Chapter 2: Love on the Water

Holyhead was radiant.
At least it seemed that way to Alice and Andy. They'd had a minor hiccup on leaving the boat as Andy's legs had given way on the gangplank.
"I've got brittle bones", he'd shouted at the people who'd assumed he was drunk.
"Just ignore them and hold on to my chair", said Alice,
"then they'll assume you're pushing me".
"You're so sensible", said Andy,
"how d'you get to be so sensible?"
"What - you mean 'how could I be so sensible being a girl or being in a wheelchair'?".
"No", said Andy,
"why do I always say the wrong things?".
"You don't!", said Alice,
"it's me - after years of people assuming I'm mentally crippled as well as physically crippled".
"Oh - 'cripple'. You shouldn't say that", laughed Andy.,
"I can - I am one!".

On land, Andy decided to open up.
"So how did you get to be a - 'cripple'?", he said.
"I was dropped as a babe", she said with a straight face.
"Oh. But I think you're a babe now!".
"No"
"Sorry"

"No, I mean - no that's the story I embarrass people with. No, I was born with a spinal defect. I've been operated on and it doesn't hurt now when I move around under my own power. I mean not in a wheelchair. But it isn't good for me. I could snap!", she saud humorously, "but I don't care".
"Sort of Alice without any malice", said Andy.
"You're funny"

"Thanks - I'll take that as a compliment".

"So where are we going?", he said.
"Well I thought a hotel for a quickie", said Alice.
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Don't worry", she said,
"Your face! I'm being funny! You're safe with me. I won't demand to see anything I shouldn't!"
"You're very upfront", he said.
"I thought that was what boys liked", she said,
"they're too embarrassed to say things like that to me! And I hope you are too!".
"Don't worry", said Andy, "I am".

Alice's short dark hair circled her face like the letter O. But when she smiled widely, the a couple of strands pointed outwards at right angles to her cheeks.
Such a smile came over her as Andy told her he'd had a little too much to drink and needed to relieve himself.
"Well it's all right for you - you're a boy. You wait till I need a loo. Then I'll have you searching for a Ladies Room with disabled facitlities. But don't worry", she added, as he looked put out, "I can wait!".

"Well I need to go now!".
"OK I won't scream if you make use of that tree!", she said, pointing to a tiny sapling on the green they were cutting through on the way back to the harbour.
"I'll need something bigger than that to hide behind".

"Oh - a big boy, eh? You're all the same. I'm in a wheel chair so I might be frightened by what you've got?"
"No - I didn't mean that. But - you're not going to watch are you?".
"Who knows?", said Alice, giggling.
"No - don't worry big boy. I won't look. It's not a pretty sight!"
"How do you know?", said Andy
"I mean - what you're going to do isn't a pretty sight - or do I need a camera?"
"Shut up! I mean... sorry!"

So Alice turned her chair round and pretended not to look in the mirror on its left arm.

"Should I invite you in?",. said Alice as they returned to the harbour and she pointed out her bungalow.
"Um, I donlt know", said Andy, "will your parents like me?".
"Is that relevant", she said, "they live half a mile away!".
"Oh"

"It's an adapted bungalow. I live here with my sister - she'd love to meet you!"
No boy could resist the thought of a meeting a girl who'd "love" to meet HIM.
So in Andy trudged.