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"She got pissy. Said the woman was putting pressure on her. I told her I understood but this was a priority. If the woman wants it badly enough, she can hold off a few more days." |
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They were quiet for a minute. Then, as if reading his mind, Terry said, "I'm sorry, Calvin. I know how much you wanted this." |
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It was around three when Matty came home from school. He said he was hungry and Terry made him a tuna sandwich and warmed up some soup while they both pretended a cheery interest in how school went. He ate quietly, responding only in monosyllables. There was a time when he would go on for hours about what they did in art class and gym or the film they saw on sharks. |
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Calvin pulled up a chair across from him. He noted a fine black down on the backs of Matty's hands. Calvin tried not to stare and, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, talked up the game that evening, reminding him that Dr. Tojian was taking the team out for ice cream afterward. Matty showed no interest. |
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"Matty, there's something we have to talk about." |
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He took a bite of his sandwich. "Like what?" |
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"Well," Calvin began, "the other day when you had that blood test of Dr. Tojian's . . . remember? Well, the results are back. He called just a little while ago." |
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Matty spooned soup into his mouth. |
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"He said that we're going to have to go back for more tests." |
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The muscles in Matty's face clenched. "Why?" |
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"Well, he found something in your blood, something that's throwing off your system, causing changes in you." |
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Matty looked to his mother and back to Calvin, gauging their complicity. "What changes?" |
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"Honey," said Terry, "I think you know." |
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Matty's face darkened, his mouth quivered. |
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"Matty, this is kind of serious. You've got a medical problem" |
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"I don't have a damn medical problem." His chair scraped against the floor as he pushed himself away. He tried to get up but Terry sat him down again. "I don't want to go to the doctor's. I'm not sick." |
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God, this is so unfair, she thought. "You are sick." She felt the |
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