Page 7 of Mechanic Next Door
The song ends and the instructor tells us to take a five-minute break to grab some water. I brush my hands together and start to walk toward the mirror where I have my bag tucked into the corner, but my foot rolls onto its side and a pinch hits me in theankle.
“Shoot,” I gasp, hopping onto my opposite foot. I look around to make sure no one saw me, but the instructor comes over with concern on her face. “It’s nothing,” I say, smiling to her, though I’m also wincing inpain.
I hop over to the mirror and try to step on my foot, testing it carefully by putting my toes on the ground to lower myself onto my heel. I shake my head and hiss out another gasp of pain, my brows knitting in thecenter.
“I am so sorry,” the instructor says as she helps me to the floor. A few of the other students rush over. I wanted attention, but this isn’t the kind I wanted, and I certainly didn’t want to be such a bigbother.
“It’s nothing,” I say, “really, it’snothing.”
But when I look down at my ankle, it’s already starting to swell. One of the students leaves the room and comes back moments later with an ice pack and a length ofbandage.
“Thank you,” I say, taking them from her. I don’t know how to wrap a bandage, but I don’t think I need medical attention. I put the ice pack on my ankle and look up at my classmates with an embarrassedsmile.
“Anyone I can call for you?” the instructor says as she appears with a cell phone and a piece of paper. She hands me the paper and I take itcuriously.
“What’s this?” I ask. Across the top it reads Incident Report. Duh, it’s an IncidentReport.
“Anyone who is injured at the gym needs to fill one of those out,” shereplies.
“I’m not injured,” I reply, “it’s just a littlesore.”
“It’s policy,” she replies. “In case you need any medical attention. I’m sure you’ll be better in no time, but we need to have this on file in case of an insurance claim. You can take it home with you and bring it back if you’dlike.”
“Oh,” I say, folding it and reaching for my bag to store it until later. I’ll probably just mail it in. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to show my face here again.Ugh.
“Who can I call for you,honey?”
I look up at her and give her a shakysmile.
“Thomas,” I tell her, touching my ankle and making my lips pull into a thin line. “He’s my emergency contact. He’ll come and getme.”
