nk-talk he was saying that my head still
hadn't closed up right and I didn't have as much hair as you'd expect
but otherwise I seemed to be all right. He said I was a good stout
looking boy but if they wanted a specialist in to look at me he would
arrange it. Daddy asked if that would cost very much and the doctor said
yes it probably would and he didn't see any real need for it because my
bones were just a little slow in developing, and mommy said have you
seen other children like that? The doctor said no but if the boy seems
to be normal and intelligent why should she be worrying so? Then mommy
told me to go upstairs, and I went but I stopped on the top stair and
listened.

When I was gone the doctor said now Carol what is it that's really
bothering you? Then mommy told him what she had told daddy, how she
thought I knew what she was thinking, and the doctor said to daddy, Ben,
have you ever felt any such thing about the boy? Daddy said of course
not, sometimes he gives you the feeling that he's smarter than you think
he is but all parents have that feeling about their children sometimes.
And then mother broke down and her voice got loud and she said he's a
monster, I know it, there's something wrong and he's different from us,
him and that horrible dog. The doctor said but it's a beautiful collie,
and mommy said but he _talks_ to it and it _understands_ him, and the
doctor said now, Carol, let's be reasonable. Mommy said I've been
reasonable too long, you men just can't see it at all, don't you think
I'd know a normal child if I saw one? And then she cried and cried, and
finally she said all right, I know I'm making a fool of myself, maybe
I'm just overtired, and the doctor said I'm sure that's the trouble, try
to get some rest, and sleep longer at night, and mommy said I can't
sleep at night, I just lie there and think.

The doctor said well we'll fix that, enough of this nonsense now, you
need your sleep and if you're not sleeping well it's _you_ that should
be seeing the doctor. He gave her some pills from his bag and then he
went away, and pretty soon daddy let Bobby in, and Bobby came upstairs
and jumped up and licked my face as if he'd been away for a hundred
million years. Later mommy called me down for supper, and she wasn't
crying any more, and she and daddy didn't say anything about what they
had said to the doctor. Mommy made me a special surprise for dessert,
some ice cream with chocolate syrup on top, a