Chapter 5

He grunts in affirmation. “Does it hurt?”

“You’ll be out like a light,” I assure him. “You may feel some discomfort for a day or two, but we’ll give you something for the pain.”

“Will the anesthesia make me loopy?” he asks.

I hear the nervousness in his voice. “It affects people differently,” I say, cautious. “Some people tend to ramble and say funny things when it’s wearing off.”

“I saw that on YouTube,” Robbie says with a quick laugh. “This guy? It was a riot.”

I spare him half a smile, then turn to place the X-rays taken earlier up on the light screen so Dr. Bowden can look them over. The room’s quiet except for the faint rush from the air conditioner and Robbie’s frequent sighs. Psyching himself up, I’m sure. A lot of patients do it. “You’ll be fine,” I tell him.

As if the thought just occurs to him, he asks, “How’s Brian?”

“Good,” I say, giving him another smile over one shoulder. “Beginning to look at schools, you know. Going to prom in a few weeks. The usual.”