Page 24 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

He looked at Faith’s mother. “Faith was reaching inside and she slipped, her finger went into the jamb by the handle and was pinched. Just the tip.”

That made more sense. “Can I see it?” he asked, putting his hand out. “I’ll be gentle, I promise.”

“Cuz you’re Superman?” the little boy asked. “He won’t hurt you, Faith.”

His smile softened. “That’s right. I’ll try not to.”

“It’s purple,” Faith’s mother said.

Faith put her hand out. The tip was most likely broken, it was already bruised and there was blood behind the nail. Blood he was going to have to drain and that wouldn’t be fun.

“Can you bend any part of your finger?” he asked, holding her palm.

Faith could bend her first knuckle, but nothing else. That was better than nothing.

“We are going to send you down for an X-ray,” he said. “But there is blood filling up behind her nail. I’m sure that’s painful. We’ll have to drain it.”

“No,” Faith said, yanking her hand back. “That is going to hurt. You can’t.”

“It will be over before you know it and then some of the pain under your nail will be better. I promise.”

He didn’t like to use that word, but he knew she’d feel better. Not only that, it should be done before the X-ray.

“Do you use a needle for it?” Faith’s mother asked.

“We can, but there is a device we’ve got that is easier. It looks like a pencil, heats and then almost melts the nail bed, and won’t go any further. It’s fast and will allow the blood to escape.”

“You’re burning me?” Faith asked, a fresh round of tears cascading down her cheeks.

“Not like that,” he said. He squatted down to get eye level. “You see, the thing is, I have to do it. We need to get an X-ray ofyour finger, which is like a picture. You’ll see the bone and if it’s broken or not. But we can’t get a good picture if we don’t drain this first. It will make it easier and less painful for you when they place your hand down and keep it still.”

“Mom, I don’t want to,” Faith wailed. “It’s all Bobby’s fault.”

“I didn’t mean it, Mom,” Bobby wailed also.

Oh man. This was turning into more drama than it should be.

“Enough, both of you,” their mother said. “It was an accident and accidents happen. Bobby, there is no reason for you to cry. You did nothing wrong. Faith, be a big girl. We can take some pictures on my phone and send them to Daddy so he knows how strong you were for it.”

“I want Daddy to come home now,” Faith whined.

“He can’t, honey. He’ll be home tonight. You know that.”

“Daddy is in California,” Bobby said. “For work.”

“That’s right. He’ll be home to take you both trick or treating, but you can’t go tonight, Faith, if you don’t let the doctor do this.”

Ugh. He hated the blame being put on him, but he’d take it on the chin like he always did.

“What do you say?” he asked the little girl. “I’ve got some treats when we are done. Or I can do a trick. Your pick.”

“Treats,” Bobby yelled.

“I’m hurt. I want a trick.”

He laughed. “Okay. How about I do both, but you need to let me take care of this. Deal?” He held his hand up for Faith to slap it with her good palm.

“Deal,” Faith said, her bottom lip wobbling.