Looks can be Deceiving

      Getting out of his car in the crowded parking lot, Benji is approached by an older woman.  “You can’t park here,” she says to the athletic looking kid wearing an old, small T-shirt from one of his sponsors, and loose fitting jeans.  She points to the handicapped parking spot.   

            As Benji walks into the brightly lit Perkins after the short encounter in the parking lot, he is greeted by congratulatory smiles and hi-fives from his friends and family.  He starts to blush, replying “Thanks y’all” before he sits down, wiping sweat from his forehead.  Benji is glad he is able to sit down and relax because he is still worn out from the race.  He did well, second place, but he is a little disappointed since he didn’t get first place.

            Benji was thinking about the race on the way to Perkins.  He knew he could have won first place.  He knew he should have pushed himself harder.  He had started preparing for this race four months ago, daily workouts and weight lifting, weekend visits to the track.  All that work and he didn’t get first place.  Benji’s mother notices the slight disappointment on his face and tells him that most people couldn’t do what he just did.  She goes on to tell him that he is inspirational.  Benji smiles a little but wishes people could see him and treat him like a normal teen, not like a hero.  He also thinks to himself about how strangers react.  He thinks back to the run-in he had with the woman in the parking lot, and how she was so angry with him when she didn’t even know him.

       The stern words came out of the woman’s mouth, “You can’t park here”.  Benji looks at her and simply replies by lifting up his pant legs, revealing aluminum where flesh should be.  The woman’s face turns red. She shakes her head, and mutters to herself “poor kid”.  She doesn’t even bother to apologize. Benji is used to this type of reaction.  He has dealt with it his whole life since he was pretty much born without his legs below the knee.

            Benji smiles to himself and anyone else who was looking at him.  He knows that even though he placed second in the race, he is that much closer to playing in the Paralympics, his life long dream and goal.  He looks up at everyone at the table, yawns and says “I’m gonna head out.”  Benji is more than ready to be back home and in his bed, for he knows he will have to start his exercise routine all over again tomorrow morning.