hospital and if I was terrified of knowing I would never see like anyone with normal vision ever again. That one stung a little. So I answered her bit by bit trying not to sound too annoyed by the questions. "Yes, Aunt Marie of course I was terrified wouldn't you be if you had glass shards in your eyes and knew that you weren't going to see like normal people." As if with a hint of pity Aunt Marie said" Well, I guess it would but you seem to be taking this all in quite well" not knowing
the anger and pain welling inside Katlen. She decide to open a window to let in some fresh air and let it revitalize her, but as she opened it she heard a beautiful sound coming from her street. As they stopped to the house that she remembered was hers she started to wonder...wait she asked Aunt Marie "What, happened to my parents?!" Aunt Marie shook her head coldly and said "They didn't make it dear". Tears welled up in my now completely white eyes "Why, didn't they survive and I did!" I said crying out my sorrow. Aunt Marie quickly started comforting me and telling how I had survived. I was guilty from what she was telling me ... she had told me that my parent blocked my body from getting hit by the glass and that that was the only reason why I had survived. I got out of the car slammed the door and walked across the street to my house where Aunt Christine was there so she could take care of me. I had decided to be strong and overcome the loss of my parents. For me knowing that my parents died. Although Aunt Christine took care of me like I was about to die. After a couple of days I was sort of getting used to her house and being blind but i still had a lot of trouble going places. She gave me a cane to make sure I wouldn’t run in to anything or fall down the stairs. It didn't help that much but it was better than before. I was getting hot so I tried to open the window. When I finally opened it I plopped back down onto the bed. After a while I heard a violin from next door. I got up and yelled, Aunt Christine!" She came rushing up the stairs "What is it?" "Since I'll be staying here now can I meet our neighbors?" "Uh sure” she said very confused. She helped her down the stairs and we went next doors still hearing the violin that Aunt Christine couldn't hear. They rang the doorbell and the violin stopped playing. It sounded to be a young boy, my age that opened the door and Aunt Christine started talking "Hi, this is my niece Katlen. She'll be living with me now so she wanted to meet you." I started talking “Hi!" I'm Katlen. I heard you playing the violin and you were really good! You know I’ve always wanted to play an
instrument, especially the violin. I've never got a chance to really though. "Maybe you could help me learn?"
".......... Sure."
"Thank you very much". I’ll see you tomorrow? I guess." Katlen turned around and fell not noticing the step there. He rushed over to me and asked "Are you all right?" Yeah I think so, being blind isn't as easy as it seems." The young boy stood up and was very shocked at what he had heard. He quickly said "I'm, so sorry to hear that" as he helped her up to her feet. Aunt Christine decided that now wasn't the best time to let all her neighbors know that the only other protection her house had besides a simple alarm system and an old rifle was a blind 15 year-old girl. As they walked back to the house she heard the voice of the boy say "My, name is Joshua"! She pretended that she didn't hear anything but secretly rolled the name around in her head. Joshua...Joshua it sounded like a perfect and very musical name to her. Then something else hit her. School. What was she going to do about school?! Right when I entered the house with Aunt Christine I screamed “What am I going to do about school"!?
Christine
hadn't thought about school being a problem but now it came and bit her in the butt. Um I think that you should either go to brail school or else you should go to normal school but have a guide. Katlen thought about this for a couple more minutes. I'm not going to be able to get a good GPA in brail because I only have three more years to get a good one in normal high school. Hmm, but a guide could be annoying and also a guide would make me more dependent than ever. She chewed over the thoughts for awhile but then she decided to change the subject. A little bit by asking "Hey, um Aunt Christine what are we going to have for dinner"? Christine had a shocked look on her face. "Well, what's your favorite food"? Thinking about her favorite food that her mom and dad had always made her made my eyes water. "Penne with Alfredo please" she said almost sobbing. Christine rushed to the pantry and pulled out a bag of penne. She asked if I had met Kimbo while she was getting supplies out and then I said "Kimbo". So you haven't
meant Kimbo yet through all your visits here when you were young. I shook my head. Kimbo! Christine yelled. Then I felt a form of light fur on my lap. "What is Kimbo"? I asked. "Oh well he's my house cat" Christine said. I stroked where I thought his ears would be and was relieved that I heard a purr of appreciation in reply. While I heard the stove turn on Christine asked "So, have you decided on which school to go to? "A normal, school" I said still unsure about the decision. "So, you think that having a guide will be okay for right now “she asked. I said yes even though I knew I would regret it later on. It was the first day of school and having a horrible summer didn't help either. I got up and had even a hard time dressing myself. I bumped my head on the dresser when I reached for my skirt. Than I had the same problem that every girl had when it came to this very crucial and vital point of the year. Hmm should I wear the skirt or pants? And what shirt do I have that even matches a skirt. Hm. Christine called me for breakfast. I decided on the skirt with a shirt because i didn't know what colors were even there and I didn't want to risk another bruise. I also encountered another problem. Stairs. Well Christine is calling me I thought. I grabbed for the rail on the stairs on the left hand side and slowly hobbled down with my walking cane and gradually got more confident step by step. But when I reached the last step I miss stepped and fell on my shoulder. Luckily there was a carpet so I didn't hurt as bad as it would. But it still hurt a lot even as I tried to get up off the ground and hobble my way towards the breakfast table. Christine had made bacon, sausage and eggs. No I thought. I hate eggs because they are little tiny chicken babies. I got especially frustrated on how I couldn't get anything with my fork. Christine had to help me eat everything there. I had even spilled my milk on to my lap. It was a long morning. Christine helped me to the bus stop, kids everywhere were whispering and I could hear everything they said. I felt terrible." Hey think she's mental" someone whispered, another whispered "hey I wouldn't want to sit next to her. She looks creepy with her white eyes". I slammed my
face straight into the bus stop and fell on the ground. Everyone was laughing at me so I laughed to. Then I walked on to the bus slowly, I knew everyone was making fun of me, I tried to find my seat but ended up slamming into another kid before the driver told me to sit down. I was lost. I finally found someone who was willing to let me sit by them. The person said "Hey, how's it going". I realized who it was. It was Joshua, I was so relieved that I almost just slumped down and let my breath out but no. I had many things to ask him about music. First I asked "Hey what's up" He replied "Nothing much how you doing" I said "Well besides a milky skirt I'm fine, and I wanted to ask you something really quickly". He waited and then said "Alright what are you waiting for?" "Well...I wanted to know if you would teach me how to play the violin as beautifully as you do." Joshua paused. "Wait you could hear my music" "Of course I could your music, it's exquisite!" “You know maybe I will teach just because you’re a nice person" he said. "Great!" I exclaimed. We both got off the bus. One with a walking cane and one without. Me having a photographic memory was very useful today except for the fact that they made the door half a inch to the left. I knew where my Botany, Latin, Finite, and PE was. But I didn't know where my psychology class was. I asked Joshua where the psychology room was. He said it was right there. She was confused "Wait where?" "Oh.... right um it’s uh right here why don't I just take you to the class." Joshua held her hand and walked over to the psychology room." Here “A random voice she had never heard before came from behind her she said” Hi my name is Sheryl. I be your guide for school this year." The new voice that supposedly belonged to her new guide named Sheryl sounded kind yet with a tinge of
exhaustion and frustration. Joshua took me to Sheryl and Sheryl ran her fingers across my face and then she looked at my eyes and said as a half sigh "So, your blind are you"? "Well, what did you do shoot arrow that bounced back and hitcha?"? Sheryl chuckled. I was fine with the fact that she was trying to make it seem not too bad but then I said with a monotone voice. "I was in a car accident where my parents died trying to protect me and glass flew into my eyes. Sheryl had a tinge of pity in her voice this time. "Well, I hope it isn't too harsh for you". She led me into my psychology class and I sat down in a desk she put me in. I heard her whispering to the teacher about what happened to me. The teacher Mrs. Bronheif said rapping her fist against the board "" We shall take attendance and I want you all to notice that Miss Katlen Renard is a blind orphan and I would like you to treat her nicely"."Also Katlen you will know the most about human psychology for you have seen and felt the true sadness of life". I had just wished that Mrs.Bronheif would just stop talking about my past. All I could think about was how the violin lessons with Joshua would be. I tried to pay attention to what Sheryl was saying about psychology, but I was zoning out thinking about the violin. The minutes seemed like hours. How long would it take? Sheryl tapped my arm and said, "Hey you paying attention?" "Yes" I answered. Knowing that was a lie. As soon she went away I went back to thinking about that violin lesson someone tapped me on my arm I said "Yes, Sheryl" but the voice that said "The assignments are pages 1-25 in psychology". The bell finally rang. I get my chance to get out of this death trap. I tried to run out the door but suddenly I got pulled back quickly! “What the heck! What was that for?!" ““You need to control yourself.”You will hurt yourself if you run." The voice was Sheryl. I calmed down and decided to go with her to Botany. This time I am going to focus on what she's going to tell me this time. I went through Botany and Finite Math, It was finally lunch I went with Sheryl to get my lunch; it was a cup of tomato soup with some grilled cheese
and milk. Sheryl led me to a lunch table when I heard conversation coming from very near me and then it stopped. I heard a kid say "Hey, it's that blind girl from the bus stop!" Then while I look frustrated the voice stopped and said "Stop man"! Joshua's voice came up and said don't worry about this guy". I got a little happier as Sheryl sat me down and ate her sub next me. "So are the lessons going to go on?". "Yep. Tonight at like sixish maybe.� Joshua stated. "Okay that'll work."I replied. I felt so much better when i finally got to talk about the violin. I started to eat my grilled cheese. I took one huge bite and took a sip of tomato soup. The only classes I had left were Latin and PE......PE!!!! And i thought all the other classes were bad. How was I supposed to do P.E.?! I decided to go with it for now. Sheryl said "We should probably get going to Latin." "Okay" I replied. I was relieved that Sheryl had remembered that on her schedule that Latin came before P.E did. We went over to Latin class where Miss. Avary was teaching her knowledge of Latin. The class was going well and because Joshua wasn't in the class to distract her, I did very well in the class because my extensive hearing let me know exactly how to pronounce each word and in what context it could be used in. When the class was over I knew that now I had to do P.E. We walked slowly down the halls to the doors then came in to be instructed that there were all types of sports balls on the racks. I heard the one word I never ever wanted to hear now...DODGE BALL! I heard all the people cheering. I was thrown flat on my back by a dodge ball before I could object. I tried to get to the gym teacher but I kept getting hit. Sheryl had already reached the gym teacher now and the pelting had stopped. I got to sit out on the bleachers for the rest of the time they played dodge ball, but we started running laps. I kept on running into the walls. I had to run with my hand out feeling were I was going. I felt like an idiot. I had to have Sheryl run with me. The bell rang just in time. Then I thought I am going to have to do this every day. I got up slowly with the help of Sheryl and walked calmly to the side and just as that happened, the bell rang. I was so glad to be back at home from my first day of school. As I got out of
the bus I remembered to go to Joshua's for violin lessons. I took my cane out and began prodding my way towards where I remember Aunt Christine's house was. As soon as Christine had me in her reach I was fine. She asked "How was your day at school". I replied "It was okay besides psychology and P.E." trying to hide my frustration and humiliation from today. To lighten myself up I changed to a different subject "Hey, um... Christine do you remember that kid from yesterday? "Course I do," said Christine who I could sense didn't know his name. "His name is Joshua, and he said that it was fine for him to let me learn about and maybe even play a violin"."When are you going over"? Christine asked as Kimbo jumped into my hands. I stroked Kimbo and said "sixish". She led me through the still unfamiliar house into my bedroom and let door open and walked out. She said “Do you want mac'n'cheese for dinner""Sure" I said. I waited in my bed thinking about the violin lessons until Christine called me down for macaroni and cheese. I went down and was glad that the macaroni wasn't very hard to eat because the cheese made it come up in chunks, but I still had a little spill on the side of table from my orange juice. As I finished up Christine said that she would lead me to the house after we cleaned up. I was anxious yet happy that I was finally going to be there and learn to play the beautiful sounds of the violin. I grabbed my cane, and asked Aunt Christine for help to go to Joshua's house. She got up and said "Of course I will honey." We got up and went over to his house. When we got there she rang the doorbell. Joshua answered it very quickly."Hello Katlen are you ready for your first day of violin?" Joshua asked. "I think so........."Katlen replied shakily. As I said my farewell to Christine Joshua led me into his house and into what he said was his music room. He told her that he had all types of musical things in here such as a piano, harmonica, drums, saxophone, and flute but most importantly he had the violin stand and all the pieces needed for playing a
violin. I wished that I could see all of these instruments but then the problem occurred. I am blind so how do I read music. I screamed out at Joshua "I'm so stupid how I am going to play the violin"! Joshua patted me on the back and said "Don't worry, I've planned this all out, what you’re going to learn is tone reading and memorization." That sounded very hard to her. "I've never heard of it." I said. "It's easy because doesn't being blind enhance one of your other senses?" "Yes," I replied "mine is hearing."Excellent was the only thing that he said. I heard Velcro tearing off and the exquisite sound completely filled the room. Joshua was demonstrating to her one of his most favored pieces in history. "Alright so do you want to start learning"? Giddy yet anxious I said "Yes"! First he described how to hold the bow of the violin and not to touch the special strings on the bow. I placed my hand and grabbed it clumsily when his hand took my hand off and showed me the correct way to hold the bow. Putting my middle finger and pinky finger on top of the bow and my other finger draped over it lightly he taught me the basic strings and played them for me. "Luckily I have my sister's old violin ready for you" he said in a mellow voice. He out the leather arm rest on and placed it on the bottom of the violin then out me in the correct posture. Back straight, relax my shoulders, bend knees very slightly, and when I play that I must slide the bow across the string as straight as possible. I slid the bow across what I thought was the E string and made a horrible squeaking noise that filled the room. He said that E you must play lightly, C you can play medium, A you can play a little harder, G you can play very hard. He played all the notes in order from low to high and I remembered the tones. I asked "Is tone reading just knowing which note it is by the tone?" "Correct" answered Joshua. He asked me to play the notes than name them. I slid the bow across what a random note and in reply a mellow sound came out. I thought and said "C?" "Correct" said Joshua seeming surprised at how she had played it correctly and knew what the note was on the first try. He said "Very good now let's
proceed with the lesson and teach you stipicatto". He led me home to where Christine was waiting and bid each other farewells. "Thanks, for teaching me some violin" I said. "Yeah no problem so um do you want to make this a weekly thing or something"? "I um" I looked back at Christine whispered yes and then my conscience said Yes! I looked back to Joshua and said that would be great! Christine turned me whispering that I was facing the chair. I blushed then said "Thank you and I'll be back next week, good night". I practically exploded about violin when I came into the house. "I actually learned how to play a little bit of violin"! "That's great dear "Christine replied.�He showed me correct form and posture, the four basic strings, told me about what I shouldn't do with the violin, and he showed me how to tone read"! I was out of breath. Christine smiled at me and said "So do you have a violin that you can practice on now"? "Yeah he said it was his sister's old one". "What do you think happened to his sister" Christine questioned. I hadn't thought about that much when I had taken the violin giddy and excited. Was she in an accident I thought...or maybe she passed away. This made me unhappy and very somber. I hobbled up stairs with my cane and tried to brush my teeth even though I got tooth paste all over the sink and got a minuscule amount actually on my tooth brush. That was fine though, because I was going to have to learn to make the best of her life. I went to sleep restless thinking about Joshua's sister. This was a nightmare. I was in the car looking straight into what I knew was my doom. My head slammed into the windshield and glass flew into my eyes. I heard noises I heard Joshua distant but too far away, I saw my parents lying in the front seats of the car, the glass was stabbing into them and their bones and bodies were mangled. I tried to get out but I was blind once again and I fumbled into the door only to stay in the car. I saw Aunt Marie and Aunt Christine shunning me from their care. And I heard a violin playing a somber song. I woke with a start. "Just a dream...just a
dream". But to make sure what I saw was a dream, Christine called me down for breakfast. This time I poked my dresser and Figured out that I would have to duck only slightly to avoid another bump to the head. I chose some pants this time with a shirt, and I met the real challenge. The stairs. I grabbed the side rail again and poked the step in front of me with my cane before stepping. I smelled a salty aroma coming from the kitchen. I walked very carefully down the last steps and poked my way to the kitchen table. Christine announced "Omelets"! I already detested the killing of birds but as I said I had to learn how to make the best of things. I asked for apple juice and this time Christine gave me a plastic cup to drink out of. I dug my fork into the omelet and tasted, juicy mushrooms, salty eggs, pinches of pepper, onions, cucumber and a little bit of cheese. It was delicious. I washed it down with some apple juice and got ready for the oncoming onslaught that would be known as blue day. I got ready for World History, jewelry, sociology and biochemistry. I was nervous when I got on the bus for the second day. I wondered if they would make fun of me this time. Joshua helped me on to the bus. Before I was seated the bus started to move. I was about to fall but Joshua pulled me into the seat. When I got to school Joshua lead me Sheryl who led me to my class even though I already knew how to get there. . I said thank you. Then he left. I was wondering what class I was in. It was World History. Perfect. I love math and now I in advanced math. The only problem is that some other kids making fun of me are in this class. Sheryl lead me to my seat. "Oh look over there...is that, that girl who ran into the bus stop sign?" Great I thought. Now I get to sit next to people who actually have seen me. Day by day, month by month, year by year I kept training with Joshua with the violin and baring the dreadful school years. I got better and better when finally the day had come.
I was going to Berklee College of music, to perform my music in front of a lot of college scouts waiting to give one lucky kid a scholarship. I had to do this because Aunt Christine didn't have enough money to send me to college. I was waiting back stage. My head was spinning. I listened to everyone play. Each and every one of us was getting better and better. I was very nervous. Someone signaled me to go on. I dropped my violin case when I walked up to audition. Everyone was thinking I wasn't going to make it. When I started playing everyone's head rose and smiled. Everyone was very surprised that a blind girl could play Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Souvenir De Vecto, one of the many pieces you could play for the violin. I worked very hard on this piece, but for some reason I didn't think it payed off. I when home and then after it felt like ages (But it was only 3 weeks) of waiting on something or someone to tell me if I got the scholarship or not. Then I got phone call. They told me to meet them back at Berklee College tomorrow. I was so stunned! I felt like the wind got knocked out of me and I was going to faint, but I didn't instead I screamed a lot and hit my head on the wall as I was walking to the kitchen to tell Aunt Christine that I had a chance at the scholarship and that I was going to go to Berklee college to find out. I felt a something embrace me and then I felt something hot land on my shoulders. I knew Christine was crying for me. I felt so great, as we drove to the college the next day. The next thing I knew I was standing next to two other kids. I heard one of their voices, I was sure it was Joshua, before I could say anything someone in the distance said "We have brought all three of you here today. We thought you three were the best players we've heard in a long time. So all three of you will be receiving a full ride scholarship top Berklee Institute of music." It was the college scouts. I have done it. For my aunt. For everyone. It felt like my chance at making my life better after all I've gone through! I had done it! Those were the only words I was going to say, but I was so excited I was speechless! Then I screamed a shout of victory! I was so excited to go to the n umber five music college in the U.S.A.! And with the person
who helped me get in! Yes! I heard the voice of the third person who got in. Her name was Kelly and she would be my roommate. I had gone back and told Christine in a shout of joy and excitement. She cried and hugged me wishing me good luck and a happy life. I woke up in my room, Kelly was still sleeping and someone was knocking on my door. I had turned in my memoir of life and I had no chores. Mail! The carrier gave me the package and when I opened it I gasped with surprise. It was Kimbo and his kittens were inside! Life in college was about to get much, much sweeter. I went back to sleep with all the kittens and Kimbo sleeping on me and then I heard a small content meow.