Henry finds his footing
published:
Sunday | May 25, 2008
Ditta Sylvester, Contributor
Sylvester
Henry was born with one whole leg while the other extended just below his right knee. Fay did not want a one-footed child, so she disappeared hours after giving birth. When her older sister, Beverley, came to visit the new mother and baby in hospital, she saw only Henry, so she took him home.
Beverley's two children watched him from a distance until their mother commanded them to help to feed and change him. When he was due to begin walking, Beverley decided to carry the one-legged child around with her to places where she felt she was likely to meet people who could afford to help her get the child what he needed. Within weeks, she had got the prosthesis as well as pledges to replace it as the child grew.
Shortly after Henry learned to walk, his aunt assigned him little chores to do. Soon, he was able to function and was treated like any other member of that family. When he entered school, however, things changed. His teacher favoured him above the others because he was a bright child as well as because of his physical disability. So, resentment began to breed among his peers.
As soon as the teacher was out of sight, his classmates would attack and taunt him. Henry was miserable until he discovered that he could use his false foot for more than walking. One day, Bad Bill - the school bully - decided to make Henry his target.
But when Bad Bill lashed out at him with a kick, Henry remained unaffected. No tears came. What the bully did not know was that he was attacking Henry's wooden leg, covered under his khaki pants. Bill stared at the child in amazement before deciding to punch Henry in his side.
It was a hard blow. It inspired not just pain, but rage. Bad Bill laughed with glee as he watched the blow have its desired effect. He was just getting ready to deliver another punch when Henry lifted his prosthesis and gave the bully a kick which landed him face first in the dirt. Everybody cheered as the bully squirmed and bawled in the dust of the schoolyard.
listened with pride
That evening, Beverley listened with pride as his cousins recounted the story of Henry's victory over the bully. Henry sat quietly basking in the glow of their approval.
But the power had gone to his head. Henry began going out of his way to interfere with his classmates so he could have a reason to use his prosthesis on them. He was spending much more time making trouble than he was on his schoolwork. When his aunt noticed how seldom used his books were, she came to the school and the teacher explained the situation to her. Beverley scolded Henry, but nothing changed.
Matters came to head when Henry decided to plant a kick on a little girl who was much smaller than he was. Beverley was beside herself with aggravation, especially since she had to take money from her meagre earnings to help foot the girl's medical bills. Maybe her nephew needed a dose of his own medicine, she thought.
quaked with fear
After giving him a spanking, she sat him down and asked him how he thought it would feel if somebody with a fat foot like her's should give him a kick. Henry quaked with fear at that prospect and he promised to stop being bad. He kept this promise for a day or two, but soon became bored and began kicking his classmates around again.
When his cousins brought home the news to Beverley, her heart sank. She did not want to do it. It would be a cruel thing to do, especially to a child who had only one good leg. But she could see no other way. She sent her two children to bed and took Henry to her own room that Friday night. Then, calmly and deliberately she lifted a strong, firm 40-year-old leg and coldly, carefully she kicked him hard on his one good leg.
His cries cut through her heart like a hot knife through margarine. Yet, she stolidly refused to take him in her arms and comfort him.
The following Monday, Henry was back at school. His teacher noticed, before the end of that week, that he had suddenly begun to take his schoolwork seriously again. He continued doing well and never kicked another living soul. Not even a dog.
As a man, Henry became renowned for his tireless work on behalf of the physically challenged. On Heroes Day, after receiving his Order of Merit, a woman came up to him and asked,
"You can help me get a foot, sir?"
"Yes, but why?" Henry replied. "You have two legs."
"Yes, but I have sugar an' bad circulation," the woman explained. " Docta say me have to get me right leg amputated, quick."
"Sorry," Henry sympathised. He gave her his number before walking away.
The woman sat back down and rubbed her bad leg again. It hurt like hell. She put the number into her phone and dialled:
"Hello?"
"Yes, Mr Henry. Is me just talk to you. I am Fay - you madda! Me beggin' you a money fi help me get rid o' mi sick foot."
