Not everyone had a magic bubble. Mommy had it. Uncle Benny and Uncle Doug had it too. Daddy’s bubble was kind of weak, probably because she didn’t see him that much. But Reggie had a bubble almost as big as Mommy’s. Emily really needed to talk to him again. He’d been so nice explaining about BLS. And he’d taken care of Mommy and been really gentle.
Once at the hospital, where she’d seen him with her mom, he’d answered all of Emily’s questions. He told her about the differences in kinds of breaks and how good it was that Mommy’s hadn’t broken the skin on her arm. He showed her a cart in the hallway, where they kept bandages and medications, as well as a zapper thing that could start a person’s heart if it stopped.
He never talked down to Emily, the way a lot of grown-ups did. But he also didn’t let her mess with the zapper thing or give him a needle. Reggie had “boundaries”—what Mommy insisted a smart person had to have to handle her princess.
Emily thought Reggie had the stuff to handle her. The way Uncle Benny did, and the way Uncle Doug mostly did. Not like her dad.
Part of her missed Stephen Swanson, but a bigger part of her liked her new family just fine. Mag-Mom, Uncle Doug, and Uncle Benny played with her. They liked her being so smart. Uncle Doug taught her multiplication and division. Uncle Benny taught her the scales and how to play piano. He called her a little genius, which she liked.
Even Reggie had told her how cool it was that she asked questions, and in the hospital, he’d insisted she ask him anything she wanted, and he’d tell her the truth.
And she believed him.
Daddy and some of her teachers didn’t like her “brain that never turned off,” even though she knew her dad loved her. Maybe she kind of annoyed him though. He always asked her how old she was and how she knew what she knew. Lots of times, he’d ask if her mommy made her say things to sound superintelligent, which Mag-Mom never did. She only wanted Emily to be herself. But sometimes it seemed like her dad wanted her to ask a lot less questions and be less smart. She’d have to ask him the next time he came to visit.
“Emily, honey, go grab your mom a blanket, would you?” Uncle Doug said as he and Benny settled in chairs near Mag-Mom.
She nodded and put Brownie next to her mom. “Guard her, Brownie. Don’t leave the queen.”
He looked at her and nodded.Yes, Lady Emily.
“Whew, I was scared for a minute there.” Her mom kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, honey.”
“It’s okay, Mommy. Brownie and Uncle Benny will protect you and Uncle Doug.”
Uncle Doug sighed. “Why do I feel so emasculated around the Swanson women?”
She didn’t know what that meant, but Mommy laughed, and Uncle Benny grinned, so she hurried to her mom’s room, grabbed the green blanket, and hurried back to toss it over her mom’s waist. “Now can I use your phone, Uncle Doug? Pleeaasse?”
He sighed. “Fine. But this is the last time today. If you bug Reggie too much, he might block me.”
“Not that he doesn’t want to talk to you,” Benny cut in. “But he’s a firefighter, and they have busy hours.”
Emily nodded. “I know. I promise. Just one more time.”
Doug handed her his phone. She thanked him and raced down the hallway to call her new favorite hero once she’d settled in the closet with some privacy. She pulled on the light switch, made sure she was alone without any spiders or monsters, and clicked on Reggie’s number.
“Hello?” Reggie answered, his voice deep but gentle. He didn’t roar like a bear, but heroes didn’t have to roar. They beat up bad guys and always acted with polite manners. Kind of like a bear-ninja-king.
“Hi, Reggie. It’s me.” After a pause, she added, “Emily.”
“Hi, Emily.” He sounded happy to talk to her.
“I’m not supposed to bug you, but I need to talk to Frank.”
He chuckled. “Hold on.”
Except instead of the dog, a lady asked, “Who’s this?”
In the background, Emily heard Reggie say, “Nadia, gimme back my phone.”
“Who’sthis?” Emily asked instead, worried for her new hero. Had an evil witch trapped him?
“I’m Nadia, Reggie’s big sister. Who is this?”
“Oh, I’m Emily.” Relieved to know she wouldn’t have to battle Nadia to save Reggie, Emily shared, “Reggie’s watching my dog. Do you know Frank?”
“He’s yours?” Nadia sounded nice. “He’s really cute. But he’s still healing.”
