It's a long story. I'm too antsy to sleep, so if you wanna read my long story, then settle back while I type it all out, OK? If not, then please skip this post.
About six months ago, DS was rostered as cantor at Mass. I wasn't going on that particular weekend, on account of an endearingly attractive conjunctivitis, so my saintly DSS offered to transport DS (who doesn't drive) up to the church for me.
'Oh great!' I said, 'I'll make an apple pie for dessert if you'll do that for me!' And I set about doing so.
Not five minutes after they left, both boys were back again, DS holding onto his right arm and looking for all the world as if he were about to fade away before my very eyes. He was nearly transparent and his teeth were shattering as he sat shakily down. Apparently, he'd stepped out of the car and his foot landed on a recently-felled tree branch which was poking onto the kerb. It rolled, he fell, he tried to break his fall with a stiff arm and - KRUNCH!!! - dislocated his shoulder!
The pain must've been pretty bad, because DS has Asperger's and, like many other Aspergetic people, has an extremely high pain tolerance. He was *gibbering* and could barely string two words together! We didn't mess about. DH whacked him straight in the car and took him up to The John (local hospital) where they gave him morphine and a heavy sandbag to hold while the joint settled back into its socket. It was painful, time-consuming and very scary for poor DS, who doesn't do large public places very well at all.
Back to the present.
DH and I had sat up far too late, so were pretty bushed by the time we fell into bed at mumble-mumble am. I was having an interesting dream about water-filled balloons when one of them exploded and I heard Matt (DS) cry out! Sitting bolt upright in bed, I heard a loud commotion and DS croaked 'Mum! Dad! Help me!'
The bloody, *bloody* cat had leapt off the wardrobe onto his desk, dislodging one of his unframed paintings propped against it! DS had heaved himself abruptly up on his elbow in bed and his shoulder popped right out, just like that! By the time I got to him, he was again achieving transparency and his poor teeth were shattering as shock set in. I set about warming him with blankets and good ol' DH began to get dressed for the trip to The John. I dunno how DD slept through it all, but she did in spite of all three of us calling out instructions and the whereabouts of the Scouts First Aid kit (contains a sling) and the wheat bags.
DH had to help DS into his undies and tracksuit and, sadly, (I think it's a bloke thing) wasn't as gentle or accommodating as I would have been. Poor DS was again gibbering with the pain and we all three had a strong sense of déjà vu. I've just waved them off into the pre-dawn mist and I hope poor DS isn't too horrified by the next few hours. For those of you who might ever need to take details from a person with Asperger's, it's useful to know they have *extreme* difficulty formulating what they're feeling and where it hurts. I hope the people at The John are patient!
I'm *so* tired, but in spite of feeling like I've been sitting up drinking and smoking all night (haven't done that in *years*!), I couldn't possibly sleep until I hear that DS is OK. Sigh. Might just toddle off and have a game of 'Age of Empires'. Or something. Magpies are calling, so the sun'll be up soon. Might go out and watch it. Might kick the cat out into the cold garden after the way she broke my boy!