A woman's tumble forces her to live as the disabled do

Text Emilyn Tan

It's amazing what a fall can do to your otherwise rigid mindset. After a recent fall brought me into disability status, I was keenly feeling the misery of what being in a cast and relying on crutches could do to one's mood.

In my newfound status, I ventured into Orchard Road to get my mid-morning caramel macchiato fix. So off I went to Starbucks, and it was not long before I realized the uphill climbs that rush of caffeine would involve.

See, Specialist Centre, where I was given a ride to, has a lift that only stops at Somerset Road level. From there, I had to scale a mini-mountain just to get a view of bedazzling Orchard Road.

The Lame
After descending the short flight of very narrow steps in the car park, take the lift and select "1".

When the door opens on Level 1, look straight ahead and walk to the Sistic counter. Turn right. Don’t trip on the three wide steps up. Turn left. Climb another three easy steps, and then turn the corner for more steps. Walk past John Little's and you're there!

Now you can indulge in that much-deserved coffee break. But wait, not before you encounter another little ledge at Starbucks and try to balance on your crutches while holding that heavy door open.

Now that you've made it, you deserve a double-shot of espresso for the effort!

The Look
Funny how it is that, as you're hobbling along on crutches, it'll suddenly occur to you that every able-bodied person is averting his or her gaze and staying out of your way.

Only the little kids will stare, after they’ve sized your cast and crutches up. It’s written all over their faces, that niggling question, "What's wrong with you?"

You could be a sport and smile sweetly while saying "I've just broken my ankle. It's OK. It could happen to you too!"
Their parent might then have the good grace to be embarrassed and mumble, "Oh, it must have been so painful. Let’s go, darling, that table's free now!"

Squeeze on an extra stripe of caramel on the macchiato for scoring that twinge on the conscience!

The Lunch Dare
When you're limping your way on a pair of crutches, before you know it, it's lunch hour. So, I hobbled my way to settle that craving for a good lunch. But where?

Head across the road and find a food court nearby. But, be realistic, darling. Forget health-conscious yong tau foo. How do you suppose you would manage the bowl and tongs (fishball or sotong, in keeping with how blur you feel?) while maneuvering your supports? And even if you did wangle that first stage, how would you carry the tray of food back to your table?

Settle for ta-mee – it, too, has fishballs. Ask for ta-pau, and everything is boxed and slipped into a plastic bag you can hook onto your thumb as you crutch along to find a table.

Skip the soup. And don’t even attempt the mango mousse-topped ice kachang. Haven’t you heard? Eighty per cent full is full enough.

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