Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee

Author:Karen Foxlee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2018-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

The day after the surgery, Professor Cole arrived at Davey’s bedside with his first version of the operation. He smiled when he saw Davey yet a dark heart feeling swelled and stormed through Mother’s veins.

“Well, it was a tricky one,” said Professor Cole.

He touched Davey’s head, remembering.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Davey and he smiled his big gap-toothed smile.

“I sure did,” said Professor Cole. He didn’t really look at Mother so much for this version, just concentrated on Davey. “They were big and a little unusual. But I’m sure I got them all.”

Like he was talking about fish he’d caught.

“I would like you to try some experimental radiation,” said Professor Cole.

“Radiation,” said Davey slowly, his eyes wide. “Like what happened to the Incredible Hulk?”

It made Professor Cole laugh.

“We’d give you a little less than the Incredible Hulk,” he said. “Aim it at the right spots in your brain.”

“Holy Batman. I’m gonna be zapped,” Davey whispered.

“I’ll have a chat with your mother later, Davey, you need to rest right now,” said Professor Cole. “Resting is good. Put your feet up and rest.”

My mother told me the version for her was different. Professor Cole packed his smile away. Outside the office Mother had been taken to there was a steady procession of patients and nurses and carts bumping and rumbling. The charge nurse came and stood beside her.

“That’s one fine boy you have there,” was how he started.

Mother exploded into tears.

“Now, Mrs. Spink, the operation went well, but they were unusual tumours, and in fact, I’m going to be honest with you, the strangest tumours I’ve ever seen,” said Professor Cole. “In most children I’ve treated these tumours look a certain way but these were different. The lab test will show us one way or other. Whatever it is, it’s a rare thing we’re dealing with here, I believe, and while I’m pretty sure I got it all I think some radiation would be good. We’ll start as soon as possible.”

Later, my mother told me all she could think was how fine her boy was. How it showed. How everyone who met him was charmed by his smile and kindness. She just couldn’t quite take Professor Cole’s words in.

“Yes, I’d like to try some radiation,” Professor Cole said, “With your consent of course. It’s a new and exciting field. We zap him with some radiation. Zap any tiny little remainders of tumour cell. Then we watch and monitor. But there are side effects. Sometimes brain damage, sometimes seizures, sometimes we go the other way with hormones, not enough, not enough of the boy hormones.”

“How are you doing, sweetie?” said the charge nurse.

“I’m okay,” said Mother.

“You’re doing great,” said the charge nurse.

“Does he really need the radiation?” Mother asked. She couldn’t quite fathom it.

“I believe he does,” said Professor Cole. “And then we’ll see. We’ll wait and see. This first year will tell us, we’ll see how much he grows this year.”

“How do I know what is a right amount?” asked Mother, like she was measuring a thimbleful of something.

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