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Luella Lite
by Tori Thomas “Luella Cariggan.” I told the secretary. I squeezed Lulu’s hand and glanced down at her, her other hand was fiddling with the end of the braid I put her hair in this morning. The secretary typed on her computer furiously, her grey hair sticking out of her bun in strange places. “And what seems to be the problem this morning?” I pressed my lips together and tried to think of a way to explain without drawing attention. I opened my mouth to say something, anything but she shook her head. “Okay. Take a seat and someone will be right out.” “Thank you” I mouthed as I dragged Lulu into the waiting room behind me. She stumbled over her feet but thankfully they stayed firmly planted. I sat down in the chair closest to the door and pulled her onto my lap. My heart was racing but I tried to keep a straight face. I was going over what I would say when they called us in when Lulu’s voice interrupted. “Momma?” I managed a shaky smile for her sake “Yes baby?” She shifted on my lap and I tightened my arms around her. “How come that lady over there looks so angry?” I followed her gaze to see a young women sitting across the room reading a magazine. “Oh. She’s just concentrating.” Lulu gazed off for a moment, thinking. “When I was concentrated the doctor made me drink that yucky juice. Remember?” It took a minute for me to realize what she was talking about. “You mean the prune juice? No shes not...” “Luella?” a nurse said from the door. Lulu started to get up and follow with out me but I managed to grab onto the back of her shirt before too late. “Ooo Momma look! She’s got Minnie on her Pajamas!” Lulu squealed, pointing to the nurse. “Those are scrubs baby, not pajamas.” I told her quickly. We were led into a room painted blue with a mural of a train filled with passagers on the wall. I picked up Lulu so she could see. I held her until the Dr. Carlos came in, which, didnt make my arms hurt. Unfortunately. He had purple bags under his eyes and his usual glowing tan skin seemed despondent. “Alright Ms. Cariggan, what bring you in today?” “Well...” I began, but before I could finish Lulu started squirming. “Dr. Carlos! Did you bring me a sticker?” she squealed lunging towards him. He put his arms out, ready to catch her but as soon as she was out of my arms I knew I would no longer have to worry about explaining. She slowly started gliding toward the ceiling. She reached her hand out so she wouldnt hit her head,and started to giggle. I glanced at Dr. Carlos, expecting to see shock on his face but instead finding frustration. “Not again.” He whispered, exasperated. “Again? What do you mean not again?” I hissed, grabbing Lulu’s foot and pulling her down, much to her dismay. Dr. Carlos sat down and put his head in his hands, rubbing his face before looking back up. “These cases have been coming in all week. I dont know why its happening, no one does.” “What are we supposed...” He got up out of his chair and opened the door “One second.” Lulu caressed my hair and kissed me on the forehead. “Its okay Momma, Im fine. See?” she grinned as wide as she possibly could. When he came back inside, Dr. Carlos was carrying a shoe box. “For now she’ll have to wear these all the time.” I sat Lulu on my lap as he strapped them onto her feet. “What are they?” She questioned. “Lead boots.” he told her. “Okay try them out.” She jumped off my lap and paraded around the room, staying planted firmly on the floor. She lifted up one foot and examined it. She thought for a moment and then her eyes lit up. “Do you have any pink ones?” |
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