Just Sit and Look Pretty (Chapter 6 of 16) (Patreon)

Chapter 6

“You're big now. You can sit up front with daddy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Gracie had never sat up front in the car. She had never sat in anything but strapped in the car seat in the back. Today she could sit up front like a grown-up. She felt so mature. Daddy secured the seat belt over Gracie and then started the engine. He put Radio Disney on.

“Gracie, if anyone asks you, you have to tell them your name is Johnny.”

“Why?”

“Because no one knows. If you tell them, you are Gracie we'll have to leave and come home. You want to stay at the park for a long time. Don't you?”

“Yeth.”

“Then you are Johnny.”

“OK, I am Johnny.”

“I'll also call you Johnny. If you hear me then you had better come.”

“OK.”

“It's important. Let's play a game.”

“What type of game.”

“Every time I say, Johnny, you say 'HERE'.”

“OK”

“Johnny.”

“Here.”

Gracie waited for daddy to call out again. He didn't for a while

“Johnny.”

There was a hesitation this time, “Here.”

“You have to answer faster.”

“I will next time daddy.”

“It's important.”

“I know.”

“You have to...JOHNNY!”

“Here.”

“Better.”

Daddy tested Gracie as they drove to the park.

“What's your name?”

“Gra...Johnny.”

“Yes, don't forget. If anyone asks you, tell them you are Johnny.”

“I know. I know.” Daddy parked. He let Gracie out of the car and held her hand as they walked through the parking lot. It was a good thing since Gracie wanted to run straight to the playground. Daddy held her back. A 14-year-old boy and his father holding hands were slightly odd, but not too much.

It was a big park with many 'attractions'. Daddy directed Gracie to the playground part. There were many things for the kids to do there. There were swings for babies and bigger kids, as well as small and large slides, horses on big springs that one can rock back and forth on, a sand pit, and monkey bars.

Once in the playground, daddy let go of Gracie's hand. She ran straight for the large slide. She climbed the back and slid down to the bottom.

“WEEeee...” Gracie screamed.

Then she did it again and again.

She got onto the swing but didn't know how to make it go.

“Push me, daddy!”

“OK, OK. One second.”

Daddy got behind her.

“Hold on tight!”

Gracie tightened her grip but didn't say anything.

Daddy gave her a slight push, and when she returned, he gave her another.

“HIGHER!”

Daddy pushed as hard as he thought reasonable.

Gracie yelled with joy. Occasionally calling out “HIGHER!”

“JOHNNY!” When there wasn't an answer, daddy reminded her, “you are supposed to say “HERE!”

“I forgot.”

“It's OK”

“What's your name?”

“Johnny.”

“That's right.”

“I'm getting tired, you play something else.”

“OK, daddy.”

“And remember when I call Johnny to come to me!”

“OK.”

“What's your name?”

“Johnny.”

“Good.”

Gracie walked to the sand pit.

“Daddy, did you bring my pail and shovel?”

“I'm sorry honey.”

“Awe.”

But Gracie returned to the sand pit and scooped the sand with her hands to make her own castle. It wasn't as intricate as the one that Johnny was making at a similar time. She didn't care. She was having fun.”

“JOHNNY.”

“JOHNNY.”

It took Gracie a moment before she realized she was being called. She came to daddy.”

“You have to come when I call you.”

“I know. I know.”

“OK, you can go back and play.”

Gracie ran to the monkey bars. She would never be allowed to use them in her own diminutive body. But with the body of a teenage boy, daddy didn't see a problem. The bars had many areas for different types of climbing. Gracie started by walking on steps that were supported by a long cylindrical beam. She carefully walked across each step. In the end, she grabbed a hold of a poll. Then she stepped across a longer opening to the next part of the apparatus. She climbed across a vertical checkerboard of thin blue polls. She didn't climb up, just across. She returned to the ground and hopped onto a step, that would bob up and down when she pulled its connecting poll. She hopped six times. She then took a big step and stood up straight, she was now three feet off the ground. Then she hung from some railings. She bent back her legs so they wouldn't be touching the floor as she pulled herself across the railing...like a monkey. She secured herself on the other side and then slid along the diagonal railing until she was five feet off the ground. She was fearless.

The next time navigating the apparatus, she moved to a higher level. That was when the tragedy happened. She slipped and hit her head as she fell down.

“GRACIE!” daddy called as he ran to her.

She was conscious on the ground. There was a gash on the back of her head.

Daddy pulled his phone out of his pocket and called 9-1-1

“My son was playing in the park. He fell off some monkey bars. He's hurt. Send an ambulance.”

“Is he awake?”

“No, he's not. He's bleeding. He hit his head.”

The dispatcher got some information and sent out the ambulance.

Gracie was stirring when the paramedics arrived.

“What happened?” the paramedic inquired.

“He was playing on the monkey bars and must have slipped. I think he hit his head.”

“I see.”

The paramedic saw the bleeding scalp and put a bandage on it to soak up the blood. A short while later, the paramedic checked Gracie's vital signs. They checked her blood pressure and her pulse. They shined a light into her eyes and did other basic first-aid procedures. Then the paramedic stated, “It doesn't look too serious, but he should go to the hospital to make sure there isn't a concussion. I highly recommend it.”

Daddy had to agree. He didn't have any option.

Gracie was put on a stretcher and wheeled into the ambulance. Daddy was told which hospital they were taking her. Daddy proceeded right to his car and drove there.

In the ambulance, Gracie was becoming more aware. She started to cry.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

“It's OK. You had a little accident. But you'll be fine.”

“Your mommy isn't here. You were with your daddy. He'll see you at the hospital. Mommy will be there soon. Hey, what's your name?”

“Johnny.”

“Good.”

“What's your last name?”

“Lindsley.”

“How old are you, Johnny?”

“I'm three.”

“You're three? You're very big for three. Aren't you older?”

“I got big.”

“I see.”

“Are you a boy or a girl?”

“I'm a girl.”

“Can you count to ten?”

“Yeth.”

“Let's hear you.”

“1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 7, 10.”

“Very good.”

The paramedic asked Gracie some more questions. She answered the best she could. She didn't know she was supposed to say other things. The paramedic marked her responses. The paramedic listed probable severe concussion on the report.

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