Finally, the much anticipated tale of bodily harm.

The Thumb:
So there I was, standing in the hallway.  I was hanging out with a girl named Storm from my squad.  I had only really gotten to know her a few days earlier, but we were getting along really well.  Lo and behold, she found out that I was ticklish and that it's really funny to watch me squirm when you poke me in the ribs.  She proceeded to do so, and an onslaught of tickling commenced.  At one point, she jabbed me with her left hand and I jammed her forefinger.  At another point, I smacked away her hand before it made contact forcefully enough to leave a bruise.  I want to make it clear that I'm not normally so abusive.  It's just that my sister always used to tickle me and still does.  You could say that over the years, I've been conditioned to react a bit forcefully at the threat of involuntary laughter. 

The most significant thrust of the evening was next.  She successfully penetrated my defenses and poked me in the ribs.  The squirm that followed was a fast one.  I twisted back and accidentally caught her thumb between my elbow and hip bone.  I heard a loud popping noise which I thought was just her knuckle popping.  She said it really hurt and I thought I had jammed another finger.  At this point we agreed that the tickling should stop.  But apparently Storm is a slow learner because she started up a few minutes later.  With much restraint, I managed to overcome years of conditioning and calm the degree of my reflexes.  She kept complaining about how bad her thumb hurt all evening.

The next morning, it still hurt pretty bad and her roommate talked her into going to the hospital to have it checked out.  She got X-rays and hilarity ensued.  The doctor came back and told her two things.  First: that her thumb was broken.  Second: that she should "milk it for all it's worth."  When she learned this, she told me, and she told her mother.  Now to illustrate my gift for impeccable timing, it's important to explain that she learned her thumb was broken on the Friday of parents' weekend.

Within a few hours, I had the privilege of meeting Storm's mom and little sister.  It's without a doubt, the most interesting way I've ever introduced myself.  "Hello, my name is Casey.  I'm really sorry I broke your daughter's thumb."  Her mom forgave me, but her little sister didn't.  All day I had a cute little 9-year old shaking her fist at me and telling me "You better stay away from my sister!"

It's probably the strangest way I've ever started off a friendship, but it's working pretty well so far.  Storm's mom loves me because I've been spending every waking moment nursing her daughter back to health.  Soon I'll post photographic evidence of my selfless commitment to her recovery.