Have you ever broken a bone?
Indeed, I had. The following is an excerpt from my book, published in 2022. I talk about the time in fourth grade when I fractured my left forearm:
‘After all that teasing of Miguel and Tammy, my left forearm was fractured while playing a game. Albert, a hefty peer, landed on top while tagging; my forearm was very sore as I stood up. Apparently, the prognoses among my peers was rather bleak.
“He’s not going to die yet,” Samson mentioned while regarding me along with the other kids.
My adviser, Mr Jonah, was very helpful. Despite being new, he helped me to the small “clinic” corner. He then accompanied me to our car. After heading home, we went to the hospital that afternoon. While waiting with the multitude, Dr Granola, our ex-neighbour, saw us.
“What happened?”
“Chris’s left forearm is fractured,” my mum told her.
Dr Granola was very fortuitous that day. We knew that she worked as an anaesthesiologist. Her two daughters were our schoolmates. We hadn’t imagined her significance in my situation. Without her connections, we would’ve waited for days. Her timing was spot-on; I half-expected to see the Time Machine behind her. Thus, the doctor on duty immediately saw and treated me. I was then provided with a cast and sling and lived with that for a few months.
Banjo was a true friend. I had trouble writing with my right hand (took me ages), so I requested his assistance. He gladly complied, copying the notes in both his notebook and mine. When he called me on his birthday to get an update on his party invitation, he deemed me his best friend. Shame it all ended that year, as I transferred to a a Catholic school in grade five. Make no mistake: Banjo was one of the best things that happened to me on that campus. Today, loyalty still counts.
The fracture was a real eye opener for me. When you’re healthy, you take everything for granted. Being sick or injured gives you another perspective. When everything isn’t so easy, you turn to others and appreciate what you’re missing. After all, my left arm was out of action for months. It wasn’t just the flu or chicken pox but something more sinister.’
Genesis
That extract appears near the end of Chapter one. I talked about my early childhood in Sydney and my time at the Chinese school. Who would have thought that a children’s game could have such far-reaching repercussions? At exam time, I answered questions verbally as I was a pre-op left hander. I overheard one of my teachers saying that it was good I finished her exam as interview-style assessments were ‘too much trouble’. However, Mr Jonah never complained.
With the cast, I couldn’t help but feel like a mummy. Had I just been more careful, I wouldn’t have to go through this. Ninety nine percent of my schoolmates didn’t have arm trouble.
Second chance
The silver lining? I made a full recovery. When they removed the cast, my arm was as good as new. I still played the game, but I took more precautions. Before, I was just thoughtlessly crossing the street. Now I had to stop, wait, and press the button. If life before the fall was okay, the time afterwards was even better. On this blog, I’ve detailed my past accomplishments. No need to rehash.
Once I passed the test, I viewed this as a challenge rather than a burden. Call it my personal exile in Dapitan. Jose Rizal couldn’t write. Despite having his partner, he was unnerved that he couldn’t save his country. My hurdle was more of a physical issue. I couldn’t write even if my life depended on it.
The chair story
In high school, I wasn’t happy with my wooden chair. I swapped it with a classmate’s. To avoid suspicion, I then exchanged that chair with another. My tall peer, Gizela, was flummoxed. She needed her one and only seat. Seeing her confused, I had to repress my chuckles.
Life’s all about problem solving. As earthlings, we must keep recalibrating our limits. Humans are crafted to explore. We are made to wander and grow. As a fourth grader, I had a front row seat to this sentiment. In a few short months, I was able to mature and rethink my priorities.
