Page 178 - The Exceptional Harley Fetterman

JUDY K JOHNSON

Harley was known to not show preferences concerning the ages of
his closest friends. He simply could relate to everyone in a down-to-
earth, honest perspective. His closest friends had no age restrictions.
One such friend, initially an adult friend of Harley's parents, was
Brandon Tomasini, a young Real Estate Agent, who assisted Beth and
Kevin in various property ventures. During the summer of 2006,
Brandon had several weekend appointments with Kevin and Beth
touring property sites. One weekend, Harley went along with his
parents on an appointment in Kyle, Texas. At this first get-together,
Brandon had no idea that Harley was blind since he effortlessly
carried himself about in a manner that gave no indication of visual
impairment—even as he explored every potential house without any
assistance. Harley represented himself as a polite, young gentleman
and would discuss details he had discovered in the properties with
decisive clarity.

At the end of appointments, Brandon customarily shook hands
with all his clients. He reached out his open hand to Harley, who
didn't respond, frankly leaving Brandon quite uncertain. Then in that
profound moment, Beth discreetly commented on Harley's blindness
startling Brandon so intensely that he would remember it forever. In
this revelation, Brandon would instantly comprehend Harley's
positive outlook on life—never, ever inhibited by his lack of sight.
Brandon would learn with additional appointments that Harley would
kindly accept verbal guidance—but very clearly not by guided touch.
Harley would kindly insist that he could manage by himself as he
confidently explored any unknown territory.
Harley was always confident in his math skills and loved to be
challenged with difficult math problems. He often proposed that
friends like Brandon give him an extremely difficult equation to solve
such as any four-digit number divided by any three-digit number.
Brandon would need to refer to a calculator to check the answer
which Harley derived in just a few moments entirely in his head
without any help. At the successful conclusion of every math
problem, Harley was quite delighted to note how impressed Brandon
was with his mathematical expertise which often left Brandon stunned
and speechless. Not long after their friendship started, Brandon began
referring to Harley as “little brother.”

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