Bumps N Bruises

Chapter 6: Tending The Wounds

Meanwhile, Paula was busy treating Shannon's minor wounds on his arms and knees. Shannon remained silent for the most part, with the occasional flinch every now and again. "You can spare me the talk, Miss. Small." He said, clinging onto a pillow. Paula knew Shannon probably had similar scoldings from people like Mr. Lynch for doing reckless stunts, so she held back. "Why did you wanna try using roller blades anyways, Shannon?" She asked. "Well...To be honest, I never knew how to roller skate to begin with. So I wanted to try it! My younger brother knows how to skate, and I wanted to join in." Shannon explained to the best he could, he then covered his face with a pillow as he could feel that sting once again. "Plus...I just wanted to be cool..." He whimpered. Paula furrowed her eyebrows as she bandaged up most of the cuts. She then scooped Shannon in her arms once again and carried him out to the car with his ice pack. 

The kids looked as Shannon was carefully placed in the back seat, he avoided eye contact with Jason and Melissa specifically. "Shannon?" Brendon softly called, but no response. Shannon continued to cling onto the pillow he had been holding for a while. The drive was mostly silent from both ends and Shannon wasn't willing to speak anytime soon. "We're almost at the hospital, guys." Melissa said, Shannon once again wiping his face to make it look like he was sweating. Paula could see this and decided to wait until arriving at the destination before she could comfort him. "I'm sorry I ruined the movie, you guys..." Shannon sniffled. "You didn't ruin the movie, Shannon. You actually made it better! Wipeout scenes always add that extra bit of comedic effect." Brendon replied, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Yeah but it isn't funny. It would have been funny if it were you or Jason, but it HAD to be me!" Brendon couldn't help but feel bad for Shannon in that moment. "Well...Just think about it! Your leg will be better in no time!" Melissa chimed in. "Yeah...Let's hope I just...Twisted it or something..." Shannon responded quietly. 

Once Paula pulled in at the hospital, she helped the kids get out and carried Shannon into the waiting room. "Now...you know most of the important information about yourself, right? Do you want me to call your mom at all?" Paula asked. "Well...I think I can take care of getting myself checked in, but maybe you could call my mom to drop my two brothers off? They could join us for trick or treating tonight!" Shannon responded, feeling hopeful he'll still be able to attend the festivities with his comrades. Brendon, Jason, and Melissa sat in the kids section of the waiting room while Paula and Shannon waited by the front desk. "Where's the remote so we could change the channel on this thing?" Brendon asked annoyingly. "I don't think there IS one, Brendon." Melissa replied. Before the two could speak further, Jason was glued to whatever toddler show was on at that time. 

Paula and Shannon returned to where Brendon and the others were sitting, but were a couple of seats away. And at this time, Brendon grew a bit jealous at the amount of attention Shannon was getting from Paula. "Are you sure you don't want me to just sit with Brendon? I don't wanna make it like I'm being an...Attention hog." Shannon said, avoiding eye contact with Paula. "Well somebody's gonna have to carry you, right?" Paula replied, Shannon nodding his head in response. "I know. I mean, I love the attention. But don't you also have to worry about Brendon?" Paula understood Shannon's concerns and reassured him that everything would be alright. And she knew that it would be a while before they'd get a room. Because despite the hospital not being that busy that day, the process was still slow. 

Some time later, after getting to a hospital room and a series of X-Rays, Shannon found out that he had badly fractured his leg and it would take at least 6 weeks to recover. Which meant one thing... 

"But...That means I can't..." He muttered, looking at his friends. "Sorry, kiddo." Paula said. "That can't be, though. We can find a way! I can still go trick or treating with you guys!" Shannon pleaded with Brendon's mom, hoping she knew a way for him to still participate. But nobody responded. "But there ARE some people here to see you, Shannon!" Melissa then opened the door, where two kids, younger than Shannon, ran into the room. "Mickey? Sean?" Shannon said. "W-What are you guys doing here? You're supposed to be at home with mom!" Sean, the youngest, climbed onto the bed and hugged his older brother. "Mommy said we could stay with you tonight!" The little one said. "I'll be back shortly, kids. I'm gonna see if there is some way we could get Shannon to still participate." Paula said before excusing herself. Melissa turned to Shannon, feeling worried for him. "Sorry you can't come with us, Shannon." Melissa said. "I know you were really looking forward to going trick or treating with us." Shannon simply scoffed "Well...You may say that NOW, Melissa. But Brendon's mom will be back soon saying there IS a way to still get me to go with you guys." "You know, Shannon. Maybe Mickey and Sean could just go and they'll give you their share of the candy." Brendon suggested. "Yeah but I won't get as much!" Shannon replied, hinting that he may or may not have stolen other people's candy in the past.

Paula then entered, "Shannon..." She said. "I talked with the doctor...And he said that they can't lend us a wheelchair due to a shortage or something." Shannon's face went pale, he fell back into his hospital bed. "W-What?" He questioned. "Don't worry, Shannon. When we come back from trick or treating, we'll give you as much candy as you want!" Mickey, the middle child of Shannon's said. "As much as I want?" Shannon mused, rubbing his hands together. "Yeah!" Sean replied. "Well...That DOES sound like a good idea...But we'll have to do things my way...The Shannon way."