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nose and a couple of loose teeth that should reseat themselves, I don’t see any other injuries to his head or neck.”
    Johnny felt sick. He wanted to cry, but he had to be the strong one.
    “What do we do? How do you fix this?” he asked. “Are you sure that’s all? He’s getting sleepy. Are you sure he doesn’t have a concussion?”
    “Adrenaline crash,” Dr. Quick said gently. “No concussion, no intracranial bleeding.”
    “So he wears the nose guard to protect the nose, but what about the ribs?” Johnny asked.
    Dr. Quick patted Beep’s leg.
    “Just no roughhousing or lifting for a few weeks and they’ll heal. He’s young and kids’ bones are very pliable.”
    Just to prove he wasn’t as sleepy as they thought, Beep piped up with a question of his own.
    “Do I still have to take a bath?” Beep asked.
    It was the perfect comment to lighten the moment. Dr. Quick laughed.
    “As long as you let your brother wash your face so you don’t mess up the good job I did on your nose, you’ll be good to go. A warm bath might even make some of the aches you’re going to have feel better,” Dr. Quick said.
    “Shoot,” Beep said.
    “You have to take a bath,” Marshall said. “I wouldn’t want to sleep with you if you got stinky.”
    Beep winced as the movement of facial muscles caused him pain.
    “I sleep with you even when you fart,” Beep muttered.
    Marshall looked embarrassed.
    Dr. Quick caught Johnny’s eye. “Could we speak privately for a moment?” he asked.
    Johnny followed the doctor out into the hall. His heart was pounding, and he felt sick to his stomach. “What’s wrong? Is something else wrong that you’re not telling me?”
    “No, no, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to frighten you. I wanted to tell you that I have reported this to the police and they are on their way to talk to Brooks.”
    Johnny was relieved that decision had been taken out of his hands. He focused on what Dr. Quick was saying.
    “I’m speaking out of line, but you’re pretty young to have the responsibilities you have, and I don’t want to see you railroaded. I think you need to see a lawyer to protect your rights. At least make sure the responsible parties pay for the medical bills and hope the threat of a lawsuit makes the school take the appropriate action.”
    Johnny’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t afford a lawyer, Doc. I threw the word around a lot when I picked him up from school, but that’s not going to happen.”
    “You know Peanut Butterman, right? He has the law office above the old bank.”
    “Yes, sir,” Johnny said. Everyone knew Mr. Butterman. He was one of Blessings’s true characters.
    “Give him a call and tell him I referred you. Every so often, he takes a case pro bono when he thinks someone is about to get railroaded. I think this would be one of those cases.”
    Johnny was surprised and embarrassed. “I don’t want charity.”
    Dr. Quick put a hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “This isn’t about your pride, son. It’s about Brooks’s and Marshall’s welfare through the rest of their school days. In other words, tie a knot in their tails now, before shit gets out of hand.”
    Johnny got it. His pride didn’t matter as much as their safety. “Yes, sir. I hear you. And thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. I’m very sorry this happened, but the police should be here soon. They will want to interview Brooks and let him say his piece. They’ll go to school and get those statements as well. You let Peanut work his magic, and you stay out of trouble in the process. Peanut will get the names of the parents, and the medical bills will go to them through him.”
    Johnny went back inside the room as the doctor left.
    Marshall was still holding Beep’s hand. “Are the cops gonna sweat Beep?” he asked.
    Johnny rolled his eyes. Someone had big ears, and he didn’t know where Marshall got his vocabulary. That sounded like something out of an old gangster movie from the 1940s. “No, Beep