Fourth Finger

I crossed the street to say hi to Jess and she took off her Statue of Liberty crown so Romeo wouldn't be scared. He's having a scared-of-everyone day, I said. Just now he got spooked by the sound of the mailman's truck door closing. Jess squatted and reached for Romeo. Hi sweet pea, she said. Romeo stepped closer and she pet him on the ear. I'd better get back to work before my boss sees me gone, she said. If she looks out the window she'll say 'Where is she?' She raised her voice imitating her boss. Romeo got startled and the leash tightened on my fingers creating a burning sensation. I caught him before he ran into the oncoming traffic. As I continued to walk the pain and swelling began on my finger. I've hurt that same finger before. It's vulnerable. I should've known better, how to hold the leash. I get distracted and focus on people. I stuck my hand in the snow cooling the pain. When I got home I took an Excedrin and dipped my finger in ice water. This will ruin my day if I don't go swimming. So I went to the pool and seeing people cheered me up. I told the lifeguard what happened. It's probably a bruise, he said. After swimming my finger had turned green and yellow. You're right, it looks like a bruise, I said showing it to him as I was leaving. The cool water was probably good for it, now give it a rest, he said. When I got home I iced it some more. My finger felt like it was the size of a basketball player.