Chapter 22 - Anna Falls
Anna was eight when history almost scared me into becoming stupid.
School called Nora.
Monkey bars.
Anna had landed awkwardly on left hand.
Pain.
Swelling.
I happened to be nearby and met them at urgent care.
Different clinic.
Different city.
Nora arrived with Anna holding an ice pack.
The nurse asked:
“What happened?”
Nora started:
“She…”
Then stopped.
Looked at Anna.
“You tell.”
Anna said:
“I jumped from monkey bars because Mia said I couldn’t.”
Nora sighed.
“Excellent judgment.”
Anna continued:
“I landed like this.”
She demonstrated.
The nurse asked:
“Did anyone tell you what to say?”
Anna looked confused.
“No.”
I felt something in my chest.
Not relief exactly.
A cycle can end so quietly nobody notices.
X ray:
No fracture.
Sprain.
Supportive brace.
Rest.
The registration form needed parent signature.
Nora signed.
Anna looked.
“Can Grandpa sign?”
Nora laughed.
“No. He can sign his own stuff.”
I nearly cried.
She saw.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Do not make this weird.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Anna asked:
“Why?”
Nora said:
“Grandpa has paperwork feelings.”
That became family joke.
Then nurse asked:
“Any concern going home?”
Nora answered:
“No.”
Anna answered:
“No, except Jack steals charger.”
Normal.
No hidden fear.
We left.
In parking lot Nora said:
“Did you notice?”
“Yes.”
“She fell and it was just accident.”
“Yes.”
“No one got ruined.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I used to think accident meant Claire was right about not making big deal.”
“No.”
“Now I get difference.”
“What?”
May you like
“You can treat an accident seriously without turning it into disaster.”
Exactly.
