A rate of 1260 beats per minute was measured in a Blue-throated Hummingbird. In torpid hummingbirds, the heart rate can drop to 50-180 per minute.
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Mr. Gatteau brought five bags of fast food home late Sunday afternoon: hamburgers and fries and milkshakes. He dumped them on the kitchen table. Everhyone gathered around the table, joining in the feeding frenzy.
“What’s this for?” asked Phoebe.
“Just because.”
“Good enough for me,” said Phoebe as she stuffed a handful of fries in her mouth.
“I have something else.” He presented an envelope to both Phoebe and Portia. They ripped them open. A single $100 was stashed inside.
“This is for your Philly trip.”
“Thank you, Daddy!” Portia squeezed her father tightly. Not to be outdone, Phoebe thanked her father by hugging and kissing him. She then asked him to take her shopping for a dress with the new money.
“Anytime you want,” he promised.
As Phoebe's money was already spent in her mind, so too was Portia's money. Portia took her envelope upstiars and hid it in one of the pockets of her backpack. When she glanced over at her new hummingbird feeder, she noticed it had not yet been visited. She opened the window and leaned over the ledge She had followed all the directions. She wondered what was wrong. She searched for answers online, but decided her best answers might come from the pet store.
On Monday afternoon, just after ensemble practice, Portia stopped by Jack's Aquariam.
"Welcome back!" greeted Bill, "What brings you back so soon?"
"No hummingbirds," stated Portia.
"Hummingbirds are very fickle creatures. You have to give them plenty of reasons to visit."
"You want me to buy another bird feeder?"
"Not at all. I think you should consider buying flowers. Especially those kinds that have nectar and attract hummingbirds."
Bill pulled a book off his bookrack and took it to the back of the store. He returned moments later, handing her a piece of paper.
'Here's a list of plants that attract hummingbirds."
Portia looked it over. It was an iimpressive list, with over one-hundred different plants.
"Do you know which ones are the cheapest?"
He circled two different types of flowers on the list."You can probably get a tray of these or these for less than twenty dollars.""That's so much money."
"I tell you what. I'll make you a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"I need an assistant. If you fill out a job application, I'll make sure you get the plants you need."
Portia stuck out her hand. Bill gave it a shake.
"Deal."
Portia took an application and stuck it into her backpack. She then took her envelope and went directly to the community college. She worked her way through the maze of aisles. She ended up in the science stacks, where she picked up the thickest book on the shelf: "Principles in College Biology"
She withdrew the envelope from her purse and pulled out the crisp bill. She handed it to the cashier, who checked it for counterfeit and then gave Portia her change. After she paid for the book, most of her trip money was already gone.
She packed her College Biology book into her backpack where her high school Biology book had been. Even with everything else removed, it barely fit.
She walked to Marcus' house. As usual, Darren was there and he was not. Darren let her in. She sprawled across the carpet next to Darren. She placed her Biology book on the carpet, using it to fill out her job application.
"What's that?"
"I'm going to work at Jack's Aquarium and Pets."
"That would be the perfect job for you," said Darren.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
Portia filled out her application, double-checking it for errors. When she was satisfied with her work, she folded it in half and placed it inside her College Biology book. She opened her new book to the first page of the introduction and began reading.
Portia traipsed and trod over the pages, as if she were reading some great romance novel. For Portia, it could be said that it was indeed a romance novel. Each simple, forensic lesson was romantic to her – it was an escape from everything that surrounded her – the four walls of Marcus' living room surrounded by the four walls of an old broken-down Section 8 Apartment surrounded by the filth-worn streets of the ghetto.
Science fact transported her far, far away – to a place where she could talk and walk with the animals, not unlike Dr. Doolittle or even Dr. Ulrich at the Veterinary Clinic. She thought about Bill and she thought about Dr. Ulrich. The doctor still had not returned her calls.
As Portia picked up her cellphone to call the Veterinary office again, it rang.
"Hello? What? No, I can get there on my own. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
It was news that had began two hours earlier...
Early in the afternoon, freezing rain fell on Pittsburgh. That included the fifteenth story of new construction where Alex worked. He worked on high-rise framing, riveting I-beams into place as the crane lifted them across the skywalks.
It was a modern ballet of concrete and steel - framers operated rivet guns, popping the heads of tiny rivets into tiny holes on each end of the I-beam. Eight rivets popped into place in two sets of four quick machine-gun shots: ‘pop-pop-pop-pop’ on one end and then ‘pop-pop-pop-pop’ on the other. Afterward, the framers moved to the next I-beam while the sub-floor team placed wooden planks and plywood so other workers could install permanent flooring.
The I-beam swung carefully back and forth - a pendulum counting out the seconds of work. Alex tiptoed from beam-to-beam, leaning over an upright beam to secure the next horizontal beam. As he shifted his weight, the rubber soles of his work boots lost their footing. Alex's right foot slid along the rail, flipping off the edge. Alex reached up, catching the new horizontal and saving himself from a deadly fall.
He sprawled across two beams, stretching across the corner. His right leg now kept him from falling. The left half of his body was draped over the new I-beam.
However, the half-ton I-beam rode into place as Gary, the other framer who partnered with Alex, popped his four rivets into place. He looked up as Alex let out a scream. It was more like a yelp. Alex had pinched the edge of his right hand between the new I-beam and upright. The two metatarsal bones leading from his wrist to the right pinky finger were completely crushed.
All of Alex's internal defenses went into overdrive. Adrenal glands pumped courage into his body. Alex looked down and immediately assessed the situation. He used his free left arm as a lever, bracing it against the upright beam. He kicked at his wrist with his left foot. Tiny bones cracked and split as his hand peeled away from the girder.
He lifted up the free limb, only to see a badly mangled right hand. Blood gushed freely from the large hole in the side of his hand. Gary stood at the other end of the I-beam, unable to help.
"Hold on buddy!"
One of the guys on the sub-floor team rushed to his side.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah,” said Alex, “I’m fine.”
Alex’s knees buckled as his face went pale. He leaned back against his co-worker, falling onto his back.
It was the last thing Alex remembered until he found himself in a hospital emergency room. His right hand had already been bandaged and he'd been shot full of medication. He did not feel the first tinge of pain.
ary picked up Alex’s phone. The first person on the speed dial was Portia. Gary knew Portia was his little sister, so he did not call her. He called ‘Dad’ instead.
“Is this Alex’s father?”
“Who is this?”
“This is Gary. I work with Alex. He’s fine, but we’re at the hospital right now. He pinched his hand between two I-beams.”
“Which hospital?”
“Allegheny General.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be right there.”
Phoebe was upstairs when he received the call. Mrs. Gatteau was watching television. Mrs. Gatteau accepted the news non-chalantly. Phoebe, at least, was worried for her brother.
“Where’s Portia?” he asked Phoebe.
“I bet she’s at the community college.”
“Do you want to call her?”
Phoebe shook her head emphatically. That left it up to Mr. Gatteau.
“Portia?”
“Alex is in the hospital. Do you need a ride?”
“No, I can get a ride,” said Portia.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Portia hung up her phone.
“Who was that?” asked Darren.
“My Dad. Alex is in the hospital.”
“Oh man, do you know what’s wrong?”
Portia shook her head.
“I got to go catch the bus.”
“That’s nonsense. Let me give you a ride.”
“You’re stoned and drunk, Darren.”
“Okay, you take the keys and I’ll go with you.”
Darren handed his keys to Portia and they both went to the hospital. When they arrived, they spotted Mrs. Gatteau and Phoebe sitting in the waiting room. Mrs. Gatteau was eating snack foods while Phoebe sat next to her, sorting through waiting room magazines.
“Where’s dad?”
“He’s upstairs with Alex.”
“Is Alex okay?”
"His wristis broken, but he's fine. You should visit him."
Portia and Darren went up to Alex's room. Mr. Gatteau was sitting beside the bed when they arrived. Someone was watching television in the other half of the room. The curtain was drawn.
"Hey Darren," said Alex.
Darren reached out his right hand. Alex reached out his s only good hand, his left. Darren switched up, shaking left hands. Alex pulled him in close and the hugged briefly. The odor of pot and alcholo emanated off Dareen. Even Mr. Gatteau could smell it. Nobody said a thing.
"Hey Alex," said Portia, "Are you okay?"
Alex nodded.
"How's your wrist? Will it take long to heal?"
"My wrist is fine."
"But mom said..."
"Mom doesn't know what's going on. She hasn't even been up here to visit with me. Two tiny bones are fractured in my hand. Other than that, everything's just fine."
Alex showed her the cast.
"It doesn't look fine."
"It's just to keep me from moving my hand and damaging the bones. They said it will take about 8-10 weeks to heel completely."
"How did it happen?
"It was a silly accident, really. I just slipped on an icy girder. When I went to catch myself, I caught my hand between two I-beams."
"It sounds horrible."
"I'm full of pain-killers, so I think it feels pretty good, actually."
Portia chuckled. She was glad to see her brother was alright. When her father called, she had feared the worst - like Alex falling from a skywalk. She had seen where he worked and did not know how he could be so brave. If she'd asked Alex, he'd say it was nothing at all.
"I think I'm going home," said Mr. Gatteau, "Portia, you coming with us?"
"I was going to stay with Alex for a bit."
"I'm a little tired," said ALex, "Why don't you go home with dad?"
Portia glanced towards Darren.
"Nah, it's okay. You go with your family."
Everyone parted ways. Portia thanked Darren and gave him a hug. Mr. Gatteau had never really ,liked Darren. Unlike Marcus, Darren always seemed to be in trouble. Again, he said nothing on the way home. Mrs. Gatteau was silent, too. Mr. Gateau parked the car and went inside.
One of the neighbor kids was waiting inside. She'd been babysitting Penny while everyone was at the hospital. Mr. Gatteau paid her and thanked her for stayng up so late. Portia was surprised that he didn't ask her to watch Penny. Mybe it was his sudden streak of selflessness. Maybe it was the fact it was Alex. Either way, it seemd like a change for the better.
Things returned to normal soon after the babysitter left. Mr. Gatteau went directly to the fridge. He opened a bottle of beer and sat in his normal spot on the couch, beside Mrs. Gatteau.
Portia took Penny down to the basement and tucked her into the dresser. Portia slept in Alex’s bed, since she'd be the only one responsible enough to properly care for Penny while Alex was in the hospital. Even though Mrs. Gatteau loved being the martyr, she seldom loved any of the duties tied with it.
It was okay with Portia, though. She reveled in being Penny's Super Auntie. As far as Portia was concerned, Penny was the world's best niece, too.
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