“Yes, I can see that.” He sat down in a kitchen chair with the foot in his lap and probed it gently. “You twisted it?”

Martha remembered standing up too fast, scared, startled at the snapping jaws of her mind. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’m going to tape it up for you. He fished in his bag for an Ace bandage. “Watch how I do this now. End under your foot, wrap once around the foot to catch the edge, see? Now wrap around the ankle up to here—not too tight, just stretch it a little—then fasten with these little clips, see?”

Martha nodded.

“Okay, now listen, Martha, this is very important.” He spoke slowly, deliberately. “If your toes get cold or turn blue, you take this bandage off right away, rub your foot for a while, then put the bandage back on looser, okay? If your toes turn blue, you’ve put the bandage on too tight.”

She listened carefully, then nodded.

“Take it off when you take your bath, then put it back on again. Wear it until”—he stood up and pointed at the calendar—“here, okay?” He put a little mark on a square with his pen.

“Next Thursday,” Martha said.

Doctor Withins turned around slowly and looked at her expectant face. “Why, that’s right. You’re learning a lot these days, aren’t you?”

“Yes. New friends.”

“Well, that’s good. Now. One more thing before I go. I think you need to lose some weight. Your ankle will feel better and so will your knees. Do your knees hurt?”

Martha nodded.

“Lose some weight and it will be easier for you to walk into town.”

“Lose weight.”

“Yes. Don’t eat so much bread and potatoes. More vegetables, chicken, meat.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t need to repeat it. She was learning. Her mind was growing. Maybe she wasn’t as retarded as everyone thought. Maybe being cooped up here with Fern and old Harry for so long had retarded her more than was necessary. He’d stop in again soon. This was very interesting.

They both heard the truck pull up in the drive. Doc went to the door and looked out in time to see a rusted pickup truck slide around in a cloud of dust, its headlights sweeping the field, then disappear down the long driveway, three pinprick taillights winking out around the corner.

“Were you expecting someone?”

“No.”

“Must have had the wrong house.” He turned back to Martha. “I’m going to come back and visit next week, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No.”

“Well, good. I’ll be going, then. Take care of yourself, Martha. Remember. No more potatoes and bread.”

“No more.” Martha stood up. She reached around his neck and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back in surprise.

“Bye, now.”

“Bye.”

She stood on the front porch and watched him drive off in his van. Such a nice man.