Revision [28245]
This is an old revision of ColeBreaksHisLeg made by BillHamilton on 2013-02-15 11:57:33.
Having collected a large length of rope, Cole decides to try to climb down the outside of the tower. Cal, Shawn, and Ollie are all present. While none of them think it's a good idea, they don't launch any strong objections either and they're kind of exited to see how it goes. Cole anchors the rope to something inside the towers and then starts to scale down the outside. Cole is pretty sure that the girls will object and maybe even tell on him to prevent him from doing it so he begins while they're otherwise engaged (Piano lessons, perhaps). Ella, Erin, Jeanne, and Celeste show up, however, when he's about halfway down. Erin just about has a heart attack, but Cal and Shawn calm her down by pointing out that Cole is most of the way down and he's doing fine. Cole, hearing the commotion, looks up. He sees everyone peering down to watch him, he gives them all a big smile and a wave. When he looks down to resume climbing, however, he looses his grip and falls. Erin shrieks (and maybe one or two of the other girls does too.) Cole tries to grab the rope again, but it burns and he can't hold on. He lands hard on the ground. For a minute, nobody moves. Then all the kids file out of the tower and make their way down. By the time, they get there Cole is up on one leg, leaning against the tower, but he's not putting any weight on his left leg. Celeste wants to treat him, but this is kind of beyond her ken. They try to convince Cole to tell the adults so he can go to a doctor, but he doesn't want to get in trouble and says he thinks he'll be find in a little bit. After a few minutes, Cole is able to limp on the leg, so the kids relent. The next day Ms. Lizzy notices that Cole is limping and questions him about it. He makes up a story about carrying an armload of laundry so big that he couldn't see well and missed the bottom step and fell. Ms. Lizzy is suspicious, but accepts his answer. After a a week Cole is still limping and he's wincing more now then he was initially. Ms. Lizzy insists on bringing him to the doctor. Cole requests that Celeste be allowed to come along.
The doctor can tell right away that the leg is broken, but he's trying to figure out exactly where. The doctor seems suspicious of Cole's story right, but Cole won't budge. The doctor then says he needs to examine Cole privately and ushers Ms. Lizzy and Celeste from the room. The doctor then promises to keep it to himself if Cole will just tell the truth - he says it might make a difference in the treatment. Cole is hesitant, but finally agrees. The answer seems to satisfy the doctor. The then calls Ms. Lizzy and Celeste back in to say that he'll have to rebreak the leg because it hasn't healed right.
Celeste holds one of Cole's hands, while Ms. Lizzy holds the other and his leg is rebroken and set. Cole's leg is then wrapped and he's ordered to stay of it completely for two weeks. Then he's to use crutches for another four weeks.
As a result of this incident, Cole misses Abner's next hunting trip. Also, much to Jefferson's dismay, Cole is make to work in the kitchen, because he can sit there and work, while Jefferson has to pick up Cole's other chores. Cole feels bad for Jefferson and tries to make it up to him...I'm not sure how.
<#kate: Ella would be amused at Cole's climbing attempted, more in line with the other boys "let's see what happens" then fearful or scolding. She would also try and help Jefferson out while he's doing Cole's chores. #>
NeedsKelly
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