Lone Bean by Chudney Ross

came to check on me too.
    â€œDo you think it’s broken?” asked Carla.
    â€œOnce I broke my arm. I went to the hospital and they x-rayed it,” Sam said. “I could see all my bones.”
    â€œOh, dear,” Gabrielle gasped. “Luckily, I have never broken anything,”
    Just then, Mom came flying through the door and I waved with my cut-up hand.
    â€œAre you all right?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, I’m okay,” I said with a smile.
    â€œHello, everyone,” said Mom. “It’s so nice to see you, Carla.”
    â€œYou too, Mrs. Gibson.”
    â€œNow, let’s check you out, Bean,” Mom said as she looked closely at my finger and moved it around gently. Ouch!
    â€œIt does look broken, honey.”
    â€œReally?” I said. Then I added, “Can I get it x-rayed, so I can see all my bones?”
    â€œYou don’t usually need an X-ray for a finger, but I guess we could stop by the hospital on the way home. We can also pick up a splint while we’re there.”
    â€œHello, Mrs. Gibson. My name is Gabrielle.” Gabrielle gave Mom’s hand a polite shake. “I was wondering if you might tell me what a splint is?”
    â€œIt’s very nice to meet you, Gabrielle,” Mom said. Then she explained, “A splint is something that will hold the finger still, so it doesn’t move around.”
    â€œI had a cast on my arm once and everyone signed it and drew pictures,” Sam said.
    â€œWell, Sam, it’s kind of like that, but much smaller, just for your finger.” Mom headed toward the door. “Come on, Bean. Let’s go.”
    â€œFeel better,” Carla said.
    â€œThanks, Carla,” I said.
    â€œBye, Bean,” Sam and Gabrielle called before the door closed behind us.
    â€œLooks like Carla and you have worked things out,” Mom said as we headed to the car. “And Gabrielle seems nice too.”
    â€œYep, things are getting much better.” I hopped in and buckled up.
    It was pretty cool to have some alone time with Mom. I didn’t have to fight for a seat, I could talk about whatever I wanted, and I even got to pick the radio station.
    Mom parked the car in the employee parking garage at the hospital. We headed right in through the sliding doors. I think it’s supercool how the doors know when you’re coming and open up all by themselves. I walked in and out and in and out. Open. Close. Op—
    â€œOkay Bean, that’s enough. Let’s go.”
    I walked through one more time and then followed Mom up the stairs to the second floor. She waved at a man with a shiny bald head standing by the desk in the middle of the room. He was wearing blue scrubs just like hers.
    â€œHey, Jason, could you do me a favor and x-ray my daughter’s hand?”
    â€œAll righty,” said Jason with a warm smile.
    He led me into a room with a big cameralike machine. He told me to put my hand flat on the cold surface and then he covered me with a thick bluish-silver blanket. It was heavy and not soft at all. He said it was to protect my insides. I wondered why my hand didn’t need protection too.
    â€œI’ll be right behind that wall,” he said. “Stay very still.”
    I sat like a statue and held my breath while Jason slid behind the wall. I could see him pull a lever, which made the lights flash and a buzzer ring. He came inside and gently flipped my hand over and did it all again, then led me back out into the hall where Mom was waiting.
    â€œShe did really well,” Jason told Mom.
    Mom and I waited in the hallway while the X-rays developed like film from one of those disposable cameras. The hall was bright white and clean and it smelled like medicine. A guy rolled by in a wheelchair. He was all bandaged up, and he moaned like he hurt all over. Poor thing! Boy, was I glad I only hurt my finger and not my whole body.
    Jason finally returned with two big pictures of