Page 117 of Slew Foot
“Uh, sorry to interrupt,” Rafe said, not waiting for a pause in the conversation. “But you said to watch for weird symptoms and Mickey’s head started hurting all of a sudden. And I’m really worried about him.”
Dr. Pope’s head snapped up. “I’ll be right there.”
When they got back to where Mickey sat, Rafe found him wincing and rubbing his head still. Dr. Pope cleared his throat and Rafe stepped back, letting him get closer to Mickey.
“Hey, I understand you’re not feeling well?” Dr. Pope said.
“Yeah.” Mickey looked up at him. “All of a sudden there was this sharp pain in my head. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Now it’spounding.”
“Is it on one side?”
Mickey nodded, wiggling his jaw. “The left. And my ear is …” He said a word, sounding frustrated. “Noise there.”
Dr. Pope frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean. What kind of noise?”
Mickey repeated something in German then stopped, clearly frustrated. “I can’t think of the word right now. Not when my head …”
“Ringing, I think,” Coach Rasmussen said, appearing over Dr. Pope’s shoulder. He said something to Mickey in German.
Mickey nodded. “Yeah. Like a bell.” He shook his head again, like he was trying to clear it.
“When did the ringing start?” Dr. Pope asked.
“Just now, right?” Rafe said, peering down at Mickey.
“Yeah,” Mickey said, then hesitated. “But earlier I noticed something. Not ringing but a sound like—like the ocean.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me then?” Rafe asked.
Mickey shrugged. “I didn’t realize … it was when Logan showed up and I thought I was just angry.”
“Are you dizzy?” Dr. Pope asked with a frown.
“A little.”
“And how long has that been happening?” Dr. Pope asked.
“Uhh, well, it comes and goes but maybe since last night?”
“Last night!” Rafe yelped. “But we shouldn’t have?—”
Mickey gave him a warning look and Rafe realized he’d been about to blurt out details of their sex life to the whole team. He was happy to get chirped by the guys, but no, he didn’t need to give them anymoreammunition.
“… um, should have told Dr. Pope right then,” he said.
Mickey shrugged. “I felt fine otherwise.”
“Iknewsomething was wrong,” Rafe said, crossing his arms. “You have a concussion.”
Mickey wouldn’t look at him.
“Well, we can’t say thatconclusively,” Dr. Pope said. “But Rafe is right that a lot of the signs are pointing in that direction.” He pulled a pen light out of his pocket. “I’m going to look at your pupils, okay, Mickey?”
Mickey nodded, then winced like the movement hurt him. “Yes. Okay.”
Dr. Pope hummed quietly as he turned the light on and pointed it at Mickey. He did it to both eyes, then said, “Well, that all looks fine. Your pupils are still equal and reactive. No light sensitivity?”
“No,” Mickey said.
