“You might consider a new chair,” Dustin says under his breath.
“I know you didn’t just suggest that,” Cletus says. “This was Ginny Sue’s favorite chair.”
“Sorry,” Dustin says, sincerely. “I didn’t know.”
He tilts Cletus just enough for Hallie to reach down and grip the end of the belt. She gives it a good tug and it slips through underneath Cletus. We secure it around him.
Hallie steps off the couch and we each grab a side of the gait belt, tucking our hands and gripping tightly. Hallie’s in an awkward position, hunkered over the couch and her side of the recliner to reach Cletus. But her stance is wide and her knees are slightly bent. She’s ready to hoist him.
“Don’t you think you should let Tree Trunk lift me?” Cletus says, looking up at Hallie with the softest expression I’ve ever seen on his face.
“She’s got you,” I assure him, thinking back to Hallie in the weight room. “She could probably bench press old Tree Trunk over here.”
“Hey!” Dustin protests, but he chuckles and adds. “She’s a beast, Cletus. You’re in good hands.”
We brace. Me on the left, Hallie precariously, but firmly on the right, and Dustin at Cletus' feet.
“We’ll fold him and you push the footrest in. Then we’ll lift him out,” I tell Dustin. “On three.”
I count, “One … two … three!”
Dustin pushes the footrest down. It collapses into the chair.
He braces Cletus' legs.
“Tug!” I say to Hallie.
She tugs. I tug. Cletus folds at the waist, his torso meeting his thighs.
“Lift!” I shout.
We lift together and Cletus' back raises from the chair.
And then something pops inside the chair, followed by the sound of a muffledboing.
I instantly brace myself, tightening my core and widening my stance.
I barely get a chance to glance at Hallie and Dustin when the spring-loaded footrest extends in one swift motion, hitting Dustin like a punch to the abdomen.
He soars backward across the room and lands with an “Oof!”
The propulsion launches Cletus back into the chair. The force of his weight tugs both me and Hallie. We go flying forward, landing in a tangle over Cletus' chest.
Dustin shouts “I’m okay! I’m okay!”
Hallie’s hair is splayed across Cletus and me. I brush it away and look over at her. She’s laughing hysterically, trying to extract herself from the narrow spot where she’s jammed on top of Cletus.
Cletus shouts, “I’m not okay!” He pauses and then he adds, “But tell ya the truth, this is the most action I’ve gotten since Ginny Sue passed.”
Hallie collapses in a heap of laughter.
I push myself up and extend her a hand.
She grabs hold and I lift her off Cletus. Our eyes catch for a moment and I almost imagine her recognizing me, but then she’s all business.
“Let’s try that again,” she suggests.
“Back for more?” Cletus asks, playfully.
