The girl's softball team won with ease, with a lot of help from Kaylee and Marie at the plate. The sisters garnered a lot of attention afterwards, leaving us no ti to stick around and talk. By the ti we got ho that night, it was ti for dinner and then showers. After mine, I stepped on the scale we had in the hallway bathroom. The number surprised and I stepped off, let it reset, then stepped on again.
"No." I mumbled to myself. "That can't be right."
I went to the big bonus room that we all shared and started to look for the tape asure.
"Looking for sothing?" Dave asked. I told him and he joined in on the search, finding it in a junk drawer. He helped out and told the results. "You're almost five foot seven." He let out a whistle. "You're really sprouting up now!"
I was finally taller than Noah when he was a freshman. It was hard to feel myself getting taller when I was surrounded by giants like the Atkins everyday. Dad was the tallest person I know, and Mom was second. Zeke was just about the sa height as her and the twins weren't far behind.
I looked at Dave. "Hey, do we have a second scale around?"
"A scale? Like to weigh yourself?" He shrugged. "I don't know. Just use the one in the hallway bathroom."
"I did." I frowned. "I don't think it's right."
"Co on. Let's see." He led the way back to the hallway bathroom and got on the scale. It went to 182.3 pounds. "Yep, that's about right for ." He stepped off and looked at . "What did it say for you?"
I got back on, thinking maybe it recalibrated itself when Dave stepped on. But no. The sa numbers flashed. 113.4 pounds. I'm weighing less than before.
Dave laughed and picked up under my arms, lifting in the air. "Yea. I can believe it. Dang, Noah is gonna have to start giving you his cookies or sothing." He put down and noticed that my look of distress. "What is it?"
"I'm losing weight." I looked at him, worried.
He blinked. Surprised. "Really?"
I nodded quickly.
He guided out of the bathroom and into the hallway. "Then, let's go talk to Mom or Dad. I don't think you're supposed to lose weight when growing. Most guys gain weight then get taller."
"I did!" I told him as we went down the stairs. "I was gaining weight. When I got my last laser treatnt, they take your weight and height like every other doctor. I just...don't know where it went?"
"Are you eating less?"
"I don't think so." I shrugged. "I an, I'm not snacking as much now that we're in season." There just wasn't enough ti.
We went to our parent's office and found the pair sharing a computer, looking over sothing work related.
"Did you two finish your showers?" Dad spared us a glance.
"Yea. Noah's in the shower and Kyle's on the phone with Marie." Dave patted my shoulder. "Jake might have a problem."
That grabbed both of their undivided attention. Both of them stood up and ca closer.
"What's going on?" Mom asked, looking up and down like I might have hurt myself.
"I'm losing weight." I told them.
Mom and Dad visibly relaxed, but still had a look of concern.
"How much weight?" Dad asked. "It's normal for athletes to fluctuate with the intensity of practice."
"He's 113 pounds!" Dave told them. "And we just asured how tall he was. Almost five foot seven."
"113?!" Mom repeated with a gasp. She imdiately reached out to hold my hands, pulling my arms up. "He's been thin, but now that you've said it, I can see it. He's really bony." She looked to Dad. "Wayne, we've got to make an appointnt. What if sothing's seriously wrong?"
My heart started to palpitate. "Do you really think so?"
Mom paused and saw the look on my face. She started to backtrack. "No, no. Nothing too serious. Maybe it's because we're not focusing on high calorie foods? Yea, that could be it."
"If sothing was seriously wrong, I don't think you would be growing taller." Dave slapped my back. "It's just concerning. Get checked by a doctor. I think I've seen him more this year than anyone else. Nice to finally have soone catch up to ."
I rolled my eyes, but I did feel better.
"I'll call tomorrow morning and get you an appointnt soon." Mom told .
'Soon' turned out to be during school the next day. She sent a text during Spanish saying that she would co get and take to Dr. Walker's office. Before Spanish even ended, soone from the office brought an off-campus pass.
"You missing practice today?" Sean asked as I packed up.
I shook my head. "No. Just a doctor appointnt and then I'll be back."
He and Mitchell nodded, not asking anymore questions. I finished cleaning up, waved to Coach Luis, and headed out. I stopped by my locker to ditch the heavy books and then went to the front of the school. Mom was in her car, waiting in the loading zone. I hurried up and got in on the front passenger side.
"Where's Dad?" I asked, buckling up.
She started to drive. "eting with a client. We tried switching to no avail." She sighed. "Sorry, Jake. I knew you would be more comfortable with him than ."
I shrugged. "I'm okay with either."
She smiled. "Yea? That's good." She asked about my classes and we talked about school until we got to the office.
At the office, Anna May checked us in and directed us to an empty exam room. Mom took the side chair, leaving the exam table. Anna May ca in to do so of the usual stuff like weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. Soon after she left, Dr. Walker ca in. He greeted Mom, then .
"I understand you're concerned about your weight." Dr. Walker said to . "I have to say, I share the sa sentint. It's an improvent from the first ti I saw you at 99 pounds, but compared to the physical you did at the end of the year..." He shook his head.
My heart dropped.
"What do you think is the problem?" Mom asked, worried.
Dr. Walker looked between the two of us. Seeing our scared looks, he started to laugh. "It's not a huge problem. It's just sothing we have to monitor. I believe his weight gain spured him to grow taller. It's a good sign that he's healthy. The problem lies in the fact that he's an athlete, burning calories and energy. The body also needs energy to grow. If there's not enough fat to supply the energy, the body will start to break down the muscle. I'm glad you ca in when you did. We'll get you back on that high-calorie diet. Let guess, you've stopped eating lots of carbs and been eating more protein?"
Mom looked a little guilty. "We try to have balanced als, but yes, he's not been focused on eating carbs for a long ti. We just thought..."
"That he would get over it?" Dr. Walker nodded. "Yes, most do especially after reaching their ideal weight. Jake's case is a bit special since he's a teenage boy going through puberty at the sa ti."
I felt my face heat up. Now I wish Dad had taken instead of Mom.
"Is there anything else we can do besides getting him to eat more?" Mom asked, avoiding the puberty talk.
"We'll send him to the lab for a blood draw and make sure there's nothing we're missing." He looked at . "Any questions for , Jake?"
I started to shake my head, but stopped myself. "Do you know whether this will help gain muscle mass?"
He nodded. "Yes, weight gain while strength training is a way to build muscle mass. I can print so literature on it if you'd like?"
I nodded. My biggest problem right now was mass. With a small mass, my force value is lower no matter how I ss with my swing.
"I'll also print so al ideas for you." He continued. "You go ahead and get your blood drawn and I'll get everything together."
"Thanks." I told him.
"Thank you." Mom repeated, standing up with .
We went out together, heading to the small lab adjacent to his office. I got a few vials of blood drawn for tests and we went back to his office. Anna May handed a small stack of papers, saying they talked about weight gain and building muscle. So of it also included how to prepare high calorie als and how to eat frequently to encourage weight gain.
It was still early for lunch, but Mom took to a nearby bakery to have a snack. We sat down and she started to look over the papers as I ate a big croissant.
"You have to take this seriously, Jake, if you want to see so change." Mom told . "Back to a constant fruit and veggie snack between classes. After school and before practice. This says that you'll still have to eat a lot of protein just in smaller portions. Don't be shorting yourself."
I nodded.
By the ti she took back to school, it was the middle of Geography. I tried to ignore all the stares as I went to my seat, but one person in particular couldn't be ignored because she sat right beside . Alisha.
"Where were you?" She whispered.
I glanced at the teacher who had his attention on the board. "Doctor appointnt."
"Everything okay?"
I nodded. "I just need to gain so weight."
She unexpectedly put her arm next to mine. I was clearly skinnier. "Heck yea you do. I just know I weigh more than you. Don't tell anymore or I might feel bad about myself."
My lips twitched. I don't know whether she should be the one feeling bad or . I'm the one skinnier than a girl. But at least I'm a little taller; I straightened up in my seat, proud of sothing.
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