I found him up the road about twenty miles.I found him up the road about twenty miles." "Oh! Well bring him right this way, and Susie, you get on that phone and find the doctor, NOW! Move it!" the nurse said. The receptionist moved a little faster than before though it was only temporary. I carried Rafael into the surgery and placed the boy gently on the examining table. I stayed by the boy's side, holding his hand gently as the nurse took his temperature and blood pressure. I could see that she was worried. In just the minute since I had first carried him in, the boy had become even paler. I helped lift him up and the nurse tried to ease his shorts down, The boy yelped then began to cry as his underpants started to come away. She picked up a pair of scissors and carefully cut through the cloth at the sides of the boy's hips and then peeled the front section away. "Oh my God!" the nurse said softly as soon she saw the boy's injury. A moment later tires squealed outside the building and a doctor came hurrying into the surgery. He took one quick glance at the boy on the table and then talked quickly with the nurse. Finally he turned to me. "I'm sorry would you mind stepping outside for a while," he said quietly. Rafael opened his eyes and began to shiver and shake his head. "No... No... Please?... I want him here," he begged. I glanced at the doctor. I could tell from his expression that my presence in the surgery was a disruption and that serious work was required. I was going to be in the way. "No Rafael, I'll be right outside. I'll be here in the next room, okay?" I said as I stepped back toward the door. The minutes passed slowly. I wanted to go back inside and make sure that the boy was all right. For some strange reason it seemed as if the boy's well being was very important to me though I knew nothing about him other than his first name. I flicked through a few dog-eared magazines, unable to read more than a few words. The air-conditioner kept buzzing and switching on and off. I waited for a long while, unsure as to whether I should just get up and leave, but something kept me there. I had a feeling that I was somehow responsible for the boy. All I could think about was the terrible minutes as he leaned out of my car and vomited, the choking sound that went on and on and the softness of his dark hair. |