Wizzy and the streetby Anthony Ridgway

2

Wizzy and the streetDan Edmonds is my name.

I’m 12 years and disabled. But that doesn’t stop me.

Wizzy is my best mate. He’s my cool wheelchair.

But he talks a lot.

He was designed by my Dad.

We have recently moved to 10 Appleblossom Road. It’s just off the high street in the market town of Strawberry Fields.

3

Wizzy and I were cruising down the street.

‘Wizzy, I think there is something odd about number five. I mean, it looks like all the other houses in the road doesn’t it?’

‘Affirmative. They were built in the early nineteenth century. The sort of peoplewho lived in them would have been the vicar, the doctor, the banker, the mayor…’

‘Oh, Wizzy! Don’t start the history lessons again! Don’t you want to know why I think it’s odd?’

‘I am sure you are going to tell me anyway, Dan.’

4

‘Why I think it’s odd, Wizzy, is because there are always people coming in and out at strange times of the night. I have seen them late at night from mybedroom window, flashing lights on and off. I think that they might be watchingour house.

‘Who’s the nosey one around here?’

‘Are you calling me names?’

‘Sorry Dan, I didn’t mean it. Why? What’s so interesting about our house?’

‘It’s you, Wizzy. You are a prototype. You’re unique. They may be planning to steal you.’

5

‘Couldn’t do that with all the safeguards your Dad has built into me.’

‘You are supposed to look like a normal electric wheelchair.’

‘I know that. Have you swallowed a dictionary, by the way, usingbig words like prototype?’

No, I have not. I’m not stupid you know. We’re wasting time. Let’s go.’

‘Anything for you, oh Master!’

‘Oh, p…le...ase! Drive past number five. I want you to take some photos. Mind you do it unobtrusively.’

‘You want me to do it covertly? Ok, ok.’

I scrutinised the house.

‘Have you noticed that the blinds are drawn day or night?’

The front door opened suddenly.

‘Sh-h-h! Don’t say a word Wizzy.’

6

I saw a tall dark-haired man stride out. I noticed large white tombstone teeth grinning at me.

‘Hello, young man. I’m John. I moved in last Tuesday. Hey, that’s somewheelchair you’ve got there!’

‘Hi, yeah, well, it’s just a chair.’

‘It looks very special to me. What does it do?’

‘Just the usual things – starts, stops.’

‘Dan, Dan, where are you? Come back here this minute!’

I heard Mum shouting across the road.

‘Sorry, got to go.’

I thought John looked annoyed.

‘Ok, another time then. I’d really like to have a close look at the chair.’

I put my hand on Wizzy’s control knob. We wheeled away, making sure that we used the dropped curb to cross the road. John, if that was his realname, was watching us.

I didn’t want to give him any ideas about Wizzy’s capabilities.

7

Using the remote control, I opened our front door. Safely inside, I said,

‘See, I told you he was up to no good. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on you, Wizzy.’

‘Just let him try! He might get a few shocks!’

Mum came bustling up, her mouth twitching impatiently.

‘Dan, how many times do I have to tell you? If you are going out, please tell me. You may think that dratted wheelchair is the best thing since ‘Knight Rider’, but it’s not invincible you know. Do I have to remind you about Crackpot Havington? I’ve never been so scared in my life. A cliff top rescue indeed! What you were doing there in the first place, I’ll never know. And another thing…’

8

‘Mum, have you met the people across the road? They moved in the same time as us.’

‘No I haven’t! Don’t change the subject.’

She stopped talking as the phone began to ring.

‘I will finish this with you later, Dan.’

‘Quick, let’s go before Mum comes back. Oh, too late.’

‘Just where do you think you two are going?’

‘Now, where were we? You may be 12 years old but anything could happen to you out on the street on your own.’

‘But I am not on my own, I’ve got Wizzy.’

‘Wizzy is only a wheelchair.’

‘But Mum…’

‘But Mum nothing!’

‘I think that John, the man from across the road, wants to get his hands onWizzy, because he was asking me all sorts of questions about how he works.’

‘Don’t be so silly. He’s probably just being friendly.’

‘Well, I think he looks like a gangster.’

9

‘For goodness sake – your imagination will get you into serioustrouble one of these days! Anyway, I’ve got a lot to do. I haven’tgot time to stand here talking all day.’

‘She’s in a bad mood, isn’t she?’

‘Affirmative. She doesn’t seem to like me. I don’t know why. I haven’t done anything.’

‘Oh come on, there’s no need to get above yourself.’

‘Negative. How can I be in two places at once?’

‘Oh Wizzy, you are such a smart arse! Let’s go.’

‘You know what your Mother said about telling her where you are going.’

‘You get more and more like her every day. Are you my conscience now?’

I opened the front door.

‘Don’t say a word!’

‘Whatever you command!’

‘We’ll just go to the end of the road. We can see the high street from there, can’t we?’

10

I waited for a response.

‘Wizzy, I’m speaking to you!’

‘Oh, do you want me to answer you? You told me not to say anything!’

‘You are impossible! I meant don’t talk to anyone else, you wally.’

‘Hello young man, Dan isn’t it?’

‘I’m John, remember? Who were you talking to?’

‘Er, I was talking to myself. And I’d rather you didn’t creepup behind me like a mouse. You made me jump.’

‘Sorry, I just wanted to…’

‘Beep, beep.’

‘Oh no! Got to go, my wheelchair needs charging!’

I turned the wheelchair round. We began to retrace our way home.

‘Well done Wizzy! Good thinking!’

11

I glanced over my shoulder. John was looking after us, a puzzled expressionon his face. There was something else, too, but I couldn’t make it out. As weslipped in through the front door, Mum said, ‘Ah, there you are! You haven’tbeen out on the street have you?’

‘Of course not, Mum. You told me not to go out without telling you, didn’t you?’

‘That’ll be a first!’ she retorted.

‘Your supper’s ready. Lamb chops ok?’

‘Great! My favourite!’

Whilst we were eating, I asked, ‘When does Dad get back from America?’

‘Next week – on Tuesday. The conference he’s speaking at finishes on Monday evening. Trust him to be away, leaving me to sort out theunpacking. He’s never here when you need him!’

12

After supper, I went to my room. Logging on to my computer, I clicked on to the Massachusetts University website. Dad had told me that there would be a synopsis of his address at the conference on advances in robotics.

‘Wizzy, look. Dad has been speaking about how you can develop technology to support people with severe disabilities. If I plug you in to one of the ports, can you upload it so we can look at it later?’

‘Affirmative. So what am I now? Your servant?’

‘You’re a computer – with attitude!’

Mum’s voice floated down the hall from the kitchen, ‘Half an hour to bed. You’ll be starting your new school tomorrow, don’t forget.’

That’ll be interesting for you, Wizzy. You’ll have to keep quiet all day! Bet you can’t!’

‘Bet I can. Just you wait and see!’

13

An hour later, I was snuggled up in bed. I could see number five quite clearly as my bed was next to the window. There they go again! Lights going on and off!I wish I knew what they were up to.

Just then Mum came in.

‘I’ve put the wheelchair on charge. Have a good night. See you in the morning.Shall I pull the blind down?’

‘No thanks, Mum. I like to look out at the street. He’s called Wizzy, by the way, not the wheelchair!’

14

‘As far as I am concerned, it’s a heap of computerised metal. Another of yourDad’s little experiments!’

‘Don’t be like that! He’s only trying to help.’

Mum sighed. ‘I know – I’m just tired. It’s stressful moving house. And I worryabout you too.’

‘I’ll be fine! Why don’t you get an early night too? The unpacking can wait until tomorrow.’

‘You know, I think I will. ’Night love.’

I must have drifted off to sleep. I woke with a start. I thought I could hearmuffled voices.

‘Look, here’s the wheelchair. We’d better get a move on before we’re caught.’

‘I can’t move it! How do you get it to move?’

‘Hey, don’t stand on my foot!’

‘I’m not! I’m over here!’

I wriggled, trying to reach the phone on my bedside table. It was just out of reach. It was no good calling Mum because that would alert the intruders. What am I going to do?

All I could do was listen. I felt so helpless.

15

‘Come on, Wizzy!’ I whispered. ‘Now’s the time to get up to your tricks!’

I had no idea if he could hear me in standby mode, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do.

‘Ow! The dratted thing has given me a shock!’

‘How? Jim, it’s not switched on.’

‘It did! You have a go!’

‘Frank, hold the torch over here. If we can’t locate the freewheel mechanism,we’ll just have to switch it on and drive it out.’

16

‘Ok, here goes. Hey, where’s it going? Watch out, I think it’s trying to ram us!’

I heard sounds of bumping and knocking. I smiled. Good on you, Wizzy!

‘Quick, Jim, hop into the seat. Take control. We’ll get it into the van.’

I heard the front door opening.

‘This is tricky, it seems to have a mind of its own!’ This was Jimspeaking, I guessed.

‘Whoops! Mind out, it’s trying to reverse!’

‘I know we were told that this was a unique wheelchair and to takegood care of it, but John didn’t say anything about special effects!’

There! I thought. I knew it. I was right! John showed much too much interest in Wizzy!

‘Come on, keep going. We’re nearly there.’

‘It’s all very well for you, Frank. You are not fighting a machine that keeps going anywhere but forward!’

‘Oh, no! What’s that! Police sirens! We’ve been rumbled! Run for it!’

17

Mum came running in to my room, her dressing gownflapping round her ankles.

‘Are you all right?’ she gasped. ‘What’s happening?’

‘Wizzy, they are trying to steal Wizzy!’

‘We’ll soon see about that!’

She turned on her heels and ran out of the door.

‘Be careful, Mum!’ I called.

I heard her running down the hall. Then voices.

‘Here it is, Angela. They dumped it in the street as they ran off. They won’t get far.’

I recognised the person speaking to Mum.

It was John! Oh no!

18

‘Mum!’ I screamed at the top of my voice. ‘Shut the door! Don’t let him in!’

Mum came back into my room, closely followed by John.

‘Don’t trust him, Mum. He’s behind all this!’

‘Dan, whatever is the matter with you? It was a good job John was up. He called the police.’

‘What do you mean? Those men were talking about John. And he’s been pestering me about Wizzy!’

John threw his head back and laughed.

19

Mum and I looked at each other in amazement.

‘I can see that an explanation is needed,’ smiled John.

‘My wife has been very ill. She needs round-the-clock care. The specialist says she is unlikely to be able to walk again. So we have been thinking about getting her a wheelchair. That’s why I was interested in yours, Dan.’

I felt really stupid. I muttered, ‘Sorry.’

‘Don’t worry about it. Now, Angela, we’d better go and talk to the police.’

Turning back to me, he said, ‘And I expect they’ll want to talk to you as well, Dan. Your information will be really valuable.’

‘Mum, can you bring Wizzy in here please?’

A few minutes later, Wizzy and I were talking.

‘You were brilliant, Wizzy! I wish I could have seen you in action.’

‘Well, you can! I recorded it all, didn’t I!’

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7342 Scope is a registered charity, number 208231. Copyright Scope May 2010 / revised May 2014Manuscript © Anthony Ridgway 2010

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