Copyright 2009 by madengineer3
This story is purely fiction. No resemblance to any person, living or dead, is implied.
I want to thank MiliktheRed for editing this story.
*
My name is Paul Gray. I am an assistant professor of physics in a medium sized college. I normally was very careful, not leaving anything to chance. As I re-discovered, it only takes one slip to cause major damage.
It had been a bad accident. I had been working in the lab doing some minor clean up when it happened. Someone had left the YAG laser flash lamp pump power supply off, but fully charged. Without my knowing it the "bleeder resistor" was damaged the full charge was present in the capacitors.
I made the stupid assumption that the capacitor bank was discharged and started to work on the flash lamp trigger circuit. When it fired my unprotected eyes were in the main beam. I must have gone into shock because when I awoke I found myself in a bed, but without any lights on that I could see.
"How are you doing Doc?"
"I'm not sure. Would someone turn on the room lights? It's awfully dark in here."
"Doc, you are lying in direct sunshine. You got singed by the YAG laser."
"How bad is it?"
"Well, the skin burns around your face should heal up in the next week or so."
"Why don't I see you?"
"Doc, your eyes were in the direct beam. The retinas were destroyed. I'm afraid you are permanently blind."
I didn't know what to say. I was a sixty two year old divorced man with an ex-wife who hated me and a daughter who had left with my ex-wife. I had heard from neither of them in the last fifteen years. I was alone and now I was blind.
"How long have I been here?"
"Only about six hours. They're trying to decide what to do with you."
"They don't have to decide. I want to go to my home. I know where everything is. I am capable of taking care of myself."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Yes. Now, please get someone to bring me my clothes and I could use a cane if they have one available."
I have never been comfortable having other people helping me do things I could do myself. I wanted to get home. Have a beer and listen to some good music while I thought this thing through.
I was home later that afternoon. I live in a rural area. I asked my lab assistant to close all the blinds in the windows and lock the door on his way out. I called the head of the physics department and told him I would be taking a long leave of absence, or maybe just resigning. He reminded me that I had stored up about six months of vacation time and another nine months of sick leave. He suggested I use the sick leave, and then some of the vacation until I could sort things out. I thanked him. Got myself a beer, and sat down to listen to some good music.
************
Being blind had brought a lot more problems that I had imagined. Doing anything from dressing to taking a shower or shaving took on whole new dimensions of difficulty.
I decided that I needed a housekeeper. I called a friend at school and had him put an ad in the paper for me. It read:
Wanted: A live in housekeeper/cook. I would prefer a college graduate or at least someone who is a good conversationalist. Good wages and covered medical and dental. Call ..........
It was put in the paper and I started getting phone calls. I taped the calls so that I could remember each of the callers. For the first week, or so, I had lots of calls. Most of them were either young kids just out of high school, or older people (some with serious problems). Then I got a call that grabbed my attention.
"Hello, is this professor Paul Gray?"
"Yes, do I know you? Your voice rings a bell in the back of my head. What is your name.?"
She said her name was Sharon Smith.
"Sharon is a nice name. I had a daughter named Sharon, years ago."
"I understand, from a friend, that you are looking for a housekeeper and cook. I am pretty good at both of those tasks. I would like to interview for the position. I've recently left the hospital after a long recovery from an auto wreck, and I have injuries but I can do your type of work. My face isn't all that pretty after all the work they did to rebuild it. My face won't let me go back into the classroom. I used to teach high school science. At least my school insurance covered the recovery work."
"Sharon, I am blind. Your face is no problem for me.
We should get together and talk. When would you be available?"
"At your convenience. Where do you live?"
I told her, and was surprised at the long silence that followed.
"Did I say something wrong, Sharon?"
"No, how long have you lived at that address?"
"About twenty-five years, give or take a few."
"I can find the house. When do you want me to come by?"
"I'm free all this afternoon. Is that too soon?"
It wasn't too soon. Sharon arrived at the appointed time. I led her into the living room and we sat down. There was something about Sharon that told me that she was the one.
We discussed duties and pay. She was agreeable to the terms.
"When can you start, Sharon?"
"At your convenience."
"How about today?"