compl
ains it's getting too cold, take it off for a while
and then put it back on. understand?"
I nodded.
"Doesn't he have to go to the hospital.
Mommy?" I asked her when she stood up and started
for the door.
She turned to me slowly.
"No," she said. "They won't do anything mare
than what I have done and will do."
Will he be all right?"
"I don't know. Will he?" she shot back at me. I
couldn't understand why.
I scrunched my eyebrows. Why did she think I
knew the answer?
She stared at me a moment, and then she
walked out of our room. Noble groaned.
"It hurts. Celeste. It hurts so much," he said.
"More than splinters or cuts, more than anything." I looked at the empty doorway, and then I
returned to him and held the ice pack on his leg. I
stroked his arm softly.
"I know it hurts. I'm sorry it hurts. Noble." "Why doesn't Mommy stop it from hurting?" he
asked me.
She did. She gave you something. This ice pack
will help. too. It will all help you soon." I said. He closed his eyes and whimpered. I looked at
his lea. It was black and blue around where the bone
had protruded. I thought it looked horrible. He should
be in a hospital. I concluded. Maybe Mommy will
realize it soon and take him.
"I. . . want... to play with... my trains." Noble