Easton's Growing Pains
A Sprout fanfic
By Madeline Fretz
It was a beautiful morning in the Hills of Sprout, and Easton couldn't wait. It all started when he first woke up, got out of bed and dashed to his window. "What a glorious day!"
Just then, the green caterpillar noticed one of his tiny arms hurting - he didn't bonk it on something or fall down, it was just in pain. Easton gasped at this sight, then started moaning and groaning, only for his mom to notice. "Easton, what is it?"
"My arm hurts!" the 6-year-old whined.
"Okay, where does it hurt?"
"Right here." Easton pointed to an arm on his left.
"Oh, mind if we do the pillow thing?" asked Easton's mom.
"Sure." Easton replied, as his mom got him two pillows from the living room, as well as his bottle of water.
"Thanks mom." Easton smiled as he put his hurt arm in between the two pillows.
"Uhh, Easton…"
"What?"
"Mind if I put on some Blue's Clues to distract you from your arm?"
"Umm … okay." And with that, Easton's mom brought in his portable DVD player and put on a Blue's Clues DVD, leaving her son to watch his favorite show and drink water while forgetting about his poor arm in the process.
After the show was done, Easton called for his mom, saying his arm still hurted.
Easton's mom rushed to his room. "You want some medicine?" she asked.
"Sure." Easton nodded slowly, as she went to get some.
After Easton drank the medicine up, followed by some water, his mom told him to wait for a while for the pain to go away, but it didn't work again, so Easton's mom decided to take him to the doctor's office.
At the doctor, Peter examined Easton and told his mom that he needed to pee in a cup to get the pain out.
In the bathroom, a cup was put in the toilet and Easton tried to pee in it. "I can't do it mom, I can't pee!"
"Well Easton, just try your best," Easton's mom told him, "And you CAN pee!"
"Okay, I'll give it a try." Easton sighed. After a few seconds, he was able to pee, but his arm still hurt.
A day later, Easton was still in pain, so his mom decided to take him to the emergency room by the hospital. There, Miles, who occasionally serves as a doctor there, and Banjo examined the caterpillar's poor arm.
"Well, it appears that he has growing pains." Miles told Easton's mom.
"Growing pains, what's that?" Easton asked.
"Growing pains are neuralgic pains that happen on kids' arms or legs." Miles explained, "I know I had some once when I was a kid."
"Will it ever feel better?" questioned Easton.
"Yeah, it will get better," Miles informed, "But I recommend you do something fun while waiting for the pain to go away, but also helps you rest."
"Well, we've tried medicine, water, laying his arm on two pillows, and peeing in a cup at the doctor's office, but those didn't work." Easton's mom explained.
"When I feel hurt or sick, I always drink plenty of fluids and lay in bed for a while," Banjo explained, "Perhaps you can do those Easton."
"I'll try." Easton sighed.
"Oh, and when I got my period as a kid, I felt cramps all over my body sometimes, and having my mom or dad massage where I was hurt also helped." Miles pointed out.
"Ooh, that's a good idea." Easton's mom smiled. "We'll try everything you suggested."
"Oh good." Banjo commented.
And with that, when Easton and his mom got home, she massaged his hurt arm, still to no avail. "It still hurts mom, what can I do?"
"Well, remember what Miles and Banjo said…" Easton's mom started, until Mr. Mailman showed up at Easton's door. "Oh hi Mr. Mailman."
"Hi." Easton waved.
"So what have you got for us?" Easton's mom asked, as the cardboard postman handed him some chocolate.
"Chocolate, yum!" Easton beamed, as he loves chocolate.
"Not only that, it's a chocolate bandage." Easton's mom explained as she handed her son the chocolate, "Mr. Mailman said it really helps children who got hurt."
"Thank you Mr. Mailman!" Easton smiled as he began the munch on the edible bandage. And with that, Mr. Mailman took off, ready for his next delivery. "I really hope this helps!"
After Easton ate the chocolate bandage, he moaned again, "it still hurt!'
"Well, why don't you rest for a little while?" his mom suggested, "Taking a nap really helps if you're sick or hurt."
"Okay." said Easton as he lay down and slowly went to sleep.
Just then, Easton's mom heard the doorbell rang and went over to the door to get it. It was Easton's best friend, Patty Pig. "Hi Mrs. Caterpillar, is Easton here? Does he want to perform with us at the Sharing Show Theater?"
"I'm afraid not." Easton's mom explained, "You see, Easton has growing pains on his arm, so he has to lay in bed and rest for a while."
"Okay." Patty sighed, handing Easton's mom a picture book, "But make sure to give this to him."
"Okay, bye." Easton's mom waved, closing the door.
"Bye!"
Easton woke up. "Is that Patty?"
"Well, she dropped by, and gave you this." Easton's mom told her son, and handed her the book.
"Wow, thanks!" Easton smiled as he began to thumb through the book.
After a while, when Easton was finished, he called for his mom once more.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked.
"Yeah, yes it does." he said sadly.
"Well, how about I sing you a song?" his mom suggested, "Your grandfather says singing always makes people feel better you know!"
"Okay." Easton smiled.
Easton's Mom:
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
One kind act can lead to another,
Share a snack with your sisters, tell a joke to your brother
When you're kind at home, or kind to your town
You inspire everyone to pass kindness around
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Pick up your toys when you're all done playin'
Clean up on your own, that's what we're sayin'
Make the room neat for whoever hangs next
Maybe they'll do the same, that's the kindness fact
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Wait your turn so your friends can have fun too
Use words like "please" and "thank you"
Care for the planet, care for your pets
Be kind to yourself and don't you forget
To share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Share a hug (Spark a little kindness)
Smile (Spark a little kindness)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Lend a hand, cause you can
And now you know-oh-oh-oh
Kindness go-o-o-oes
On and on (Spark a little kindness)
On and on (Spark a little kindness)
On and on and on and on (Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
And on and on and on and on and on and on
After the song, Easton's mom noticed her son fast asleep. "...And my kind act … is singing." she said to herself quietly as she went out of the room.
When Easton woke up a few hours later, you guessed it, his arm still hurt, so his mom ordered him some Chipster - his usual meal was chips, a cheese quesadilla, and rice - and had him watch some more Blue's Clues. Afterwards, he ran himself a hot, steamy bath.
After the bath, Easton noticed something - the bath helped - his arm was back to normal. "Mom, come here!"
"What is it East?" Easton's mom asked as she ran into the bathroom.
"My arm doesn't hurt anymore, my pain went away!" Easton told her happily.
"I'm glad you're feeling better." His mom said with a smile on her face.
"I'd like to thank you," Easton replied, "and everyone who helped me through this difficult time - Miles, Banjo, Mr. Mailman, and my best friend, Patty."
"Speaking of which, you want to perform with her at the theater now?"
"Sure, and maybe they can let me join the Sprout House Band!"
And with that, Easton and his mom were off.
THE END
Author's note: This story is (mostly) inspired by the real-life time I had growing pains on my arm.