My Favorite Part

August 19, 2012.  Apprehension was mounting. 

"I hope they didn't ruin my belly button," Ethan said.  "That was my favorite part."

Less than 24 hours after coming home from the hospital, he sounded mildly upset.  The appendectomy was a success but now three bandages covered Ethan's torso.  I knew that this had been a major source of concern, since the day of his surgery, worsened by the fact that he could not verify my reassurances while the evidence remained covered.  The discharge papers read, "remove outer bandages on the second day," so we had to wait.

Finally, the second day arrived.  Ethan was nervous about hurting his stitches as we removed the coverings but his anxiety over whether or not his belly button would still be undamaged overrode all other feelings.  We carefully detached all three dressings to reveal...a whole navel.  Hooray!

I was nearly as relieved as Ethan.  I'm still not sure what I would have said if it has been missing.  I suppose we could have changed his name to Adam.

The following day, when I came home for lunch, the entire family set out for a walk - doctor's orders.

"How are your wounds doing?" I asked.

"Good," Ethan replied, pulling up his shirt to show me.

"See, Ethan?  They didn't cut open your belly button so your favorite part is still in tact," I reminded him, trying to cheer him up as I could see that he was feeling the discomfort of this excursion.

"My second favorite, actually," he said.

My brain jammed.  Ashley threw me a look that said, "if he says what I think he's going to say, he's all yours."  I could hear the distant sound of screaming.  Somehow I managed to keep walking as I braced myself for the impact of the next words.

"My favorite part is my tongue."

Oh.  Wait, what?

"It's like a little pet."

So many questions answered, all at once.  So many more taking shape.

- 21 August 2012