16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler Read Free Book Online Page A

Tinkerpark souvenirs.
    â€œThey inject a dye to flow through her veins. It checks for blockages, like blood clots or thinning.”
    I stop what I’m doing and stare at him.
    â€œI read up on the procedure last night,” he says. “She won’t even be put under anesthesia. It’s not risky. The worst thing that can happen is usually an allergic reaction to dye.”
    I feel a little guilty for not doing more research myself.
    Adam continues, “If they do find something, they can deal with it right away.”
    â€œI don’t know if I want the details. I just want her to get better.” I glance out the window to the clouds in the sky. They’re getting darker and moving closer. It probably won’t be busy at Tinkerpark.
    â€œI guess you don’t have a future in medicine.”
    â€œNot unless I become a drug addict.”
    He turns around and smiles, and it shines from the inside out.
    â€œWhy do you want to be a doctor?” I ask.
    â€œTruthfully? I got hooked on Grey’s Anatomy when I was a kid.”
    I’m at the cash register now and press buttons in a memorized sequence, and it opens. “You’re joking, right?”
    â€œNo. Seriously. I had the same science teacher in my freshman and sophomore year. Mr. Stade. He was hooked on Grey’s like me,” Adam says. “Before classes, we’d talk about the medical stuff after every episode, whether they got it right or not. He took premed courses in college but switched to education. He’s the one who encouraged me to think about a career in medicine.”
    I lean back against the counter, watching him. “Really? A teacher talked to you about stuff like that?”
    â€œTeachers love me.” He smiles, but it’s fake, and he stares out the window.
    My teachers never really encouraged me to do anything except hand in homework on time. I’m pretty sure most of them didn’t even remember my name. Well, that’s not true. I’m sure they know my name now.
    â€œSo. You’re okay with blood?” I ask. “Cutting into flesh with a sharp knife? Pulling out organs with your hands?” I wrinkle up my nose and cringe. I’ve seen Grey’s Anatomy , but I watched to see who was hooking up, not for the graphic stuff.
    He nods. “I rock at dissections. You should see my mad skills taking apart frogs. And pig hearts.”
    I pretend to gag.
    â€œDissection is not for everyone.”
    He glances out the window again. “Here comes Theresa with your cash drawer.”
    I look up, almost sad she’s coming to interrupt this. She walks inside the gift shop, holding the steel cash drawer in the air.
    â€œDissections? That’s what we’re talking about this morning?” She walks toward the cash register. “Hey, Morgan.”
    We perform the morning ritual of counting bills and coins as we place them in the till. When we’re done, she shuts the cash drawer and looks at Adam. He’s still by the window, but he’s watching us.
    â€œYou done your opening?” she asks.
    He shakes his head. “I’ll be in the office in a sec. I’m talking to Morgan about something.”
    â€œDissection?” She glances back and forth at each of us, raises her eyebrows, and then shrugs. “Okay. But hurry up,” she says and stares at me for a moment and then leaves.
    Adam walks to the front of the cash counter. He leans forward on his elbows, watching me. I grab a cloth and start wiping things down and glance at the clock. Ten minutes until the park opens. I want my phone now.
    â€œSo what about you?” he asks.
    I glance over my shoulder, frowning. “What about me?”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    I turn my body away and wipe a counter I’ve already wiped. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI mean do you have a college you’re dying to get into? Or are you going to go to take a year off and