Conner sent Richie a key to his town house. Along with the key, he sent a
list of simple chores for him to work on if he got the time. So everyday
after he finished his homework and dinner, he went to Conner's to dust,
vacuum, paint and polish. While Richie was away, Duncan and Tessa either
ignored each other or fought.
Duncan was starting to realize what he was doing wrong once he saw how excited Richie was that Conner was moving to Rhode Island. He tried to make an effort to get to know the stranger that lived upstairs, but Richie had very little interest in him. At dinner, Richie talked about what he was going to do at Conner's or just listened to the conversation. By Thursday, he had the entire place ready to go so he decided to go grocery shopping to surprise Conner. Duncan offered to drive him, but Richie had already asked to borrow Tessa's car.
"Okay. Don't want any company?"
"Nope. I'm good." Richie turned around and nearly ran over Tessa. "Oh, sorry, Mom. Hey, I'm off to the store. Wanna come?"
"I can't. But can you pick up some eggs and flour while you're there? I want to make Conner his favorite pie for tomorrow."
"Sure. Anything else?"
"No. Be careful." She kissed his cheek. Richie rolled his eyes. "Just use the credit card and pick up some drinks for the team, too."
"Kay, back in a bit."
"Why are you making Conner a cake?" Duncan asked.
"He's flying in tomorrow. Just in time for Richie's game. Richie's so excited. He's wanted Conner to see him play all season."
"That reminds me. What time does the game start?"
"Five thirty. just like all his games do."
"Good. I'm going to make it this time. I'm cutting my last class short to be there."
"Sure you are."
. . . . . .
"Okay, boys, remember this one counts." the coach droned on in his usual pep-talk. Richie scanned the crowd carefully looking for any sign of Tessa and Conner. Tessa had warned him that they would probably be late but they would try to be on time. They still weren't there by his first time at bat. He hit a double.
While he was putting on his catcher's gear, he heard his name. He looked up to see Tessa and Conner waving from the stands. He waved back. He could hear them cheering for him and the team as he crouched behind home plate. Innings came and went.
By the bottom of the eighth the game was tied. The South Rhode Island High Bears were batting with two men out and one on base. Richie stood behind the plate yelling codes at his team as the next batter came from the deck. The first pitch was to the right. Ball one. The second was a slider. Strike one. Then a fast ball. Strike two. A wild pitch. Ball two. Richie ran through the signals until the pitcher decided on another fast ball. Richie could see the ball head straight for his glove. However the ball's journey was interrupted when the batter swung. He made contact and the ball soared into the out field.
"Throw home! Run! Run! Home! Run! Go!" The crowd was screaming.
Nathan, in right field, grabbed the ball and threw it to the pitcher as the runner charged to third base. He rounded the corner and the pitcher threw the ball to Richie. Richie planted himself on the baseline. The runner charged straight for him, determined to knock him over and get to home plate. Richie tucked the ball in his mitt covered it with his free hand and braced for the impact.
The runner dropped at the last second to slide under Richie, who was supposed to jump out of the way. Instead, Richie stayed firm. The runner's feet knocked his out from under him, pitching him forward. His left knee caught on the runner's shoulder changing his direction again and causing him to flip mid-air and land ungracefully on his back. The Bears' fans started screaming until he held up his hand, still firmly clutching the ball. The Bears stopped mid-yell and instead the Minutemen screamed as the umpire yelled "OUT!"
"You okay, son?" he asked bending over Richie, who was still sprawled in the dirt. All he could do was shake his head as he build up the courage to curl into a ball and shelter his throbbing knee. "Coach! Your player's down!" That call brought the coach, several players, Conner and Tessa running.
"Noel, you okay?" The coach asked pulling Richie's helmet and mask off for him.
"My knee," Richie said holding back the tears of pain that were stinging at his eyes.
"Let me look, Rich," Conner said crouching next to him.
"Who are you?" the coached stopped him.
"I am his uncle, and I'm a doctor," Conner told him. "Okay, Rich, how bad does it hurt?"
"Just amputate!" Richie hissed through clenched teeth.
"Can you move your toes?"
"If I can, I can't feel it."
"Is your right leg okay?"
"I think so."
"Okay. Tessa get on his other side. Richie, put all your weight on me and we'll help you up. We need to get you to the hospital.
"Can't they come to me?" Richie asked as they pulled him up.
"Keep all your weight on your good leg and me. Don't put your left leg on the ground."
They helped him to the car and into the front seat.
. . . . . .
"How is he?" Tessa asked as the doctor entered the waiting the room.
"He's on his way to surgery."
"Surgery?!" Tessa and Conner repeated together.
"He cracked his knee cap, dislocated the joint, tore the muscles and tendons and bruised his cartilage. That's an amazing amount of damage for a high school baseball game."
"Will he be okay?"
"Once he gets through physical therapy, he won't limp. But, he won't be playing sports for a long time."
"Is it really that bad?"
"I'm afraid so. He's in for a long recovery. But he'll be okay."
"Thank you, doctor," Conner said putting an arm around Tessa's shoulder. "He'll be fine."
"He loves playing baseball. He's not going to be able to play again."
"Just play up the good news. He'll have more time for his art."
"His art. the auction! It's tomorrow. He's going to miss it."
"He's an adult. He'll be fine."
While Richie was in surgery, Conner took Tessa home to get him some things for his stay in the hospital. As much as they wanted to leave him out of it, they decided to call Duncan and tell him. To their surprise, Duncan had already left for the game. They caught him on his cell as he was making his way to the field from the parking lot.
Richie was still in surgery when Conner and Tessa got back. They had already set up a room for Richie so the doctors let them in to wait there. Duncan called to say there was a bad wreck on the freeway so he was going to have to take the back roads and did they want him to get them some dinner. They declined the offer.
Traffic was heavy on the back streets, too, so it took Duncan two hours to get to the hospital. He got there just after they settled Richie into his room.
"Hi. I need the room number for Richard Noel-MacLeod," he said approaching to information desk.
"Are you related?"
"I'm his father."
"I think his father's already in his room." the woman said with a frown.
"I'm his father."
"Then who is." she muttered to herself. "I'm sorry. This is just policy, I have to call and check." She picked up the phone. "Mrs. MacLeod? I'm sorry to bother you; this is Martha at the front desk. Is your husband with you? . Oh, his uncle. thank you." She hung up. "I'm sorry, Mr. MacLeod. I had to check. He's in room 328."
"Thank you."
Richie was out for almost another hour. When he woke up, his eyes first focused on Duncan who was sitting on his left.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Duncan asked with a warm smile.
"Where's Mom?"
"Right here," Tessa said from the other side of the bed. Richie turned to face her. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I can't feel anything."
"That's good."
"If you say so." His eyes started drooping. "Where's Uncle Conner?"
"He's in the bathroom."
"Is he really a doctor?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him. Richie?"
"Huh?" He jolted awake from his light snooze.
She smiled. "Sorry. Go back to." she trailed off as Richie drifted off.
"What's the verdict?" Duncan asked.
"He got ran over by a teenager and ruined his knee."
"How did the surgery go? Did they fix the problems?"
"They're going to explain it all when he comes out of the anesthesia."
"Has he woken up yet?" Conner asked from the doorway.
"For a minute," Tessa answered. "He's out again. He wants to know if you were really a doctor."
"I was. about two hundred years ago."
Richie was in and out for the next hour and a half. Finally he was free of the clutches of the drugs and could carry on a conversation.
"So, you understand what's going on, tough guy?" Conner asked.
"No more baseball?"
"No more sports."
"Who ever thought baseball was such a dangerous sport? I mean, this is why I avoided football."
That night, Tessa stayed with Richie. Conner came back the next day, but Duncan had to go to work. The next day, the doctor told them Richie could go home that evening as long as there were no complications. There were some new rules, though. Richie wasn't allowed to put any weight on his leg or bend it for two weeks. To prevent this, he was confined to bed, the couch, or a wheel chair. After those two weeks he would have to come back to the hospital to get his leg checked. If everything worked out well, he could change to crutches and start physical therapy. From there on they would have to see what happened.
"Rich, your mom and I talked this over and thought it would be a good idea for you to stay at my house. I don't have a job so I can look after you while she's at work."
"Okay."
"And I'll come everyday after I close the store to make dinner," Tessa told him. "And help you with homework."
"School's still on the schedule?"
"Not until next week, but Nathan and Ginger have volunteered to bring you your work and take notes."
"Gotta love the friends."
"Does that work for you?" Conner asked.
"Sure."
"But there are some rules."
"Always."
"You have to follow the doctor's orders. No weight on that leg."
"The brace does not come off," Tessa added.
"You take the pain pills."
"You do your school work before anything else."
"You don't move from where you are unless I'm there to help."
"You listen to Conner when I'm not there."
"That it?" Richie asked.
"Those are the conditions. If you don't agree to them, you stay here," Tessa told him firmly.
"What a choice. I'll do it."
"No, stretching the rules. No being sneaky. It is very important that you follow all the rules if you want to be able to use your leg normally."
Richie held up his right hand. "Scouts honor."
Duncan was starting to realize what he was doing wrong once he saw how excited Richie was that Conner was moving to Rhode Island. He tried to make an effort to get to know the stranger that lived upstairs, but Richie had very little interest in him. At dinner, Richie talked about what he was going to do at Conner's or just listened to the conversation. By Thursday, he had the entire place ready to go so he decided to go grocery shopping to surprise Conner. Duncan offered to drive him, but Richie had already asked to borrow Tessa's car.
"Okay. Don't want any company?"
"Nope. I'm good." Richie turned around and nearly ran over Tessa. "Oh, sorry, Mom. Hey, I'm off to the store. Wanna come?"
"I can't. But can you pick up some eggs and flour while you're there? I want to make Conner his favorite pie for tomorrow."
"Sure. Anything else?"
"No. Be careful." She kissed his cheek. Richie rolled his eyes. "Just use the credit card and pick up some drinks for the team, too."
"Kay, back in a bit."
"Why are you making Conner a cake?" Duncan asked.
"He's flying in tomorrow. Just in time for Richie's game. Richie's so excited. He's wanted Conner to see him play all season."
"That reminds me. What time does the game start?"
"Five thirty. just like all his games do."
"Good. I'm going to make it this time. I'm cutting my last class short to be there."
"Sure you are."
. . . . . .
"Okay, boys, remember this one counts." the coach droned on in his usual pep-talk. Richie scanned the crowd carefully looking for any sign of Tessa and Conner. Tessa had warned him that they would probably be late but they would try to be on time. They still weren't there by his first time at bat. He hit a double.
While he was putting on his catcher's gear, he heard his name. He looked up to see Tessa and Conner waving from the stands. He waved back. He could hear them cheering for him and the team as he crouched behind home plate. Innings came and went.
By the bottom of the eighth the game was tied. The South Rhode Island High Bears were batting with two men out and one on base. Richie stood behind the plate yelling codes at his team as the next batter came from the deck. The first pitch was to the right. Ball one. The second was a slider. Strike one. Then a fast ball. Strike two. A wild pitch. Ball two. Richie ran through the signals until the pitcher decided on another fast ball. Richie could see the ball head straight for his glove. However the ball's journey was interrupted when the batter swung. He made contact and the ball soared into the out field.
"Throw home! Run! Run! Home! Run! Go!" The crowd was screaming.
Nathan, in right field, grabbed the ball and threw it to the pitcher as the runner charged to third base. He rounded the corner and the pitcher threw the ball to Richie. Richie planted himself on the baseline. The runner charged straight for him, determined to knock him over and get to home plate. Richie tucked the ball in his mitt covered it with his free hand and braced for the impact.
The runner dropped at the last second to slide under Richie, who was supposed to jump out of the way. Instead, Richie stayed firm. The runner's feet knocked his out from under him, pitching him forward. His left knee caught on the runner's shoulder changing his direction again and causing him to flip mid-air and land ungracefully on his back. The Bears' fans started screaming until he held up his hand, still firmly clutching the ball. The Bears stopped mid-yell and instead the Minutemen screamed as the umpire yelled "OUT!"
"You okay, son?" he asked bending over Richie, who was still sprawled in the dirt. All he could do was shake his head as he build up the courage to curl into a ball and shelter his throbbing knee. "Coach! Your player's down!" That call brought the coach, several players, Conner and Tessa running.
"Noel, you okay?" The coach asked pulling Richie's helmet and mask off for him.
"My knee," Richie said holding back the tears of pain that were stinging at his eyes.
"Let me look, Rich," Conner said crouching next to him.
"Who are you?" the coached stopped him.
"I am his uncle, and I'm a doctor," Conner told him. "Okay, Rich, how bad does it hurt?"
"Just amputate!" Richie hissed through clenched teeth.
"Can you move your toes?"
"If I can, I can't feel it."
"Is your right leg okay?"
"I think so."
"Okay. Tessa get on his other side. Richie, put all your weight on me and we'll help you up. We need to get you to the hospital.
"Can't they come to me?" Richie asked as they pulled him up.
"Keep all your weight on your good leg and me. Don't put your left leg on the ground."
They helped him to the car and into the front seat.
. . . . . .
"How is he?" Tessa asked as the doctor entered the waiting the room.
"He's on his way to surgery."
"Surgery?!" Tessa and Conner repeated together.
"He cracked his knee cap, dislocated the joint, tore the muscles and tendons and bruised his cartilage. That's an amazing amount of damage for a high school baseball game."
"Will he be okay?"
"Once he gets through physical therapy, he won't limp. But, he won't be playing sports for a long time."
"Is it really that bad?"
"I'm afraid so. He's in for a long recovery. But he'll be okay."
"Thank you, doctor," Conner said putting an arm around Tessa's shoulder. "He'll be fine."
"He loves playing baseball. He's not going to be able to play again."
"Just play up the good news. He'll have more time for his art."
"His art. the auction! It's tomorrow. He's going to miss it."
"He's an adult. He'll be fine."
While Richie was in surgery, Conner took Tessa home to get him some things for his stay in the hospital. As much as they wanted to leave him out of it, they decided to call Duncan and tell him. To their surprise, Duncan had already left for the game. They caught him on his cell as he was making his way to the field from the parking lot.
Richie was still in surgery when Conner and Tessa got back. They had already set up a room for Richie so the doctors let them in to wait there. Duncan called to say there was a bad wreck on the freeway so he was going to have to take the back roads and did they want him to get them some dinner. They declined the offer.
Traffic was heavy on the back streets, too, so it took Duncan two hours to get to the hospital. He got there just after they settled Richie into his room.
"Hi. I need the room number for Richard Noel-MacLeod," he said approaching to information desk.
"Are you related?"
"I'm his father."
"I think his father's already in his room." the woman said with a frown.
"I'm his father."
"Then who is." she muttered to herself. "I'm sorry. This is just policy, I have to call and check." She picked up the phone. "Mrs. MacLeod? I'm sorry to bother you; this is Martha at the front desk. Is your husband with you? . Oh, his uncle. thank you." She hung up. "I'm sorry, Mr. MacLeod. I had to check. He's in room 328."
"Thank you."
Richie was out for almost another hour. When he woke up, his eyes first focused on Duncan who was sitting on his left.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Duncan asked with a warm smile.
"Where's Mom?"
"Right here," Tessa said from the other side of the bed. Richie turned to face her. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I can't feel anything."
"That's good."
"If you say so." His eyes started drooping. "Where's Uncle Conner?"
"He's in the bathroom."
"Is he really a doctor?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him. Richie?"
"Huh?" He jolted awake from his light snooze.
She smiled. "Sorry. Go back to." she trailed off as Richie drifted off.
"What's the verdict?" Duncan asked.
"He got ran over by a teenager and ruined his knee."
"How did the surgery go? Did they fix the problems?"
"They're going to explain it all when he comes out of the anesthesia."
"Has he woken up yet?" Conner asked from the doorway.
"For a minute," Tessa answered. "He's out again. He wants to know if you were really a doctor."
"I was. about two hundred years ago."
Richie was in and out for the next hour and a half. Finally he was free of the clutches of the drugs and could carry on a conversation.
"So, you understand what's going on, tough guy?" Conner asked.
"No more baseball?"
"No more sports."
"Who ever thought baseball was such a dangerous sport? I mean, this is why I avoided football."
That night, Tessa stayed with Richie. Conner came back the next day, but Duncan had to go to work. The next day, the doctor told them Richie could go home that evening as long as there were no complications. There were some new rules, though. Richie wasn't allowed to put any weight on his leg or bend it for two weeks. To prevent this, he was confined to bed, the couch, or a wheel chair. After those two weeks he would have to come back to the hospital to get his leg checked. If everything worked out well, he could change to crutches and start physical therapy. From there on they would have to see what happened.
"Rich, your mom and I talked this over and thought it would be a good idea for you to stay at my house. I don't have a job so I can look after you while she's at work."
"Okay."
"And I'll come everyday after I close the store to make dinner," Tessa told him. "And help you with homework."
"School's still on the schedule?"
"Not until next week, but Nathan and Ginger have volunteered to bring you your work and take notes."
"Gotta love the friends."
"Does that work for you?" Conner asked.
"Sure."
"But there are some rules."
"Always."
"You have to follow the doctor's orders. No weight on that leg."
"The brace does not come off," Tessa added.
"You take the pain pills."
"You do your school work before anything else."
"You don't move from where you are unless I'm there to help."
"You listen to Conner when I'm not there."
"That it?" Richie asked.
"Those are the conditions. If you don't agree to them, you stay here," Tessa told him firmly.
"What a choice. I'll do it."
"No, stretching the rules. No being sneaky. It is very important that you follow all the rules if you want to be able to use your leg normally."
Richie held up his right hand. "Scouts honor."