"Dad?" I was amazed that he'd thought of something so quickly. I prayed silently that whatever it was, it would prove to everyone that Kendall really wasn't crazy."
Dad sighed and looked at me. "Before I tell you, are you absolutely positive that you don't think he's crazy?"
I nodded vigorously. "I know crazy, dad. Whatever he is, he's not crazy. I would bet my life on it."
Dad looked a little unhappy when I said the last part. He obviously wouldn't even bet his favourite pair of socks on it. "I'm going to try Videonystagmography. Do you know what that is?"
I shook my head. "No. I think I've heard of it, but I don't know what it does."
"Well, what happens is we put this pair of goggles that are all hooked up with wires and stuff on him. It shows us a large picture of his eyes."
"How does that help anything?"
Dad shrugged. "If my theory is right, then it'll tell us. Will you go get him and his mother? Bring them back here, ok?"
I nodded and left the room. I felt like some kind of messenger boy, but I was willing to do anything to help Kendall get better.
And I still didn't even know why.
"Ok, Kendall. I need you to put this on your head," Dad said, holding out the weird goggle things. Kendall took them without a word and put them on.
The pictures of his eyes frightened me. They were wide and . . . deep. Kind of creepy.
"Ok. When I say go, I want you to hold your nose and breathe out through your mouth. And keep your eyes open. Alright?"
Kendall just nodded.
"What's this even gonna tell us?" I whispered to Dad.
"We'll see. Ok, Kendall. Go."
Kendall held his nose and blew. The change was instant. I stared at the pictures of his wide eyes, unable to look away. Why make stuff up for horror movies when you could put something as freaky as this in?
Kendall's eyeballs were shaking. Shuddering. Quickly moving back and forth. Mrs. Knight was staring too. "What' happening to his eyes, doctor?"
It wasn't just Kendall's eyeballs that were shaking now. It was his whole body. His breathing had become uneven and shaky.
Then he started screaming.
It wasn't like the high-pitched scream you'd hear if someone got a fright. It was real, terrified screaming. He sounded completely demented as he yanked the goggles of his head and put his hand over his ears. No wonder everyone thought he'd gone insane, if he was doing this all the time.
He was yanking at his hair now, still screaming and sobbing. Mrs. Knight had her arms around him and was rocking him slowly. "It's alright, Kenny, it's ok . . ." She glared at us. "What the hell did you do to him?" she snarled.
I smiled at her, unable to resist. "I think my Dad just diagnosed him." I looked at Dad. He nodded, grinning. "Mrs. Knight, will you take Kendall back to the ward? I'll explain when you come back."