STILETTO – a high pointed HEEL on a woman’s shoe or a small dagger.

WHEELS – a medieval instrument of torture or a vehicle for personal mobility.

I need a wheelchair.

I go to a wheelchair shop. We found it in the yellow pages (no-one is on the internet in 1998!). It is in Watford. I have never shopped in Watford in my life. I am not feeling good about this.

The shop is in a Portakabin in a car park. I do not want to go in. It is full of scooters, wheelchairs, sticks, commodes. I hate it.

We go in. I am barely able to stand. I lean on EaZyD and have a tripod walking stick in the other hand. I hate this too. I sit on a chair. I hate the salesman. I want to leave as quickly as possible.

EaZyD explains what we need: a basic folding wheelchair with small wheels to go in the boot of our car. This is a short-term need. I will be walking soon – when they find out what is wrong with me. I want a cheap chair. I stare out of the window, fixedly.

The salesman shows us a chair. It is bright purple. Other wheelchairs are red, green, pink. Why do they come in these disgusting colours?

‘It has to be black,’ I say. The salesman is trying to be nice. He says people like the colours, especially children. I stare at him, coldly. I am dressed in black. He gets it. He brings me a wheelchair in black with an ugly chrome frame.

‘Fine,’ I say. I sit in the wheelchair. He tries to ask if it is comfortable, the right size. I look at EaZyD.

‘We’ll take it,’ he says to the salesman. ‘It is fine.’

We drive home, in silence.

I have a wheelchair.

STILETTOWHEELS.CO.UK ©2008-12 All rights reserved. Stilettowheels is strictly editorial. We accept no payment for views expressed.

We check facts at publication. Over time, businesses, websites, and products change so we cannot guarantee the accuracy of old content.

Editorial policy | Privacy policy | Terms and Conditions | Original artwork by Inky Mitch