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Male Vs Female Reaction: when the kids get hurt
Our son, Nick, called Monday night and asked for his dad. We were already asleep, but I sensed his urgency, so I didn't go into my "How was your day?" approach. All I could hear was Jeff's side of the conversation: "How bad is it?" (OMG...the car again...?) Then, "Take a shower, get the blood off, have one of your buddies cut the hair away from it, and then pull it together with a butterfly bandage. It's gonna swell, so, put a bag of ice on it, and tie it with a sock to the top of your head. (?) If it won't stop bleeding, you'll have to do something else." Meanwhile, I am hyperventilating, because I don't know what is bleeding or broken on my boy. Jeff hung up and rolled over to resume his sleep.
"WHAT HAPPENED????" I demanded.
"He cut his head playing football."
"No helmet?"
"It's flag. They don't wear helmets."
"What did he hit?"
"I don't know, probably a rusty, metal, post on the field," he smiled. I pulled the sheets over my head and texted Nick to get more information.
Me: "Did it stop bleeding? If not, go to ER asap!
Nick: "It stopped."
Me: "What did you hit?"
Nick: "A head."
Later he called and woke me up again,
"What insurance card do I take with me?"
"Oh good," I said, with relief, "You're going to ER."
"Yeah, do you want me to call you later?"
"Absolutely! Do you have a ride?"
"Yes, a whole bunch of us are going."
(Anything for an adventure in college!)
We texted several more times when he got to registration at the hospital, waking me up each time.
Nick: "What's Dick's last name?"
Me: "McKinney?.....why?" (Dick McKinney is our company custodian/courier. I thought maybe had run into him in ER, even though Dick lives 3 hours away, like us.)
Nick: "No, Dick, my Doc."
Me: "Oh! Sorry! Dr. Schlepporst." I started laughing to think I gave him the custodian's name when he needed his doctor's name. So I'm a bit foggy when woken up, what can I say? Jeff left the bedroom due to the beeping, texting, and laughing. I received one more text: a photo of his head with five (5!) staples in it. Apparently, they don't stitch scalps these days. It gave me the shivers. Bottom line: the injury had been properly treated. I realized I had forgotten to ask Nick if they won the game. I still wish they'd wear helmets. Or at least a mouth guard. Next time, I will handle the phone call!
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