8/The Dangerous Nurse’s Office

Guess where I ran to? Straight to the nurse’s office, of course! ’Cause there’s those little plaid blankets to hide under!

There’s other neat stuff in there, too. Like a scale to weigh yourself. And a sign with a giant E and other letters.

The nurse uses the sign to test your eyes. She points to the letters. And you have to yell out their names.

You have to yell the E the loudest. That’s how come it’s so big.

And guess what else I saw in the nurse’s office? Band-Aids, that’s what! I love those guys!

They were on top of the desk. And so I opened the lid. And I sniffed them.

“Ummm,” I said. ’Cause Band-Aids smell just like a brand-new beach ball.

Then I dumped them out. They were the most prettiest Band-Aids I ever saw! They were red and blue and green! And also yellow. Which is the color I hate.

And they were different shapes, too. There were squares and circles. And some were that very long kind—which are called tangles, I think.

I put a green circle on my knee. That’s where I fell down on the sidewalk last week. It’s mostly all better now. But if I press it very hard with my thumb, I can still make it hurt.

After that, I put a blue tangle on my finger. That’s where I got a splinter from the picnic table. Mother pulled it out with tweezers. But there’s still some table in there, I think.

Also, I put a red square on my arm. That’s where Tickle scratched me. Because I got him all wound up.

Just then I saw the nurse’s purple sweater. It was hanging on her chair.

I put it on.

“Now I’m the nurse,” I said.

Then I sat down. And I pretended to call the hospital.

“Hello, hospital? It’s me, the nurse. I need some more Band-Aids and some aspirins and some cherry cough drops. Only not the kind that make your mouth feel freezy.

“And I need some lollipops for when kids get needles.

“And also I need a little stick or something in case I have to touch that dangly thing that hangs down in your throat.”

Then I pretended to call Room Nine.

“Hello, Mrs.? Please send that Jim to my office. I have to give him a shot.”

Just then I saw my most favorite thing in the whole world! They were near the door. And their name is crutches!

Crutches are for when you break a leg. Then the doctor puts it in a big white cast with just your piggies sticking out. And you can’t walk on it. And so she gives you crutches to swing yourself.

I ran over and picked them up. Then I put them under my arms. Only they were way too long for me. And I didn’t swing that good.

And so then I got another idea! I carried them to the nurse’s chair. And I climbed up there so I was real tall. And then I put the crutches under my arms. And they fitted just right!

After that, I stood on the edge of the chair. And I leaned forward very slow.

Except then a terrible thing happened! The chair was on wheels. And it rolled away from my feet! And I got stuck on the crutches way high in the air! And I was very dangly up there!

“HEY!” I shouted. “GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!”

Then I wiggled around. And one of the crutches slipped. And I came crashing down! And I banged my head on the desk!

“OW!” I yelled. “OW! OW! OW!”

Then I picked up the phone again. “I quit this stupid job!” I said.

And then I ran out of there very fast.

’Cause the nurse’s office is a dangerous place.

And crutches aren’t my favorite thing.