Page 58 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
He shakes his head. “No, all I need to do is make a note of his handwriting. You can keep it.”
I smile at his written name. “I say it’s an improvement from middle school, so give him a big check mark.”
Savanna then plucks the deck of cards from the bedside table and brings them over to the sitting area.
Oh, wait. What were those words again?Apple, table, penny.Okay, got it.
Savanna takes three cards from the pile and shows them to Wyatt. “Can you read these numbers?”
He nods. “Yes.”
Savanna then holds the cards face down against her chest.
Dr. Fincher taps the pile on the table. “Find the same numbers in the pile.”
Wyatt’s brow furrows as Dr. Fincher slides the deck across the table. They are shuffled in no particular order. Wyatt pushes the cards from side to side with his index finger. He slides the three of clubs toward him on the table and then leans forward, inspecting the other cards. After more searching, he pulls the ten of diamonds.
“Umm,” he mumbles, scratching the side of his head.
Oh gosh. Has he forgotten?
Apple, penny...Oh dang it. What was the third one?
As I struggle to recall the other word, Wyatt selects the six of hearts.
Savanna places her cards down by his. The three of spades, ten of clubs, and six of clubs.
“Excellent work,” she says proudly.
Wyatt rubs his fingertips together. “It was hard enough getting the corner of the card.”
“But you’ve been working on it,” Savanna says. “You’ve improved somuch by practicing. Keep it up, and you’ll overcome the numbness.”
Dr. Fincher then sets a new piece of paper on Wyatt’s table. I lean forward, checking out the activities displayed. One section, Wyatt has to match identical images in a cluster. Another section, he has to connect the dots to create shapes. And another he has to fill in the blanks of three sentences.
As he slowly works through the tests with Dr. Fincher carefully watching him, my mind draws blank.
Dang it. What were those words again?
Umm. Oops. I can’t even think of one.
How the heck will Wyatt remember them after all these other tests?
Wyatt’s hand shakes on the connect-the-dots, and he struggles with the sentences, wincing from a headache. He pushes himself through to finish, and Dr. Fincher retrieves the paper, thanking him.
“Okay, Wyatt,” Dr. Fincher says with an optimistic smile. “Can you recall those words from earlier?”
He looks down as if the words will be written in front of him.
“Apple.” He pauses, and after a beat, looks back up. “Table, and penny.”
Savanna applauds. “Fabulous.”
“Good stuff, Wyatt,” Dr. Fincher applauds.
Wyatt’s chest rises and falls like he’s finished a mile run.
“Oh my goodness,” I murmur. “I can’t believe you remember those words.”
