Page 60 of Love's Cure

“I’ll wait here in case you need me,” Crystal told Emmett.

Crystal sat in the waiting room. It was interesting to see the changes Emmett had made to the space, including painting the walls a sunny yellow and updating the dark wood chairs lining the room with bright colors. It gave the room a more welcoming feel.

A few minutes later, Emmett appeared. “Crystal, can you join us? While I set the arm, Jeffrey and his mother could use some pleasant conversation from you. And then you can help me keep them both calm while I take care of the temporary cast.”

Flattered, Crystal rose and followed him into the examination room.

“I have a clear picture of the arm and it appears the radius has a clean fracture. I’ll adjust the arm a bit and then we can put a temporary cast on the arm. It’s adjustable for when the swelling goes down but don’t worry about that. You can bring Jeffrey in this week to have me take another look at it and adjust the cast.”

“Sounds like an easy plan, huh, Jeffrey?” Crystal said cheerfully. “Want me to tell you a story about my sister and the purple cast she wore once?”

Jeffrey gave her an unenthusiastic nod.

Crystal began with, “My sister’s name is Misty, and she was nine, I’m guessing a little older than you when she broke her arm. The doctor put a cast on her arm, covered in purple, and they made up a story about how she saved a whole family of fairies by doing battle with a mean gardener who was about to destroy their little garden kingdom. We can make up a story for you, too. Would you like to do that?”

Jeffrey’s eyes lit with interest. He nodded, unaware of the adjustment Emmett was making to his arm.

“What do you want to do? Take on pirates? Spacemen? What?” she asked him, noting how pleased the mother seemed at the way Jeffrey was smiling.

“I want to fight sea monsters,” said Jeffrey. “Big ones, like dinosaurs.”

“Okay, let’s begin. Once there was a boy named Jeffrey. And he lived by the sea...where?”

“In Florida,” said Jeffrey.

His mother laughed. “We recently visited Disney World.”

“Okay, Florida,” said Crystal. “And the little boy Jeffrey one day saw a monster rise out of the sea. What did he look like?”

“He was big and green with sharp teeth like a shark,” said Jeffrey, hardly noticing Emmett tightening the temporary cast around his arm.

“And then what happened?” Crystal asked. She loved children’s imaginations.

“Then Jeffrey told the monster to go away. People wanted to swim. But the monster said, ‘I want to swim too. So, Jeffrey said, ‘Okay, but you have to give us magical rides in the water.”

“Oh, what fun! Did he give everyone rides?”

“Yes. Even Betsy Dooley. She’s not my girlfriend.”

Crystal worked not to laugh. Jeffrey was such a sweet boy. Poor Betsy Dooley.

Emmett’s eyes were twinkling with laughter, but he said seriously, “Okay, Jeffrey, I’m glad you got the monster under control. Guess what! You’re almost ready to leave. You and Crystal can keep talking while I give your mother instructions for taking care of the arm.”

“Okay,” said Jeffrey looking at the cast. “I want a blue color.”

“Remember that when it’s time to choose,” said Crystal.

His mother returned to get him.

Crystal helped him off the examination table. “Goodbye, Jeffrey. It was fun to hear your story. I hope your arm heals fast.”

Jeffrey waved to her before he turned to leave.

“Thank you for your help,” said Jeffrey’s mother.

“I’m glad I could be of help,” Crystal said, following them to the front door.

Emmett met them there. “Call my office on Monday to make an appointment. We’ll want to check on the swelling and go from there.”

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