Ruby's Broken Bone

Ruby's Broken Bone Part 4

At school, Ruby, Louise and Valerie were all hanging out at the playground at recess watching Max, Morris, Lily, Winston, and Priya play Freeze Tag. Ruby sat comfortably on the stone ledge while Louise and Valerie stood right beside her.

"Gotcha, Priya!" Max exclaimed.

"No you didn't!" Priya said back.

"Did too!" Max snapped. Ruby sighed just watching her brother practice being 'it.'

"You know it's gonna be a good game when Max is 'it,'" she said and giggled.

"Yeah," Louise said. "Morris would never survive being 'it.' He gets distracted way too easily." 

"What about Lily?" said Valerie. "I've seen her be as fast as Max."

"Yeah, I guess she could be up there in the ranking with Max," said Louise. Antonio noticed the girls at stone ledge and walked over.

"Hey girls, what's new?" Antonio said in his humble tone.

"Oh, not much, Antonio," said Ruby. "We're just debating on which of the little kids could be 'it.'"

"While we're at it," said Louise, "We should put some money on it." She reached into her pockets.

"You know I don't gamble, Louise," said Ruby. "Anyway, what are you up to, Antonio?"

"Nothin," replied Antonio. "Just wanted to ask how your leg is doing, Ruby?"

"Great, actually," Ruby replied, swinging her boot back and forth. "I'm supposed to get this boot taken off in a couple days."

"That's great!" said Antonio with a beaming smile. "Because Roger really wants to pick the big Freeze Tag tournament back up."

"Well, I think it's Thursday after school that I'm supposed to get it taken off. We can hold the big tournament on Saturday."

"Same location," said Antonio. Max suddenly ran up to his sister sitting on the stone ledge.

"Ruby! Ruby!" Max eagerly called.

"What is it?" Ruby replied as she carefully climbed down from the ledge as not to put too much pressure on her leg.

"I can't tag Winston. He's too fast and he's always looking around so I can't sneak up on him. I need you to distract him!"

"Oh, Max!" Ruby said as she smiled and closed her eyes and shook her head. "The whole point of being 'it' is to tag everyone all on your own."

"Pleeeaaassseee?" Max pleaded in a long annoying tone with his paws folded together. Ruby let out another sigh and smiled.

"Okay," Ruby said. "Just this once, because you really do need practice on being 'it.' That one time you managed to tag me and Louise and Valerie, you just got very lucky." Max rolled his eyes as his sister walked over on her boot towards Winston. "Hey, Winston," she said as she got to him. She made sure Max was initially out of view so she could distract Winston and her brother could sneak up on him.

"Hey, Ruby," Winston replied back. "How's your leg?"

"It's doing great," Ruby said. "I'm supposed to get the boot taken off on Thursday, and then I'll be walking again."

"That must be nice though," said Winston. "Being able to gain that ability back."

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked, her smile turning to a frown.

"You know, being able to walk?" Winston said. "At least you have since gained that ability again. Some of us never had that ability and never will." Ruby became all bummed hearing this coming from Winston. "Sometimes I imagine if just for one day I'd be able to walk like everyone else." Ruby did not know how to respond to this, suddenly feeling awkward and guilty standing there.