Page 91 of Romeo & Antoinette

But Cap was just staring him down, expectantly.

“It was those guys. The ones from Monty’s. The ones we had trouble with that day at the street fair.”

“Tell me all of it.”

So Tyler did. He told Cap what happened. Or at least his version of what happened. As he got closer and closer to the end he could see Cap shaking his head more and more. Tyler wasn’t sure if it was because his dad didn’t believe him, or because he did.

“And that’s what happened,” Tyler said, finishing up.

At that point a doctor walked in.

“Hi. I’m Doctor Porthacey,” she said. “But you can call me Dr P.”

“Heh, heh. Dr P,” snickered Tyler.

His mom slapped him on the shoulder for the comment. Not terribly hard, but hard enough to make a point. Dr P just ignored it and continued on.

“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” She looked at the chart, then at Tyler, moving his head from side to side, peeking up under the edge of the bandage, checking both his eyes. “All right. Not too bad. Let’s see about getting you out of here.”

“It’s about time.”

At which point his mom smacked him upside the head.

“Ouch!”

“Don’t be rude.”

“You might want to go easy on his head, seeing as how he most likely has at least a minor concussion,” continued Dr P.

“Of course. Oh my God. You’re right. I’m sorry. Baby I’m so sorry…” His mom pulled him close and kissed him excitedly. Handling and hugging his head more roughly than she probably should have.

“Ma!.. Ow…”

“Right, right, of course. I’m sorry.”

“I’m going to take off your bandage and if everything looks ok we’re going to send you home.”

“I’ll be outside,” said Cap, walking off. The curtains billowing up behind him.

Out in the waiting room Ant and Nikki were sitting on opposite sides, not talking to each other, with about a half dozen seats between them. Cap lumbered in and plopped down in a chair, not next to, but definitely closer to Ant than to Nikki.

“How is he?” asked Nikki.

“He’ll be fine.”

“What happened?”

Cap shook his head. “He said he got jumped by some of those guys from Monty’s. He said he was just minding his own business watching the store and they jumped him.”

Ant sat up in her chair. “Do you believe him?”

“I don’t know,” he said, contemplating his shoes. “Either of you know anything about this?”

“No,” answered Nikki.

“How about you?” he asked Ant directly.

“Me? How would I know anything about this?”

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