#KAFOs

[caerphillycheese]

[ann-nitta]

And now for something completly different …

[story behind] A friend of mine got these shoes for something like 5 euros. I got it for the Valentine’s Day - perfectly my size. I offered to wear it for 3 days … with cheap KAFOs or without 😀

Ok we started adding more stuff with time…

[annoyingvoidbanditstatesman]

Polio fiction

So, this is a bit of a first draft from a new LGBTQ contemporary novel which includes a lead character with polio - he's in his 30's. Should I keep writing?

In his wildest dreams, the college student would join the professor in the pool. He imagined them both swimming Olympian lengths, the professor with his powerful arms and slow, two-handed strokes, the student with his own ardent but clumsy efforts. He envisioned the professor's braces - the steel and leather contraption on his leg from childhood polio - and the Canadian crutches he sometimes used to move about, now abandoned at the edge of the pool.

The student could see the professor's crippled legs in the water - a sensation he could only dream of in his fantasies. He imagined the current of the water, the way it brushed against his skin and the professor's, like a secret embrace. He wished the professor would reach out to him, but the student held back, knowing his feelings were all one-sided.

Still, the student was transfixed by the professor's movements. The professor moved slowly through the water, his arms outstretched, as if conducting some kind of invisible orchestra. And the student, watching and yearning, felt a strange elation, as if by being in the professor's presence, he was also lifted up.

The student remained in the pool long after the professor had finished his laps and crawled his way back to his crutches. The student kept swimming, his mind lost in a kind of reverie. He imagined himself joining the professor on dry land, or maybe even in the air, the two of them soaring above the pool and the world like birds.

The student's reverie was broken when he realized the professor was standing at the edge of the pool, watching him. The professor didn't say anything, but the student could still feel his presence. He felt like he was standing on the edge of something he could only dream of - coming out to the professor and feeling his crippled legs in the water.

Dan, the student, followed Prof. Davis into the locker room, Their lockers were next to each other. Dan was entranced by the flaccid limbs of the professor with the powerful upper body. He watched as Prof. Davis dried his crippled limbs. They chatted about college sports. Davis seemed interested in keeping up the conversation. Dan saw his opening when the prof said, "Of course, I never played sports because of these," grabbing each paralyzed limb in turn and dropping it as it flopped.

Dan saw his opportunity.

"Don't want to be nosy, but what happened to your legs?", asked Dan.

Davis raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.

"I'm sorry," Dan said quickly. "It's just...I've always been fascinated by them. It looks like polio, but you're too young for polio."

Davis looked at Dan for a long moment, his expression unreadable. The older man swallowed and said, "Very perceptive. You're partially right. I should be too old for polio. But my parents were living in Peru when I was born and I got a damaged polio vaccine, thus this," pointing at his legs.

"I'm sorry," stammered Dan, "it's none of my business. It's just I've always been curious."

After a long pause, Davis chuckled , "Do you want to touch them?"

Dan reddened, but before he could speak, Davis held up his hand..."Not fair..I'm sorry, that was uncalled for! Sometimes I have a weird sense of humor," he chuckled as he returned to drying his thin legs.

Dan's heart leapt into his throat. He had dreamed of this moment, but never thought it could actually happen. "Yes," he wanted to answer. Yet, not knowing how to respond now, he simply smiled awkwardly.

As the two men returned to dressing, Davis quietly said, "but seriously, if you're really interested, I'm happy to share...just not here," he said with a wink.

Davis nodded and lifted one of his legs, teasingly showing it to Dan.

"Yeah, that would be cool, if you're serious."

Chapter 2

So a few weeks later, Dan showed up at Davis' condo as agreed, rang the doorbell and entered the prof's home. After showing Dan a seat in the living room and returning with a couple of beers, unlocking the brace on his almost completely paralyzed left leg, Chase sat down next to Dan. As they had quickly dressed weeks ago at the pool, Dan had watched as the older man took a heavy, old fashioned steel and leather brace out of the locker and deftly strapped it to his shortened left leg.The right leg was just strong enough that with the combination of his braced left leg and the crutches, it could hold his weight. As they left the pool, Dan followed the crippled man and marveled at how his movements were almost athletic - balletic even.

Dan couldn't believe he had somehow followed his dream to his home! Chase was wearing shorts and a tank top, showing off both his powerful arms, shoulders and chest, as well as his crippled legs.

"You know what I bet you'd like?" asked the prof. "How 'bout if you help me with this," as he touched his brace.

Davis took the young man's hand and moved it to the drop lock.

"Pull this," he directed as the knee lock unlocked and the brace freed.

The two men sat down.

"Here...undo the buckles."

First the knee and then the thigh.

Dan's hand trembled as he touched the professor’s paralyzed limb, feeling the warmth of Davis' skin beneath his fingers. "Grab my leg and lift it out of the brace," Davis instructed.

Gently, Dan wrapped both hands around the professor's thigh, feeling the flaccid muscle beneath his fingertips. He began to massage slowly and carefully, noticing how soft Davis' limbs were under his touch.

"What do you think?" Davis asked, a knowing twinkle in his eye. His chest was broad and smooth and his arms were thick with strength. His shorts rode up slightly on one side, hinting at two different legs below - one completely paralyzed and the other thin and weak but with some muscle.

"It's sort of what I imagined," Dan breathed, transfixed by this image that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

Davis smiled knowingly. "I've seen you looking at them," he said in a soft voice. "I happen to like being appreciated."

Trembling, Dan reached out and touched the limp flesh. It was warm and soft and somehow electric, sending shivers down Dan's spine. He touched it gingerly, barely touching the crippled leg. And then backed quickly away.

"It won't bite," chuckled the prof taking the student's hand and returning it to his small left leg. Davis held Dan's hand on his flaccid thigh. Dan gently squeezed as he felt the soft flesh,the thigh bone barely beneath the skin. It was as Dan expected...soft, tender, smooth, so very thin, without muscle, but a rigid bone under he soft skin.

"You like that?" asked Davis, his voice low and husky.

Dan looked up at Davis and found something in his eyes that he had never seen before - a kind of raw hunger mixed with tenderness, and something else that he couldn't quite identify.

"It's amazing," he said softly. "I've never felt anything like it before."

Davis smiled at him, a small, knowing smile. He took Dan's hand again and guided it up his thigh, all the way to his hip. The student felt his body shiver with excitement as he felt the bulge of Davis' cock beneath his shorts. He looked up at Davis, who was now staring at him intently.

[juliocesarpedrosa]

Nur kafo

(Nekonata aŭtoro. El la portugala lingvo esperantigis: Júlio Pedrosa.)

[dai-mondai]

What would the other Prisoner's T3 Guilty Restraints look like? (Fun Theory)

This is the Second Part consisting of 005002008007009,

To understand this post, you need to read the First Part to so that my conclusions make sense.

The First Part is here, consisting of 010004003001006.

Just to re-establish what we know. There are three elements of varying reliability that can assist us.

a) The Sneak Peaks from the PV Trailer (002003006007010) Which is mostly reliable for previous T1 Guilty Prisoners b) Undercover second chorus sprites Reliable if you're Kotoko c) How they killed their victims Pretty reliable

We also know that those with a Double Guilty will likely have a collar.

Disclaimer: Since this section has a majority of Prisoners without a lot of information to go off, I'm having a bit more fun with it. It's a lot more speculation (also influenced by my own biases) so these ones are likely not to be as accurate.

With tha out of the way, let's get back into it!

Shidou Kirisaki

I discussed this dude a lot in Mahiru's section. Hi again Shidou. A world where he got guilty so Amane didn't kill him.

Sneak Peak: Nil

Now the funniest thing he could have is a plague doctor mask. Keeps hitting stuff with that long nose. Try to treat Mahiru but keeps pecking her and can barely see. Jackalope would be disappointed, he likes how Shidou looks. But I don't know if Milgram would want to cover a prisoner's face entirely.

Muu's restraint shows we don't need to be limited just to real-life head restraints.

So in that case, I propose a wired manneiqun head restraint.

Like the manniequn from Throw Down but without the flowers. If he got Double Guilty he could just have more wires. I just think this would be cool. The wires would likely be gold in colour, kind of like his Conservatory. I think this would be more interesting than some alternatives.

Posing

His hands are tied, a lot like Muu's Guilty restraint. Does not look comfortable.

He can't smoke anymore unless someone helped him. Side note: I think this restraint looks so cool, I can't see a different type that would work so well with his coat. So we'll say this is his restraint. His right leg looks like it's been bent awkwardly. Speaking of legs I'm unsure if they would be restrained. We do see him walk a bit in Throw Down and Triage, but not sure how to combine that well. With how far apart his legs are I wouldn't say an Ankle Hobbit is appropiate. Perhaps leg braces? If we want to get a bit medical a Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (KAFO) brace may be suited specifically, an older leather version with a locked knee joint to restrict him. Whether that be necessary I'm unsure.

Method of Murder

Snips

Yeah considering his restraints from Undercover, that's all handled.

Though thinking about it now, his medical equipment on his T2 Sprite would likely be removed. And if his hands weren't already covered, his gloves would likely have been removed too.

Conclusion

I added gaps like in the Throw Down manneiqun, which wouldn't exist if unforgiven twice.

A Guilty Shidou and Innocent Amane would be amusing going into Trial 3. We never got to see how he felt about his innocent verdict, so it would have been cool to hear his thoughts on his guilty. Since I discuss him a bit last time I'll finish my discussion here.

Yuno Kashiki

Decide I should go between Sneak Peak and non-sneak peak prisoners, so Yuno is up!

Sneak Peak

A Scold’s Bridle, amazing, no notes. A punishment for gossip in the form of public humiliation. I like how there's a single link where a chain is meant to attached that looks like earrings. The way she stares at the audience is very fun.

Aisak Yuuka (Yuno's VA) did say she suspected Yuno would get guilty in Trial 2 because of the things she was saying in Tear Drop, and in this world where she did, a Scold's Bridle is very fitting.

Scold's Bridle tend to have a spiking gag so that speaking brings pain. Would Milgram removed that feature to let Yuno speak, or would her voice drama have to be Es reading out her writing, ending with her calling out? Maybe it depends on if she was unforgiven once or twice. They could remove the gag all together, which would make the headgear Scold's Bridle in design mostly. Maybe no earrings?

Her restraints remind me a lot of Mikoto's. You can see her original horizontal restraint being immendely tighten, but on top looks like Mikoto's X restraints, expect now there's a collar linked to it. Don't think she would get them unless she had a Double Guilty. Funny her final restraints look like his original ones, did Milgram already view him as dangerous?

Wait it isn't his turn yet, sorry Yuno.

Posing

Yuno of all people covering for Kotoko? Haha

Anyways we have another Sneak Peak restraint that actually works with instead of against Undercover! Makes life easier for me.

She also has a bent knee, which due to Kotoko I've been using as an indicator of leg restraints. But I feel stumped. I guess we could go for another round of Leg Braces, but that doesn't feel suited.

You know how Amane's sleeves got huge for T2? I feel like Yuno's dress getting longer and heavier that weighs her down and restricts what she's able to do. It not only acts as a restraint, but also make her look more modest, as opposed to her occupation, since being unforgiven is rejecting her beliefs. She's a prostitute because she wants to be, so forcing her to wear/look more like an outdated idea of a "proper lady" may link with the Scold's Bridle.

Or just leg restraints for the knees (boring answer).

Method of Murder

Well this does make me like the long dress idea more. Not sure what else to say here. I really can't tell where her arms are. Are they crossed or just pressed against herself? Makes the arm restraints seem like a reference.

Conclusion

Depending on how we reach this point changes if this is classified as "warm" to her, if a Guilty verdict is reached because it's her, or just due to other's moral compass and lectures. Would of liked a 50/50 for her, that be nice.

I hope Life is wild.

Amane Momose

A world where Amane got a second Guilty verdict. Muu, Amane and Kotoko would all be our "enemy" in that case, especially Amane and Kotoko.

Sneak Peak: Nil

What comes to mind is a Crown of Thorns.

I mean if they're willing to put spikes on the veil covering Muu's face, then a barbed wire crown wouldn't be too wild.

She wouldn't be able to put her hat on, that signifies her leadership, due to it. It'll be one of the most simplest restraints yet one of the more painful ones. I think it would have a more tight-knitted pattern design than above. Her hair would likely be uncut too. Long bangs.

I assume the thorns would be outwards, stopping her from being able to touch her head, maybe one or two inwards to keep it in place.

Posing

Her arms look like a Minecraft Villager haha. Though with how big her sleeves are now, it'd probably be a lot harder to make it work. They would have to overlap them.

Anyways her arms are trapped, I find it funny she's not praying like Muu is. With how low her body is to the ground I suspect she would have some heavy restraints on her legs (though Muu stands up straight now, maybe if she was guilty twice it would be worse? Undercover c'mon.). Perhaps with her Double Guilty verdict she's forced to make herself smaller, emphasising her youth. That she is a child being punished, regardless of what she says. Because her thoughts and beliefs have been rejected.

I would like if she's forced to stay in a bent knee position, in which she can either kneel or sit like she is above. Like a rigid knee brace at an acute angle. Have to kind of waddle on each knee to get around. Greatly annoying. At least Fuuta can help her.

Method of Murder

Funny how both her weapons have a sphere on the end yet Undercover doesn't depict that. Inaccurate and unreliable. Haha

Arms are have been dealt with! So not much else to mention.

Conclusion

She's going to be pissed with a Double Guilty, I bet her T3 Sprite would look angry. So both Amane and Fuuta would be against Es/Us. Assuming everyone else's verdicts are the same, 4/7 prisoners would be rejecting us, ans of the three not I doubt they would help us. A very fun time.

Kazui Mukuhara

Guilty Kazui, he'd be happy?

Sneak Peak

Upon closer look at his Sneak Peak, he doesn't look too upset, especially if you cover half the face at a time. He's definitely thinking though.

Anyways, our third muzzled Prisoner, perhaps I should give the others a muzzle? Funnily enough, his muzzle also has that strap being held across the top of his his head (see image below) like Kotoko's T3 Sprite. The shape of the muzzle isn't like an animal's snout, also isn't a cat muzzle (they tend to cover the eyes) so not sure what to make of it. Just a human muzzle.

Can't smoke or drink now huh. Or eat? I really am curious how it works for Mahiru and Kazui with their muzzles.

He's the only Sneak Peak to have a leash that we don't see what restraint it's attached too. I would guess the one around his abdomen. The V shaped restraint is interesting too.

Posing

His pose in the Sneak Peak makes it look like his arms are by his side, but there's nothing that really says they can't be behind him. So he can join the Yuno and Kotoko Undercover gang, maybe part-time, half-commited.

I enjoy the idea of him being forced to be in a bow-like position. Having to respect the judgement and views of those around him instead of his dreams during his life, now the same to the prison. It may force him to look up at Es, and many others aswell. The biggest Prisoner, who found his height and weight useful, restrained to be slightly off-balanced. If we just tightened his leash attached to his abdomen he would be forced to keep his head down. Also this could go hand-in-hand with Amane's kneeling.

But he would need a collar. And if he's only Guilty once, he shouldn't have that. Perhaps his restraints only prevent him from standing upright, but with a Double Guilty, he would be pull down dramatically.

Imagine if he only has one Leg Brace, so his straight leg is actually bent. Getting denied his stance. Not too sure about the legs.

Method of Murder

I only just realised how much pain Es looks to be in, holy. Their back ouch.

"It's not my lies that killed her. She's dead because I stopped lying to her! If I had just kept lying- She wouldn't have died…!"

So yeah, the muzzle checks out. Not many other restraints work except maybe his hands. Well they're behind his back so they won't be of much use.

Conclusion

I really don't have much to say because I'm not too sure how a Guilty verdict would effect Kazui. Would he be more open with discussing with Es? Nevertheless with him and Kotoko unforgiven in this world, Mikoto would be the only strong fighter with near complete freedom.

Mikoto Kayano

Finally. Welcome Mikoto. Been referencing your T2 song a lot haha. I would assume Milgram might hypnotise Oretoko when the new restraints are added, not wanting to mess up again like last time they put the restraints on.

Sneak Peak: Nil

I feel it would have been something interesting, since this verdict seemed to be what Milgram was expecting.

We could slap on another muzzle haha, it feels like at least one Non-Sneak Peak prisoner should be muzzled. It would even out the Prisoner gender ratio 2:2 too. Or maybe his eyes would be covered, like the blood in Double. His card, the Hanged Man, is about a new perspective, but he'd be getting denied that with his vision gone. His eyes (and eyes in general) are emphasised in Double a lot and even scribbled out. Fuuta, who loses sight, also has a lot of eyes in his T2 MV.

I'm really not sure though. Maybe a muzzle + something covering one eye? Depending on why he was founded Guilty would change things.

Let's go with a blindfold thingy.

Posing

THE HANGED MAN.

His arms are triangle bent as opposed to Kazui and Fuuta's more rectangular bent ones. A lot like the Hanged Man card in his MVs on his shirt, phone, and card. Though he's messed up the pose, only one leg is meant to be bent.

Following the logic with Amane, he may have restraints on his legs that bend his knees. His legs seem parallel to each other so the leg restraints may be connected. Knees + Ankle Hobbit?

Method of Killing

Guys I think he killed with a baseball bat.

Welp his arms are restrained. Is there anything else needed?

Conclusion

He's never changing his clothes haha. But hey! Oretoko is still around!

He'd likely have more restraints on top of his original ones (as should any of the other Double Guilty here) but those are a lot more vague so I don't draw them in unless provided.

I wonder would they do with this verdict, try attacking Es again? Not as quiet as a Innocent Verdict created.

End of the Second Part

WE'RE HERE. Thank you for taking your time to read this! If you found it at least a bit interesting than I'd be glad haha.

These posts have taken me over a week to make, spending my free time on them, so I'm very grateful to be able to finish them. Once again please lmk if you have any ideas.

This part is probably not as strong as the First Part and a lot more brief, (though I'm a fan of my ideas of Shidou here,) nevertheless hope you enjoyed it! Since we'd likely never get confirmation it's fun to theorise what could have been!

I'd love to hear anyone else's thoughts! Thank you again!

[jaycegonewild]

modern AU viktor with stance controlled knee ankle feet orthotics (SCO-KAFO) which helps his leg to correct itself as well as put off pressure on his knee due to the years he spent without one as a child.

He still uses his cane with it since hes so used to it but on bad days, he will use his wheelchair.

It was a hard shift when he got fitted with his new orthotics. His leg atrophied a lot, making it hard to propel himself with just the KAFO. So the doctors recommended seated exercises and starting out slow with using it.

Jayce was there the whole time. Keeping on top of the specific movements Viktor should hit for his routines to helping Viktor take his first steps without the need of a cane or crutch by holding his hands.

On some days. Viktor gets too in his head. Damning himself for needing such complicated braces and exercises just to freaking walk. The never ending strain his body undergoes just existing makes the KAFOs feel useless in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't help he also has a back brace for his scoliosis. But, Jayce is there.

He's there to pry off his hands from wrenching out his hair. Reminds him to take his pain meds if he hasnt, which they both know the pain makes him spiral easier. And holds his hands with solemn eyes.

Viktor wishes he was born the right way, sometimes.

Jayce wishes Viktor could see the magic he brings just for letting him in his life. Twisted back, crooked leg, and all.

[armoredcrystal]

hi, I hope this is okay to ask, but because you were talking about your job and identified viktor's braces in one post, is there anything you could tell me about what kind of brace Jayce would wear?

Let's assume he needs it because the fracture healed wrong. The first brace he makes himself just to stay upright, then he gets another in Piltover.

Is what he wears in Piltover accurate to what someone with his issue might wear (I feel like he's not in the city for long so he might not have had time to get the perfect one)? If not, what should his brace look like?

this is absolutely okay to ask! (long post incoming)

the brace jayce wears first in canon is the world's worst kafo (knee-ankle-foot orthosis), i believe. it doesn't have the patellar support that viktor's does, but it doesn't seem that he needs the same support that viktor did, given his second brace also doesn't have patellar support.

jayce's first brace also does not have the structure to provide much more than lateral (side to side) stability. both of them look like they work more to keep his leg bones aligned than to support motion. given there's a hinge on only one side, his knee may be lacking stability in one direction instead of both rather than needing weight redistributed.

anyway- as for what it looks like. it's a kafo still, but with what looks like fracture bracing and/or splinting for the lower leg. this one is also properly secured around his thigh, so just for that it gets many more Realism Points.

now- and sorry for just now answering your question, this is a SI for me- ideally jayce would have had his leg set and cast to prevent a chronic injury, but he is doomed by the narrative to be a mirror to viktor. whoopsie.

i don't believe we're told *exactly* what he broke, which makes it hard to say what he'd need. if it was his knee, he'd use something like an offloading brace with lateral support. if it was his ankle, he'd probably use an afo, given the lasting damage from walking on it anyway. if it was one of the long bones in the leg, he'd probably keep it splinted/immoblized.

tl;dr- we don't know enough about what he broke to tell what he'd need. his first brace is shit and would only provide lateral support and *maybe* ankle support. maybe. the second brace is more accurate to what someone with a chronic injury may wear. i think it's important to remember that a lot of the smaller details on his brace are aesthetic and stylistic, and it can be hard to tell where that starts and stops, but yeah- his second brace gets the thumbs up!

[the-worms-in-your-bones]

Once again thinking about romana being disabled

I think she’s got some stuff going on pre etra prime, but not much physically, to me all of the gallifrey main characters are autistic so that obviously also applies to romana and I also think she has some brain fog and auditory hallucinations (mostly from Pandora fucking with her mind), I do think that she gets chronic migraines that start with her meeting Pandora and get worse and worse up until her regeneration, they don’t fully go away after it, but they get much better

After etra prime things end up getting a lot worse, even after she’s ‘fully’ recovered she doesn’t regain all of her strength, her baseline is now much lower than it used to be. She’s almost constantly fatigued and her legs will no longer support her weight for extended periods of time (I like to think she wears kafos), twenty years of malnutrition also completely wrecked her digestive system so now she can barely tolerate actual food and can really only eat those nutrition tablets (occasionally she’ll eat real food, but more often than not it leaves her sick and in pain for at least the next day or two)

[saturnsedan]

OBSESSED tell me all about your griffith recovery au PLEASE hes so PRETTY

Aiyah, thank you!! As much as I love the Golden Age Arc in its entirety, I'm such a sucker for prolonged hurt/comfort and that sweet, sweet angst. And I wish we would get to see more characters living with disabilities.

But it really all started because of what Judeau says his plans for the future are! He wants to take on the responsibility of caring for Griffith. He's willing to commit himself to a life of crime in order to support him.

So, in my AU, the raiders split off from the rest of the Hawks to follow Guts and Casca. Their goal is to find suitable allies outside of Midland. The rest of the Hawks (who are mostly injured at this point) would stay with Judeau and Griffith. They move into the mountains to stay with Godot and Erica.

Corkus already has experience as a thief so I think he'd do well with the arrangement. Especially if they put him in charge of that side of things - it'd give him something to do instead of wallowing in despair.

Pippin has experience working as a miner so he's more than capable in assisting Godot in that way. I also like to think he could help improve that dank, little cave they're going to be keeping Griffith in.

Rickert would help design KAFO braces for Griffith, and Gaston could make up a stiffly-boned corset for back support. I just think it's important that they all get to let their individual skills shine!

Most of Judeau's time would be spent tending to Griffith, keeping him healthy and entertained. Once he's back to a healthy weight, he'd really encourage him to move around as much as he can. Whether that be with his braces or by crawling.

Speaking of, they'd sew in extra padding into Griffith's hose and the elbows of his shirts so he can crawl comfortably. I imagine that he'd get quite good at moving around like this to the point his speed is a little frightening hehe!

[cripplecharacters]

I’m making a backstory / writing fic about a minor character from a show. In her promo images, she had what looked like a lower leg / ankle brace, as well as a walking stick. In her few appearances, it turned out these were just decorative (not a brace, just an odd shoe). I was thinking of writing her as disabled in a fic, however there are 2 problems. One, I don’t know how she was disabled. What sort of problems require a brace? Two, I’m not disabled. Is it okay to make this change?

Hey!

I think it's fine to make an already existing character disabled. Especially if you're doing it for the reason you said and not for the way too common "angst because disability is so sad and tragic" reasons.

The type of ankle/calf brace you're describing would probably be what we call an ankle-foot-orthosis (AFO for short), but I can't tell you 100% without knowing how exactly it looks like. This is the most common type of orthosis. A lot of people use it.

For younger people; cerebral palsy will be the most common reason they are used, and by a wide margin. A stroke or a brain injury (traumatic, or infectious like encephalitis) could also cause it. Someone with late onset spinal muscular atrophy could also use AFOs or KAFOs (K for knee, they go above it), same for people who have low level spinal cord damage (e.g. multiple sclerosis, lumbar SCI, polio etc.). A tumor in either brain or spine could also require braces long-term.

If you specifically want her to have one orthosis and not two, you should probably look into hemiplegia/hemiparesis. All three of the first suggestions above could cause it, as well as conditions like Brown-Séquard syndrome.

All of the above would make sense for using a cane as well. I hope this helps,

mod Sasza

[wheelie-sick]

I'm making a wheelchair user picrew because I'm so fucking tired of not being included in picrews so I'm making one for just us, WIP

[ID: a screenshot of a picrew of a wheelchair user doing a wheelie. the wheelchair user has a pink rigid wheelchair, strawberry hair in a short ponytail, a nasal feeding tube with pink tape, a green crop top with mushrooms on it, blue jeans with a crescent moon and stars on them, a pink ostomy bag, and pink AFOs]

I fucked up quite a few of the pinks in this, they don't match, oh well I might fix it later

I'm adding:

-an variety of skin tones

-a variety of hair textures and styles

-head coverings

-medical devices (HAs, BAHAs, CIs, 3 types of feeding tube, oxygen tube, tracheostomy, PICC line, Hickman line, ostomy bag, AFOs, KAFOs, knee braces, wrist braces, elbow braces, CGM, service dog, no constraints on the number of medical devices)

-customizable wheelchair options (arm rests, clothing guards, push rim colors, spoke protectors, calf strap, backpack, power assist)

-multiple vitiligo options

-multiple styles of glasses

-facial differences (microtia, anotia, cleft lip, ptosis)

I'm going to try to add:

-different body type

-prosthetics

I can't add (due to constrictions with layering and the base)

-missing limbs

-different styles of wheelchair

if there's anything you think I'm missing or want to suggest you're welcome to comment/send an ask- I need ideas

[crpsdesign]

𝕃𝕖𝕘 𝕆𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤 for your Sims Kids

Download link below 

KAFOs (Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses) and AFOs (Ankle-Foot Orthoses) for Boys and Girls. Available in 14 colors. Can be used with and without shoes.

de:

𝔹𝕖𝕚𝕟 𝕆𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕟 für deine Sims Kinder

KAFOs (Knie-Knöchel-Fuß-Orthesen) und AFOs (Knöchel-Fuß-Orthesen) für Jungen und Mädchen.

Erhältlich in 14 Farben.

Kann mit und ohne Schuhe getragen werden.

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[claudio-cavallote]

✨Jimi e Niki✨

Café com leite // Kafo kun lakto 🐈‍⬛🐈

[miaj-verdaj-pensoj]

Foje mi volas, ke iu nur brakumu min kaj diru:

“Mi scias, ke estas malfacile. Vi estos en ordo. Jen kafo kaj kvin mil dolaroj.”🫠

[summerlycoris]

Is it really a birthday party if you wake up in a hospital?

Chapter 14- Everyday it feels like seams are more than torn.

AO3 link- here.

Chrono link- here.

She hadn’t managed to get much sleep again. 

Maybe four hours, if she was lucky. 

And she felt completely dead on her feet. So dead on her feet, that she somehow tripped over in the empty hallway, while walking to the kitchen for breakfast. Despite having her kafo brace on, and her crutches.

Maybe that was a bad sign. 

Maybe the other kids would tease her for using the wheelchair. But they’d definitely tease her if she went head over heels. 

‘ Please don’t push yourself too hard.’

So she turned around with a sigh, and swapped. 

When she got to the kitchen, Andy was already in there, at the counters. She was pouring herself some cereal, but stopped and gave Cassie a funny look when she got in. 

“Changed things up a bit today, huh?”

Cassie barely avoided telling her to shut up . 

“Still hurts from yesterday.” She said instead. “Can I have some cereal too, please?”

Andy rolled her eyes and flashed her a cheeky grin. “Are your arms and legs painted on? You know how to get cereal.”

Now she wished she had told Andy to shut up. And where to go. 

“I’m in pain, and I’m tired! And I asked nicely- why are you being such a jerk ?!”

That wiped the grin off Andy’s face. “Okay, okay. I’ll get you some cereal. What kind are you after?”

“Just what you’ve got, please .” Cassie still felt a bit moody, after that. 

Another weird look. Though, this time Andy did pour the cereal at least. “I’ll take it to the table- you wanna wait there?”

So she did- at the spot where Mom had removed one of the chairs, so that she’d have plenty of room to sit regardless of what she was using at the time. 

It was at the end of the table, where Dad had once sat. 

‘It’s not like we're removing his seat- there’s still enough seats. if he was here, he’d just need to change spots, to give you room.’ Mom had said. 

Still, she felt weird about it. At least until Andy came over, with both bowls of cereal. Sitting nearby, at one of the chairs looking out the front window.

When Cassie looked right to see out of it, all she could see were cars occasionally driving by. 

They ate in silence, for a while. Until Cassie started wondering about how today would go. 

She’d worried about it all last night- even though she’d tried to sleep. 

The problem was, she just couldn't figure out how to be friends with Lawrence, without also being Chris and Hannah’s friends. 

And she didn't think she could be Chris or Hannah’s friend. There were just too many differences between them. 

“Why the long face? I said sorry earlier.” Andy remarked, and snapped her out of her thoughts. 

“ That’s not the problem.” Cassie sighed, before thinking about it- 

Andy also went through middle school. And she had tons of friends- some still talk to her now. Maybe she could help me? 

“Hey, Andy? I need some advice.” Cassie asked.

“What kind of advice?” 

Cassie sighed again. “Okay, so. My friend Lawrence? He has some friends he sits with, and…” She tried to figure out a nice way to say it. “His friends are… I don’t like them.”

Andy gave her a strange look at that. “Are you… gonna clarify why you don't like them?”

She played with the spoon, swirling it around through the remaining cereal. “They’re just… extremely uncool.” 

“ Yikes , didn't know you could be so judgemental, Cassie.” Andy said, with a smirk.

Cassie dropped her spoon into the bowl, and sat up stock straight. “I am not judgemental! It’s just- ugh! It’s hard to explain…” she said, crossing her arms. 

She figured Andy would make fun of her situation some more. Instead, all she got was a raised eyebrow, and silence.

Good for thinking, at least. Even as the kitchen clock ticked noisily in the background. 

“Okay, so. I want to have a better birthday next year.” She uncrossed her arms, and admitted out loud. “No offense- but the last two have been really…”

“Really shit?”

That brought a slight smile to her face. “I was going to say ‘cruddy’, but that works too.” 

That pulled a laugh out of Andy, and bolstered Cassie’s resolve. 

“Anyway- my goal this year is to make some new friends, and have a great birthday party! I’ve made two friends so far- and one of them lives up near Salt Lake City. So, she probably can’t even make it to my birthday… If I make friends with Lawrence’s friends- that’s it! Just being around them makes me look like a complete dweeb! And if people at school think I’m a complete dweeb- no one will want to be my friend!”

She took a deep breath, after finishing that clump of words. “I know it sounds mean- but I can’t afford to lose all my chances this year.”

What Andy said next wasn’t what Cassie expected. At all.

“It doesn’t sound mean, to me. Just sounds like you don’t wanna get picked on forever. Self preservation, and all that.” Andy took a big spoonful of her cereal, before following that up with “I made the same judgments when I was in high school, trust me. Shark eat shark world, in American schools.”

She could feel her shoulders relax. “Yeah, it really is, huh?”

“Yep! Sure is. Seriously - sometimes, you just need to let people swim by themselves. If they sink, they sink. If they swim, they swim. Try to save them, and they’ll just drag you down with them.”

Cassie nodded along to that. There were times Andy sounded smart- when she was talking about football, or roller derby, or life back in Brazil. But this? This sounded like wisdom to Cassie. Something she didn’t get from Andy often anymore. 

(Mostly, because Andy had gone away to college a few years back.)

And wisdom was something special. 

She needed to hear it. 

“I guess what I need to know is- you had plenty of friends in school. How did you deal with it, when your friends were friends with people you couldn’t be friends with?”

Andy hummed quietly, thinking things over. Before launching into her own question- “Are you and Lawrence close?”

This question kind of gave Cassie pause. “I think we are? We text each other every day, we have so much in common, we’re going to Halloween together… and when he found out about Janet, he didn’t blame me for her death.” She whispered the last bit. That especially had really left an impact on her. Because she’d been certain he wouldn’t want to be her friend afterwards. 

“Sounds pretty close to me. What about him and those ratbags?”

More things to think about. Except she had way less information about this situation. “Umm… I’m not too sure, to be honest. Chris read a boring book to Lawrence over lunch, and I didn’t see him and Hannah do anything special. They might just sit at the same table? Only be friends because of that? They don’t seem to have anything in common…”

Andy nodded at that, whisking her spoon through what was left of her cereal. “Well, sounds like you’re closer to him than they are. I've seen groups like that when I was in school- friends, but only because they were the dregs left behind when everyone else found their own friends.”

Cassie didn’t quite understand where this was going. And got a strange feeling in the pit of her belly, which she quickly pushed aside- she needed to stay focused. 

 “So, what you’re saying is…?” She asked, trying to coax Andy along. 

After all, the clock was slowly ticking closer to school time. 

“Well, if he has a new friend he’s close to, does he really need those rejects anymore?” Andy asked. “You could probably get him to dump them pretty easily- just gotta be a little subtle about it. Don’t just come out saying ‘you need to leave your friends’- people hate that. Just… give him more reasons to want to be around you, than them. And remind him of that when you can. He’ll ditch them- and think it was his idea.”

That made sense to Cassie. Even if it also sounded a bit… well, mean . 

Manipulative might be a better word?

It wasn’t like she had much choice, though. After all, this was a shark eat shark world.

She couldn’t let this year be wasted, like last year. Even if that meant being a bit…

“... Thanks for the advice, Andy. I’ll have to think about it a bit more, though.” she stirred her spoon through the now empty milk.

Andy shrugged. “Well, yeah. You need to figure out what reasons would work best for him, after all. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Cassie looked away, as Andy took both their bowls up to the sink. 

Yeah. She would really need to think this through. Or perhaps ‘steel my resolve’ is a more fitting term ?

It didn’t feel right. But then, neither did befriending Chris and Hannah. It was like she was stuck between a rock, and a hard place. 

And she wasn’t sure what to do about it. 

________

Her first real class with Mrs Delarosa went well. Or at least, today Cassie got to the right class.

“Welcome back, everybody! Did you all have a good fall break? Or… did you get up to mischief?” She asked, standing just in front of her desk.

Some students stifled giggles, others tried to look away, guiltily. While others just sat there. Cassie was one of the kids who just sat there. 

Cassie had gotten ‘up to mischief’ during her summer break. Her very long break. So maybe she should’ve been reacting… but it had been a long time ago. And she kind of suspected where this was going- her old Literacy teacher had pulled the same trick last year, after school went back. Then got them to write an essay about what they did. 

Is Mrs Delarosa going to make us write an essay… in Spanish? Cassie thought.

“ Well, I’m thinking… how about everyone takes turns, and tell us all at least one interesting thing about your break from school.” She said, and the whole class seemed to be paying full attention- it sounded like a breezy day, so far.

“Except… there’s a catch!” Mrs Delarosa said. And half the class sighed. “I want you to tell us in spanish.”

Knew it… Kind of.

Half the class groaned, while Cassie just sighed. She knew why everyone was upset- this was a combination of two things everyone hated. Speaking a language they're not fluent in, and public speaking. What a nightmare!

She’d be fine… for the most part. She’d been pretty good in Spanish class before everything- getting B’s and A’s in this class. But she knew her time would be spent listening to her classmates struggle. Which was boring . Plus, she didn't like public speaking much…

Honestly- she was already filled with a bunch of second hand embarrassment- and nobody was even up talking yet.

Her prediction was right- it was pretty boring. The stories could've been interesting, if they weren’t marred with errors. But she tried to ignore it, so that the other kids hopefully wouldn't feel self conscious. 

The only interesting bit was when the teacher looked over the desks, and remarked. “Setia’s not here, again…” with a frown. Before cheering up and calling the next student. 

Cassie hadn't realized Setia would be in her Spanish class this year…

Cassie spent most of the time, until her name was called, thinking things over. 

She didn't know if her classmates knew what’d happened to her. 

She didn’t want them to know. 

So, she’d have to think of something different to tell them.

But what?

… I could tell them what I did prior to the Pizzaplex? Except she hadn't done much- mostly spent her time at home, on the computer. She’d made that red sequin skirt… that she wasn’t wearing today. And that Mom would not want her to wear to school ever. 

The other kids might think she was lying, to make her lackluster summer break seem better. 

She could tell them about recovering in rehab, up in Salt Lake City. She wouldn’t have to go into detail about why - and it could get some of the stares off her back. 

… That could be her story. But it wasn’t one she wanted to tell. It just sounded sad.

… 

They don't need to know the reason I went to Salt Lake City was for rehab . I could just pretend I went up for a holiday?

… Yeah. She had an idea. So she felt considerably less stressed about it, now. And could go back to trying not to listen to the stories. 

The only reprieve she had from badly told stories was when Beatrice got up to speak. Her parents had lived in Argentina, so they’d taught her some Spanish at home. 

As much as Cassie didn't want to pay attention, she got caught up in her story.

“... I got to visit my nieces and nephews over the fall break- they live down in Chula Vista, in California. We got to go to the beach, have a barbeque, and everything…”

“That sounds like a lovely holiday, Beatrice. Did you have fun there?’

She nodded. “Yeah. My nieces are very cute. My nephews… not so much! They can be difficult. But it was still fun to see them.”

Mrs Delarosa laughed. “That sounds interesting- thank you for sharing, Beatrice.” 

Beatrice walked back to her table, staring over at Cassie on the way there. Which wasn’t unusual - most kids looked at her now, especially because she was using her wheelchair today.

But most kids would look away when Cassie looked at them- out of embarrassment, she assumed. Not Beatrice. Not today. Her green eyes remained locked to Cassie.

It made her feel weird, like she wanted to shrink back into herself. Especially because she wasn’t sure why .

“Okay, next up is… Cassie Mathers!”

She was grateful she’d decided on a plan earlier, as she rolled up to the front. 

Everybody stared at her now. It was like she was trapped in a spotlight.

Mrs Delarosa tried to redirect the class? “Well, Cassie. It looks like you had a really eventful summer. What happened?” She asked, in Spanish.

Unfortunately, putting her right where she didn't want to be- talking about the Pizzaplex.

… She knew it was a bit rude- especially when a teacher’s asking. But decided to ignore that question, and just tell the story she’d planned on.

“Well, in September, I got to visit Salt Lake City for a bit. It was really fun- I made a friend up there, and got to go bowling and to the zoo. I even got to see fireworks. My friend has horses, and sheep- she lives on a farm!”

Mrs Delarosa smiled down at her. “Very interesting, Cassie! Did you get to see the farm?”

She shook her head. “No… but maybe next time I see her? She showed me some photos. I’d like to see the real place.”

“It sounds like you had a great holiday. Thank you for telling us all. You can head back to your seat now.”

Cassie breathed deeply, and headed back to her seat as the next kid was called up.

Luckily, over half the class had gone by the time she got called up, so it wasn't too long before this icebreaker was over, and Mrs Delarosa gave them some real work. Pretty much everyone looked relieved that was over. 

Time breezed by after that. It didn't feel like it was long before the bell rang, and everyone jumped out of their seats to get to their next class. 

Cassie waited behind a bit- she wasn't going to be able to compete with her classmates to get to the door first, and didn’t want to catch anyone’s ankles with her footrests.

Instead, she thought about her next class. It was literacy, and checking her schedule… It was on the second floor, too. 

She’d been shown the elevator, during that interview with the principal. But had also been told it needed a key to open- that she’d need to ask the office for help to use it. 

She forgot to ask for the key earlier. 

So I’m going to be late again? Great…

“Hey, Cassie?”

That snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up from her desk, and saw Beatrice waiting beside it. Looking down at her, with a faint smile. 

She didn't understand it. 

“Hi Beatrice. What’s the matter?”

She shook her head a little before responding. “Nothing’s the matter - hey, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out during lunch? It’s been ages… and I bet we have a lot to catch up about!”

Cassie remembered that weird interaction with Holly yesterday, at the lockers. The way the girls had been watching her, during classes they shared. How Beatrice had stared at her earlier. And she wasn't sure whether to say yes , or no.  

“I, um…” 

Beatrice laughed, and put a pale hand on Cassie’s shoulder. Leaning down to whisper to her- “Haven't you missed us? It's been a really long summer for you, huh?”

And the worst bit was… she did miss them still. That's why seeing their photos had hurt so much. 

“... Yeah.” Cassie admitted. 

“Well, in that case, I’ll see you at lunch!” Beatrice said, with a wink. Before standing back up properly, and turning tail. Heading out of class with quick steps. Her long, brown hair flowing loosely as she left.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Cassie could see the teacher watching her, after that exchange. Though she waited until Cassie was leaving before speaking up. 

“... Cassie, is everything okay? Nobody gave you any hassle during class, did they?”

She stopped, so she could answer back. “No, Mrs Delarosa. Nobody was doing anything weird.” 

It wasn’t a lie. Technically . When they’d still been friends, Beatrice would often come up to her table after class- she was really quick at packing up. 

Though, that she was doing it now …

Mrs Delarosa sighed. “That’s okay then. If anyone is ‘being weird’ to you, make sure to let someone know, okay? Nobody should be treating you any differently-”

The bell rang again. Disrupting the conversation, and nearly making Cassie jump out of her chair. 

“Oh crud- I’m gonna be so late-” She started to head out again, until the teacher stopped her again .

“Cassie? Do you want a late slip again?”

She turned back to Mrs Delarosa, and nodded. 

“I’ll fill one out for you- what class are you off to next?”

“Literacy. It's on the second floor, though…”

Mrs Delarosa hummed a bit, while filling out the slip. “Do you know about the elevator?”

Cassie wheeled a bit closer to her desk. “I do- I need to go get a key for it though- I forgot it earlier…”

Mrs Delarosa shook her head. “Oh, no you don’t. All staff members have a key. I have a free period, so I can unlock it for you- just this once, okay?”

“ Really ? Thank you!”

She handed her the slip, and started walking out, beckoning Cassie to follow her. “Make sure to ask your next teacher to unlock it, after class though. Or you’ll be stuck up there.”

“Okay.” 

________

Literacy was just a usual class. The only real notable bit about it was that Cassie got to meet her teacher, Mr Davis. 

And that Mr Davis gave them all a lot of homework at the end of class. 

The good thing was, despite the homework dumped on her shoulders, he seemed nice. At the very least, he accepted her late slip without incident. 

One thing she noticed was that Setia was at homeroom today. They weren't very talkative, though. Shushing Cassie again when she tried to ask them where they’d been earlier.

Cassie wasn't sure what to think of this. It all just seemed… strange, to her.

What is Setia’s deal?

…

She couldn't figure that out. But could at least get started on her literacy homework. Even though the lack of sleep was really catching up to her. 

As homeroom ended, and Cassie had to ask Miss Nichol for help to get downstairs, she figured it out.

Setia was probably having difficulties adjusting, going back to school after Janet’s death. It had only been about a month since the news came out, after all. That would explain them skipping classes, and why teachers didn't seem too bothered by it. Why no one seemed too bothered by it. 

… She wished she could help them. But any chance to do that was long gone- The best way to ‘fix this’ would've been to have not let it out in the first place…

All she could do was go to lunch.

When she got there, she had the same decision to make as yesterday- where was she going to sit? 

She could take up Beatrice’s offer, and sit back at their table. Almost like last year hadn’t happened.

Or, she could go sit with Lawrence, Chris, and Hannah. And experience a repeat of yesterday's awkwardness. 

…

And try to figure out how to follow Andy’s advice.

… She decided to go sit with her old friends, and see what they wanted from her. 

Maybe they do really want to be friends again?

She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Luckily for her, Lawrence was facing the other way this time, from the table he and his friends were sitting at. So he didn’t see her head over to the closer table, with her old friends sitting at it. 

Beatrice spotted her first, and waved her over. “Hey, I knew you’d make it! Are you able to sit at the end?” 

Cassie nodded, and pulled into the table. It wasn’t made to have someone sitting at the end like this- but the benches were in the way, otherwise. She grabned her lunchbox from her backpack after she got there. 

She wasn’t sure what to say, really. Thanks for inviting me over, after icing me out for a year? What changed your minds? That would probably fly like a lead balloon. 

But she wasn’t sure she could pretend nothing had happened, either. 

They made the decision for her. Beatrice seemed to notice her discomfort, and slid a magazine, so that they could both see it. (Even if it was too sideways for Cassie to read.) “Did you see this article? About Harris Corduroy?” She said, sounding excited.

Cassie hadn’t . But she remembered how Beatrice had got about this dude- she’d had a crush on this character, even since the book he was from got turned into a movie. And from the somewhat lovestruck look on her face, that hadn’t changed at all. 

“No, what’s happening this time?”

She nearly squealed, before being able to answer. “Oh, nothing major… We’re just getting another sequel! ”

Cassie had to fight off her laughter. “Wait, again? How many of those movies have they made by now?”

Beatrice sighed. Head in her hands. “Oh, about seven now. And in each one, he just gets cuter and cuter!”

“Yeah, because they have to replace the actor when he gets too old .” Holly said, poking Beatrice’s shoulder. 

As Beatrice squawked in indignation, Cassie undid her lunchbox. Same sort of lunch as yesterday. Sandwich, an apple, some strawberries in a container, and another little treat- this time, from Mom- because it had a love heart drawn on the front in marker. It was a packet of licensed jelly beans. But Cassie’s favorite one- the Grape ones, based on Roxy’s fizzyfaz flavor.

“Are they getting close to finishing the books storyline?” Asked Yvonne.

Holly shook her head. “Not even halfway, they’re really milking this franchise.” She took a bite out of her sandwich. Before looking over Beatrice, into Cassie’s lunchbox. “Oh wow, you still have some of those? I thought they got discontinued?”

“In America . They still sell them down South.” Beatrice said. “Betcha primos sent them up, huh?” 

Cassie nodded slightly. Though that wasn’t it at all- she didn’t have cousins down there- Though Andy did- her Mom had been an only child. And they rarely saw Cassie’s Mom’s parents- Mom wasn’t on great terms with them. 

Most likely, Mom had probably ordered a few packets online. Since they came from the same online store she brought some ingredients from.

“Hey, is it okay if we have some?” Yvonne asked, already reaching a tanned hand over her lunch for the packet. 

Just like everything had gone back to normal. 

“Of course you guys can have some.” Cassie said. Like she always said. And Yvonne quickly grabbed it, ripping it open, and distributing it to her friend. Pouring them into their waiting hands. 

“ So much better than cold cafeteria pizza- thanks Cassie!” Beatrice said, holding her small pile. And Yvonne passed back the packet. Now much lighter. Cassie shook it out into her own hand- and two stuck- together jelly beans fell out. The last ones. 

Like usual, really. 

But a small price to pay for good friends! Cassie could remember thinking that, when she was younger. 

And really. It was just grape jelly beans. 

So she shook the nagging feeling off- especially when Holly spoke up- “So. There’s been a lot of rumors about why you had the first quarter off. Though I’m not sure how true they are…” She seemed to be trying to drag out the question, building suspense.

At least, until Yvonne leaned in and popped it like a balloon. “Did you really go to the Pizzaplex?” she asked, while fidgeting with her curly blonde hair.

Cassie felt like a deer in the headlights. All three of them were looking at her. Staring her down. And she wasn’t sure what to say.

‘Yes’ , and she might be confirming she’s a silly baby who can’t let go of her childhood hangout.

‘No’ and she might look like a silly baby who’d been in a different accident. Like getting hit by a car. Or falling out of her bedroom window.

Plus, they'd probably realize she was lying if she did.

So she nodded, and hoped they wouldn’t judge her. Looking down at her lunchbox. 

She didn’t feel very hungry. 

Beatrice let out a low whistle, prompting Cassie to look up. They… looked impressed?  

But they didn’t even like the Pizzaplex anymore. Or Freddy’s in general. 

“Wow, didn’t think you had it in you, Cassie!” Yvonne said, and playfully punched her shoulder. 

“ Knew I was right!” Beatrice cheered. “Seriously- it’s just such a you thing to do!”

“I’ve heard the animatronics there have become really dangerous! Like, I think Monkey tore some boy to pieces? Did they attack you?” Holly said.

His name was Monty .

“Um, it was a bit scary there. But they were nice.” Cassie lied. She didn't want to give Holly more ammo against the animatronics. Even if they couldn't possibly be hurt by it, now.

“I bet it would’ve been scary! You wouldn’t catch me dead in that decrepit old place.” Holly said. 

Cassie laughed, awkwardly. “Well… I nearly caught my death there. So, uhh- good judgment!”

None of them seemed to catch how complicated this was for Cassie. Instead just watching her intently. “So… why’d you go there, Cassie?” Holly asked.

“Was it for bragging rights? A date?” Yvonne asked.

While Beatrice burst into a grin. “Or did you go there to see that overgrown husky again.”

Back in the headlights. And this time she couldn't tell the truth. Because none of her friends liked Gregory. And none of them would understand wanting to go save him. 

“Well, uh…”

They just kept looking at her. As her heart beat louder and louder in her chest. 

So she lied. Admittedly, stealing Andy’s idea.

“I went there to meet up with this guy. He was so cute- he’s in grade nine, and he lives in St George . She whispered so that no teachers could hear, while trying to sound confident. 

And all her friends' jaws dropped . And she burst into a grin.

“ No way - what were you two doing there?!” Beatrice asked.

“Just. Uh. Y’know- a date.”

“ Sure, Cassie. ‘Just a date.’ In an abandoned building. Sure. ” Holly teased. 

“So romantic.” Yvonne said, with a sigh.

“Like hell it is! Clearly it wasn’t romantic- look at her, Yvonne!” Beatrice said, pointing to Cassie. “Did this dude try to kill you or something?”

… She got the feeling she’d really messed up by lying. 

“No, no! He didn’t do anything like that… I fell. And that’s how I got hurt.”

They all just looked at her.

“... That makes sense. The whole place seems like it’s falling apart- I’ve heard there’s a sinkhole underneath it.” Holly said. “One of my cousins went there for repairs just after the earthquake, and she nearly fell into the earth when a hole opened up just in front of her.”

“Does the cute guy still talk to you, Cassie?” Asked Yvonne. 

She shook her head, seeing an out. “Uh, no. I haven’t heard from him since.”

Yvonne looked like her heart was breaking. Even Beatrice looked a bit sad for her. “Oh Cassie… that’s awful !” Yvonne whispered, hands clenched together. “Just because you’re all… y’know , doesn’t mean he should’ve ditched you!”

She laughed at that. Because otherwise, it would’ve been too awkward. “Yeah, true… What did you girls do over summer break?” She asked. Hoping to get the spotlight off her, and her lie. 

And everyone burst out about their summer break.

“I got to go to summer camp for two weeks-”

“We all did - to Camp Summer Dream. It was so cool- ”

“We got to practice all sorts of crafty things. Like scrapbooking, and even made some dreamcatchers...”

“And when we got back, we hung out at that new salon- and the theater too!” 

“And Yvonne had her birthday- we got to go camping for it up at Zion-”

“And for fall break we got to go swimming at the beach - when Beatrice’s Mom and Dad took us to Cali.”

Cassie hadn’t realized that trip wasn't just Beatrice’s family.

“Holly even met a cute guy while we were there- she has photos of him.” Beatrice said, poking Holly in her shoulder. 

Holly blushed. “It was just a crush! We don’t really talk anymore…”

They rattled off every fun thing they’d done together over the past few months- sleepovers, and camping, and fun days spent together…

It just reminded Cassie of the distance between her, and them. 

Why do they want to be friends now?

“... but your summer break was also really interesting, Cassie.” Holly said, as they ran out of things to talk about. “Everyone at school’s been curious about you- you’ve been the big mystery of this year.”

“Yeah- like Chris was a few years back!” Yvonne said. 

“Except unlike him, you actually know how to talk .” Beatrice said, with a grin. “We should hang out again more often- maybe one day soon?”

… 

“Yeah, maybe after halloween…” Cassie said.

And Holly tilted her head. “I thought you were free for halloween? Did you want to go with us?”

“You could dress up as Oracle. And I could push your chair!” Beatrice said. 

Cassie didn’t know who Oracle was-  

“It’s just, I said I’d go with Lawrence.” Cassie said. 

“Who’s Lawrence?” Holly asked. 

Cassie could feel her palms start to sweat.

“He’s that boy, over at that table.” Beatrice pointed out. And Holly and Yvonne both looked. “I saw you sitting with him yesterday… When did you two meet? Lawrence doesn’t really talk much.”

She couldn’t figure out a way to lie about this. “We met at the hospital. He’s nice.”

Holly pursed her lips. “I dunno… he seems kinda childish . He has a Monkey backpack on his chair.”

“... I can see why you like him.” Beatrice said. 

“Well, he’s nice! He likes music, and he’s funny…” Cassie tried to explain. “You’d like him if you talked to him.” 

“Maybe. He seems okay in band class.” Yvonne said. “But he has a teacher’s aide… and his friends … yikes. I’d talk to him more in class, if he didn’t hang around them.”

Nobody said anything else about it, but Cassie could tell from their faces that Holly and Beatrice were thinking the same thing.

“... Would you want to sit with him, one day? Who knows- You might have something in common…” Cassie asked.  

They looked amongst each other, before looking back at Cassie. “ Maybe. But he’s got to lose the hanger-ons at least . The last thing I want to do is spend my lunch with Hannah .” Beatrice said. 

The bell rang. And they all started packing up, ready to go to their next classes. Except Cassie, whose mind was in a whirl.

“Hey, umm. Did you want to hang out after halloween, maybe?” Cassie asked, again.

“Yeah, sure. One day. We’ll see you next time, Cassie!” Beatrice said.

And then they left. 

________

Cassie wasn’t sure about how to feel about that strange situation.

On one hand, she’d got to talk to her old friends again. And they were just like they had been- to the point where it almost felt like a year hadn’t passed them by.

… On the other hand, they’d confused her a lot. It was like they wanted to know her again? But… she didn’t want to get her hopes up. 

She would’ve asked if she could’ve joined them for halloween. If she hadn’t already made plans with Lawrence. 

All she could do was kick herself -

Oh well, got to focus on Science.

… except it was really difficult to focus on her work. 

All she could think about was meeting up with Lawrence after school. And how, more than ever, she needed to follow Andy’s advice. 

Maybe Mom had been right to keep those photos. Maybe she had been too hasty. Maybe she really stood a chance of being their friend again. 

But not if she hung out with Hannah and Chris. She could maybe get herself and Lawrence into their friend group. 

Maybe. 

Lawrence is nice. He’s not weird, he’s good with people…

She wondered if he had ever wanted to be more popular? Because, if he did, could she appeal to that idea?

Andy had this figured out. If Cassie wanted to have new friends, and Lawrence too, then she would need to figure out how to follow that advice. 

Preferably, before he comes over tomorrow. 

________

Cassie felt so left behind when she got to Home Ec, because her classmates had their creations from the first quarter all hung up in the room for display. While she had nothing to show yet. 

She'd at least got to meet her new teacher there- a young man named Ethan. He'd asked Cassie not to call him by his last name. "Mr Swan is my dad's name. It makes me feel a hundred-and-three."

He’d given them no homework- thank goodness- but the classwork had been some basic practice with the sewing machines, getting everyone who hadn't used one before some confidence. 

Except Cassie had used one before. So it was fairly boring. 

At least he promised, next class there’d be something a bit more substantial.

When she got out of school, she’d been expecting Andy to pick her up. But her car wasn't there. Instead, Mom’s car was. Cassie could see Mom standing just behind it, talking to a nearby parent. She, like Andy, had parked in the disability bay without a placard.

As Cassie got closer, she could hear some of the conversation. 

“- Well, if you don’t have one, you shouldn’t be here! For all I know, you're lying about her.”

“I’m not going to be here for long, my daughter will be out soon-”

None of them had seen her, they were too focused on their argument. 

She decided to change that. “Hi, Mom.”

That got their attention. The other parent looked a little sheepish, as they backed up. While Mom glanced at her, before returning to the lady. “Like I said, this is my daughter. It’s not as simple as ‘some broken bones’.”

“Yeah, well… you should still have a placard…” the lady said, before huffing and walking away. 

Mom shook her head, before helping Cassie get into the car. “Sorry you had to hear that, Cassie. I’m getting a placard- but it’s taking longer than expected…”

“It’s okay, Mom.” She said, as she got into the front seat. Mom went to go out the chair away in the boot, before heading around to the driver’s seat. 

As they waited to leave the school, Mom asked her some questions. “How was school today? 

“Yeah, school was okay. It was a B day today- so I had Spanish and Sewing.”

“Oh, that would have been a fun day.” Mom said, with a laugh. 

“Not really.” Cassie whispered. When Mom looked at her, she spoke up. “Because it was the first classes back from break, they were kind of boring. Nothing much happened.”

Mom flashed her a quick smile, before reaching out to push some loose curls behind her ear. “Well, hopefully things will get interesting tomorrow… speaking of tomorrow, Lawrence’s Mom got back to me, about coming over after school. She’ll be happy to bring him by tomorrow. But I’ve let her know it conflicts with work for me, and that Andy will be there watching you until I get home.”

That gave Cassie something to look forward to, for tomorrow. Halloween preparations with Lawrence.

________

School the next day wasn't much different from the first day, except Cassie had her P.E uniform, and had arranged to bring both mobility aids to school. 

‘If I use the crutches in P.E, I can do exercises easier. If I use the wheelchair before and after, I won’t be as exhausted.’ She’d told Mom earlier. 

Mom had agreed, and had helped her bring in her crutches to keep at the office.  

Which was a good thing- because it had been another night of limited sleep. Not as bad as last night- she’d slept about six hours, from checking the time on her phone when she woke up at three am. But she hadnt been able to get back to sleep afterwards. Instead, she’d been ruminating, and thinking over her plan. 

She’d sat with Lawrence, Hannah, and Chris during lunch today. But hadn’t said much. Hannah tried showing her some more birds she’d drawn- but she’d been too zoned out to really take them in. She’d just focused on eating her lunch, and responding to Lawrence when he’d ask her questions. 

She hadn’t put her plan into action back then- she couldn’t, with Chris and Hannah both there. 

But now, she could put that plan into action. At least, if her queasy stomach let her.

When Lawrence arrived, Cassie let him in through the garage roller-door. 

He was there, with his Mom helping push his chair up the driveway. Waving at her with a huge smile on his face. 

“Hey Cassie- wow! Your house is so cool!”

“Thank you!” Though , she thought to herself, you haven't seen the inside yet. 

Once he was on flat ground, Lawrence's mom let him go, and he scooted towards Cassie. “I’ve been thinking really hard- and have some great ideas on my phone! I’ll show you when we get in!”

She nodded, and leaned heavily on her crutches. As she let Lawrence and his Mom go through the door first.

“When I talked to your mother over the phone, she told me she’d be working this afternoon. But that there would be someone else at home- are they around?” Lawrence's Mom asked, looking around the living room. She’d kicked off her shoes in the doorway, just before entering the house proper. 

“Yeah- my big sister Andy’s here! She’s an adult and she’s looking after me- do you want me to get her?”

“That would be wonderful . Sorry- I just like to know who I’m leaving my son with.” She said.

Cassie nodded. She got it- at least, as much as she could ‘get it’. She walked out towards the stairs, where she could hear Andy’s awful music faintly flowing down, and called up them- “Andy! Mrs Smith is here! She’d like to talk to you!”

For a moment, Cassie thought she’d have to go up the stairs to get Andy. Because there was no sign she’d heard Cassie over her music. Until she heard it go silent. “Okay, okay . Be down in a jiff!”

Cassie shook her head, and went back to report to Mrs Smith, who had taken a seat on the couch to wait. “Andy will be down soon. Um. Do you two want a glass of water? Or juice?” She tried remembering what her Mom had taught her about being a good host. 

“Oh, no thank you, sweetie. I should be fine for now.” Mrs Smith said. 

Cassie could see Lawrence about to vibrate out of his chair, while trying to wait. 

Luckily, they weren’t waiting long- Andy rumbled down the stairs in a cascade of footsteps. Cassie worried she’d managed to fall down them- until she peaked around the doorframe, looking a little frazzled. It must be wash day . “Good afternoon! You must be Mrs Smith?” Andy said, putting on a decent imitation of Mom. Possibly by accident.

“I am, it’s nice to meet you. You must be Andy?”

Cassie tried to fight off a snicker as Andy and Mrs Lawrence talked together. Lawrence could pick up on something strange going on- Cassie could tell from the confused look he was giving her. But he didn’t comment. 

Meanwhile, Andy hadn’t noticed yet… until she did. Looking at Cassie with squinted eyes and a barely visible blush on her cheeks. Before resuming her conversation with Mrs Smith. Who seemed to be none the wiser. 

“... Our mother will be home by dinnertime. Did Lawrence want to stay and have dinner with us? I’ll be making some spaghetti.

Mrs Smith glanced over to Lawrence. “Well, would you like to stay for dinner, sweetie?”

He nearly jumped out of his chair. “Yeah! That’d be great!’

Andy laughed. “That answers that!”

“In that case, I will leave you all to it.” Said Mrs Smith. She got up from the couch, and kissed Lawrence on the cheek. “I’ll be back later, okay? Be a good boy, and have fun!”

He nodded, and waved as she left. 

And the second she was out the door, and Andy had shut the garage door, she turned to Cassie. With her hands on her hips. “Got something to say, punk?”

Now Cassie really couldn’t help snickering. “Yeah. You sound like our Mom. Soon, you’ll be clicking your tongue and bragging about how well your tomatoes are growing.” 

Andy rolled her eyes, as Lawrence joined in with laughing. “The only tomatoes I’ll be growing are the ones I’m gonna hurl at your head! So watch your back, Cassie!”

“Do it, and I’ll whack you with one of these!” Cassie said, waving around one of her crutches. 

“I’ll kick them out from under you.”

“I’ll bite your ankles while I’m down there.”

Andy shook her head, trying to keep a grin off her face. “Geez… guess that’s why they call kids ‘ankle biters’, huh? Oh well- one day, you two will be old too! And you’ll sound like Mom as well, Cassie.”

Her eyes widened at the thought. “No way!”

“ Yes way!” Andy said, crossing her arms. “And it’ll be sooner than you expect. I bet you’ll sound like some old granny. You already kinda do, some times…”

“Nope- we’re gonna stay young forever!” Lawrence said, through his laughs. 

Andy addressed him, now. “Keep telling yourself that, kid.”

He nodded. “I will!”

She shook her head and sighed, as Cassie burst into more giggles. “Geez… oh well, I’m done arguing with you rugrats. Have fun- but don't explode the house. Or light any fires, Cassie .” Cassie cringed in her seat- Mom must have told Andy about her… little fireside adventure. “I’ll be in my room for a bit.”

And then she walked out, back into the hallway. Cassie could hear her clomping up the stairs, as usual. 

Once they’d calmed down, Cassie asked Lawrence “I’ve got my sewing kit set up in the kitchen. Plus, a magazine with some ideas for costumes. Do you want to talk more about Halloween there?”

He nodded, and they went there. Cassie pulled a chair to the side, so he’d have room to sit next to her, instead of down the end in Dad’s old spot. Then once she was sat down with him, he showed her his phone. 

“I’m not sure what costumes Hannah and Chris are gonna have,” Cassie had to fight back a groan. “But I reckon you and me- we could try and match! I’ve got some ideas on my phone…"

Cassie looked at the first idea he was showing her- Monty and Roxy, in their glamrock forms. A splendid idea, except, well…

She could still see Roxy’s mangled endoskeleton, torn free of her casing. Going as Roxy, as she used to be… felt a bit wrong now. 

“Do you have any other ideas?”

He nodded, and flicked through with his thumb. One of them was Raggedy Andy and Anne. There was a suggestion about two ghosts… a werewolf and a vampire…

“Umm, maybe we should think of something else?” Cassie said. She really didn’t want to trick or treat as Raggedy Anne. Though, the ghosts at least would be easy to make…

Lawrence looked puzzled. “Well, maybe we could…”

Unfortunately, nothing he suggested really appealed to Cassie. And nothing Cassie suggested really appealed to Lawrence. They were still talking about it and flicking through Cassie’s magazine, when Andy came in to start preparing dinner.

“We could always go as Dorothy and the Scarecrow…” Lawrence said, pointing to one of the suggestions in her magazine.

“... Do you want to be the Scarecrow?”

“...Not really.”

They continued suggesting ideas for a while, until Lawrence groaned and laid his head on the table.

Cassie also felt frustrated- and was starting to think she’d been optimistic about getting her sewing kit out. She’d been hoping she could start tonight.

“Sorry, I don’t have any more ideas for this stuff.” Lawrence murmured against the table. 

Cassie didn’t know what to suggest at this point, either. She spun some loose hair around her finger, trying to make an idea spring from nowhere. Think, Cassie, think!

“Hey, Cassie?” She looked up at Andy, letting her hair spring away from her fidgeting. “You considered just going as Roxy?”

“Well yeah… but it’d feel weird after everything.” She admitted to Andy. “That's why I said no earlier.”

She seemed to be thinking for a moment, knife in hand hovering over some green pepper on the cutting board. “Well, try a different Freddy’s character? You could go as Bonnie, or as Chica- doesn’t have to be their glamrock forms.” 

She thought about this. “I could… maybe go as Circus Baby.” After a bit more thought, this seemed very possible. “Yeah- I could make the outfit, use some red hair chalk… it could be interesting.”

“And then I could go as Monty!” Lawrence cried, picking his head up from the table. He had the gleam in his eyes back now.

“Yeah, Monty… put some red hair chalk in your hair, make it a mohawk, and it’d match really well.” Cassie said. Now she was getting excited again.

Heck, thinking about it, she could wear her red sequin skirt- with a little white petticoat underneath. If she used her white leggings, a white long-sleeve, and made a new sequined shrug to go over the top… she’d look pretty similar to Circus Baby.

All she’d have to make was that shrug- and she knew she had some leftover material, from making the skirt over the holidays. 

With that, they were able to start planning out their outfits for Halloween. However, Cassie knew she didn’t have the material to make the scale-print pants for Lawrence. She let him know.

“I could always go looking for some with Mom tomorrow, after band practice. Would that help you?” He asked.

She nodded. “That would be really helpful. I think I’ve already got the material I need for my costume. So I can work on mine, then work on yours afterwards.”

He beamed at that. “This is going to be so cool- especially with Hannah and Chris there!” Cassie tried to hide her disappointment, as he kept going. “I think Hannah’s going as a witch? And Chris is going as a hippie again, from what he told me.”

She didn’t really want to talk about Lawrence’s friends. Not right now. So, she tried to change the subject. “Hey, are you going to be using your chair for Halloween? If you are, it’d still really fit Monty.”

He looked away for a moment, thinking it over. “If I’m not having a good day- but I should be allowed to walk around more by then. And it’s not a long walk- it’ll only be inside my apartment block. What about you?” he asked. 

“I’m hoping I’ll be able to walk it. Because if I can, the skirt will look better if I’m standing than sitting.”

“The red sparkly one you had at the hospital?” Lawrence guessed. 

“Yeah! It’ll fit perfectly with a Circus Baby outfit. Unless I ruffle up the sequins- I’ll just need to keep an eye on them.”

“Even if the sequins get flipped, I know my neighbors will love your costume!” Lawrence said, looking wistful. “They decorate as much as they can, and make the hallways look really spooky.”

“How long have they been doing that for?” Cassie asked. 

“For as long as we’ve lived there. My big brother used to take me out for trick or treating, before…” he trailed off, looking distant. Before refocusing, after he saw Cassie looking at him. “Now I go with my friends, and it’s nice. Its not the same , but it’s still nice.”

Around this time, Andy interrupted. Standing near the stove, with the lid on. “Hey, I’m gonna let this simmer on low for a while. Cassie, can you keep an ear out for it while I finish with my hair?”

She agreed, and Andy left back towards the stairs. Leaving them the perfect opportunity to talk about this awkward subject. Even if Cassie didn’t feel ready yet. 

I’m not going to be able to put this off anymore, huh?

“Hey, Lawrence?”

“Yeah, Cassie?”

… All she could do was go for it. 

“How long have you been friends with Hannah and Chris?”

His eyes gleamed at that question, matching the smile on his face. “I’ve known them since intermediate school- so about… two and a bit years now?”

“Wow, I thought you may have known them for longer.” She said, trying not to sound relieved. 

It seemed she succeeded, because Lawrence kept smiling, and nodded. “Yeah, they’ve been really good friends! I’m really glad I met them.”

That set her back a bit. But she needed to keep going- don't chicken out now! “So, what drew you to Hannah and Chris?”

Please don’t have an answer.

And it looked like he didn’t really have an answer, considering how he twisted up his mouth, and had to think about it. “It’s just, well… they're nice to me? Nothing really drew me to them. I'm not sure what you mean?” He then changed the topic. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask- well, I’m not trying to pry, but- what happened to you at lunch yesterday? I didn’t see you at all.”

She had been hoping he wouldn’t ask something like that. “Um, I sat with Holly, Yvonne, and Beatrice. They asked me to, in Spanish class.”

The reaction she expected never happened- instead, she got a smile off Lawrence, and a chirpy reply. “I’m just happy you weren’t lonely yesterday. It’s good to have more friends- didn’t you used to hang out with them in Intermediate?” 

“Yeah, we used to be friends. From when I started Elementary, until around last year.” She decided not to go into why they’d had a gap. “We used to hang out every lunch at school, and most days after school too. Sleepovers, and slumber parties… we got along so well.” 

He looked enraptured by her story. Even if it was missing some key details. “Wow, you girls must've been close!”

“We were.” Time to put her ideas into action. “Hey, when. I was talking to them earlier, I talked a bit about you.”

His smile dropped away. “They weren’t making fun of me, were they?”

She shook her head, quickly. “No, no, no- nothing like that! I was talking about how nice you are, and about how you’ve been a great friend while I was in hospital.”

That seemed to ease his worries, at least. 

“Anyway, I asked them if you could hang out with them too.” This was where it could all go wrong, so she’d have to tread carefully. “And they said they’d be happy to sit with you for lunch, and stuff…”

It was hard to get a read on what Lawrence was thinking right now. But he had a smile on his face. 

“But they don’t want to sit with Chris and Hannah.” She quickly followed that up with. “But you don’t have to sit with my friends every lunch! You could still sit with your old friends sometimes, if you wanted!”

She felt a bit bad for lying to him. But this was the advice Andy had given her. 

“I dunno… I don’t think we have a lot in common. Maybe I’m not the best fit for them?”

She shook her head. And didn’t understand his objection- he doesn't have much in common with Hannah or Chris either! “No, you’d be perfect . You just don't know them yet! They’re nice- Yvonne’s also in band class- and they all love music, so… you’d get along really well! Plus, they’re fairly popular- make friends with them, and you could make a whole lot of friends!”

His expression was unreadable. She wasn't sure if she was getting through to him, or whether…

But he was still smiling-

“You think I could be popular?”

And Cassie sighed with relief. “Yes, you could .”

Silence. Silence that prompted Cassie into blurting out- “You could be- because you’re not like Chris and Hannah. Like- you’ve been great , being friends with them for so long. Nobody else could be that patient- but you can do better- ”

The first sign he was angry was how his eye twitched.

She shut up. But way too late. 

‘ Don’t just come out saying ‘you need to leave your friends’- people hate that.’  

She’d screwed up - sure, she hadn’t said exactly that, but she’d said something close enough to that.

And his smile fell away. Not to a frown, but something neutral. 

It didn't look neutral on him.

“Lawrence-”

“I think I need to go home early. I’m not feeling well. Hey, I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”

Her stomach plummeted. 

As he pushed back, turned, and headed for the arch leading to the hallway.

“Hey- wait! I’m sorry, I didn't mean that-”

He turned back to look at her. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” 

Then he left. 

She got up, and saw him go out into the garage. And when she got close, she could hear him on the phone to his Mom, asking to be picked up.

She’d really messed up. And she didn't know how to fix it.

********

Authors note- The title of this chapter is from Ghost and Pals song, Housewife Radio.