SVH #20 - Crash Landing!
Sweet Valley 20 - Crash Landing, or, Mind Over Matter.
The A Plot: Enid's boyfriend George is taking her as a passenger on his first licensed flight. She is enjoying the ride, but he is wrecked with guilt, because he has been falling in love with Robin Wilson and is planing to tell Enid and break up with her, as soon as they land after the flight. However, he promised to take her on his first licensed flight, and he's going to keep that promise if it kills him, dammit! Personally, I don't think Enid is going to care all that much about that flight once you break up with her, George. But hey, whatever makes you able to sleep at night.
Unfortunately while flying the engine fails, and George has to make an emergency landing on a nearby lake. The plane flips over, and they end up hanging upside down from their seats. George was knocked unconscious by the landing, but Enid wasn't too badly hurt, and is able to make her way out of the plane. She swims over to the other side, in order to get to George's seat belt and get him out of the plane too. Positioned badly, George hits her as he falls out of the seat, and she's knocked backwards and hits the back of her neck on the wing. It doesn't hurt enough to knock her unconscious, but she can no longer feel her legs!!! Fortunately the cold water brought George back to consciousness and he swims to the rescue and helps Enid back to the shore.
Todd was nearby and called for an ambulance, which came and took both Enid and George to a hospital. Robin, who's seen the whole thing, faints from the shock of seeing the man she loves being driving away in an ambulance, despite the fact that he's obviously not dead nor dying.
Being Enid's best friend, for once it makes sense that Liz is one of the first people at the hospital, so I won't snark about that. Enid is still unconscious and nobody can see her, but the doctors tell that she damaged the last disc in her spine, and it's cutting off nerve communication to her legs. Once the swelling goes down they'll try to operate, but they have no idea if it'll be successful or not. Liz knows about George's feelings for Robin, so she finds it awfully awkward to be together with him, but refuses to talk to him about it.
To George, Enid's diagnosis feels like a death sentence. Nope, he's not a drama-queen... 'scuse me, drama-KING at all. He figures that since it's his fault that Enid is paralysed, he can't break up with her, but has to stick with her for ever and ever... or at least until her legs work again. He drives over to Robin to tell her this, and is seen walking away from the house by Lila and Jessica who immediately get the gossip mill started, and soon Robin is treated by a phariah by everybody.
Enid soon regains consciousness and is ready for the operation. As expected the operation is a success and now she just needs some physical therapy and she'll be as good as new. Physically anyway. She can feel something is wrong between her and George, but he won't admit to it or tell her anything. Elizabeth obviously knows what's going on, but feels it isn't her place to interfere. Of course not. You're just her best friend, why should you interfere in her life? IMHO a true friend would have told George, "Either you tell Enid, or I will!" - but perhaps that's just me.
It all comes to a head at a party at school (yet another one!). Enid and George come to the party (and Enid is immediately scorned for being there when she can't even dance! Apparently she should just have stayed away, because only people who can dance are allowed at parties), she tells George that just because she's chained to a wheelchair, he doesn't have to be too, and he should go off dance with somebody. He doesn't wait for her to change his mind, and immediately goes to find Robin. As luck will have it, a slow dance starts right then, and when Enid sees the two of them together, she understands why he's been so remote lately. She rushes off - as fast as she can in the wheelchair - and George takes off after her.
Now, one would have thought that was the end of that, right? But no. Instead of realizing that that was it, and she should let George go, Enid figures that he won't leave her as long as she can't walk, and stops even trying. Yet another place where Enid and I differ - I'd be too proud to stay with somebody who obviously is in love with somebody else.
Elizabeth can see that Enid has completely given up trying to get to walk again, and after talking with Enid's mother and her doctor she knows that there's no medical or physical reason why Enid can't walk. It's just a mental thing and she must therefore be tricked into it!
Once realizing this, she immediately puts her plan into action. She teams up with Mr. Collins, as she needs to borrow his 6-year-old son, Teddy. Once he's in place at the Wakefields', she calls Enid and tells her she needs her to come over right away. Being the loyal friend she is, Enid doesn't stop to wonder why Liz can't just come over to her instead, as it'd be easier, but does as told. When she arrives, Liz and Teddy are out by the pool, where Teddy is playing with his truck. Liz tells Enid to keep an eye on Teddy as he can't swim and goes in to get something to drink. Not stopping to think how utterly ridiculous it is for an invalid to take care of somebody who runs around, Enid agrees.
Of course this is part of the great plan, so once Elizabeth is out of sight Teddy moves closer and closer to the water, and FALLS IN! Oh noes!!! Enid calls for Liz who obviously doesn't respond. She has to do something! She has to save Teddy! Too fast to even think about the fact that she oughtn't be able to do this, she jumps from her wheelchair, runs to the pool and jumps in to save Teddy. Yay! Go Enid.
Elizabeth and Teddy are THRILLED that their plan worked, and Jessica comes home just in time to tell Enid that Teddy swims like a fish, so they all tricked her, but Enid is too happy to be able to walk again to mind at all. She realized she'd just convinced herself she couldn't walk, in an attempt to keep George around, but now decides to let him go, and of course they have a friendly breakup, seeing as they're both so good people.
The B Plot: Lila managed to convince Jessica to sign on to a gourmet cooking course. Jessica thinks it's a waste of time at first, but then discovers that the teacher is a HUNK and stays on to impress him by her mad cooking skilz (Hmmm... here I can't help but think of Stacey and her teacher in "Stacey's Big Crush" and Claudia and her skiing instructor in "Winter Vacation" - a famous plot-line obviously). Actually she ends up being not half bad at cooking, but of course her teacher ends up being married, so she can't impress him enough to get him to go out with her after all. Still, she figures it's not all been in waste, at least now she knows how to cook gourmet food, and can impress her parents by cooking them an amazing meal for their anniversary and showing up Liz who's probably too busy with Enid to remember their anniversary at all.
What Jessica doesn't take into consideration is the fact that Liz has a perfect boyfriend who not only reminds her of the anniversary, but even has an idea for a gift! Tickets to a dinner and a play (wow! Expensive gift for a non-round anniversary!) Jessica is upset, because this means that she'll have to postpone the dinner to the following evening, and it won't be the same if it's not on the day itself.
Still, she agrees to go head and does a 'test run' by making some seafood-thing-or-the-other, which would have been really great - if it wasn't for the fact that she didn't know how to tell that mussels had gone bad, and inadvertedly ended up giving the entire family food poisening! A mistake that can happen to anybody, but her family are totally rude in their reponse. Instead of telling her they knew it was an honest mistake, they actually get MAD at her, as if she'd done it on purpose. Not only that, but they refuse her offer of cooking them a gourmet dinner for their anniversary, replying that "they're not sure they'll be recovered from Sunday by then." Jessica is near tears and thinks "What a bunch of jerks I've got for a family" and for once I really have to agree with her. They're being awfully insensitive about this entire thing, and are constantly comparing her unfavourably to Liz. NOT something parents should do, and I completely understand why Jessica is so hurt. I actually was too, on her behalf.
No conclusion was given to this problem however, as it leads over into "Runaway!" where Jessica embarks on a desperate course of action... for a change.
Misc. info:
* The book prior to this one is apparently the one where Jessica is kidnapped by drug smugglers as mentioned in Soap Star. Does anybody happen to have #19?
* The twins' 'career' as tourist guides is mentioned again in this one. They are devastated to see they can't become guides after all, seeing as they have to provide their own transportation to the center, and have no car. Alice and Ned save the day by offering them use of the Fiat!
The A Plot: Enid's boyfriend George is taking her as a passenger on his first licensed flight. She is enjoying the ride, but he is wrecked with guilt, because he has been falling in love with Robin Wilson and is planing to tell Enid and break up with her, as soon as they land after the flight. However, he promised to take her on his first licensed flight, and he's going to keep that promise if it kills him, dammit! Personally, I don't think Enid is going to care all that much about that flight once you break up with her, George. But hey, whatever makes you able to sleep at night.
Unfortunately while flying the engine fails, and George has to make an emergency landing on a nearby lake. The plane flips over, and they end up hanging upside down from their seats. George was knocked unconscious by the landing, but Enid wasn't too badly hurt, and is able to make her way out of the plane. She swims over to the other side, in order to get to George's seat belt and get him out of the plane too. Positioned badly, George hits her as he falls out of the seat, and she's knocked backwards and hits the back of her neck on the wing. It doesn't hurt enough to knock her unconscious, but she can no longer feel her legs!!! Fortunately the cold water brought George back to consciousness and he swims to the rescue and helps Enid back to the shore.
Todd was nearby and called for an ambulance, which came and took both Enid and George to a hospital. Robin, who's seen the whole thing, faints from the shock of seeing the man she loves being driving away in an ambulance, despite the fact that he's obviously not dead nor dying.
Being Enid's best friend, for once it makes sense that Liz is one of the first people at the hospital, so I won't snark about that. Enid is still unconscious and nobody can see her, but the doctors tell that she damaged the last disc in her spine, and it's cutting off nerve communication to her legs. Once the swelling goes down they'll try to operate, but they have no idea if it'll be successful or not. Liz knows about George's feelings for Robin, so she finds it awfully awkward to be together with him, but refuses to talk to him about it.
To George, Enid's diagnosis feels like a death sentence. Nope, he's not a drama-queen... 'scuse me, drama-KING at all. He figures that since it's his fault that Enid is paralysed, he can't break up with her, but has to stick with her for ever and ever... or at least until her legs work again. He drives over to Robin to tell her this, and is seen walking away from the house by Lila and Jessica who immediately get the gossip mill started, and soon Robin is treated by a phariah by everybody.
Enid soon regains consciousness and is ready for the operation. As expected the operation is a success and now she just needs some physical therapy and she'll be as good as new. Physically anyway. She can feel something is wrong between her and George, but he won't admit to it or tell her anything. Elizabeth obviously knows what's going on, but feels it isn't her place to interfere. Of course not. You're just her best friend, why should you interfere in her life? IMHO a true friend would have told George, "Either you tell Enid, or I will!" - but perhaps that's just me.
It all comes to a head at a party at school (yet another one!). Enid and George come to the party (and Enid is immediately scorned for being there when she can't even dance! Apparently she should just have stayed away, because only people who can dance are allowed at parties), she tells George that just because she's chained to a wheelchair, he doesn't have to be too, and he should go off dance with somebody. He doesn't wait for her to change his mind, and immediately goes to find Robin. As luck will have it, a slow dance starts right then, and when Enid sees the two of them together, she understands why he's been so remote lately. She rushes off - as fast as she can in the wheelchair - and George takes off after her.
Now, one would have thought that was the end of that, right? But no. Instead of realizing that that was it, and she should let George go, Enid figures that he won't leave her as long as she can't walk, and stops even trying. Yet another place where Enid and I differ - I'd be too proud to stay with somebody who obviously is in love with somebody else.
Elizabeth can see that Enid has completely given up trying to get to walk again, and after talking with Enid's mother and her doctor she knows that there's no medical or physical reason why Enid can't walk. It's just a mental thing and she must therefore be tricked into it!
Once realizing this, she immediately puts her plan into action. She teams up with Mr. Collins, as she needs to borrow his 6-year-old son, Teddy. Once he's in place at the Wakefields', she calls Enid and tells her she needs her to come over right away. Being the loyal friend she is, Enid doesn't stop to wonder why Liz can't just come over to her instead, as it'd be easier, but does as told. When she arrives, Liz and Teddy are out by the pool, where Teddy is playing with his truck. Liz tells Enid to keep an eye on Teddy as he can't swim and goes in to get something to drink. Not stopping to think how utterly ridiculous it is for an invalid to take care of somebody who runs around, Enid agrees.
Of course this is part of the great plan, so once Elizabeth is out of sight Teddy moves closer and closer to the water, and FALLS IN! Oh noes!!! Enid calls for Liz who obviously doesn't respond. She has to do something! She has to save Teddy! Too fast to even think about the fact that she oughtn't be able to do this, she jumps from her wheelchair, runs to the pool and jumps in to save Teddy. Yay! Go Enid.
Elizabeth and Teddy are THRILLED that their plan worked, and Jessica comes home just in time to tell Enid that Teddy swims like a fish, so they all tricked her, but Enid is too happy to be able to walk again to mind at all. She realized she'd just convinced herself she couldn't walk, in an attempt to keep George around, but now decides to let him go, and of course they have a friendly breakup, seeing as they're both so good people.
The B Plot: Lila managed to convince Jessica to sign on to a gourmet cooking course. Jessica thinks it's a waste of time at first, but then discovers that the teacher is a HUNK and stays on to impress him by her mad cooking skilz (Hmmm... here I can't help but think of Stacey and her teacher in "Stacey's Big Crush" and Claudia and her skiing instructor in "Winter Vacation" - a famous plot-line obviously). Actually she ends up being not half bad at cooking, but of course her teacher ends up being married, so she can't impress him enough to get him to go out with her after all. Still, she figures it's not all been in waste, at least now she knows how to cook gourmet food, and can impress her parents by cooking them an amazing meal for their anniversary and showing up Liz who's probably too busy with Enid to remember their anniversary at all.
What Jessica doesn't take into consideration is the fact that Liz has a perfect boyfriend who not only reminds her of the anniversary, but even has an idea for a gift! Tickets to a dinner and a play (wow! Expensive gift for a non-round anniversary!) Jessica is upset, because this means that she'll have to postpone the dinner to the following evening, and it won't be the same if it's not on the day itself.
Still, she agrees to go head and does a 'test run' by making some seafood-thing-or-the-other, which would have been really great - if it wasn't for the fact that she didn't know how to tell that mussels had gone bad, and inadvertedly ended up giving the entire family food poisening! A mistake that can happen to anybody, but her family are totally rude in their reponse. Instead of telling her they knew it was an honest mistake, they actually get MAD at her, as if she'd done it on purpose. Not only that, but they refuse her offer of cooking them a gourmet dinner for their anniversary, replying that "they're not sure they'll be recovered from Sunday by then." Jessica is near tears and thinks "What a bunch of jerks I've got for a family" and for once I really have to agree with her. They're being awfully insensitive about this entire thing, and are constantly comparing her unfavourably to Liz. NOT something parents should do, and I completely understand why Jessica is so hurt. I actually was too, on her behalf.
No conclusion was given to this problem however, as it leads over into "Runaway!" where Jessica embarks on a desperate course of action... for a change.
Misc. info:
* The book prior to this one is apparently the one where Jessica is kidnapped by drug smugglers as mentioned in Soap Star. Does anybody happen to have #19?
* The twins' 'career' as tourist guides is mentioned again in this one. They are devastated to see they can't become guides after all, seeing as they have to provide their own transportation to the center, and have no car. Alice and Ned save the day by offering them use of the Fiat!