Fiction

Josip Novakovich, who immigrated to the United States from Croatia when he was twenty, is the author of the novel April Fool’s Day, two essay collections, and three story collections, and his work has been anthologized in Best American Poetry, The Pushcart Prize, and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards. A recipient of the Whiting Writers’ Award, the Ingram Merrill Award, and an American Book Award, Novakovich teaches at Concordia University in Montreal.

Be Patient

A Story

by Josip Novakovich
Year: 1952

Place: Daruvar, Socialist Republic of Croatia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia


Doctor Maric held up the injection with a thin needle, which gleamed in the beam of the morning sun; he held it up as though aiming for the sky and said, This is a wonderful thing. It won’t hurt at all, and it will prevent your children from getting the measles.

They stick a needle into you? asked Lyerka. I’m scared of needles.

It won’t hurt at all, Nenad, her father, replied.

How do you know?

I’ve had lots of those when I was sick.

A boy in front of them cried.

So why is he crying?

From fear, not pain, explained the doctor.

I won’t cry, she said.

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