I don’t remember how I got there, in the little room at the end of the long hallway. But I was there, lying on my side on the brown leather cot in the corner. My head rested on the cool, padded surface, and a thin sheet of paper crinkled beneath me when I moved.
The chattering and paper shuffling of the adjoining office floated into the room, but it was otherwise silent. I studied the fluorescent lights gleaming on the tile floor, then closed my eyes.
“What’s the matter?” The nurse had asked when I walked in. She was an older woman with graying hair.
“My head hurts,” I replied quietly.
“Can you show me where?” I pointed to the side of my head.
“It hurts in your ear?” I nodded. She led me to the cot and told me to lay down.
When I opened my eyes, she was sitting at the metal desk on the opposite side of the room. I rolled onto my back and watched her pick up the phone to dial a number. My head ached and I closed my eyes again.
“Hello, Mrs. Glaser?” she asked into the receiver. “This is the Holmes Elementary nurse’s office. Kristina is here and she is complaining of an earache.”
Complaining? I never complained! All I did was tell the nurse what was happening! Would I be scolded for grumbling at school? Was the nurse mad at me? What a mean lady. I wasn’t complaining!
“Yes, she’s running a slight fever.” The nurse paused. “Of course. We’ll see you in a bit.” She put the phone in its cradle and turned toward me with a smile. “Your mom will be here shortly.”