[blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady

[Robert Leslie Newman]

BlindLaw listers 
RE:  Tiger or the Lady 

The new THOUGHT PROVOKER has a blind dog guide user facing a major life
dilemma.  (Have you ever read the short story, The Lady or the Tiger?  I
always wanted to craft a TP that would some what parallel that tale.)  If
you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses
and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and
that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info  If you wish to receive THOUGHT
PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net

THOUGHT PROVOKER 106
Tiger or the Lady

"Hi, looking for a seat?" 

Drink in hand, Ted had just emerged from the cruse ship's observation deck
lounge, his cane tapped the metal of what he took to be a deck chair and the
woman who had spoken was sitting in it.

"There's  one right over here." the woman patted the chair next to her.
"This is my first cruse and I'm just bursting to talk about it."

"I went last year.  And thank you for the chair."  Ted said, maneuvering
around to the other side of the woman.  "Oh, my name is Ted, and yours?"  He
said setting down his drink, reaching out a hand toward her.

"Cynthia."  She said taking his hand. 

("Humm, an elegant warm hand to go with the pleasant voice," thought Ted.)
"So Cynthia, before I get comfortable, being blind I can't tell this, but do
you have a refreshment?  Do you need one?"  

"Yes.No.I mean I don't have one, and yes, I would love one."  She said
starting to rise.

"No." Ted said motioning with his hand for her to stay seated, "I'll treat.
And what would be your pleasure?" 

"Well, thanks!"  Giving him her choice, she sat back down.  

"Cynthia?" Ted said, making sure she was where he thought she'd be.  "Here
you are and I asked for an extra olive."  

"Yes, it's me.  I love olives.  Thank you."  She said, taking it from him.

"So Miss Cynthia, tell me about your cruse."  Ted opened the conversation
and the two of them talked and talked, she telling him of her first
impressions of the port and then the ship and now the sailing.  He told her
of his first cruse, the islands visited, the food, the people, and why he
came again.  

"Oh, look at the time!"  Cynthia exclaimed.  "Dinner is in ten minutes!
I've got to change!"

"WOW!  Can you believe that!  Time flies when you are getting to know a new
friend.  It's great.  How about dinner, you and me sitting together?" 

"I'd love it, Ted."  Both rising, Cynthia said, "Something tells me I don't
need to ask you if you need help getting back to your cabin, right?"

"Right.  And on that note, I appreciate how you have handled my blindness.
And trust me, Cynthia, if and when I need assistance, I'll ask.  I feel it's
been cool how we both have been able to be so free in our exchange and as we
go into this friendship let us try very hard to keep that openness and
honesty.  And that does mean you may ask anything about my blindness that
you wish."

"Thank you, Ted.  You are the first blind person I've ever really gotten to
know and I'm sure there will be much for me to learn."

That evening was a wonderful one for the two of them.  And over the
remaining seven days of the cruse, Ted and Cynthia spend nearly every minute
in one another's company as their relationship grew.  Then came the last
moonlit night on deck as Ted and Cynthia walked hand in hand under the
stars.  

"I am so happy I came on this cruse and had the chance to meet you, Ted."
Said Cynthia.

"Cynthia.." Ted began, squeezing her hand, "This is an answer to a dream.
And I'm so happy we plan to continue it. It's like."

"Like meeting your soul mate?"  Cynthia volunteered.

"Yeah, like that.  And when you come visit.Oh, my heavens!  No one will
believe this, but I forgot to tell you about Tiger!  You'll love him." 

"Tiger? Who's that?" 

"My dog guide--my golden retriever, my canine friend, my constant companion.
I do well with a cane, but usually I go everywhere with Tiger."

"Oh."

"Cynthia, what's up, you've gotten so quiet?"   

"Nothing Ted." 

Ted stopped, pulling Cynthia around to face him.  "Come on now, remember our
vow to always tell what we think and feel.  I detect sadness, so it can't be
nothing."

"I didn't know about your dog.  You sound like you love him so." 

Reaching out, touching her arm, Ted said, "Oh, I do, we've been together for
six years."

"Ted, I know that you love me, the last week has shown me that.Ted, I can't
be around dogs."  

"Are you allergic to them?"  

"Yes, that is part of it.  I.when I was eight years old I was attacked by a
large dog and, well, I've gone through therapy for it, but.it's still
there."

Ted walked on holding Cynthia's hand, knowing the hard choice he now faced.
It was going to be either Tiger or the Lady.  


Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
Web Site- http://thoughtprovoker.info