One of the things which got me through the day was thinking about my smurfs. No matter how much I was worked, the though of their smiling faces made my toiling all the worth it. Needless to say, while my thoughts usually stayed positive, there were times when my own anxiety would spill over on to them. For instance, I had spent this particular work day thinking about what I was going to do about my little Leo. His legs had started to really show signs of affliction, bowing out at an odd angle which made standing for him very uncomfortable. With little time on my hands, I knew that I needed to do something quick about Leo or things would never get better for him.
Frantically searching for a solution during my break, I found a forum online of smurf owners who had experienced similar problems. The answers which they gave me were interesting to say the least. The most obvious solution presented was surgery however with my precarious financial situation, such a thing would be impossible. I was, however, not the only person to have this problem, and many people had listed homemade creations which had helped them. Some were more elaborate than others but I managed to find something that I could make work. I quickly took down the supplies needed, hoping that I would be able to fix things on my own.
Returning home that night, I performed the nightly routine as I usually did. My smurfs were gathered on the floor in their playpen while I cooked. They played and crawled about, occasionally standing near the bars and poking their little heads through curiously. Lucy stood in the corner watching as Leo and Daisy played with some blocks. Gus, now acting proper, batted a ball back and forth trying to get Lucy's attention. She ignored him at first but after a couple times she relented and began to play with her brother. Finishing the evening meal, I entered their playpen and gave them their bottles. This time however I took Leo into my arms and fed him directly, eliciting some curiosity from him and the others. He looked up at me, curious green eyes full of innocence, as the peacefully drank his smurfberry milk. I gently brushed his cheek as he drank, bending over to kiss his forehead as he finished. The other smurfs, meanwhile, began to suck their milk down faster, hoping to get into my arms as soon as they could. Gus was the first one, rushing to my side and hugging me intensely. Daisy ran over next, followed by Lucy. I held them all as Leo finished drinking.
When he was done, I brought them all to the smurf room, getting them ready for bed. I got them all, except for Leo, into their cages and calm enough to start to sleep. Leo looked about curiously as I worked, wondering why he was not next to his sister. I scratched his head lightly as I turned the lights off and went to the front room. There, I prepared a makeshift bed for him where he would be sleeping for the next couple of days. I lifted the fabric and placed some wood underneath that I screwed together which stood at an angle. When finished I placed it inside of the playpen and entered it with Leo.
The little smurfling looked around, curious as to what was going on. He watched me as I closed the pen and lowered the lights. I then went to the kitchen table and opened my bag before searching around inside for several seconds. Leo scooted towards me as he tried to see what I was looking for. As I found it and turned to reveal, he rolled his head to the side as he saw what it was. In my hands was a simple metal bar with a stand. The metal bar curved at a 90-degree angle and had a small chain which hung off the side. Looking down it, his eyes widened as he saw there was a ring at the end of it.
"Now don't worry Leo, I know this is different for you but I assure you it is for your own good. If I don't do something your legs could get worse. I promise it won't be forever, ok?" I said as I picked him up and got him hooked up to the rig. He backed up and tried to get away but I was too quick for him. The smurfling continued to make escape attempts but it was to late, he was caught in my grasp. All he could do was let me work and occasionally hoot for comfort. When I was done, I took a second to step back and look at my work.
The ring had been fastened around Leo's neck and was keeping him from sitting down, getting up, or otherwise leaving from his standing position. His legs were wrapped in some quick drying plaster gauze, causing them to stick out straight. The treatment would, over time, help him build muscle in his legs while also helping to straighten them. The original plans did not include a bed, as it was originally intended for daytime use, however, since I was strapped for time, I had converted it to work for night. I held him against the board and slowly leaned it back until gravity took him. With everything done, I kissed him good night and then left the room for bed. I could tell he was not happy with it, crying at first before reverting back to hooting and cooing until he eventually passed out. I tried not to think about it, instead focusing on how happy he would be when his legs were fixed.
Waking up the next morning, I could see that Leo had stirred in the night as I found him lying on his stomach. He was asleep and stirred slightly as I removed the chain. I gently awoke him so he would not be startled awake when I broke the plaster off him. After wiping away the dust, I took him into the smurf room and opened the sleeping cage. I reached in and placed him beside his sister, to whom he quickly sidled up and then fell back asleep. I gave him a final pet and then went about my morning. Before leaving for work, I took them all one by one into their travel carrier and brought them over to Dave's like always.
This would be our new routine for the time being, at least until Leo's legs were better. It was not the easiest thing for me to do, but as his owner it was my responsibility to do what was necessary. My heart ached for the little guy, going through so much yet still having a smile on his face. His tenacity and optimism were something which I had began to appreciate about him. I carried the thought with me into work, happily performing my menial tasks while day dreaming about seeing him happy and healthy.