Natalie was very happy to report a week later that she made the monster spray and it really worked really well. Her mother was even happier to report that Natalie had stayed in her own bedroom all week.
“Great job, Natalie!” I said as I offered to give her a high five, and she enthusiastically responded.
“Are you still biting your nails?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m scared I am going to get shots next week.” Her mother explained that Natalie was going to be seen for her annual check-up by her pediatrician.
“Why don’t you like shots?”
“They hurt!” she cried and buried her face in her mother’s lap.
“They can hurt,” I agreed. “But did you know you could use some magic to help them feel better?”
“Really?”
“Sure. I will teach you two magic tricks that you can use. The first trick is to use a magic invisible cold cream. Here, let me show you. Let me borrow your hand.”
Natalie gave me her hand. “What you do, is you imagine rubbing this cream on, like this,” I said as I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb. “Once the cream is on, you can feel it might be a bit cool, and then the hand will feel number. Do you know what that means?” Natalie made a quizzical impression. “Like when you play in the snow,” I explained. “Do you know how your hands feel then?”
“Yes!”
“When they are really cold, your hands are numb. You can’t feel much.”
“Uh huh,” she said.
“Go ahead and rub some of the cream on your arm,” I suggested and pointed to her upper arm where she would receive an immunization. She did so.
I have a collection of shark teeth in my office, which I often give out as rewards. But sometimes they are useful for demonstration purposes. I took a shark tooth. “See this?” I asked.
“What is it?”
“It’s a shark tooth.” I showed her as I pressed the tooth into the back of my hand. “Is it OK if I touch you with the tooth?”
She nodded.
“OK! Feel this,” I said as I applied the tooth to the arm that she hadn’t rubbed.
“Ouch,” she said fairly loudly, but not convincingly as I had not pressed that hard.
“Now, feel this,” I said as I applied the tooth to the other arm.
“I don’t feel it that much,” she said.
“Exactly. So, this is what you can do when you are going to receive medicine in your arm. Rub on the magic cream, and then notice how much better you can feel.” I changed the word “shot” to “medicine” because who wants to be shot? As we have seen, words can be very powerful.
I gave her the shark tooth as a souvenir. “You can practice with this but be careful not to press it too hard!” She appeared delighted.
“And now I will teach you another magic trick,” I offered.
She looked at me expectantly. I took out a small bottle of soap bubbles, which I also have as a giveaway at my office.
“These soap bubbles can be very magical,” I explained. “Before you start getting the medicine in your arm, you get to start blowing bubbles by holding the magic soap wand in your other hand.” I demonstrated by holding the wand and blowing. “When you blow, you can blow pretty things into the sky. What pretty things can you think of?”
“Butterflies!”
“Perfect! You can blow butterflies in your bubbles. Or you could blow rainbows, or unicorns, or cotton candy. Anything you want!” I gave her the bottle. “Take special care of these magic soap bubbles. They came from France and are very hard to get.” Many of the gifts I give away come from France, which must be a very special place.
Natalie took the bottle carefully and gave it to her mother for safekeeping.
Find out what happens next, when you read The Nail Biter, Episode III: The Mean Teacher.
