American Taliban Read Online Free PDF

know in third. Sylvie was fourth. Behind Sylvie, two more competitors bobbed in line, altogether six wahines facing the depths, each waiting for the winning wave to come her way and bear her up and up and up to—

 
     
    JOHN AWOKE , or he thought he was awake, and saw Barbara hovering, with Bill an inch behind her, which was usual, Bill was always hovering behind Barbara, but with fear in his face, which was not as usual. What were they afraid of? He smiled to reassure, lifted his hand to give them the sign, and discovered he couldn’t: his right forearm was in a cast. He lifted his other hand and was relieved to see it intact, in its own skin. He made a fist, unfolded his pinky and thumb, and Barbara’s fear dissolved, she smiled, became herself again, all busy bustle and chatter. She brushed his hair off his forehead and brought her warm lips to his skin, asked how he felt, while also concentrating on the conversation with the doctor, who was outlining John’s arm and leg bones on film with his infrared pointer.
    You can see the hairline crack in the wrist here, he said, pointing to a long faint line, and on the long bone of his leg here. But he’s young. His bones should heal well and quickly. He was lucky, really. It could have been worse.
    Could have been better, too, John said, and they turned toward him, surprised; they hadn’t expected him to talk.
    I mean, he explained, it could not have happened at all. He paused. What did happen, by the way? He remembered celebration, but for what and with whom?
    How did I get here? he asked.
    In skater terminology, the doctor responded, or the little I recall ofit from my own skating days in the seventies: The car hit your skateboard while it was in the air, kickflipped it out from under you, and though you landed as planned, your wheels weren’t there. That’s one possible scenario. The facts are your board was smashed, and you are in one piece, more or less.
    In other words, Barbara said, not caring much for skating or skating terminology just now, we’re lucky you’re alive. You also seem to have had something of a concussion. How’s your head?
    Thick, sort of, mmm, slow, John said.
    That’s probably the meds, the doctor said. We’re doing our best to keep the swelling down.
    What about my leg?
    Not bad, actually, the doctor said. The X-ray indicates a fracture in the tibia. You may even, that is if your parents allow it, be on a skateboard again, in two or three months.
    Two or three months! John roared. That was an eternity. What would he do without wheels for two or three months?
    The doctor waited. You must’ve been riding right side forward since that’s where the cracks are, which means you’re a goofy-foot. So you’re lucky because you’ll have full use of your left arm.
    He’s a goofy-foot, Barbara confirmed.
    If your own mother thinks you’re goofy … The doctor shrugged, teasing. Your wrist should be ready to go in a few weeks.
    John remembered dusk. He remembered grinding on curbs and benches and then turning back, he had been on his way back, to where Katie was toasting, being toasted, getting toasted. Then another edge presented itself and he flipped his board up and pulled his knees up, and—

 
     
    WHO FOUND ME?
    The driver called 911, Bill explained. An ambulance took you to the emergency room. The EMS guy found your ID card and called. We arrived soon after you did. The driver was here, too. He said it was dark and he didn’t see you until it was too late. You were leaping off a bench or a curb or something. He thought at first that he’d hit you. Miraculously, it was only your skateboard.
    Rational, legal Bill was talking miracles? He must have been scared.
    John wondered but didn’t want to ask what Katie knew.
    I called Katie this morning, just before we left, Barbara said, reading his mind. She was still asleep, but her mother said she’d tell her as soon as she awoke.
    Two hours later they left with promises to bring his MP3