Celeste (Gemini 1)

compl

ains it's getting too cold, take it off for a while

and then put it back on. understand?"

I nodded.

"Doesn't he have to go to the hospital.

Mommy?" I asked her when she stood up and started

for the door.

She turned to me slowly.

"No," she said. "They won't do anything mare

than what I have done and will do."

Will he be all right?"

"I don't know. Will he?" she shot back at me. I

couldn't understand why.

I scrunched my eyebrows. Why did she think I

knew the answer?

She stared at me a moment, and then she

walked out of our room. Noble groaned.

"It hurts. Celeste. It hurts so much," he said.

"More than splinters or cuts, more than anything." I looked at the empty doorway, and then I

returned to him and held the ice pack on his leg. I

stroked his arm softly.

"I know it hurts. I'm sorry it hurts. Noble." "Why doesn't Mommy stop it from hurting?" he

asked me.

She did. She gave you something. This ice pack

will help. too. It will all help you soon." I said. He closed his eyes and whimpered. I looked at

his lea. It was black and blue around where the bone

had protruded. I thought it looked horrible. He should

be in a hospital. I concluded. Maybe Mommy will

realize it soon and take him.

"I. . . want... to play with... my trains." Noble