“Oh, Jed!I’m here,” Lisa said, taking hold of Jed’s free hand and turning to the EMTs.“How bad is he hurt?”
“We think it’s a badly sprained ankle,” said one of the EMT’s, giving her more details.“We can take him to the clinic here in Lilac Lake, and you can ride with him.”
“Okay,” said Lisa.“I’ll go with him.”
Jed whimpered and clung to Hazel’s hand.
“Where are the other children?Do you need me to help?”Hazel asked her.
“They’re okay.My neighbor is with them,” said Lisa.“But maybe Jed would like you to come to the clinic too.”
Jed nodded emphatically.
The EMTs put Jed on a stretcher and carried him over to the ambulance.
Lisa and Hazel climbed into the vehicle beside him.
“Pretty exciting to get a ride in an ambulance,” said Lisa, smiling gently at Jed.
His lips quivered and he turned to Hazel.“When can I play tennis again?”
“We’ll see,” Hazel said.She’d heard bad sprains could be more challenging to deal with than a bone break.Either way, it would be some time before Jed could play again.
They arrived at the Emergency Clinic that Crystal’s husband, Dr.Emmett Chambers, had created in addition to handling his practice.The EMTs explained what they’d found to a nurse, and Jed was placed on a bed in an examination room.
While Lisa talked to the receptionist, Hazel stood by Jed as Dr.Chambers came into the room to examine him.
Hazel was impressed by the gentle way her friend, Emmett, talked to Jed as he examined him.
“We’ll take an X-ray of the ankle to clarify the injury and then we’ll see what we can do about helping with the pain.Does that sound okay?”he asked Jed, speaking to Lisa and Hazel as well.
Jed was quiet as a nurse lifted him into a wheelchair and rolled him away.
“Good luck,” Hazel said to him.
“It’ll be fine,” said Lisa, giving Jed a pat on the back.
After they left, Hazel waited in the exam room with Lisa.
Lisa’s eyes filled as she turned to Hazel.“Thank you for staying with Jed and me.I see how he’s bonded with you.It’s a good thing because my husband and I might not be able to make the move with him.The case worker says there could be some restrictions on taking him out of state.”She sniffed.“We love that boy and want to take him with us.But there might be a period of time before that can happen.I’m hoping you would be willing to help us while we work on the issue.”
“I would do anything to help Jed.Mike, too,” said Hazel.
The conversation stopped when Jed was rolled back into the room by the doctor.
“Well, how’s my boy?”asked Lisa, coming to Jed’s side and holding his hand.
“Nothing is broken, but he’s had a bad sprain,” said Emmett.“I’ve wrapped the ankle with an elastic bandage to wear until the swelling has gone down.Then we’ll transition him into a soft boot to give the ankle stability.He tells me he doesn’t need crutches, that he’ll hop on his other foot until he has a boot.”
“I told the doctor I want to play tennis,” said Jed.
Hazel exchanged glances with the other two adults in the room and kept quiet.
“We’re going to help you heal as quickly as you can,” Emmett said to Jed.“I’m giving your mother a topical NSAID to put on your ankle to help with the pain.You’re to keep your foot elevated and still.And you’ll need to ice it for 15 minutes three or four times a day.”
Jed frowned and looked down at his bandaged foot.
Emmett patted him on the back.“You’re young and healthy.The closer attention you pay to my instructions, the faster you’ll heal.I’ll see you back here in a week.”
