Free Hope Girl by Wendy Dunham

son?”
    I’m not sure what to say. Do I act surprised like I have no idea? Or do I say I read the article about them and ask what happened?
    Before I have a chance to decide, Rosa checks the time again. “Oh my! We only have three minutes to get to Dr. Crane’s office.”
    Rosa grabs my hand, and we race down the hall to the next building where Dr. Crane’s office is. We get there just as a nurse pokes her head in the waiting room, looks around, and says, “River Starling?”
    I walk toward her, but Rosa doesn’t move. “Rosa, aren’t you coming?”
    â€œI can,” she says. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to go in.”
    I grab her hand and pull.
    The nurse measures my height: fifty-nine inches. She weighs me: ninety-one pounds. She checks my blood pressure: perfect. My heart rate: perfect. Then she gives me a hospital gown to put on: not perfect.
    She tells me to take everything off except my undergarments and put the gown on so it ties in the back. Rosa steps out of the room, giving me privacy. I finish tying it just as Dr. Crane walks in. Rosa follows behind him.
    â€œHello, River,” he says. “I’m Dr. Crane.” He sits on a wheeled stool, scoots behind me, and unties my gown (a heads-up would’ve been nice). “Okay, River, bend forward toward your toes. Let your arms dangle in front.” So I do. “Hmmm,” he says, “looks like you’ve got quite a curve. Okay, stand up.”
    As I retie my gown, I tell Dr. Crane, “Last April my school nurse checked my back, and she said it was fine.”
    Dr. Crane rubs his chin. “Three months… that means you’ve gained a significant curve in a short amount of time.” He raises his eyebrows at Rosa. “Tell you what, River. I’m going to send you down the hall to get an X-ray. Then we’ll talk.”
    Rosa and I leave for the X-ray department. I try pulling my gown to my knees, but it doesn’t reach. “I feel weird walking down the hall in this stupid gown.”
    Rosa smiles. “I know. Just try thinking of it as a little sundress.”
    Little, I think, is the key word. Not to mention ugly. I better not see anyone.
    The X-ray technician explains everything. Basically all I have to do is stand completely still while she takes pictures with the X-ray machine. She takes one from the front, then the side, and I’m done. I didn’t have to smile (I wouldn’t have, anyway).
    After the X-rays develop, we bring them back to Dr. Crane. Since they’re big, I insist on carrying them (if I see someone, at least I’ve got something to hide behind).
    Dr. Crane slides my X-rays onto a light board. I’ve seen pictures of skeletons before but not my own. It’s weird seeing what you look like beneath your skin.
    Even if Dr. Crane didn’t point it out, I can clearly see howcrooked my spine is. It looks like the letter S. And Gram was right—one hip and shoulder is higher than the other. How could I not have noticed?
    Dr. Crane uses a special ruler on the X-rays to measure my curves. When he’s done, he sits on his stool. “River, when will your father be back in town?”
    â€œTomorrow.”
    Rosa interrupts. “Actually, later this evening.”
    â€œHmmm,” he says. “River, go ahead and get dressed. Rosa and I will step outside.” They leave the room, closing the door all but a crack.
    As I yank off the stupid gown and throw my clothes on, I overhear Dr. Crane. “If her spine was straight three months ago, her scoliosis progressed rapidly. Normally at a patient’s first appointment, I don’t suggest bracing. I have them return in a month and reassess the situation. But in River’s case, I wouldn’t wait. I don’t want her curves progressing to the point of needing surgery.” Dr. Crane clears his throat. “I’ll talk with her father tomorrow.”
    They