Chapter 5: Out of the Woods

Dr. Daniels said, “Well, Michelle remembers things so we know that she doesn't have memory loss or trouble remembering things but we’re still going to keep her for one night and her left arm is just sprained. That is really all but she still keeps saying that it hurts so we need to do more tests on her arm tomorrow morning.”

Danny said, “Thank god, no memory loss. So, what are the warning signs for Michelle’s head anyway?“

Dr. Daniels said, “Well, there is headaches, throwing up, that’s about the only we have to worry about.”

Michelle asked, “Dad, what about my ‘Dear Michelle Advice Column’ for the Third Grade Buzz?”

Danny said, “Michelle, I’m sure that Mrs. Ramirez will understand.”

Michelle asked, “Can I go back to school on Monday?”

Dr. Daniels replied, “She can if somebody goes with her for a few weeks to make sure that Michelle is feeling ok to be in school. Oh, and to warn Michelle’s teacher about her situation.”

Danny said, “Thanks, Dr. Daniels, for everything.”

Dr. Daniels said, “It’s my job, Mr. Tanner. Now like I said down stairs, the lights will still be a little dim in this hospital room now if she makes it tonight. If nothing else goes wrong then she can go home tomorrow morning. Also, I need 2 persons to stay the night with her here.”

Danny and Joey said in unison, “We will stay the night with her.”

Dr. Daniels said, “Thanks. Now her dinner will be here in 15 minutes, OK?”

Michelle asked, “What will my dinner be?”

Dr. Daniels replied, “It’s a steak with white rice in the middle.”

Michelle said, “OK.” Dr. Daniels left Michelle’s hospital room. She asked, “Daddy, am I grounded for riding off like that?”

Danny replied, “No, honey, it was mostly my fault that you had ridden off. I shouldn't have put too much pressure on you, Michelle, and I’m going to make it up to you, OK?”

Michelle inquired, “Like what, Daddy?”

Danny asked, “Well, you still like chocolate cake, don’t you?”

Michelle replied, “Yes, daddy, I do. Is that what you’re going to make me?”

Danny said, “Yes, Michelle you can have a pie each day before or after school.”

Michelle asked, “How about both? May I have a little pie before school and a big pie when I get home?”

Danny replied, “Yes, sweetheart, you may, OK?”

Becky came into Michelle’s hospital room to see how she was doing.

“Aunt Becky,” Michelle asked, “Where are Nicky and Alex?”

Becky replied, “Well, they are at your best friend Mandy’s house.”

Michelle asked, “Can you bring them to see me?”

Becky asked, “What do you think, Jesse?”

Jesse replied, “I think they should come. Just for a couple minutes.”

Becky folded her arms. “Well, I suppose. We’ll just have to tell them not to make too much noise.”

“Right, it’ll be okay's. They need to understand what’s happened,” Jesse explained.

“What did happen,” Michelle muttered. “You mean about me hitting my head and left arm.” Michelle shrugged a little. “I don’t mind. I remember their names very well. Thankfully, I didn’t lose my memory or I wouldn't have remember their names. They are my 4 year old cousins.”

Becky said, “Yes, Michelle, they are. How is your head feeling?”

Michelle said, “It’s OK but it still hurts really bad.”

Becky asked, “OK, are you listening, Michelle?” Michelle nodded and then Becky said, “Good. I told them you still had your memory. There shouldn’t be a problem but tell us if it’s too much for you. I’m going to pick them up. Then we’ll be with you while you eat dinner, okay's?”

Michelle grinned at the long-haired lady. “Sure.” She wasn’t sure what to expect. She imagined 4-year-olds could be pretty wild sometimes. “It’s a good thing that I can remember them.”

A girl with long, blond hair entered a couple minutes later. “Hi, Michelle. Remember me from earlier?” Stephanie asked. Another girl with light brown hair followed.

“Wait, let me think,” Michelle tried hard to remember, “Stephanie and D.J.”

Both girls said, “Yes, that’s right.”

D.J. asked, “Now Michelle, why did you ride off like that?”

Danny said, “Hold on, D.J. It’s my fault that Michelle rode off like that anyway.”

D.J. protested, “But still, Dad, Michelle is still in very big trouble with me. Now Michelle, you know when you get home you are grounded from riding your bike and from cake but you can still watch TV or play with our cousins, ok?“

Michelle protested, “But, D.J., Daddy was going to make me a chocolate cake and he said I’m not grounded, right daddy?”

Danny said, “That’s right, Michelle, you are not but D.J. is right about one thing; you can’t ride your bilk anywhere. OK, sweetheart?” Michelle nodded her head slowly. She held a hand to her head. “The doctors don’t want you to concentrate too hard for a while. That’s so your brain can heal.”

Michelle said, “I have Math that Mrs. Ramirez gave out for homework.”

“You must not concentrate too hard for a while, OK honey?” Danny instructed.

Michelle asked, “OK, dad, but how will Mrs. Ramirez know?”

Danny replied, “Well, she gave me her phone number so I could call her just in case you are sick.”

Michelle said, “OK, Dad, call if you want to.”

“Joey’s bringing a suitcase full of your clothes and things,” D.J. informed her.

Danny used Michelle’s hospital phone to call her teacher at home. On the 3rd ring, Mrs. Ramirez picked up the phone. She said, “Mrs. Ramirez speaking.”

Danny said, “Hi, Mrs. Ramirez, it’s Mr. Tanner, Michelle’s dad.”

Mrs. Ramirez said, “Mr. Tanner, what a surprise to hear from you on a Saturday night. Is something wrong?”

Danny said, “Yes, there is. You see, Michelle is in the hospital. She fell off her horse and hit her head and left arm.”

Mrs. Ramirez gasped, “Oh, my god. Is she all right?”

Mr. Tanner said, “Michelle is fine but she just can’t concentrate too hard for a while.”

Mrs. Ramirez asked. “Will she be back at school on Monday, Mr. Tanner?”

Danny replied, “Michelle wants to go back on Monday but I’m worried about the warning signs.”

Mrs. Ramirez asked, “What are they?”

Danny replied, “Things like throwing up or headaches.”

Mrs. Ramirez said, “Tell you what; I will move Michelle and Julia around. Michelle will sit in the front row and Julia will sit in the third row.”

Danny said, “OK, thanks, but if Michelle’s headache starts to come, call me, Jesse, or Joey.”

Mrs. Ramirez said, “Don’t worry. I have your home and work number with me at school. Oh, and Mr. Tanner, tell Michelle to get better.”

Danny said, “Yes, I will be sure to tell her that. Thanks, Mrs. Ramirez.” By that time, they hung up. “Michelle, you can go back but only if Stephanie or D.J. go with you on Monday, OK?”

Michelle said, “OK, Dad. Where is my dinner? They’re taking a long time.”

Then she saw Nicky and Alex enter with Becky. They looked identical! Michelle said, “Nicky and Alex.”

They both ran to Michelle and said, “You remember.”

Michelle nodded her head until Jesse entered with a different nurse. She laid a tray in front of Michelle and left. He turned to the boys. “Okay, come sit on my lap. We’re keeping Michelle company while she eats.”

“Why is it nighttime in here, Daddy?” Alex wondered as they sat.

Becky told them, “Michelle’s brain needs to heal. Remember how I said you had to talk nice and quiet? Well, bright light would hurt her brain just like lots of noise would.”

Danny explained that the light would get brighter and brighter. “They’re monitoring it, Michelle, so they can keep giving your mind more to handle.”

D.J. was amazed. “You know, I wouldn’t mind going into nursing. Although, being a doctor would be nice, too. I’ve learned so much in just the last few hours. It’s fascinating.”

“D.J. graduates from high school in about a month,” Becky explained. “You have plenty of time to decide, Dee j.”

“I know. If I take all my requirements my first year, I can go towards per-med or nursing after that,” D.J. said.

Michelle pondered the reflection. She had strawberry blond hair. She ate while the others chatted. Her family certainly seemed nice. They told funny jokes, too. They provided her with great company. So did Joey when he came with the suitcase.

However, she could remember them, she could remember so many facts. She knew how to count, read, and write. She knew about everything.

Michelle said, “Dad?”

Danny said, “Yes, honey?”

Michelle asked, “What about my ‘Dear Michelle Advice Column’ for the Third Grade Buzz?”

Danny replied, “Michelle, I’m Sure Cassie and Mandy will be happy to take over for a while. OK, sweetheart?”

Michelle said, “OK, Daddy.”

A little while later in the testing room, Doctor Daniels looked at the test they did on Michelle’s head and he saw no blood or memory loss so everything was good in her brain. But when he looked at the x-ray of her left arm, he saw more then just a sprained bone; it was a pulled bone. Dr. Daniels said, “So that’s what Michelle was complaining about.”

Nurse Melissa asked, “So are we still going to do the test with Michelle tomorrow morning?”

Dr. Daniels replied, “Yes, we are now. I’d better go and talk to the family now.” He left the testing room to go back to Michelle’s room.

Back in the room with Michelle and the family, Michelle asked, “D.J., what would you all have done if I had lost my memory?”

D.J. replied, “Well, Michelle, we would have been trying to help you get your memory back.”

Michelle said, “Daddy, I really have to use the bathroom.”

Danny said, “OK, Michelle. Stephanie, would you please go with her?”

Stephanie said, “Sure. Come on, Michelle.”

Michelle took Stephanie’s hand and Stephanie took her to the bathroom in her hospital room.

One minute later, Michelle and Stephanie came out and Becky asked, “Stephanie, what happened?”

Stephanie said, “Well, for one thing, that hospital food is yucky.”

Danny asked, “You mean Michelle had…?”

Stephanie nodded her head and replied, “Yup, she did.”