Merwan was seated on the edge of the wall with his feet dangling over the side. The hunter climbed the wall as he chased one of the other boys, who escaped. Then the hunter lost his balance and bumped into Merwan from behind, knocking him to the ground. Merwan's head struck a stone, causing a deep two-inch gash on his forehead. He started crying and was rushed to a doctor, who was unable to stop the bleeding.
Although different physicians attended him, the bleeding continued for three days. On the third day, a physician applied one last remedy and warned Sheriarji, "Your son's condition is grave; if the bleeding continues, the boy must be moved to a hospital." The bleeding finally stopped after the third night. The physician was surprised and told Bobo the next day, "Your son has been given a new lease on life. I did not want to tell you, but I was convinced he would not survive." For some time thereafter, Merwan suffered the pain of the wound, and even though the bandage was removed, he continually complained of headaches and weakening sight. Memo was afraid that he would gradually lose his eyesight and she forbade him to read or write. Finally, after three months the headaches went away and Merwan's vision returned to normal.
The boy who had accidentally knocked Merwan off the wall was Jal Dinsha Nicholson. Merwan and Jal Nicholson had a high regard for each other. When Merwan saw him after he had recovered, he shook Jal's hand and showed him the gash, indicating that he was not to blame for what had happened. Jal was a brilliant student who later attended the same college as Merwan.1
After his accident, Merwan no longer played the game of the "hunter" and pursued sports instead. He successfully formed and captained a field hockey team of his friends and classmates, with hopes that other teams would be formed and matches played. However, on the first day, the hockey ball (coincidentally hit by Jal Nicholson) injured one of the boys on the leg and he fell to the ground. Merwan took the injured player to be treated. He felt personally responsible, because this particular boy had been told by his elder brother (a lawyer) not to join the team. Merwan had prevailed on his friend to play that day when the brother was out of town.
Footnotes
- 1.Jal Nicholson eventually went to England to pursue his studies, where he died while still a young man.