Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Zombie Elf & a Turncoat

Poor little Zombie Elf. He finally woke up from the anesthesia yesterday, and I brought him home. He felt dizzy and stumbled whenever he tried walking. After a while, he gave up and eventually rested on the couch. "I'm tough," he croaked. "I didn't even cry."
    "I know, buddy," I said. "You're amazing. They made you sleep for over two hours and you're the toughest little Zombie ever!" 
    Another voice whispered near him. I realized Doctor Jones, my two-year-old girl, had gotten onto the other side of the couch. She frowned, snatched a blanket and bawled. "I sick. I sick, Mama."
    "Ummm . . . no you aren't." I played with one of her brown curls before turning back to the Zombie.  "What makes you so brave?" I asked my boy.
    "I'm the bravest kid," he strained, wheezing, then coughed.  I held him close and smoothed his hair back.  "Mama, can you tell me why I'm so brave? I'm tired of talking. It hurts."
    So I told him what he tells me nearly every morning. "You're brave because YOU pet a real shark in California. YOU wear crocodile-skin boots. YOU don't even cry when you go to the dentist.  YOU'RE the bravest of the brave. YOU'RE the toughest of the tough. The cutest of the cute. YOU'RE the Zombie Elf!!!"
    He nodded proudly, then closed his eyes. He didn't even smile because that's a serious mantra. 
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    "I SICK!" Doctor Jones wailed, quite disgruntled at that point. You'd think the Zombie's surgery was harder on her than him.
    "Shhh, honey. The Zombie needs me."
    She stuck out her bottom lip. That child has rosy cheeks, dark brown curls that go down her back, and a sassy attitude that never ends.  "I am sick," she pouted, folding her arms.
    When the Zombie Elf fell asleep, I moved over to Doctor Jones. "Baby, you're sick? Really?  Where does it hurt."
    "My toes."
    "Your toes?  Where else?"
    "Ummm. . . . My fingers?"
    "How about your eyelashes?"
    "Yeah!" she said blinking.
    "I have just the thing," I said and playfully scampered up the stairs to get a small bowl of water and a cottonball.
    When I headed back downstairs, I had to lean against the wall and smile. Doctor Jones had woken the Zombie. "It's okay. I make you better." She danced around in the stilted way all two-year-olds do.  She patted his forehead, held his hand. Sang and sang.  I cleared my throat and when Doctor Jones saw me, she froze for a moment, then sprinted to her side of the couch, and pulled a blanket over herself. "I sick," she groaned. I could just hear her thoughts. That wasn't what it looked like, Mama. I swear!
    "Do you need to go to the Doctor?" I asked her.
    "Yeah, Mama."
    The Zombie Elf's eyes widened. "No, Doctor Jones. They might do this to you."
    "That's good," Doctor Jones said. "I brave. I not scared of nothin'."
    "Wow, you really are tough," my Zombie whispered. Then he gathered enough strength to tell her his mantra, except this time it changed just a little.  "Doctor Jones, you're the bravest of the brave. The toughest of the tough. The cutest of the cute. You're my little sister!" 
    Doctor Jones giggled with pure joy. "I funny," she said. "I really not sick, Zombie.  I just brave."       


    Thanks to everyone for your prayers. I'm so thankful my boy is feeling a little better today. The Zombie Elf is sleeping right now and Doctor Jones is still watching over him. She hasn't left his side for even a second. 
  Also, thank you, Janie, for mentioning Homeless in Hawaii on your blog today. That means so much.

16 comments:

  1. Adobrable story, as always. I love that you have all these sweet moments captured with words.

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  2. haha that is quite the mantra, overcoming a dentist is no easy feat. Hope he's up and around soon. Dr. Jones has great bedside manner too haha

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  3. Glad to here that the Zombie Elf is Ok and back home. Sounds like he has a pretty darn good guardian angel watching over him right now. :)

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  4. Your kids are AMAZINGLY adorable, & I'm not prejudiced at all!!

    "Grandma" fishducky

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  5. My God, I'm away for a bit playing Nurse Ratched and everyone's life just keeps going on without me. Did he have his tonsils out or was it something more serious?

    BTW- Congrats on your new position!

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    1. He had four root canals. One was an abscess. Poor little man. He's so good at brushing his teeth. Yet my oldest fakes brushing and never even gets a cavity. What a world.
      I hope you're doing awesome.

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  6. four root canals!! Oh, poor baby! Did you survive it all??

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    1. I survived lol I'm pretty tired though.
      P.S. I got to see your picture on Wayman's Blog. You're beautiful--and so artsy! That's exactly how I always pictured you.

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  7. I am glad to hear that you are all surviving and that your little zombie elf is feeling better. Thank God for the funny and brave dr. Jones...lol!

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  8. Stop making me cry. I sick. I sick cuz I wish I could be with you.

    Love,
    Janie

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  9. Aw .. poor little guy! I wish I could be that brave when I have a root canal!! Hope he feels better soon.

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  10. Dear Elisa, the tender-heartedness of Dr. Jones touched me deeply. And Zombie Elf is truly brave. Giving him a mantra was a stroke of genius on your part. Peace.

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  11. So glad he is okay and doing better. This was such a sweet moment!! :)

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  12. I'm so glad he is feeling better and what a brave boy he is. And Doctor Jones is both brave and cute. What could be better than that?

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  13. oh my that is the sweetest story. i felt like i was there!

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