Chapter 14 The Accident It was late October when the accident occurred.
Pollyanna thought she could run across the street before the motor car reached her.
She realized her mistake too late.
No one was sure what happened.
People on the street heard Pollyanna cry out.
Then they heard a crash.
Everyone quickly ran to her side.
The little girl was in pain and crying.
Pollyanna was carefully placed on a stretcher and rushed home.
As soon as Nancy saw her, she began to cry.
Oh, our poor Pollyanna, she wept.
Will she be all right?
Please take her upstairs.
I'll get Miss Polly.
She's out in the garden.
For the first time in many years, Miss Polly ran.
She rushed to her niece's side.
The little girl was already unconscious.
Her face was white and she looked very, very tired.
Oh dear, oh dear, Miss Polly cried.
My poor Pollyanna.
Miss Polly's face was wet with tears.
She did not stop to wonder why she was crying.
She did not think about the fact that she had not cried in years.
The only thing she knew was that her niece, whom she loved so much, was hurt.
Nancy, she called over her shoulder, please send for Dr. Warren.
I've already telephoned him, Nancy replied.
Miss Polly took Nancy's hand and held it tightly.
We must be very strong for our little girl, she said.
When Pollyanna wakes up, we must be bright and happy, glad, so that she will feel better.
Yes, yes, ma'am, Nancy stuttered.
The two women wept beside Pollyanna's bed until the doctor arrived.
Dr. Warren did not have good news for them.
I won't know for sure until she wakes up, he said.
But I worry that she won't be able to walk.
Miss Polly gasped.
Not walk?
Do you mean that her legs are broken?
She asked.
He shook his head slowly.
I worry that it is much more serious than that.
He packed up his bag and took his coat from the hook.
I'll come back in an hour or so to check on her.
Try not to worry too much.
She's a strong little girl.
Pollyanna slept through the next day.
Miss Polly stayed by her side the entire time.
Nancy even brought in a cot so Miss Polly could sleep in the room with her.
When Pollyanna finally woke up, she saw her aunt in a chair pulled close next to the bed.
Oh, Aunt Polly, she said, I'm so sorry.
I should never have run into the street.
It was a silly, silly thing to do.
Miss Polly stroked the girl's hair.
You're right, she said gently.
It was a very silly thing to do, but you're safe now and finally awake.
We've all been so worried about you.
Have you?
Pollyanna asked.
I feel bad that I've made everyone worry.
I want so much to get out of this bed and hug you, but I can't move.
I must be so tired.
Maybe I need to sleep some more.
My legs feel too tired to move.
Pollyanna noticed that her aunt was crying.
Is there something else wrong?
Miss Polly could not speak.
Is it my legs, Aunt Polly?
Are they broken?
Pollyanna touched her aunt's cheek.
You shouldn't cry so much about broken legs, Aunt Polly.
They aren't really serious.
Look at Mr. Pendleton.
He had a broken leg and has improved greatly.
It's nothing like Mrs. Snow.
She will always be in bed because her legs don't work at all.
Just then, Dr. Warren arrived for a checkup and Miss Polly was spared from saying anything else.
When the doctor left Pollyanna's room, Miss Polly pulled him aside for a quiet talk.
I don't want Pollyanna to know how serious this is, she said.
Not until we have all the answers.
She's a little girl and this is very hard for her.
I understand, Dr. Warren said.
I've made arrangements for a special doctor to visit.
He'll arrive tomorrow afternoon.
He'll be able to tell if Pollyanna will ever walk again.
Miss Polly turned away quickly.
All of this was too much to bear.
Pollyanna was such a sweet and extraordinary child, it was hard to think of her in pain.
Miss Polly went back to Pollyanna's room.
She told her niece that a special doctor would visit her tomorrow.
Dr. Chilton, Pollyanna said.
Even though she was very tired, she was excited to see Dr. Chilton.
No, dear, Miss Polly said.
Dr. Chilton will not be coming.
It's another doctor.
He's from the city.
Dr. Warren says that he would be able to fix your legs.
But Dr. Chilton could fix my legs, Pollyanna pleaded.
He fixed Mr. Pendleton's broken leg.
He'll be able to fix my broken legs just as easily.
I'm sorry, Miss Polly said, her eyes filled with tears again.
I will give you anything you need.
I will do everything possible to make you comfortable, but I am sorry.
I cannot bring you, Dr. Chilton.
Please don't ask me again.
Pollyanna nodded her head.
Although she did not understand, she knew that her aunt was very stubborn.
People started to visit the next morning.
Millie Snow was the first to come.
She brought a bunch of flowers wrapped with a red ribbon and I'm sorry to bother you, Miss Harrington, she said.
Mother and I heard that Miss Pollyanna was in an accident.
We were very worried.
Is she all right?
We're still waiting to hear from the doctor, Miss Polly said.
Would you like to come in?
Oh, no.
No, Millie said.
I'm sure you're very busy.
We just wanted you to know how much Pollyanna means to us.
You wouldn't believe the change in mother.
No more dark rooms and old bedclothes for her.
Her room is filled with sunlight now and she wears ribbons in her hair, and it's all because of your niece.
Miss Polly did not know how to respond.
She did not realize how much time Pollyanna had spent with Mrs Snow or that Mrs Snow was feeling happier.
She thanked Millie for the flowers.
I'll tell Pollyanna that you stopped by, she said.
Thank you, ma'am, Millie said.
She bowed slightly before heading home.
The doorbell rang all day.
As soon as the townsfolk heard about Pollyanna's accident, they headed to the Harrington estate.
There were many people who Miss Polly had never met.
Shopkeepers schoolteachers, people from the church and the ladies' aid arrived with flowers and kind words.
Every one of them told Miss Polly that Pollyanna had helped them in some way.
They all said their lives were better and brighter because of the little girl.
Miss Polly smiled.
I know, she replied to each one of them.
She has made my world a better and brighter place, too.
At that moment, Miss Polly realized that Pollyanna had changed her life.
She complained about her constant talking and slamming of doors, but she had grown to love the little girl.
She loved her more than she thought possible.
She did not want to think of a house without Polly and his good cheer.
Miss Polly had to admit that she would even miss the slamming of doors.
Pollyanna noticed the change in her aunt.
Aunt Polly called her dear now.
She sat with her all evening.
She listened to Pollyanna's stories without rolling her eyes.
This is good reason to be glad, Pollyanna thought.
It is certainly unpleasant to be stuck in bed with broken legs, but Aunt Polly finally seems to be happy with me now.
That makes me very glad indeed.
