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Prettydoes Copyright, all rights reserved 12-4-1998 - "I pray thee, O God, that I may be beautiful within." –Socrates |
| Daylight
shines along the edges of the closed curtains that cover the bedroom windows.
The shadow on the wall is that of a woman sitting in a darkened room.
The light from the computer monitor screen reflects against the flesh of
her hands as they move across the keyboard. The long slender fingers
of her left hand are wrinkled and scarred white. By contrast, the
youthful smoothness of her right hand makes it seem as if two totally different
people are typing together in perfect harmony.
The dim light from the screen shines upward against her face. The feminine slants of her deep blue eyes indicate that there is a kind of beauty behind all of the deep lines and scars around them. Her shoulder-length wig serves to hide the white patches of skin grafts that cover the sides of her temples and neck. Even when alone, she keeps the front of her full-length robe tightly closed to hide the scars that cover almost all of her chest and both arms. TweetyBird: hi prettydoes Venus: {{{{{{{{pretty}}}}}}} Prettydoes: {{{{{tweety and venus}}}}} BigGuy: and what does pretty do Prettydoes: pretty is as pretty does <g> The computer in front of her had been a gift; one that was lovingly presented to her by several school mates who had gone on to graduate without her. It had become her link to a place where she now spends the better part of her days. In her world no one can see the grotesqueness of her badly burned body. Venus: hey big–you're so pretty <s> TweetyBird: lol BigGuy: and you know it baby <g> Prettydoes: and he's very strong too Greeter: ‘Kittie' has entered the room Kittie: hi room Prettydoes: get your paws off of that mouse Kittie: hi BG, venus, pretty Prettydoes: <—plants a big kiss on bg's cheek Kittie: gonna click this mouse to death The accident took place in one very careless and senseless moment. It was only a few years ago when Jenny O'Leary was a happy and carefree senior enjoying her last year of high school. Jenny was well liked and popular amongst her classmates. She had a quirky little humor that complimented her attractiveness. Anyone who described her easily found themselves using the word "pretty." Everybody loved Jenny. All of life and it's many opportunities were opening up before her. Having enjoyed the experience of modeling for a teenage girl's clothing catalog, she had become infatuated with the idea of becoming a professional model. She definitely had the characteristics; a tall and slender figure, more slight than curvy, and a cute narrow face. Although her experience on the runway was limited to just a few occasions, she was filled with confidence and a belief in herself that she could make it happen. It would take hard work and patience, but she knew that she could do it. Those who knew her believed in her. Jenny had the looks, the intelligence, and the determination that it would take. She also had one foot in the door. One of the girls she had met while doing the catalog layout had become a close friend. Cindy had left for New York City the year before and had already found work for herself. Their idea to share an apartment and help each other pursue the same goal was more than a plan; it was a commitment that they had made to each other. If any young woman ever had a shot at success, it was Jenny. BigGuy: <—wiping lipstick from his cheek Kittie: how is everyone tonight Venus: busy holding BG off Prettydoes: oh, he's just a big ole teddy bear BigGuy: grrrrr <s> Jenny had slept in on the Saturday morning after the homecoming game. Kevin had taken her to the dance afterwards and she had not gotten home until almost two a.m. As the sunlight filled her open bedroom window, she opened her eyes, stretched her arms upwards, and yawned while glancing over at her clock on the night stand. She was late. Linda was expecting her by noontime and she only had twenty minutes to get there. There was no way that she could make it on time. Several of their friends were going to get together for the afternoon and try and figure out something to do that would be fun. She would have to hurry to get there. Over the next few years she wondered many times what her life would be like now if she wouldn't have felt so rushed; if she would have just called her friend and told her that she was running behind and wouldn't be able to get there for awhile. Fate is rarely cheated. Kittie: <—enjoying her can of soda Prettydoes: kittie, glad you could join us TweetyBird: i tot i twa a puddy tat BigGuy: do you lap it out of a bowl <G> Kittie: {{{{{{{{{{tweety}}}}}}}}}} Venus: geez, BG, get a grip TweetyBird: i dwid, i dwid see a puddy tat Kittie: lap, lap, meowww BigGuy: <—losing his grip <s> Prettydoes: venus, now you be nice to BG Venus: why <g> Jenny's feet hit the cold floor as she rushed into the bathroom. She showered quickly, got dressed, grabbed a glass of orange juice and a bagel, found her keys, and ran out of the door. The family van sped along through the narrow streets to Linda's house. Upon her arrival, she could see that the driveway was filled with three cars and a motor home. There were also a few more cars parked along the street out front so she pulled in just around the corner. She jumped out, slammed the car door shut, and trotted as fast as she could up the sidewalk and around the back of the motor home. All she could remember after that was the sudden reflex of her hands jumping up to shield her face. The excruciating pain hit the entire front of the upper part of her body. Somebody started screaming "Oh, my god!" over and over again as her body was pushed to the ground. She yelled in agony as her body spun around and around. The sensation of being slapped all over her body only added to her confusion. The nightmare had just begun. Greeter: "Maleman" has entered the room Venus: got a letter for me good lookin' Maleman: hi roomies [-: Prettydoes: hi Maleman <s> Kittie: purrrring for the maleman BigGuy: oh brother :-P Prettydoes: why, just waiting for you is all <S> Linda's father had been pouring gas into the family motor home for an upcoming trip. Somehow the gas can sparked and he had thrown it off to the side just as Jenny was coming around the back of the vehicle. It exploded several feet in front of her and splattered hot burning fuel and metal fragments all over her. A knee-jerk reflex caused her to use her hands to shield her face; the left hand folded over the right. She had little memory of what happened after that. The front of her body was covered with third degree burns on her chest, arms, the sides of her head, and the lower part of her face. For over four months her scorched body lay in the hospital trauma center. The process of removing the burned tissue, replacing it with skin grafts, and fighting the continual threat of infection was almost too much to bare. Hours seemed like days. Pain was her constant companion. Finally it got a little easier as her body began to heal. She had missed her own graduation and half of the summer. After months of enduring her own personal hell, Jenny began therapy with little hope that life could ever be normal again for her. The worst part was the damage to her head and neck. Her hair only grew in patches now. The scars across her forehead and down the side of her neck were more than obvious. Her eyes had not been as badly damaged, but the white patches across the lower part of her nose and the surgically rebuilt sides of her mouth were very noticeable. There was little that she could do to disguise the damage with any satisfying success. Furthermore, the front of her neck was just as bad as a result of the numerous skin grafts where the burns had been the deepest. Her natural beauty had been replaced with a kind of sad grotesqueness that caused others to wince or even turn away when they saw her. Going out in public had now become a rare thing; just too hard to deal with. All of her aspirations of becoming a professional model had been dashed in one horrendous moment. Dating and the prospect of finding a partner for life seemed to be just as out of the question. All of her hopes for the future had become things of the past. The first several months after getting out of the hospital were filled with tears and frustration. Jenny was convinced that life was over for her and, at her age, it had hardly even gotten started. Venus: geez, she's always waiting for you BigGuy: makes you wanna gag <g> TweetyBird: awe, i think it's sweet Maleman: come on you guys <blushing> Prettydoes: they're just jealous <s> BigGuy: <—seeing the old green-eyed monster TweetyBird: anyone seen buddy tonight Venus: no BigGuy: whoa–the budsterman Prettydoes: he should be here anytime It probably had something to do with Linda's feeling of guilt that caused her to do it. She had managed to get enough of her friends and family together to raise the money needed for a new computer outfit. Her father contributed the lion's share of the funds that were needed and also led the search for both the right hard and software that would be appropriate for Jenny's situation. The lawsuit that the O'Leary's had filed and won against them for their daughter's sake had not made them bitter. The settlement was covered by their homeowners insurance and they were glad to see Jenny get it. It helped with the guilt that Linda's father knew he would have to deal with for the rest of his life. This project was a way for them to go that one step further for their owns sake as well as the young lady who was the victim. It was their maya culpa. A small delegation of Jenny's high school friends arrived at the O'Leary home. Several walked in carrying boxes that were beautifully wrapped and decorated with large pink bows. Linda came in last, followed by her father. As each component was taken out of it's box it became obvious that they had spared no expense. It was all there; the computer, a 17" monitor, the keyboard, the mouse and pad, a laser printer, a scanner, and stereo speakers. There were also two large boxes filled with various software programs and games that people throughout the community had contributed. To top it off, they had located a very nice computer hutch and brought it in after everything else had been opened. The presentation of their surprise gift included a round of tearful smiles and a lot of warm hugs. A very special unexpected moment came when a humble teary-eyed man choked hard to express his sorrow for having caused the accident. It wasn't the gifts laying all over the living room floor that motivated her to do it. Jenny simply stood up and walked over to face him. There was a moment of silence as she fought back her own tears. Then she wrapped her arms around him and whispered three words into his ear, "I forgive you." The beauty inside her had gone untouched by the flames. Before they left, everything they had brought was moved into Jenny's bedroom and set up for immediate use. Having learned the basics of using the computer as a student, she sat down in front of her new gift and, for the first time since the accident, became interested in living again. Maleman: i have found another Prettydoes: please go on Kittie: who? Maleman: a guy–farm machine accident Prettydoes: did you contact him yet Venus: alright! a guy! Maleman: his story found in a magazine article Maleman: sent him a letter and cd Prettydoes: sure hope he responds TweetyBird: we did, didn't we <S> Jenny faced her computer as if she was looking down a long road and readying herself for the journey of a lifetime. She powered up the engine of her new vehicle and, with the double-click of a mouse, found herself speeding down the digital highway on here way to Chatville. Several days into her newfound world led her to investigate an icon that was obviously an internet file. Upon attempting to sign-on, she was surprised to see a window pop up with a special note on it. It seems that those who had been so wonderful in presenting her with all of this had gone one step further. They had paid for the first year's use of the internet service already programmed into her computer. She had heard about the internet and had wondered what it was all about. Now she was hearing a voice from within her computer saying "Welcome" as the first screen appeared filled with choices as to which road to take. The first choice proved to one that would transform her thus far tragic life. Venus: pretty, we don't thank you enough BigGuy: ditto Maleman: that goes for me too <s> Prettydoes: <—blushing TweetyBird: Jenny, we all love you Kittie: I fifth that <g> Prettydoes: you guys means a lot to me <tears> The idea first hit her while she was watching a television news broadcast concerning a young man who had been seriously burned in an auto accident. It was the mention of his age that caught her attention was only nineteen. He had been speeding down a country road and, unable to negotiate a fast turn, the car rolled several times. The impact of hitting a large tree caused the engine to explode and he was scorched over sixty percent of his body. By the time he was able to escape the burning vehicle, the damage had been done. Jenny was determined to contact him. Since it was mentioned that he lived in Lubbock, Texas, she found a search engine in her web browser and was able to locate his address. She "snail-mailed" him a disk from her own internet server and enclosed this note: "Dear Danny,
Several weeks passed by and she
patiently waited for a reply. There was always that little tinge
of disappointment when she checked her mailbox for e-mail each day and
his name was nowhere in sight. She would whisper to the screen, "Where
are you, Danny?"
Maleman: Are you Jenny O'Leary? She had never given her name out to anyone while on-line,
so she was taken back by the question in front of her. Besides that,
she didn't even recognize the nickname, even though it was sort of cute
and clever.
Prettydoes: who's asking <s>
Jenny's heart started pounding. It really was him. Her fingers skipped across the keyboard in front of her.....
Prettydoes: alright! hi, danny!!!
It was just the beginning.
Jenny and Danny began to search and locate other young people near their
age who were either burn victims or permanently handicapped accident survivors.
Each one got a note along with the same internet software. There
would be a time of waiting, but most of them had managed to find "Prettydoes"
and the "Maleman."
Greeter: "Buddy" has entered the room
It was their cue to each other.
At that moment no new dialogue appeared on the screen. Honoring a
commitment that they had made to each other, they stopped for a moment
of silence. Seven chatters quietly bowed their heads in the surreal
light reflecting from their computers. Each one prayed in his or
her own way for a teenage girl somewhere in Ohio.
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