Deenie by Judy Blume

Author:Judy Blume
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Classics, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction
ISBN: 9780385739856
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Published: 1973-01-01T10:00:00+00:00

Twelve

The brace looks like the one Dr. Kliner showed us three weeks ago. It's the ugliest thing I ever saw.

I'm going to take it off as soon as I get home. I swear, I won't wear it. And nobody can make me. Not ever! I felt like telling that to Dr. Kliner but I didn't. I had to fight to keep from crying.

Just when I thought I was going to be okay Ma started. "Oh, my God!" she cried. "What did we ever do to deserve this?" She buried her face in a tissue and made sobbing noises that really got me sore. The louder she cried the madder I got until I shouted, "Just stop it, Ma! Will you just stop it please!"

Dr. Kliner said, "You know, Mrs. Fenner, you're making this very hard on your daughter."

Ma opened the door and ran out of Dr. Kliner's office.

Daddy hugged me and said, "I'm proud of you, Deenie. You're stronger than your mother."

I wanted to tell him I'm not. I hate just looking at the brace, never mind the thought of wearing it.

But I was glad he thought I was strong so I kept pretending I really was.

"Why don't you see about your wife," Dr. Kliner said to Daddy. "I'd like a minute alone with Deenie anyway."

Daddy said, "Of course, Doctor," and he left the room.

Dr. Kliner pushed a button on his desk and told me, "Miss Harrigan will be here in a minute. She's going to help you with your brace. But before she comes I want to tell you something. Your mother's attitude toward your condition is fairly common. Usually when the mother feels that way it rubs off on the patient. I can tell you have your father's attitude and I'm glad. Because wearing the brace can be as easy or difficult as you make it. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I nodded.

"Before you leave we're going to give you a booklet about scoliosis which explains the exercises you'll have to do every day."

"I didn't know I'd have to do exercises. I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything like that."

"Just the opposite," Dr. Kliner said. "There's nothing you can't do."

"You mean I should take gym in school?" That would mean changing in the locker room where all the girls would be able to see my brace.

"Positively. Gym is very important. So is swimming. Can you swim?"

"Yes, but how do I swim with the brace on?"

"That's the one activity you do without the brace. I'd like you to swim at least three days a week for half an hour at a time."

There was a knock at the door and Dr. Kliner called, "Come in … Deenie I'd like you to meet Iris Harrigan."

"Hello, Deenie." Miss Harrigan was very tall and really pretty. She reminded me of that girl I sat next to at the modeling agency, the one who wanted to be in commercials. She picked up my brace and said, "Let's go change."

I stood up and followed her into the same room where Dr.

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