Not Again

Marta hugged and kissed his sweating and tear-tracked face. Finally, he calmed down and lay panting.

“Marta, you’ll have to hold him again,” said Reese.

“You can’t be serious.” Marta said incredulously.

“It didn’t set.” Dr. Reese shook his head grimly. “We’ll have to try again.”

Marta looked down at the boy, whose brow was covered in sweat. He seemed to know what was going on and nodded his consent. He grabbed the padded sides of the table as if he could channel his pain into the table and down to the floor.

Once again the doctor gave a nod to prepare everyone, grunted, and pulled.

Digul strained against Marta and Benji, raised his head, then released the familiar scream. It was choked off before it could build up, as the pain proved too great. Digul’s eyes rolled back in his head, and Marta eased him back down to the table.

“All right, I think that did it. Congratulations, team,” said Reese.

“Shouldn’t we revive him?” asked Marta.

“Not at all, I think it is the perfect time to put on his cast. While he is out we can wrap it without any protest,” Dr. Reese explained while gathering plaster and bandages.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.