A Walk to the Lake

[dolemeck]

After Dr. Reyes took a look at him, Dolemeck was urged to use his pain medication less, and to try and walk more to strengthen his legs. He did not argue with this diagnosis. His legs suffered from nerve damage to his back, but if they lost strength, he would not be able to use his leg braces. The thought of ending up in a wheelchair again was depressing, so he agreed to try and exercise more to maintain what strength he had left.

He slid his arms into a pair of crutches that Dr. Reyes provided, and began his walk from the mansion, to the lake, and back. Only he was not alone... Dr. Reyes suggested he go with another student. And the first one to volunteer... was Bobbi.

Comments

[dolemeck]

"I am sorry to hear about that. I just... I cannot imagine you hurting a fly, Bobbi. Not on purpose, anyway." He point out.

"Wait... wait! They are ALL the same person!? That's... kind of awesome, yet creepy. I can only guess as to what it is like living with four personalities and forms. I have a hard enough time with this one!"

[iced_cherub]

"I... well depends, if it's a bully I will." She remembered her old school. "Sometimes with property damage."

"Five actually. Four turtles and one person."

[dolemeck]

"I think me head is starting to hurt." He groaned, placing his hands over his eyes. "Not that this is bad news, but I do not know how to address it. Maybe I should just see it as like having five friends in one."

"Oh bloody... I should try and call me brother tonight to see how my parents are doing. They are touring in Germany with a death metal group." He rolled his eyes as he just remembered this. "I am just hoping Da does not do something stupid or lose his sobriety while on this tour. He promised..."

[iced_cherub]

"He is confusing. I think I just tend to go with the flow around him, them..."

"Does he break promises often?"

[dolemeck]

"Sometimes." He admitted. "There were years he promised to be at my birthday party, and failed to show. School events, awards... but I understood why he had to break his promises, Bobbi. He's a rockstar. People love his music and it makes them happy. So... he's making people happy, and I admire him for that."

"But his sobriety... that means more than missing a birthday to me. He stopped drinking after I was hit by some drunk driver." His eyes went back to gazing at the sky. "I nearly died, and my brother said he was at my bedside and refused to leave it. He stopped partying as much as he done on tour, and promised he would never drink again. But that does not mean do not worry, though. The world of rock and roll has so much excess available to people. Drugs, alcohol, women, all being offered freely and daily. I can imagine it would wear on him after awhile."

Closing his eyes slowly, Dolemeck focused on an apple on a tree branch of the tree he rested under. it shook a bit, then floated down to Bobbi.

"He's been sober for three years, now. I just want him to stay that way. Last thing I wish to read is that he got so tanked, he jumped off the roof of a hotel balcony and into a pool... again."

[iced_cherub]

She's silent a few moments. "Even though they weren't my parents, my caretakers were always there for me... I don't think they really missed anything except for trying to keep me when Professor Ramsey found me."

She was silent again, not sure what to think really. "I hope he keeps the promise. I don't think I'd like to see you mad."

[dolemeck]

"I would not be mad, just disappointed is all." He gave a shrug of his shoulders, getting himself an apple from the tree. he took a big bite of it, before returning his attention to Bobbi. "I rarely get mad. I guess I have a good temperament, I suppose. Disappointments happen, and I learned not to hold my breath for anything promised to me. But he seems serious about keeping this promise, and it makes me happy."

[iced_cherub]

"Oh." She held the apple he had handed her in both hands turning it over thinking. "Though if he breaks it you should tell him how disappointed you are."

She took a small bite, from it.

[dolemeck]

"I just do not want him to feel bad, Bobbi." He admitted as he tried to sit up more on his own. "When I came out of that coma, I never seen him look so hurt, so sad. I never wanted me Da to look or feel that way ever again. Even if it means I am the one who feels bad at the end of it."

Another bite of that apple was taken.

"These apples are pretty good!" he was trying to change the subject, so that Bobbi would not feel bad or keep going silent on him.

[iced_cherub]

She nodded. "I think I understand."

She grinned. "Wait until you can make it this far without tiring out. Then I'll take you to a berry patch I found just a little ways in the woods. Ever had wild blackberries before?"

[dolemeck]

"No, I have not." He raised an eyebrow. "Why do we have to wait? Why can I not try now?"

Closing his eyes, Dolemeck focused on trying to put his leg braces back on once more, along with his shoes and socks. Once everything was securely on, he finished off his apple and soda, grabbed his crutches, and stood up.

He was determined to do all the things everyone else could, or at least try.

[iced_cherub]

"It's like a mile walk out there and back." She's for it, but wants him to know she really can't carry him back.

"Guess we can be late for lunch."

[dolemeck]

"It's that far away?" He paled some. Thankfully, he could convert kilometers into miles. Even so, that was a great distance away. "Well, if worse comes to worse, we'll contact Mrs. Ramsey and she can send someone to help me get back. Come on! I want to see what it is you were talking about!"

He gave Bobbi a big ol' smile as he began to walk with the aid of his crutches once more He was headed in the direction those black berries... or the direction he thought they were in.

[iced_cherub]

Bobbi grinned brightly as she bounced to his feet after him, sticking her sketchbook in her bag along with her pencils.

"You'll tell me when you're getting tired right? I don't want to get in trouble for breaking the new kid." She snatchd up her ball and headd down the path.

[dolemeck]

"Trust me, you could not break me." he smiled at Bobbi as they headed towards this berry patch she was so excited about. Her bouncy, bubbly nature made him smile all the more. She was a good kid, and a thoughtful friend. He was lucky to be in a school with her.

It took them a bit, but the pair finally made it to the berry patch. Poor Dolemeck looked like he was going to drop once more. But he continued to keep going.

"Are you sure these are safe to eat?"

[iced_cherub]

Bobbi had slowed down, making sure to keep things cool around them. "Right I won't break you." She giggled. "They're ripe. Here sit in the shade I'll gt some we can share."

[dolemeck]

Once more, he was banished to the shade. He made his way to another tree to sit under it. He honestly wanted to pick some of the berries, himself, but did not argue with Bobbi. She was worried about him, and if this helped ease her worries then he would oblige her.

[iced_cherub]

She'll let him get the next handful, she just doesn't want him to pass out on her. After a few minutes she returns to his side, her shirt holding about two cups of berries. Means it's probably stained, but hey at least it's berries and not blood right?

"Figure these will work for a bit."