Lucy by Laurence Gonzales Read Free Book Online

cans and jars and packages off the shelves seemingly at random and throwing them into the cart, saying, “Oh, let’s have this. And this. Can we take some of these? Oh, look at this!” People turned to stare.
    “Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.” Jenny put her arms around the girl and held her close. “Lucy, stop. Stop!”
    Lucy went limp in Jenny’s arms. People turned away in embarrassment. Jenny imagined that they must think that Lucy was mentally impaired in some way. And then the thought occurred to her: The girl has Tourette’s syndrome. As Jenny was holding her, inhaling her curious scent, she felt Lucy’s compact and powerful body press against hers and was struck by how solid she was despite her delicate appearance.
    Lucy looked up forlornly. “Jenny. What are Fruity Cheerios? Do people really eat them?”
    Jenny couldn’t help but laugh. And as she held Lucy, she remarked to herself what a beautiful child she was. Maybe she was a blessing in disguise. Jenny had always wanted children. At least temporary children. That was one reason that she volunteered at the shelter. Maybe she could try to exercise her maternal instincts with Lucy for a few weeks.
    On the way home in the car Jenny said, “Lucy, dear, it’s not like the forest here, where you can just express yourself any way you want.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. It just happened.”
    “I understand. Just try to exert a little more … control.”
    “I will. I’m sorry.”
    “It’s not for my sake, honey. I don’t care what people think. But when you’re reunited with your family it might make it easier on them. And then when you go to school you’ll get along better if you fit in.”
    Lucy gave Jenny a pained look. Jenny wondered if her odd behavior was the result of post-traumatic stress disorder and made a mental note to get her to a therapist as soon as they were settled.
    When they arrived home from shopping, Lucy had helped to carry in the groceries. Jenny noticed that she seemed flushed. As Jenny unpacked the food, Lucy drifted over to the back door and wandered out into the garden. It was a warm and sunny day, and Jenny thought nothing of it. She spent the next hour preparing a roasted red pepper lasagna. When it was ready to bake, she went outside to check on Lucy.
    The sun cast slanting bars of yellow light across the stone patio overlooking the garden, which was crowded with prairie plants. Jenny kept thinking that in a moment Lucy would pop up from behind the tall grasses that concealed stone walkways. Jenny gradually began to wonder what would happen if the girl wandered off and was lost. “Lucy,” she called. Then louder: “Lucy!” She felt her heart beating in her temples. She thought, Good Lord, I got her out of the jungle only to lose her in the suburbs.
    Jenny stepped around the barbecue grill and went part of the way down one of the stone paths. She called again. Nothing. She turned back, then ran down another walkway. Lucy was nowhere to be seen. As Jenny returned to the patio, she felt the beginning notes of panic flutter in her chest. Then she heard a rustling sound and looked up into the maple tree that overhung the patio. There in a high branch she saw what appeared to be a great green nest of broken and interwoven branches. She couldn’t imagine what could have made a nest that size at this northern latitude.
    She was just beginning to reach for a familiar image in her mind when she heard a moaning sound. “Lucy? Are you up there?” Again she heard the soft cry. “What are you doing in a tree?” No answer.
    Jenny hurried to the garage and brought out a ladder. She propped it against the tree and climbed it to reach the lowest branch. Cautiously, she negotiated the rest of the climb to find Lucy curled up in the nest of branches. Jenny looked at the thickness of the broken branches and wondered, Had the girl done this? Was she that strong? Lucy was flushed and shivering. Jenny touched her forehead.
    “My