CHAPTER TENI managed to report for dishroom duty that week, although because of my painful ribs I had to avoid the Hobart. And the amount of swishing and slogging with rags and squeegees necessary for clean-up proved too much for me, so after I finished dish removal duty for the shift, Daniel sent me away.
It took me a few weeks to feel like I was pretty much myself, in terms of healing. And even then, every once in a while I’d move in a certain way, or exert myself without thinking, and the ribs would scream.
El Speed was embarrassingly solicitous. The first time we ate together at the dining hall, he asked, "Want me to bring you a tray while you find us a table?"
"What? No, thanks. I can handle the tray." It was almost impossible, though, to stifle completely the grunt I made when I p
