JACK by Adrienne Wilder Read Free Book Online

leaned closer.
    “Thank you,” he whispered.
    “You’re welcome.”
    He took the tray. I offered my hand again, and this time he took it. The cuff of his long johns pulled up and I could see a web of scars on the back of his hand. I noticed more along his neck. He caught me staring and looked away.
    “What’s your name?”
    He shook his head and pointed at the line.
    “I didn’t mean to be rude. Please tell me your name.” He seemed normal. Well, almost normal.
    His gaze came up and he leaned closer, close enough that his whisper was warm against my ear. “Noah.” I turned my head and his face was so close I could see green specks in the blue of his eyes. I wondered why he was here and where had he gotten the scars.
    Noah stepped away and got back in line.
    I watched him, but when he didn’t look at me anymore I went to my room.

Chapter Four
     
    “What would you like to talk about today?” Dr. Chance tapped his pen against his bottom lip.
    The old chair I sat in was big. There were holes in the arms, and the fabric of the seat was frayed. I wrapped my arms around my knees. “I don’t know.” Why would Dr. Chance ask me anyways? He was the one who wanted to talk. I was perfectly happy sitting in my room.
    “I thought you might have a few things on your mind you’d like to share.”
I had plenty.
    He shifted in his seat and the vinyl squeaked a protest. “I want you to know that you’ve done really well over the past two weeks and I am very proud of the progress you’ve made so far.”
    “Does that mean I can go home?”
    He smiled. “No, not yet.”
    Of course not. I picked at some lint sticking between my toes.
    “How come you don’t wear the shoes we give you?”
    I shrugged.
    “Did you go barefoot a lot at home?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Does going barefoot remind you of home?”
    Did it? I shrugged again and stared out the window. The sky was blue today. A brilliant clear blue normally reserved for crisp fall days. It would be May soon. Momma’s birthday was on the tenth. We used to pick the daffodils and put them in vases around the house. Sometimes I would sneak and get some of the fancy Irises from the neighbor’s yard. Momma didn’t approve but she’d compliment on how pretty they were. The violet mixed with the yellow made the petals on both flowers glow. God, how momma would smile when she looked at them.
    “Jack?”
    “Yeah.”
    “What are you thinking about right now?”
    I didn’t mean to, but somehow the word slipped out. “Momma.”
    “Tell me about her.”
    She was perfect: smart, strong, brave. She never dwelled on my failures but always encouraged me to do better. She was proud of me. She loved me. She accepted why I had to be Jack and stood between me and the world that refused to understand. I could sooner explain all those things as I could the mysteries of the universe. “There’s nothing to tell.”
    “Really.”
    “That’s what I said.”
    Dr. Chance wrote in his note book. The pen made a scratching sound against the paper. “Jack.”
    I sighed and gave him my attention.
    “Tell me why you jumped off the bridge.”
    I stared at my toes some more but there was no more lint to pick out from between them. I wiggled them instead.
    “It’s important you communicate with me. Communication is a requirement and meeting the requirements will earn you privileges.”
    “I want to go home.” I wanted to go anywhere but here.
    “We’ll discuss that later. Now tell me why you jumped off the bridge.”
    “Can I at least have my bindings?”
    “Your what?”
    “For my chest. My bindings.”
    “To hide your breasts?”
    “Yes.”
    “You don’t like your breasts?” He waited for me to answer.
    Did I? “It feels wrong.”
    “Having breasts?”
    “Yes.”
    “I see.” He clicked his pen. “Now tell me about the bridge.”
    “Can I have my bindings?”
    “We’ll discuss that later. The bridge please.”
    Why did I jump? I wanted to get away from Emma, but now I