Full Impact by Suzanne Weyn Read Free Book Online Page B

athletes,” the doctor said. “Because high school players are still young, their skulls are thinner. Their nervous systems are not fully developed. High school students are also less likely to know the symptoms of a concussion.”
    â€œHow bad is Arnie’s concussion?” Kadeem asked.
    â€œArnie has a severe, grade-three concussion,” the doctor reported. “I imagine that this isn’t his first. After a first concussion, second and third concussions are more likely. This young man should not have been playing football.”
    â€œWill he miss a lot of school?” Norval asked.
    â€œHe’s looking at six to eight months of rehabilitation. We don’t want him working too hard on his schoolwork during that time because his brain needs to rest.”
    This was bad news. Arnie would not graduate with the rest of them. He looked at Arnie to see how he was taking it.
    Arnie just stared blankly. Norval wondered if he even understood what was being said.
    Mrs. Johnson approached her son. “Arnie, your friends have come to see you. Aren’t you going to say hello?”
    â€œHey, buddy,” Kadeem said. “You feeling any better?”
    â€œHey, Arnie. It’s me,” Norval added. “How are you?”
    Arnie didn’t respond.
    â€œHe needs to rest,” the doctor told Norval and Kadeem. “You’d better go.”
    â€œHe’s going to be better, though, right?” Norval asked.
    â€œI hope so,” the doctor answered. “But it’s going to take time.”
    Kadeem and Norval said good-bye and left the room. They walked down the hospital corridor without talking. “This sucks,” Kadeem said, wiping wetness from his eyes.
    All Norval could say was, “Sure does.”

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    orval made an effort to see Arnie at the rehabilitation center at least twice a week. Other teammates went too. It got harder in the last weeks of football season, when Coach Green started keeping the team after practice to go over new plays or to watch footage of other teams in the play-offs. But Norval didn’t stop.
    Around the time the season ended, Arnie seemed to recognize Norval again, but he was hostile—friendly one minute and then nasty the next.
    Norval tried to be understanding, but it wasn’t easy. He tried to remember that this was his friend, that Arnie’s brain injury was making him so moody.
    In early December, Arnie entered rehab. One afternoon in January, Norval came to sit with him in the rehab center’s lounge.
    He wanted to talk about all the offers their teammates had received, but he knew the subject wasn’t guaranteed to boost Arnie’s mood. So he told him about the winter dance that had just taken place. The gym had been decorated as an ice pond. Sadie had looked beautiful in a silver spangled dress.
    â€œNorval, would you do me a favor?” Arnie said when Norval was finished. “Don’t come here anymore. Okay?”
    â€œWhy?” Norval asked.
    â€œIt’s just… it’s not fair that this happened to me. Seeing you all healthy and going off to winter dances, while I have to sit here—”
    â€œAw, come on, Arnie. That doesn’t make sense. I have to talk about something. You never even liked those dances.”
    â€œI don’t care if it makes sense. My brain doesn’t work anymore. Don’t you get that? I’m not supposed to make sense. Besides, you must have better things to do. Why do you care what happens to me?”
    â€œI’m your friend,” Norval said.
    â€œIf you were my friend, you would have said something when you saw me acting weird.”
    â€œI did!” Norval replied. “You wouldn’t listen to me. You begged me not to tell the coach.”
    â€œIf you were really my friend, you would have done something,” Arnie said.
    Arnie’s words hit Norval hard. Arnie was blaming him for all the things he was blaming