THINNER
by
Antigone
Chapter 28
The Chapters
There was another boy on the ward.
He appeared in the doorway of Joe’s room after Joe
had met with his nutritionist, the last appointment of the day. They
informed him that he would begin group therapy tomorrow; he had missed
both the morning and afternoon sessions. Each group was about two hours
and focused on one topic: family interaction, separation issues, body
image, nutrition counseling, social interaction, etc. In between there
was free time; time to relax, to think, to discuss what you’ve learned,
and to rest.
The boy appeared in Joe’s room as the younger
Hardy boy was resting, having refused his lunch and the supplements. He
hovered in the doorway for a moment, looking Joe up and down, waiting to
be asked to come in.
“Need something?” he asked, offering a smile.
“Just wanted to say hi,” the boy said, smiling
back. “I didn’t think another boy would be here.”
“You want to come in?”
The boy nodded and crossed the room to the empty
single bed, sitting and letting his legs dangle. Joe looked him over,
estimating that he must be about twelve; he couldn’t be more than
5’1,” and was so small he could still be shopping in the children’s
section.
“I’m Jamie,” the boy said.
“I’m Joe.”
“That’s funny. We’re both here and we’re
both J.”
Joe smiled and sat up, facing the other bed. “How
long have you been here?”
“About a month.”
“A month?”
“I came in on bed rest. Level One.”
“What level are you on now?”
“Three.”
“Same as me.”
The boy just grinned. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“Good! I’m sixteen.”
Joe felt his nerves jar with shock. “Sixteen?”
Jamie flushed and looked down at the floor. “I
know,” he said softly, “I don’t look it.”
“I’m sorry,” the younger Hardy murmured,
“that was rude.”
“No, nothing to be sorry about. I know.” He
looked up and met Joe’s gaze. “I look like I’m twelve, but I have
the bones of a fifty-year old, do you know that? I’ll probably get
osteoporosis soon.”
“You can get that from…what, not eating?”
Jamie nodded solemnly. “No food, no calcium, no
bones. It’s why I couldn’t grow too.” The boy sighed and rubbed his
bony arms. “I’ve been sick a long time,” he said sadly. “Is this
your first treatment?”
“I…guess so. I’m not sick though.”
The boy frowned and looked him over. “You’re too
thin, you know that?”
Joe rolled his eyes and lay on his back, turning his
head to the boy. He tried to keep it casual, but he was feeling dizzy
again. “No, I guess I don’t.”
“They put me here twice before I’d admit to
being sick.”
“Twice? How many times have you been
here?”
“This is my fourth time in in-patient.”
“Fourth?” Joe propped himself up on his
elbow, raising his eyebrows. “They let you come back?”
“They have too,” the boy sighed. “I need
it.”
Both fell silent, looking away, suddenly shy.
Jamie glanced at his watch. “I’ve got therapy.
But it was nice meeting you. They’ll probably move us in together in a
day or two. They’re pressed for space, especially as it gets closer to
winter like this. Lots of us get depressed, come home from college…they
get kinda flooded.”
Joe bit his lip. “I never realized…how many sick
people there were in Bayport. I mean, some of the girls look totally
normal.”
“Yeah,” Jamie sighed, “it’s hard to tell.
With some. It’s sad, because you know…it’s acceptable, in a way.
Being thin, I mean. Dieting, losing weight…everyone does. It’s like a
club. And no one’s in your head, so they can’t tell when it’s taken
to an extreme.” Jamie offered a sad smile and moved to the doorway.
“See you,” Joe called. The boy hesitated, then
turned and looked straight in to Joe’s eyes.
“I wish,” he said softly, “that I’d been
more responsive on my first two treatments. That I hadn’t kept denying
that I needed help.”
The younger Hardy looked away, knowing what he was
implying. “I’m sorry you didn’t.”
“Joe.”
Joe reluctantly met the boy’s gaze.
“Don’t repeat my mistake, okay?”
Joe didn’t answer; Jamie watched for a response,
sighed, and disappeared down the hall.
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The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.