Page 8 of Property of Mongrel

“Well, let’s get this day started,” I say out loud. “Good thing I always look at who I’m scheduled to have because I’m wearing the perfect shirt for a little boy who likes superheroes.

“Hey, Darby, who have you brought to see me today?” I ask after coming back from lunch. “Because I thought I was meeting a little boy named JB, not Iron Man,” I tease, peering from my peripheral at the little guy’s face lighting up behind his costume.

“Hey, Addy. Well, JB was a little bit nervous about what physical therapy would entail,” she says, “and so, since I found out how much he likes the Avengers, I told him that maybe you’d be okay with Iron Man coming with him today.”

I crouch in front of the wheelchair that he’s currently sitting in and see Darby’s apologetic look. “Guess one of his fancy cars wasn’t available to bring you today, huh?” I ask, making sure the brakes are locked, while I scan the costume to make sure I’ll still be able to do what I need to during his assessment.

“No,” he says, his voice kind of quiet and subdued.

“This works just fine, especially since I know you just got your cast off your leg. That walk from the parking lot is brutal on me and I didn’t just have a cast on my leg for twelve weeks!” I exclaim, looking directly at JB.

“Do you know what happened to me?” he asks.

“A little bit,” I confess, “but you can tell me if you want. The choice is yours, though, okay?” I hear a slight sniff and glance over at Darby and give her a reassuring smile. “In the meantime, how about if I ask you some questions?”

“Okay.” I watch him straighten his little shoulders and it looks like he’s holding his breath.

“Alrighty, how do you feel about frogs?” I ask. “And why do you think the Hulk turns green? Did he drink frog juice or something?”

Little giggles ring out and I smile while I wait. “Um, no, it’s because of the lab explosion when he was David Banner. All the chem… chemicals and stuff make him turn green whenever he hulks out. But he only does that when… when he gets mad. I like frogs though, especially the really big ones.”

“Bullfrogs? I like the noises they make, but frogs kind of scare me,” I confess, “because they jump around and act all willy-nilly.”

“It’s because you’re a girl,” JB replies.

“This is true. I don’t really like snakes either,” I say, then laugh when he shudders. “What do you know about physical therapy?”

“Mama Rossi says it’s to help my arm and leg get strong again, but I don’t know how that happens,” he tells me.

“Well, today’s a very easy visit,” I whisper as I lean closer, like I’m sharing a big secret. “But yes, Mama Rossi is correct. What I’ll do today is see how you walk, then also take measurements to see what your range of motion is right now so I know what we have to focus on. When you come here, we’ll do specific exercises, and after so many visits, I’ll do measurements again to see what kind of progress we’ve made so far, okay?” At his nod, I continue. “I’ll also go over some easy exercises that you’ll do at home between visits, and I’ll show them to Mama Rossi while you do them with my help so she can help you if you need it. I’m also going to print off those instructions for you to take home. You can read now, right?”

“Not really big words,” he replies, “but Mama Rossi can help me, can’t she?”

“Absolutely! Teamwork makes the dream work and our goal, working together, is to get everything strong again so you can play sports or do whatever it is you enjoy the most.”

“I like to run,” he whispers. “And I really like motorcycles, too.”

“Now, where have you seen motorcycles?” I ask, knowing that there’s a club not too far out of town. I’ve seen them around, but only in passing.

“When I’m riding in the car. I count them,” he replies.

“Okay, here’s the first thing we’re going to do. I need you to back the chair up to the wall, make sure you lock the brake, then I want you to stand up and walk toward me, turn around and walk back to the chair,” I state. I have him repeat the action several times while I focus on his gait; he seems to be a little unsure on the newly healed leg which is what I anticipated, which makes him wobble.

“How was that?” he asks when I tell him he can sit back down.

“Not too bad, JB. I can tell you’re a little bit hesitant but that’s why you’re seeing me. It’s been a long time since you were able to walk. Your body has healed, but your mind has to catch up and realize that those bones have knitted themselves together and will hold you and walk.”

“Bones knit?” he asks, a confused look on his face.

I laugh, glad to see a glimpse of what appears to be a precocious, intelligent little boy that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt Darby will encourage. I don’t know what will happen down the road as far as him going back home, of course, but I mentally promise that I’ll do everything possible to ensure he’s strong and ready to take on the world again.

“Well, it’s more of an expression, JB,” I reply. “Do you know anyone who knits?”

“Mama Rossi does sometimes when we sit and watch a movie,” he says.

“Okay, so you know how she has all those stitches on one of the sticks, right?” At his nod, I continue, “and on the other side is what she makes from those stitches. She ‘knits’ the pieces together, and that’s what your bones did while they were healing. The two parts are now whole again without any breaks. But your brain says it’ll hurt if you walk on that leg because the last time you tried, it was broken. Do you understand?”

“I think so,” he slowly says.