Chapter Ten

"Should we go in?" I quizzed.

"She's fine, she likes company, but not when she's working, if she can help it," Grey replied. I glanced again at the examination room door. I stacked my fists on my knee, switched the bottom one to the top. "Did you see the new Bean movie?" Grey asked.

"No, is it good?"

"Haven't seen it, just wondering if you had."

"Oh." Conversation terminated.

He started up again thirty seconds later, "Do you have brothers or sisters?" I ran a hand through my hair and nodded.

"Brother or sister?"

"Um, brother," I bit my lip, uncomfortable. "And you?"

"All alone," Grey smiled. "Do you want to play a game of cards?" He pulled a deck out of his back pocket. I smiled quietly and suggested Slam. We moved onto the floor, poised over the coffe table. Our hands flew, back and forth. Here, there. Card, card. I darted my hand in, whacked it onto the smaller pile. Game over, I grinned.

The door swung open. Dr. Fortin held a cardboard box, air holes punched in the top. "All yours." She handed it to me. "Bring him back in a week for a checkup." I thanked her. "Grey'll be going into ninth grade this year, same as you, right?" I nodded.

"See ya around then," I said bye to Grey and thanked Dr. Fortin. They watched me out to the road, then closed the door. I started the walk home.


Ten minutes later, sitting in my room, I pulled open the cardboard box, decided that I would get a bus down to the pet shop later on. The little green thing had a splint and bandage on it's leg. It looked so pathetic, so vunerable. Just like Jimmy. He could be dying right now. He could be dead. Maybe he too has a broken leg, but no cast. I checked myself. Alice, stop this! You are not to imagine. Don't think about it, Alice.