Melodrama

[porphyry]

So tonight I was washing Andrew's hair. As his leg heals, he must be put onto the kitchen counter to do this because his cast cannot get wet (his bath is a sponge bath with the aid of a large plastic bowl and some mild baby wash). As a patient, Andrew brings to mind the word "persnickety"--everything must be just so--a pillow under his leg (useless); a light cover for his body (silly); the overhead lights turned low so as to not hurt his eyes (ridiculous)--and he allows no one but me to assist him with this new bathing routine. When Malkhos asked him why he couldn't do it, Andrew replied, "Because Mama has the magic touch! You don't!"

Well, apparently tonight I wasn't holding his head just right under my hand, for he cried out: "I'm not very comfortable! My neck! My neck! Oh, I feel like such an old man! My heart! I'm so old! My heart!"

"Oh, Andrew, don't be so melodramatic. That's not even good acting," I say. "You need to learn how to suffer silently."

"I can't. I'm little," he said. "Is my leg better yet?"

One week down; five weeks to go.

Comments

[sombersigh.livejournal.com]

Andrew is such a bright and entertaining little fellow - I love hearing these little stories; they make me smile.

[sombersigh.livejournal.com]

The way in which you tell them does of course make a huge difference - it reveals your splendid sense of humor and your outstanding wit. :)

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

You are too sweet. I promise, one of these days I'll actually write something and send it off to a publisher and then everyone will be happy! Like I said before, this stuff is easy with such readily available source material.

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

I know someone in Vienna will order a copy. Also I'm happy that everythings seems to be getting better and better over there.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (Actually, lately I've been turning over and over in my mind a plot for a story; I've roughly sketched out characters and setting; I've even dreamed about it. I wonder if that means anything?)

Yes, we're coming along nicely.

Best of all, I think spring might actually be on its way after a long, cold, snowy, icy winter.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

He is funny. You know, sometimes in the face of what we're dealing with now (especially my mother who by far received the most serious injuries; she's still in the hospital), I take my humor where I can get it, you know? ;)

[filialucis]

How is your mother? I've not seen an update about her progress on my friends page these last few days; I do hope no news is good news?

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

She's doing all right. She underwent a three-hour reconstructive surgery on her foot and ankle yesterday--finally!--and the surgeon said it went well. She was kind of loopy last night but she's more coherent today. Hopefully, they'll release her by this weekend if all continues to go well.

Overall, she's just gotten a bit edgy--a two-week hospital stay will do that to a person, I suppose.

Thank you for asking.

[filialucis]

From oh-so-old to little in one deep breath... and young enough to get away with it still! He's a delight. :)

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Amazing the way he can do that, isn't it? The other day, he got mad at his little sister for running off with one of his toys--true, she provoked him--and he rammed her with his wheelchair once he'd cornered her. I didn't know whether to laugh or yell at him.

He got it worked out in his head that the whole ramming episode was my fault and his sister's fault. It was an amazing rhetorical strategy for one so young. I'd repeat it if I could remember it, but I forgot exactly what he said.

[stefanie-bean.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear the update, and that your mom's surgery went well. Hang in there.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)