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“Yes. Our dear is a little out of sorts this morning.”
“I want my moogie!” Ryan cries.
I watch closely when Summer springs into action. She drops to her knees beside him. Gerald and Sylvia slip out of the room. “Your moogie? What on earth is a moogie, sweetheart?”
Ryan looks around and his eyes grow wide at the sight of Summer. He backs away and looks around wildly.
Summer looks around and realizes she is alone with Ryan. I feel Sylvia sidle up beside me.
“Let’s see how she holds up. He’s been quite fussy this morning as you can see.”
“I’m Summer. And you must be Ryan,” Summer says.
He continues to look at her. She moves a little closer and again he backs away. I see clear signs of his defenses being up and my heart sinks. I’d had high hopes for Summer. She moves back slightly and they stare at each other.
“What’s a moogie, Ryan?”
He blinks at her and frowns. “How do you know my name?”
“Your daddy told me. As a matter of fact, he asked me to come and see you this morning,” Summer replies.
“He did? Ow!” Ryan grabs his arm with the band aid and begins to cry. “I don’t like it! Take it off!” He begins to scream and tears are streaming down his face. I sense the beginning of a Ryan morning meltdown. I feel badly for Summer. But I cannot intervene.
“Take what off, sweetheart?” Summer takes his arm and looks at it. “Oh! What a pretty sticker! You’re a super-hero!”
He begins to flail and rub his arm. “Take it off!”
“Hold on. I’ve got it. Let me help you get it off.”
“She can’t take the band aid off. It’s got medication in it that the doctor says he has to keep on for twenty-four hours!” Sylvia says.
Before Sylvia can get into the room, Summer takes Ryan’s arm and bends over him.
“Do you want to sing with me? Let’s sing. We’re gonna take it off! Let’s take it off!”
I hear Ryan’s childish voice join hers as she uses what appears to be a wet wipe to gently rub the area around the band aid. I grab Sylvia’s arm when she moves.
“Look, She’s just cleaning it.”
“But she might take it off,” Sylvia argues.
“Let’s see what happens. What’s the worst that can happen? We take him back for another shot?”
“Says he who is not the one taking him for said shot.”
“See? All gone! Yay! Good job! You were so brave! High five!”
Sylvia and I watch in amazement as Ryan’s sobs turn to sniffles and he examines his arm. I see him sniff once. Then twice. Then the tears are all gone. Summer dabs at his face with a fresh wet wipe.
“Do you feel better now?” Summer asks Ryan.
Ryan nods, “Yes.”
“Great. Now, tell me what’s a moogie?”
At his silence, I swear under my breath. “She had him and lost him. Damn.”
But then the strangest thing happens. Ryan begins to talk to her.
