Broken Nose

Breaking My Nose

Fall 1993

I was with my mother driving up from Philadelphia to Larchmont, NY to see my sister and her family. We just parked the car and got out when the little boys saw us. They came rushing towards us to greet us. I stoop down on my knees to be eye level with Quentin. He charged right at me, headfirst, right into the bridge of my nose. He hit with such an impact that he knocked me over. I couldn’t believe this four-year-old could have so much force. I saw stars. I was in so much pain.

 My mother helped me up and asked, “are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

 I held back tears but confessed, “I think he broke my nose”.

 “Really’, my mother asked with surprise, “you really think that sweet, little boy broke your nose?”

 “Yeah, yeah I do. It hurts like hell,” I told, shamefully.

“Let me see”, she demanded and moved forward to look. She reached up and squeezed the bridge of my nose as if she knew what she was doing. “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s broken. You’ll be alright,” she said with a conviction that shut me up.

I sucked it up and moved on. Within an hour I was out of pain. I put this moment behind me.

 Winter 2010

 I am at the doctor’s office for a follow up appointment. I’ve been complaining about the number of sinus infections I have had recently. The doctor ordered a CAT scan of my sinuses. He was now reviewing the results.

 “When did you break your nose?” he asked me as he held the film up to the light. “I thought you told me you’ve never broken your nose?”

 “No I don’t think I did”, I respond feeling sort of foolish. After all, I should know if I ever broke my nose.

“Nope, you broke your nose at some point in your lifetime. It’s right here on the x-ray. I can clearly see it. You smashed it up pretty good”.

And then I remembered that fall day, more than fifteen years ago when my mother dismissed my claim.  In some silly way, I felt vindicated today.

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