I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. I looked up at Zeke.
He felt my eyes on him and looked down. "What’s up?"
I pointed at the phone. "Jeremy says he knows a doctor that can see right away."
Zeke held out his hand.
"I’m going to let you talk to Zeke." I told Jeremy.
"Yea, good idea." Jeremy told .
I gave the phone to Zeke and he started to talk with Jeremy, while heading inside where the adults were.
"That’d be nice if we don’t have to go to the ER." Noah said. "Such a long wait ti. Hey, do you think this ans that we can still go to the ga?"
"Is that all you’re worried about?" Rhys asked, sitting down.
Noah shrugged. "Nothing I can do about Jake’s leg. It’s either broke and needs a cast or it doesn’t and he’s fine. Either way, we could still go to the ga." Noah turned to . "Don’t you want to go?"
I nodded. "I do." Really.
"Rhys!"
"Rhysss!"
Two little kids ca running outside, followed by a tall, slender middle aged man. It must be the cousins and uncle.
"I heard you kids are causing trouble so early!" The man chuckled.
"Uncle Mike!" Rhys got back up and half-hugged his uncle and then picked up both of the little kids. One girl and one boy. "Jess and Mikey, these are my friends Noah and Jake. Can you say ’hi’?"
"Hi!" The boy chirped
"Hi..." The little girl was more reserved when talking to us.
The uncle grinned at him. "Well, you watch these two troublemakers and I’ll get started on the grill."
"Do you think we can still eat before going to the hospital or doctor or whatever?" Noah asked, looking like an eager puppy.
"Sure! I heard them trying to plan it out and sounds like it’ll take so ti." His uncle told us. "I figured I’d get started on the grill and try to get you boys fed before you have to go." He headed for the house. "Rhys, you’re in charge!" He left as quickly as he ca.
"He just wanted to dump these brats on !" Rhys accused.
"I’m not a brat!" Mikey said confidently. "I’m a human!"
"..." Rhys looked down at his little cousin, at a lost on what to say to that.
Noah laughed. "Hey Mikey, do you know how to play catch yet?"
"Of course!" He declared. He started to wiggle, and Rhys put him back down. "I’m eight! I can throw really far now!"
Noah got up. "Let’s go play then!" He took Mikey to the grassy area, giving him his glove and then rolled the ball to him.
"I can catch!" The kid emphasized again.
Rhys laughed. "Don’t go too easy on him, Noah. You’ll just make him mad." He sat down with Jess on his lap. "I bet Noah sends Mikey back crying."
"No!" Jess surprised us by yelling. "No crying! Crying is for babies!"
"Who told you that?" Rhys asked.
"Rachel!"
"Well she’s a liar." Rhys told Jess. "People who cry are not babies. They’re just in pain. Either from getting hurt on the outside or on the inside."
I blinked. Should Rhys really be saying this to a little girl? I think it’s a bit beyond her understanding. But...I feel like a baby when I cry too.
Jess glanced at and pointed at . "Is he hurting?"
"Yea." Rhys helped move the ice bags back onto my leg. "Jake got hurt playing with ."
"Ouch." She said. And that sumd up what I felt.
The uncle ca out first, holding a plate of at. He started up the grill and began to cook so hamburgers, occasionally talking with Rhys about his sumr and plans for college. His uncle even asked about my sumr and what I was doing. He was just a very nice man, who even showed his daughter how to flip a hamburger ’with style’.
His wife, Mrs. Johnson, and Zeke all ca out as a group and explained that we were going to see the doctor that Jeremy knows, in the afternoon. Mom and Dad sent a few texts to check up on and make sure that I was okay.
"So we are going to the ga?" Rhys asked.
Zeke looked to . "Are you feel up to it?"
I nodded. It’s only my leg that hurts. Plus, I’m pretty positive that they want to go to the ga too.
Uncle Mike finished up with the grill and the won started to set out plates and napkins. Mrs. Johnson brought out plates full of sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. Zeke helped put my cheeseburger together and then placed it before . The table started to fill up as Noah and Mikey ca back. Sure enough, Mikey was teary-eyed like Rhys predicted.
"Are you hurting?" His little sister asked.
"No." He shook his head and denied vehently.
"The ball got him a few tis on the arm." Noah explained to the adults.
Everyone started to get their burgers put together and lunch was served. A full ti of different families put together and I never felt like an outsider. Rhys was really lucky that his family was so perfect. At least now, I have the sa thing. A perfect family including brothers, parents, and grandparents.
After lunch, Noah wanted to show off the fireworks we bought so the whole group moved to the front yard. Mrs. Johnson set up a few foldable chairs and Zeke carried to one.
"Too bad Rhys only has tall crutches." Mrs. Johnson sighed. "At least Jake would be able to move around a little easier."
"The doctor’s office will probably have so." Zeke assured her.
The little kids were also seated along with their mom. Mrs. Johnson also took a seat next to while Zeke sat on the ground in front of us. He left the fireworks to Rhys and his uncle. Noah was only allowed to hand them the fireworks and not light them. That didn’t curb his enthusiasm though. He lined up all the fireworks we got, plus the ones Rhys had. He ordered them and declared that we were going to see a show.
It was a good show. Even though we did it in the daylight, I’ve never seen such small fireworks so up close and personal. Rhys and his uncle took turns lighting them. So were loud, so had flashes of colors, and so were done in a second. It was fun though. The little kids were amazed by every single one they saw.
We got to laugh and enjoy a small show.
At the end, Rhys decided to hold back on the sparklers. "We can do them when we get ho. It’ll be cooler in the dark."
No one had any objections. The won took the kids inside while Rhys and his uncle started to clean up. Zeke carried into the house and up the stairs so I could get dressed for tonight’s ga. Noah threw an A’s shirt and then a ’Patterson’ jersey. He also changed into the sa clothes so we almost matched.
Zeke went to the room he shared with Rhys and also changed. He carried back down while Noah and Rhys followed.
"Text when you get to the doctor’s office and when you leave." Mrs. Johnson told Rhys. "Then again when you get to the stadium."
"Okay, Mom." He smiled and waved as we loaded up into Zeke’s car. He listened as she listed a few more instructions.
"I wonder if Zeke will carry you during his run tomorrow." Noah laughed at as Zeke slid into the seat behind him. "That would be hell mode."
"How about you pull him in a wagon on your run?" Zeke suggested to Noah, making him clam up. "That’s what I thought."
With the car packed and everyone ready, we headed to our first stop: the doctor’s office.
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