Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 14

Billy ran up and kissed Josh in front of everyone right, on the mouth. "Wow, you were fantastic; you're a hero, and I'm so lucky to be your best friend. What a game!"

Pops hugged him as well and said "It takes extraordinary people to do extraordinary things and you are one. I knew you could. Great game, I'm so proud of you. How does it feel?"

"Probably better tomorrow, right now I'm pretty sore. My ribs really are hurting. They feel kind of squishy."

"I was going to take you out to celebrate but I think it'll be best if we go straight home. What do you think?"

"Home please, Pops."

 Pops stopped at the drug store on the way. He got Epsom Salts, muscle pain ointment, and Thermal Pain Pads. Pops had his share of pain and knew some things he thought might help.

As soon they were in the house Pops said "Stay with me now, we're gonna make you feel better. Take these." He gave Josh 2 Advil for inflammatory pain.

"Come up stairs and take an Epsom Salts bath."

"I already took a shower at the gym."

"I know, this is different. Billy, start the bath water, hot as you can stand it."

"Josh, you are gonna be so hot" Billy said trying to make a joke.

Pops helped Josh off with his clothes. It was hard for him to bend. Every muscle in his body was tightening up. His face became very stern as he looked at Josh's bruises and ribs. He ran his finger ever so gently over the nastiest black and blue rib area. Josh flinched with pain.

"Josh, if I do something that gives you pain, don't be the tough shelter kid. You're home now. you can say it hurts. None of your teammates will know. It's just me and Billy here. Understand?"

"Yes Pops. It does hurt and it hurts bad."

"Into the bath with you, son; you are going to have to soak for 20 minutes. Keep your chest, back and ribs under water. Billy will stay with you and replace the water when it goes warm. We want it as hot as you can bear it. The heat will draw healing blood to your muscles. The Epsom salts will help as well."

Pops took off his socks and shoes and rolled up his pants. Josh got one foot in the tub and then the other. Pops grabbed him from the back under his arms. "Ok, we got to try to keep you straight as you sit down, Josh." Through clenched teeth Josh said "Mmmm."  "Ok, bend your knees, not you back. I'll lower you down, trust me" Pops got Josh down as gently as he could. Josh yelled ‘Oww’. Pops fed him more of the Advil, hoping it would ease the pain and let Josh soak.

Billy tried chatting with Josh. But he could see, he was really hurting. He told him "to just rest, he would take care of the water and would get him if he went under water." Josh trusted, his brother, he closed his eyes and dozed a little.

Pops was downstairs on the phone. "Coach, something has to be done. These are not pro athletes, playing for a bundle of cash. I'm pretty sure Josh has several cracked ribs. Those refs who did nothing to stop the dirty play and that SOB Madville coach needs to be called on the carpet for this. Not right coach ... not right at all.  You hear me. If I have to file a lawsuit for damages against them, I’ll have to file against Hopewell High School as well. I don't want to do that."

"I hear ya, Mr. Calahan, I agree with you 100%. There is no place in school boy sports for the refs who allowed the punishment or for the Madville coach who instructed his boys to inflect such punishment on Josh. I believe the best course of action is a report to the state school boy athletic association. I know this is not what they expect in any of our games, in any sport on any level. I'm truly sorry for what happened to Josh. He is such a tough kid. I asked several times if he was alright. I never should have accepted his word. I feel as much to blame. I should have looked at him, myself, during the game. I saw what was happening but he bounced up every time like the hit was nothing. You take him to the hospital, Mr. Calahan, and have him checked out thoroughly, and get me a copy of the doctor's report. I'm going to get a copy of the game film. When we have both, I'll file my report and request a hearing. I want those men out of school boy sports, period. I wouldn't let Bobby back in the game and I should have been more observant about Josh. I am truly sorry, Mr. Calahan."

Pops said "Josh says you are a fair man who listens to him. I know if you thought he was getting injured like this you would have pulled him. Let's go get the real SOB's, who are responsible, okay, Coach. We got to get them out of school boy sports. I'll get the hospital report to you as soon as I have it. Fair enough?"

"More than fair. Tell Josh we all are rooting for him to feel better real soon. Thanks for calling me, Mr. Calahan, you better get Josh to the hospital now."

"I was going to do just that as soon as we hung up. Good night coach, I'll let you know what the doctors say."

Pops went upstairs to see how Josh was doing. Billy was doing his best, for his best friend emptying and filling the water as soon as it turned the tiniest bit cool. Josh was a pretty shade of pink, except around his ribs which were the ugliest black and blue you ever saw.

"It's been about 20 minutes, Billy. The water and Epsom salts have done as much for him as they can. Let the water out. Bending at his waist will give him excruciating pain, so we have to try to keep him straight, as much as possible, as he gets up and out of the tub. Josh was awake as the water ran out. "How are you feeling, Josh?" Pops asked.

"A little better, Pops, I hardly feel the pain now. I can get up. "

"I wouldn't do that Josh" As Josh went to get up of course he had to bend at the waist compacted his ribs and yelled, “Aww shit wow, wow." Josh sat right back down again.

"Pops, why don't I listen to you?"

"Because you are a teenage boy who has to find out the hard way. Billy, take off your shoes and socks, get in the tub, and get him under his arms; I'll do the same from his back. When we get you up Josh, wait a second or two and go nice and slow and step out one foot at a time. "

"Yes, sir."

"Ready, Billy on three; one, two, three.” They lifted him up as straight as could be. Josh clenched his teeth and moaned a bit. They patted him dry, Pops got an ace bandage and wrapped his ribs and midsection just tight enough to provide some support. Ok let's get you dressed. "I can sleep like this Pops."

"Yeah, well, we are going to the hospital, and although forms of nakedness are a common occurrence there, walking in naked is not."

 "Do I have to go, Pops? You can take care of me. Please, Pops."

"We need to know if those ribs are cracked and the best way to treat them. I gave you a little first aid, you need a doctor. Walk real slow into your room and we'll get you dressed."

Josh did as he was told. "Billy, get his underwear." Billy did and Pops had Josh just step into them and Billy and Pops pulled them up. Next Pops said his sweat pants and again the same procedure. For a shirt Pops had Josh wear the oversize button-down flannel shirt he wore the first night he was with Pops. It was way loose, easy to get on and off and warm. Next the sneakers and socks Pops held Josh standing straight and Billy put them on. They eased him down the stairs one step at a time; got his winter jacket around his shoulders. Pops went to the frig and got out the couple ice packs and chopped all the ice cubes into a towel.

"OK Billy, you sit next to Josh and make sure you keep ice on his ribs. I don't care how cold it is, Josh, keep the ice on.  It'll numb the pain and make you a bit more ambulatory. "

The hospital was a short 10-minute drive. Once there, Pops went in to get a wheel chair.

"Pops, I don't need that, I want to walk."

"Don't be silly boy. They have these here for a reason and in your case it's so you don't do more damage to your ribs."

"Ok, but I'm gonna feel silly."

"Better to feel silly, than feel the pain. Billy can drive if you like"

The doctors and the nurses were impressed with Pops first aid job on Josh. They got him up on a gurney and unwrapped the ace bandage. They got Dr. Brown, a handsome young man, he looked like he was just out of med school.

"Well, let's see what we have here." His touch was so gentle Josh hardly knew he laid hands on him. "I think you have a couple of cracked ribs, young fella. How did you accomplish this?"

"Playing ball," Josh said

"Pretty tough game, was it."

"Yeah, we won the state championship"

"So, this was supervised then."

"Oh yeah, Hopewell High against Madville High."

Billy piped in "Josh hit the winning basket, they tried to mug him before he took the shot."

"Really, so I have a genuine basketball hero here."

Josh started inspecting the floor tile. Then he said "It was a team win, Doc. We only won by 1 point. If everyone hadn't done their jobs, my basket wouldn't have meant anything."

"Spoken like a real team leader, congratulations, Josh. I'll have the nurse get some pictures of your ribs so I can figure out the best way to help you heal. OK?"

Pops grabbed the doc out in the hall; explained about the goon tactics and lousy refereeing. He asked for a report so, he and Coach Mathews could go after the SOB's.

"Only too glad to help. Medical science does not know how anyone in Josh's condition would be able to get his hands over his head much less shoot a basketball. Truly remarkable, I'm pretty certain he has 3 cracked ribs. I just need the pictures, for insurance purposes. You have quite a boy there. I played ball in high school and I know some coaches can be real jerks. I'll do my report at the end of my shift, I'll have one of the nurses call you when it's ready."

"Thanks, doc."

"No thanks needed. By the way I went to Hopewell High not so many years ago. Glad to see them win state."

The pictures confirmed doc's diagnosis.

"Now, Josh, there isn't a lot we can do for cracked ribs. Some doctors prefer a cast which is kind of uncomfortable itself but keeps your ribs immobile so they can grow back together. Others just use the ace bandage like what your Pops did for you. Either way I'll give you some pain medication. Using the ace bandage does seem to have you heal faster. Which do you want?"

"I guess the ace bandage, doc, if it doesn't seem to be working or is too painful, can I still get the cast latter."

"Now that is a thinking man's answer. Yes, you can."

Billy piped up again "he scored genius on his IQ test."

"Really wow, I am impressed. I can go home tonight and tell my family I treated a true basketball hero and a genius."

"Aww doc, Billy cut it out, you don't know when to keep your mouth shut."

"Don't be mad at your brother, Josh. He is just proud of you. You know sometimes we have to take the spotlight even if we don't want it. Not because we are better than other folks but because we earned it and folks want to congratulate you, for your effort. I was telling your Pops, I went to Hopewell High myself, and I am so happy to hear you won a state championship. Do you know that if I had a hundred patients with cracked ribs like yours and asked them to lift their arms over their head 99 would not be able to do it? Only one, Josh, you, not only did it but made a winning basketball shot, too. That is quite amazing, really remarkable and goes to that genius brain of yours that you willed your body to do it. It was very special and you should take some pride in it as well. OK?"

"OK, doc. Thanks."

"Now let me, wrap you up." The doc cut several pieces off compression tape and put them over the ribs to stabilize them. Next, he put some foam padding over the ribs to protect them from getting bumped and finally he wrapped Josh's torso with an ace bandage not too tight but enough to provide support. His hands were so gentle that Josh imagined his dad was doing it. He teared up the; doc noticed.

"Am I hurting you, Josh"

"No sir, doc, you are so gentle you made me think about my dad like how he would do it."

Pops added. "Both of Josh's parents died in an accident several years back and Josh still misses them."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Josh. Now I'm gonna break some rules here. I don't want anyone else treating you. When you are all healed; I want to be the first to give you a hug. Now, you come back and see me in 3 days’ time and I'll change the bandage. Today is Saturday so, I'll see you Tuesday. You'll only be able to take sponge baths. We don't want the bandage getting all wet, do we."

"No, Sir."

"I don't want you going to school, ‘til I see you Tuesday. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now the pain medication will probably make you sleepy so, take it at night time or after school once I clear you. You can take 2 tablets every 4 hours. Take Advil before school, you can take 2 tables every 2 hours. I'll write an authorization note for your school. I'll have the nurse bring you the pain meds now. Take them, don't be some kind of hero and prove how tough you are. We already know that, now you prove how smart you are, and get healed.  That's it, buddy you understand everything."

"Yes, doc, thanks and thanks for the advice." Josh went to give doc a hug but winced from the pain. Doc put his arm around Josh's shoulders and gave him a hug that way. Josh looked up and smiled at the good doctor.

Back in the car Pops asked "Was that so bad, Josh"

"No Pops, ‘cause I have the best grandpa and now the best doctor in the whole world."

On the short ride home Josh started yawning and put his head down on Billy's shoulder. The meds kicked in fast. Once home Billy and Pops got half sleep walking Josh upstairs. Got him undressed and into bed. The meds did the rest and he slept through the night.

To be continued...

Posted: 11/26/2021