Rolling Traveler

Adults generally try don’t pass comment when they see someone in a wheelchair. Well, at least they try not to get caught making a remark, although I’ve heard a few over the years, usually along the lines of “I wonder what happened to him?” or “I bet he dived into shallow water.” I’ve also noticed that it’s rare for someone to ask me directly why I am in a wheelchair; people often asked why I needed the crutches when I used them, and when my arm was in a cast, that seemed to be a popular ice-breaker too. However, when it comes to the wheelchair, with its sense of permanence, the general rule for adults seems to be to stifle your curiosity because you might cause offense.
Children on the other hand have no such reservation.

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