Gwen. E. Lippert
The game forgotten, Gwen stared at her friend in disbelief. “That’s awful. I guess the doctors were able to sew it back on?”
“Well, the thumb didn’t actually come off in the escalator, but it was so damaged that it had to be removed.” Claire held up her right thumb. “They replaced it with my toe.” She smiled when she saw Gwen’s eyes widen.
“Okay, now you’re just trying to fool me,” Gwen said suspiciously, sitting back and crossing her arms.
“No, it’s true,” answered Claire. “Look, I’ll show you.” Claire bent down to remove her right tennis shoe. “Prepare yourself. This isn’t pretty, but it’s not nearly as bad as it was right after it happened. Mom says the surgeons did a great job, and it looks like I was just born this way.”
Gwen watched with fascination as Claire pulled off her sock, revealing a little foot with just four toes. No big toe, just an empty space there. Gwen leaned over and examined the foot more closely. Miss Ann was right. It looked like maybe Claire had been born that way. You really had to look to see the scarring.
“That’s amazing. I had no idea they could do that. Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore. It did at first, and for a while, I remember that much.” Claire smiled. “I had to learn to get my balance, which doesn’t sound hard, but the big toe must help us balance because it was weird. That’s why I walk a little funny now. And I had to learn how to use my new thumb. I went to physical therapy for a while for that. But really I hardly ever think about it now.” Claire started to put her sock and shoe back on. “Unless, of course, someone stares at it,” she added, smiling.
“Sorry. That might be the coolest thing I have ever seen,” said Gwen, still awed by what she now would always think of as the toe-thumb.
Claire laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool.”
Gwen stared at her friend’s thumb for a few seconds more, then turning back to the game, she teased, “By the way, your feet stink.” Both girls laughed.
Gwen had a new sense of respect for her friend. She had been through a lot but didn’t make a big deal out of it. She could have shown the bullies at school her missing toe when they made fun of her walk, but she didn’t. Gwen would bet that Claire was being completely honest when she said she hardly ever thought about it. “You’re a lot tougher than you look.”
Claire laughed again. “I don’t know about that, but thank you.”
The girls went back to their game and book discussion as though they had not just discussed a very traumatic event in Claire’s life.
As scheduled, Gwen had dinner that evening with Claire and Miss Ann. Ann prepared spaghetti and meatballs. What kid doesn’t like spaghetti and meatballs? Ann knew she had chosen well as she watched Gwen eat.
During dinner, the three of them talked about the books the girls were reading. Ann tried to read most of what Claire read but only vaguely remembered reading what they discussed. She held her own though and really enjoyed having a “literary” discussion with the girls.
The girls enjoyed it too. Gwen loved how Miss Ann would ask her opinion about something and then actually listen to the answer. It was obvious that they were all part of the discussion, and Gwen responded by opening up. She felt completely comfortable in the Lambertson house. She could be herself, and never once during her time there did she wonder what her friend and Miss Ann thought when they looked at her. She didn’t worry about her nose or her eyes or her hair or her weight. None of it mattered.
As they were having dessert, a really yummy chocolate cake that Miss Ann had picked up today, Ann said to Gwen, “I understand that you have been a big help to Claire in school. Thank you for taking up for her.”
“You’re welcome. I was happy to do it,” replied Gwen, thinking back with satisfaction to how she had handled some of Claire’s bullies. She hoped Miss Ann didn’t know all of it.
“It was very brave of you. Kids your age can be so mean.”
“I know what it’s like to be picked on,” said Gwen. “I wanted to stop it.”
“I’m sorry that you’ve had to deal with that too, sweetie,” said Miss Ann sympathetically.
Thinking about how Claire dealt with having a toe-thumb and the awful experience leading up to that, Gwen replied, “It’s no big deal. I learned how to deal with it.”
“You’re a sweet girl, Gwen. There are probably three hundred students at that school, not to mention a few dozen adults, and you were the only one to stand up for my girl. I will never forget it.”
Gwen smiled, a bit embarrassed now. She just nodded her head and held Miss Ann’s gaze. After a few seconds, they both smiled and went back to their cake. Miss Ann knew that Gwen understood how much she was appreciated, and Gwen knew that Miss Ann truly meant what she said.
To change the subject and lighten the mood a bit and to remind them both that she was sitting right there, Claire said, “I showed Gwen my foot today and told her about my thumb. She thinks it’s pretty cool.”
Gwen responded, “It is cool! Who knew you could replace a finger with a toe?”
“I guess it is pretty cool,” said Miss Ann doubtfully. “It wasn’t cool when it happened, but it is…unique. Your mom is a doctor. You should ask her if she’s ever seen that.”
“Oh, she’s not that kind of doctor. She has a PhD in biochemistry. So does my dad. So they are doctors, but not doctors like you work with.”
“Oh, I misunderstood. Do they do research?”
“Some, but mostly they teach, both at the Dulaney U.”
“Wow, that’s pretty neat. They both must be very smart,” said Miss Ann, impressed.
“I guess so,” replied Gwen. She had never really thought much about it. She knew she was smart but hadn’t considered just where that had come from.
When they had finished dessert, Gwen and Claire helped clear the table and then headed back to Claire’s room to do their homework.
“Can I ask you a question?” asked Claire.
“Sure.”
“The first time I saw you was when you punched Sam in the stomach. Thanks for that, by the way.” Claire smiled at Gwen. “Where did you learn to punch like that? He went down like he’d been hit by Muhammad Ali!”
Gwen laughed. “Good, I didn’t stay around to watch, and I didn’t think anyone saw that it was me.”
“I did.”
“Well, I learned in the third grade that I had to take care of myself. I could either accept the abuse of all the bullies I would come across in school, or I could learn to defend myself. So I learned to defend myself. I do push-ups every night. I have weights that I lift daily, not heavy but enough to build muscle. And I started punching. First, I would set up my mattress on its side, against the wall, and punch that, then I used my allowance to buy a punching bag. It’s in our basement. I punch on that a few times a week. I thought about taking some kickboxing classes, but my parents are non-violent.” Gwen added air quotes to show just what she thought about that. “So that would be hard to get past them.” Gwen smiled.
“Don’t they care about the punching bag?”
“I told them I needed it for exercise. They weren’t happy, but they wanted me to keep my weight down, so they allowed it.” Gwen stopped and gave Claire a conspiratorial smile. “If they had any idea that I used it to prepare for punching Sam in the gut, they would die.”
“Mum’s the word,” said Claire, smiling. “It’s our secret. Is he the only person you have ever punched?”
“No, but he was the first in a long time. I had to punch a few kids back in third grade to get my nonbullying