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become paralyzed,” Phoenix’s grandfather said calmly. “I promise. What Ryan is experiencing is severe muscle cramps. The paralysis is only temporary.”
    My mom appeared to calm down a little. She lowered her purse. “Is that acupuncture? You endorse this medieval practice?”
    “Yes, I do,” Uncle Tí said. “Only we don’t consider it medieval. We call it traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM.Chinese have been doing this for thousands of years. Medieval times were six hundred years ago.”
    “Whatever. Couldn’t you just give him some pills instead? Or maybe a shot? One needle instead of, what is that,
hundreds
of needles? My God. Doesn’t that hurt, Ryan?”
    “No,” I said. “I actually feel better than I have in weeks.”
    “You look like a life-sized voodoo doll.”
    “Appearances can be deceiving,” Phoenix’s grandfather said. “One more needle, and I am finished.” He looked at me. “You should rest your head back on the ground. This last one will act as a switch, connecting the remaining needles that have yet to take effect. You should feel a rush of energy, and the balance of your cramping will subside.”
    “Oh, dear,” my mom said, “I can’t watch this.”
    Phoenix’s grandfather removed a plastic-wrapped needle from his acupuncture bag. He unwrapped the needle and tossed the plastic into a large pile of other wrappers. With steady hands, he slowly pushed the needle into the skin of my abdomen.
    “I think I’m going to be sick,” my mom said.
    Phoenix’s grandfather rotated the needle clockwise, then counterclockwise. I felt a
whoosh
of heat wash from the needle’s tip outward. It was like sinking into a warm bath.
    “Ahhhhh,” I said. “That feels so good.”
    “How is the cramping?” Uncle Tí asked.
    “Gone, one hundred percent.”
    “Can you sit up?” Phoenix’s grandfather asked.
    “I think so.”
    “Show us.”
    I hesitated. “What about the needles?”
    “They are not going anywhere,” Phoenix’s grandfather said. “They need to remain in place a bit longer. You will be fine.”
    I pushed myself up onto my elbows; then I sat upright. Row upon row of needles shimmered up and down my torso.
    My mom shuddered. “I can’t believe you don’t feel them. You remind me of a porcupine.”
    “I don’t think porcupines have quills on their stomachs,” I said, smiling.
    “Are you dizzy?” Uncle Tí asked.
    “Not at all. I haven’t felt this good in a long time. Seriously.” I looked at Phoenix’s grandfather. “Thank you so much!”
    He bowed his head slightly. “It is the least I could do. If I may make a suggestion, you should stop learning kung fu until the dragon bone bond is broken.”
    “
You
were learning kung fu?” my mom said. “I’m going to lock you in your room until summer vacation ends.”
    I sighed. “Don’t be so dramatic, Mom. You can’t do that. I have to exercise. Besides, children’s social services will be all over you for child imprisonment.”
    “Fine. I’ll drive you to the trail park a couple times a week. Otherwise, you’ll stay locked in your room.”
    “Stop embarrassing me. That won’t work, either. The trail is closed because of the rain. It probably won’t reopen for a month.”
    “What are you going to do, then?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “I thought kung fu would be the answer.”
    “Can’t you just wait it out? Maybe a month of rest will be good for you.”
    “Mrs. Vanderhausen,” Uncle Tí said, “it is critical that Ryan exercise.”
    “I’m sorry,” my mom said. “This has all been very hard on me. I should have known better than to send Ryan off to live with his uncle in the first place. My brother-in-law had a history of experimenting on people without fully disclosing possible side effects. I just never dreamed he’d do it to a child.”
    “Is that a fact?” Uncle Tí said. “I looked into Dr. Vanderhausen’s past, but I could find nothing of the sort. No formal