Just Sit and Look Pretty (Chapter 13 of 16) (Patreon)

Chapter 13

The doctor had heard part of the conversation. He entered the room after the talking had stopped. Gracie was watching cartoons and mom was sitting next to her bed holding her hand.

“Mrs. Lindsley, I've been wanting to talk to you.”

“Fine.”

“Let's talk in private.”

The pair exited the room.

“Has Johnny ever acted like this before?”

“Like this?”

“Like a toddler?”

“No, before yesterday he was a normal teenage boy.”

”Has he ever said he wanted to be a girl or that he was a girl?”

“Johnny never said anything like that.”

“It's puzzling everyone over here. There doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with him, but he is acting like a toddler approximately three to four years old.”

“Maybe if I take him home, he'll return to normal?”

“I don't think so.”

“I want to take him home anyway. Maybe seeing his room and his things will snap him out of it.”

“We can't let you take Johnny home. Not until we know more about what happened to him.”

“He fell off some monkey bars and hit his head. That's it!”

“Are you sure there isn't anything you want to tell me?”

“About what?”

“About his condition?”

“I don't know what to tell you.”

“I see.”

“I want to take him home.”

“You can't.”

“I will.”

“We can't let you.”

“You can't stop me.”

“We have a protective order. You can't take him out until we say so.”

“That's crazy.”

“I'm sorry, but it would be best if he stayed here.”

“I'll get a lawyer.”

“You do that.”

“He can stay for a while, but if there isn't any improvement, I'm bringing her home.”

During the conversation, mom received a message from the agent.

<If we are going to spend that much money. We want Gracie to come in for a screen test first>

Mom returned to the room with the doctor. Dad and Johnny were out of the bathroom with Gracie. Mom wanted to tell dad what happened but didn't want Johnny to hear. If Johnny was in his own body, mom could take dad aside and tell him what the doctor had said. But, everyone thought that Johnny was a toddler. He couldn't be left alone. Not even with Gracie, who looked like a teenager since she wasn't acting like one.

“What's the good word?” dad asked.

“The doctor wants Johnny to stay a few days. I think we should too,” mom lied about what she thought.

“How long?”

“Just a couple of days I think.” Mom gave dad a look that Johnny didn't see to indicate that there was more to it than that.

“I understand.”

When the doctor left the room, a nurse entered. Mom expected the nurse to leave, but instead, she stayed in the room with the family. Even though it wasn't explicitly stated, it was clear that mom and dad wouldn't be left alone with Gracie.

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