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I was nervous, and I could feel myself sweating. 'Yes, sir, ' I said.

Mrs Carpenter turned off some of the lights, and I felt the bandage come off the eye. I felt it before I knew it, because suddenly the eye was cold from the air.

'Now, open your eye slowly until you become accustomed to the light, ' Dr Snydman said.

I did as he told me, and in a little while I was able to keep it open without difficulty. I could see now through both my eyes.

'We can have the lights now, nurse, ' Dr Snydman said. I blinked as the new lights came on.

'Now we'll have a look, ' Dr Snydman said, and bent down and peered at the eye through an instrument. After a while, he told me to close the eye, and he pressed down on the lid with one of his fingers.

'Does that hurt? ' he asked.

'No, sir. '

'Let's have you on that chair now, ' he said.

I sat on the chair, and he looked at the eye through the instrument attached to the metal rod. Finally, he straightened, swung the instrument back, and gave me a tired smile.

'Nurse, this young man can go home. I want to see him in my office in ten days. '

'Yes, Doctor, ' Mrs Carpenter said.

Dr Snydman looked at me. 'Your father tells me you know about the scar tissue. '

'Yes, sir. '

'Well, I think you're going to be all right. I'm not absolutely certain, you understand, so I want to see you again in my office. But I think you'll be fine. '

I was so happy I felt myself begin to cry.

'You're a very lucky young man. Go home, and for heaven's sake keep your head away from baseballs. '

'Yes, sir. Thank you very much. '

'You're quite welcome. '

Outside in the hall, Mrs Carpenter said, 'We'll call your father right away. Isn't that wonderful news? '

'Yes, ma'am. '

'You're lucky, you know. Dr Snydman is a great surgeon. '

'I'm very grateful to him, ' I said. 'Ma'am? '

'Yes? ', 'Is Billy's operation over yet? '

MIs Carpenter looked at me. 'Why, yes, of course. It was Dr Snydman who operated. '

'Is he all right? '

'We hope for the best, young man. We always hope for the best. Come. We must call your father and get you ready to leave. '

Mr Savo was waiting for me. 'How'd it go, boy? ' he asked.

'Dr Snydman says he thinks I'll be fine. I'm going home. '

Mr Savo grinned. 'That's the way to do it, boy. Can't make a career out of lying around in hospitals. ' 1 'Are you going home soon, Mr Savo? '

'Sure, kid. Maybe in a couple of days or so. If I don't go catching any more balls from little Mickey. '

'Dr Snydman operated on Billy, ' I said.

'Figured as much. Good man, the Doc. Got a big heart. '

'I hope Billy's all right. '

'He'll be okay, kid. Important thing is you're getting out. '

An orderly came over with my clothes, and I began to dress. I was very nervous, and my knees felt weak, After a while, I stood there, wearing the same clothes I had worn on Sunday for the ball game. It's been some week, I thought.

I sat on my bed, talking with Mr Savo, and couldn't eat any of my lunch. I was nervous and impatient for my father to come. Mr Savo told me to relax, I was spoiling his lunch. I sat there and waited. Finally, I saw my father coming quickly up the aisle, and I jumped to my feet. His face was beaming, and his eyes were misty. He kissed me on the forehead.

'So, ' he said. 'The baseball player is ready to come home. '

'Did you hear what Dr Snydman said, abba? '

'The nurse told me on the telephone. Thank God! '

'Can we go home now, abba? '

'Of course. We will go home and have a wonderful Shabbat.

I will take your things from the table. ' I looked at Mr Savo, who was sitting up on his bed, grinning at us. 'It was wonderful meeting you, Mr Savo. '

'Likewise, kid. Keep the old beanbag away from those baseballs. '

'I hope your eye gets better soon. '

'The eye's out, kid. They had to take it out. It was some clop. Didn't want the little blind kid to know, so kept it quiet. '

I'm awfully sorry to hear that, Mr Savo. '

'Sure, kid. Sure. That's the breaks. Should've been a priest. Lousy racket, boxing. Glad to be out of it. Wouldve been in the war if that guy hadn't clopped me in the head like that years back. Busted up something inside. That's the breaks. '

'Goodbye, Mr Savo. *

'Goodbye, kid. Good luck. '

I went out of the ward with my father, and out of the hospital.

The Chosen

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Chaim Potok

Глава 4

Часть 6

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