Community: Real Life

The perfect crime


Viks

Viks is 21 and from Surrey. She's bed-bound due to Myalgic Encephalopathy (M.E.), but works hard as co-founder of Post Pals, a website community for sick young people.
Entry: 7
Date: 02/09/2008

Viks is invited to a Royal garden party at Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

Post Pals recently won The Queens Award for Voluntary Services, the group equivalent of an MBE, and I was given the honour of meeting some of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace. On the morning of the party we were late leaving because of a hair and wardrobe malfunction. My hair was covered in curlers and tons of hairspray, but when I took them out I only had one curl and the rest of my hair looked like I had been plugged into a socket! While I panicked, my Dad got out the straighteners and demonstrated his less masculine side. We were ready to go until dad put on his jacket and realised that his new shirt went all the way down to his knuckles; not a good look! My Mum had to hoist them up with rubber bands before we were finally able to set off.

When we eventually got to the Palace we met my friend Kat and queued up at the disabled entrance. It was at that moment we realised we were the only people under the age of 50. It was freezing, so I wore my Dads suit jacket, leaving the rubber bands showing. A band was playing and when they finished there was a deadly silence. I started clapping and suddenly everyone seemed to have a look of panic across their face which said: "Are we meant to be clapping?" They eventually joined in. Kat pointed out that you're not meant to clap and suggested starting a Mexican wave.

In the bag

At the garden party we were faced with the difficult task of transporting the cakes and sandwiches back home. I had come well prepared with a set of sandwich bags, but it felt like everyone had their eyes on me. The more discrete I tried to be the more obvious it was that I was taking them. In the end I got the bags out, dropped a chocolate cake and cucumber sandwich into them and put them inside my bag. Unfortunately the bag didn't have a zip to fully conceal the loot, but at least I wouldn't go hungry.

As the Queen's entrance drew closer a big reception line formed. Everyone in wheelchairs went at the end of the line with their carers behind them. My Dad said it looked like we were in front of a firing squad. The Queen walked down the middle of the line and came over to the people in wheelchairs. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Gloucester all shook our hands and we talked about Post Pals.

Whilst everyone else was leaving I wanted to see more of the Palace. We had only seen a few of the rooms, but the ones we had seen were beautiful; I especially liked the ceilings. When I'm better I would like to have a tour of Buckingham Palace so I can see the other rooms I missed. In 10 years' time, what would I regret more, not seeing the Palace or getting funny looks as I crawled up a flight of concrete stairs?

Getting some stares

Inside the palace there were lots of steps that I had to negotiate. My dilemma was whether to go down forwards and show off my knickers, or backwards with my bottom in the air. I ended up going down sideways crab-style. And what could make this experience more embarrassing than it already was? Two lines of scouts at the bottom of the stairs watching me! And the embarrassment didn't stop there.

When we got to a little courtyard my Dad pushed me up a concrete step and accidentally tipped me out of my wheelchair. I went flying and my bag burst open with all the contents scattering themselves over the floor, including the stolen sandwiches and cakes. I could hardly claim it was a spur of the moment thing because they were in sandwich bags - surely that makes it premeditated theft?

Thankfully we made it home in one piece, along with the cake and cucumber sandwich. My grandparents were especially pleased and ended up freezing the food to keep as a memento. It was a great day, but it was also very tiring. When I eventually got back into my bed I text my friend and said: "You know when people are hungover they say they are never going to drink again? Well right now I never plan to leave my bed again!"


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