Last week I told you about an assignment I gave my creative writing students. They were to finish a hypothetical story about a shy man pursuing a young bank teller, but he suddenly finds out she is handicapped and relegated to a wheelchair.

Would Walter be wonderful and look past her deficiency and make Janet joyous? Or would he prove woeful and truly crush his new crush? Time to find out — as I picked excerpts from three of the best thoughtful and well-written submissions!

Faustina Haas: Janet smiled at him with a smile so warm and bright. Suddenly he knew it didn’t matter whether she was handicapped or not. So he took a deep breath, stepped forward and asked her if she wanted to go to the Grace Buffet and then to the movies to see the Hobbit in 3D.

Janet’s smile grew even bigger. “I’d love to,” she said, “but are you sure, I mean I can’t walk.” “That’s alright, makes no difference to me, after all, you are still Janet, and you are still beautiful.” A tear fell down Janet’s face.

“This means so much to me,” she said.

At 8:00 p.m. he picked her up. Sometimes it was difficult because her wheelchair got in the way. When Walter got home that night, he thought about how he would never have a normal date with her. He began to have second thoughts. He needed to go out more before a final decision.

Five weeks later he asked her out on another date. On that date, he explained that he was the type that loved to travel. “Oh my God, I love to travel too,” said Janet. The two went on many dates after that. But on the 12th date, four months later, he asked to have her hand in marriage. And she said yes.
Gerry’s take: Wow, Walter didn’t waste time did he? No longer a single guy…

Katie Percival: Walter’s feet were still moving into the bank, but his body wanted to hold him back. The girl was there, but a little shorter than everyone else, he realized, because she was in a wheelchair. Nobody saw him. He could make a run for it. He ran back to his car. He stood next to his car, debating on whether to go back in or not.

She wouldn’t be able to do everything. His life would never be normal. To distract himself he decided to look at his car, even though he had the car for over five years. There was nothing new he would learn from staring at the windshield. What did it matter she was in a wheelchair? He decided he didn’t care and went back into the bank to ask her out.

“I was wondering if you would like to go to the movies maybe, or to dinner,” he said. “Well Walter, if you’re joking it’s not very funny,” she said. “I’m not joking,” Walter quickly added. “I just thought you looked nice and wondered about dinner.” “Okay then, I am free this Friday after 3:30 pm, is that good with you?” “Of course, I know a great pizza place, meet here at 3:30 pm?” Walter asked.

“YES! See you then,” Janet answered, a grin growing across her face. She couldn’t help it, not with Walter’s huge smile coming at her. Walter walked away, still a little worried about the wheelchair, but it didn’t matter, right?

Friday afternoon Walter drove to the bank. Janet was staring at her watch. “You are — one and a half minutes late,” she said. Walter laughed a little. “So sorry,” he answered with a sarcastic tone. Walter helped her get into the car.

As he got into the car, he smiled to himself. The wheelchair would be fine. She was fine. He didn’t care.

G’s take: Two for two thus far in the optimist mode. Can we make it three in a row?

Elise McBride: As Walter entered the bank, he froze like an ice cube. Janet was sitting behind the desk, filing papers in a wheelchair! He gazed at her and made a revolting face.

Forget it, he thought. This isn’t something I can deal with. He started back out the door when Janet called to him. “Can I help you with anything,” she asked. “Ummm, no,” he said and quickly dashed out the door.

Later that day, Walters mother called him with devastating news. “Your cousin has broken both legs by falling a great distance off a bike,” she said. “He’s now in a wheelchair!” Walter hung up slowly and stared at the ceiling. It made him think about Janet in the wheelchair. He sighed deeply. Being in a wheelchair didn’t mean she was different, he thought. It just meant she needs more help.

Walter put on his coat, picked up his keys, and quickly drove to the bank. He knew what he had to do. When he entered, Janet looked up and smiled. “So,” she said, “you’re back.” “Yes,” he replied. “The thing is — the thing is…”

“What?” asked Janet, puzzled. Walter was thinking how to put into words about why or why not this was worth it. Janet looked confused. “Will you go out with me?” he finally blurted out. Janet gave him a grin. “No,” she replied bluntly. “I saw your face earlier. You were never willing to take this chance because of my handicap. If you don’t need anything else, I suggest you get out.”

As Walter journeyed back to his car, he sighed. Reality had slapped him hard in the face.

My take: Elise proved to be not only a spoiler here but a convincing realist by showing us sometimes you can decipher a person without a single word muttered. Not all stories have a happy ending, this being one of them.

If anything, this project proved that a handicap isn’t always a handicap. If the person “with it” can manage it, then why can’t the ones “without it” also deal? My thanks to the young writers who made this story interesting and eye-opening.

Some non-fiction. Several weeks ago a middle-aged woman who has to use a wheelchair told me she was at the grocery store and because she couldn’t reach the top shelf, asked another woman close by if she could grab it for her. “No,” the woman told her, “you’ve been blocking this lane far too long. Bring someone with you next time.”

This world never ceases to amaze me.