As they were just starting the workshops at thestudios, they only had one person coming today to take part: Frank, who had slipped on some ice in the winter and smacked his head on the floor. Since then it had been many months of recovery and rehabilitation. He was coming with his husband Daniel.
A small van pulled up outside and Luke looked at Flick nervously.
‘You’ll be great. I can’t think of a better person for this. You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met. You’ll be perfect at this.’
He smiled at that. She had such faith in him.
A man, presumably Daniel, got out and came through the front door.
‘Hi, are you here for the workshop?’ Flick asked.
‘Yes, hi, I’m Daniel, Frank is in the van. I just wanted to have a quick chat about him before we start. He can’t walk or talk but he can understand everything you say and can communicate in other ways. We’re both learning sign language and he has one of those electronic talk pads where he presses the buttons to say the words he wants but he doesn’t really like using that as it takes so much time to write out a sentence. He can still use his hands though sometimes they get a bit shaky.’
Daniel let out a sigh as he looked out to the van. ‘He is… frustrated and angry. And understandably so. He was so fit and active before the accident. Six months ago, we’d go out hiking over the hills for miles every day. We’d swim in the sea and now he can’t do those things and he’s angry about it. Just one tiny little accident that should have left him with a few cuts and bruises and it ruined his life. He doesn’t want to be here today. He thinks workshops for those with brain injuries are patronising. But he loved woodwork prior to the accident. He was always busy making things, a treasure chest for our granddaughter, a jewellery box with little drawers that would slide out and secret compartments, a dressing-up box, he loved woodturning bowls and other things. And he absolutely loved teaching our grandchildren how to do it. He’d teach them how to measure, how to cut and use the other tools and how to put them all together to make a sailboat or a pencil box or a money box. But we had a big workshop in our garden and since the accident we’ve had to move to a new place that is all on the ground floor with wider doors and ramps for a wheelchair. The new place doesn’t have a garden let alone room for a workshop or shed so he’s not been able to do any of that and I think he misses it. So I thought today would be good for him.’
‘It sounds like this might be exactly what he needs,’ Flick said.
‘I’ll go and get him and I apologise now if he’s rude to you.’
‘You don’t need to worry, we understand how frustrating this must be for him,’ Luke said.
Daniel disappeared back out the front door and Luke looked around his studio. What he’d planned to do with Frank went straight out the window for fear of it being too simple or patronising. This was a man who knew his way around a woodwork studio, who knew the toolsand the machines. He’d been going to suggest he carve a leaf out of wood or whittle a small animal like a bird or fish and then paint it afterwards but that was way too simplistic. He was going to have to adapt.
He looked out the window and saw Daniel wheeling Frank towards the front door and he hurried over to open the door for them. He could tell straightaway that Frank was annoyed about being here. It was one of the things that the lady from Headway talked about, that some people with acquired brain injuries really struggled with their new normal. Some people just adapted, they persevered, they found ways to enjoy and live their lives with their body’s restrictions or disabilities. Those who had lost the use of their hands might paint with their mouth or feet for example. Those who had lost their short-term memory, so might forget instructions as soon as they were given or what was happening in a book they were reading, would make notes as they read so they could still enjoy the pleasure of reading even if it took them longer. And she said there were those who didn’t want to adapt, who mourned their old lives and didn’t want to change. She said, especially in the first year, there was a grieving process and they had to find a way to work their way through it. Frank was clearly in the latter category and understandably so. Luke didn’t know what he would do if he suddenly lost the ability to talk or walk or carve wood. Wood carving was his favourite thing in the world.
Luke held out his hand. ‘Hi Frank, I’m Luke and this is Flick.’
Frank rolled his eyes and reluctantly shook Luke’s hand and then Flick’s.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Flick said.
Daniel wheeled him into Luke’s workshop and Frank looked around. Luke saw the tiny spark in his eyes as he looked at the tools and machines.
‘So Frank, I wonder if you might be able to help me,’ Luke said, thinking on his feet. ‘I’m a wood carver. I started off whittling very simple animals and I then progressed to the kind of sculptures you can see around the workshop. But despite working with wood every day, I’ve never done any of the kind of woodwork that you’ve done – making jewellery boxes or treasure chests or sailboats – and I hear that kind of thing is right up your street. So I was going to suggest that we can whittle some animals today, which we can absolutely do if you wish, but I thought you might want to help me build some birdboxes for future workshops. There will be people coming here who have never done any kind of woodwork before and painting and decorating birdboxes will be the extent of what they want to do. Others might want to make them but I need to know how to do that before I can teach them. So if you can teach me and we can make a few today ready to paint in future workshops then I can teach others how to make them too.’
Frank scowled and Luke wondered if he could see right through what he was trying to do. He started tapping away at his touchpad, obviously wanting to say something. After a few moments, the touchpad spoke for him and Luke was surprised to hear that the voicesounded human and not some computerised robotic voice.
‘The youth of today need to learn more practical skills, it’s a dying art. When I was a boy, everyone learned this kind of thing, now the youth only care about their mobile phones.’
‘I totally agree,’ Luke said. ‘I’ve been teaching myself how to use the lathe lately. The results are OK, but nothing brilliant. Maybe another day you can teach me how to do that too.’
Frank nodded and then pointed to a pile of wooden planks and leftovers in the corner. Daniel wheeled him over there and Luke followed. Frank pointed at various pieces and Luke pulled them out of the pile. Frank gestured to Daniel to wheel him over to the table and Luke placed the pieces of wood down on it and quickly gathered a pencil, ruler and a few tools. Frank started drawing out the shape of the birdhouse as confidently as if he’d made hundreds of them before. He didn’t falter as he picked up the little handsaw and started cutting. Luke glanced at Daniel and he mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
Flick smiled as Frank gathered up one of the birdhouses he’d made and placed it lovingly on his lap ready to leave. He and Daniel had been here for hours, much longer than the designated workshop time, but she hadn’t wanted to stop him when he was clearly enjoying himself so much. Between Frank andLuke they had made twelve birdhouses ready for painting in another workshop and they were beautiful, with little windows, scalloped eaves and even chimneys.
Frank had come to life as he started building the birdboxes. Daniel said it was the first time he’d seen him smile since the accident and Flick loved that they had been able to help him in this way.
Luke had played his part well. She was pretty sure he would be able to build a birdbox on his own but he studiously watched Frank and copied his every move, asking questions now and again, and she could see that Frank really enjoyed helping and teaching him.
‘Thank you so much,’ Daniel said as he started wheeling Frank towards the door. ‘This has been wonderful.’
‘I’ve really enjoyed it too,’ Luke said. ‘And now we have all these perfect birdboxes ready for out next workshop. Although to be honest, I think Frank should come along and help me teach it.’
Frank nodded and then did a hand gesture.
‘He wants to know how much you’ll pay him,’ Daniel winked.
Luke laughed and Frank joined in too.
