Suddenly across the mall, they heard a screech and before she knew it, three teenage girls were standing beside their table. "Is that Nick Carter?" They asked her. Kathy grinned. "Why don�t you ask him?" "He�s blind now." The leader stage whispered. "That means he can�t SEE." Kathy whispered back. "As far as I know his hearing is fine." The girls turned to Nick and asked him for an autograph. "I don�t know." Nick was flustered. "You can do it Nick. Where do you want the signature girls?" Magazines with pinups were produced and Kathy guided his hand to a clear spot on the photo and Nick signed with a flourish. The girls thanked him and left, but one hung back. "Are you going to be able to dance Nick? My friends told me you won�t sing anymore because you can�t dance." Nick smiled faintly. "I don�t think I�ll be able to dance too much, but I should still be able to sing." "Oh that�s great!" The girl bounced up and down and hugged Nick around the shoulders. "I�m so glad you are alright!" she blurted out before she ran to catch up with her friends.

They finished up their drinks and Kathy went to pay the bill. "I�ll try the cane." Nick announced when she returned. Kathy placed it in his hand and secured the strap around his wrist so he wouldn�t drop it if he hit something unexpectedly. "I�ll be honest Nick and tell you that I don�t expect you to do that well with it here. The mall is a very hard place to get around in, even if you can see. So don�t get discouraged, okay?" Nick nodded and they set off for the car. He walked comfortably arm in arm with Kathy, slowly tapping his cane in a broad sweep in front of him. "Not too big of a range, Nick." she cautioned. "You may hit people on either side of you. Kind of swing it as far as your wrist will allow you." He continued walking along, trying not to stab the cane out in front of him and hit people with it. "You�re not guiding me away from things are you?" he asked. "I haven�t hit a thing!" "No, you�re doing great Nick! You just happened to pick a clear path." Just as the words left her mouth, the cane came in contact with the rubber matting by the door. "What�s that?" Nick asked. "Think about it Nick. Step on it and see." Kathy encouraged. Nick took a hesitant step and heard the whoosh of the door opening. "Oh, the door pad!" he grinned. They walked out to the truck, Kathy making sure Nick encountered a few curbs and speed bumps along the way. When they reached the vehicle she helped him into his seat again and climbed in the drivers side. "That was a pretty good first lesson Mr. Carter." Nick sank into his seat and yawned. "I�m exhausted! Are we going home?" Kathy smiled at him. "I think you�ve had a pretty eventful first day out. We are heading home!"

When they reached the house Nick asked if Kathy would help him out to the pool. "I just want to sit in the sun and smell the water." Kathy agreed and made sure he was comfortable before she returned to the house to unpack their purchases. She placed the pamphlets on the counter, so that she could read them later. The phones and various other things she dumped on the table, waiting for Nick's return for his input on where he wanted items placed. She was placing the few food items they had bought away when she heard the front door slam. "Nick?" she said questioningly and peeked out the window. No, he was still sitting in the lounge chair, face tilted up to the sun. "Nick honey, I�m home!" Kathy whirled around at the loud female voice. A tall brunette with long hair in a crimped 80's style with her hands on her hips glared at her. "Where�s Nick and who the hell are you?"