Tin Lily by Joann Swanson Read Free Book Online Page A

doing.”
    “Okay.”
    “His name is Dr. Pratchett. You’ll see him every Thursday starting next week.”
    “What about your work, my school?”
    Margie nods, her eyes on the floor. “It’s so close to summer I’m not going to enroll you until next fall.” She looks up. “The good news is, you had enough credits to pass your sophomore year.”
    I didn’t, but it’s okay.
    “As for work, I have to go back next week.” She’s an important person, Margie. A metallurgist, sure, but a bigwig too. Supervisor, CEO, head honcho. Something.
    “I thought you might like to stay here while I ’ m at work . Kind of a boring summer, but—”
    “That sounds good, Aunt Margie. I could read. You have a lot of books.”
    “That I do. Well, that we do. My books are your books now. We’ll get some shelves in here for your own collection.”
    “Okay. Thanks.”
    She gauges me for a bit, her eyebrows raised, her mouth crooked and undecided. “Dr. Pratchett’s asked me not to pester you. Bet you’ll be glad of that.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “He wants you to accept what happened in your own time.”
    I don’t know what Margie’s saying.
    “Dr. Pratchett says it’s important to let the memories in. Little by little. The good and the bad. I told him about your spells.”
    “Okay.” I wait a few seconds so she knows I have a question. “Is it okay if I use your washing machine?”
    “Of course.” She leads me to a whole room where she’s got her washer and dryer.
    I spend the next little while doing laundry, getting that dog food smell out of my clothes. Between loads, I go back to the blue and white bedroom and sit on the bed or in a chair by the window. I don’t open the laptop again. I decide Hank’s small bullet is better than Mack and Darcy’s ranch, better than Rick-the-team-member with that strange light in his eyes.
    When there’s no smell left, I go into the living room. Margie’s sitting on the couch. She puts down the book she’s reading and smiles.
    “How will I get there?” I say.
    She squints her eyes and shakes her head. I haven’t used enough words again.
    “How will I get there on Thursdays? To Dr. Paget’s?”
    “Dr. Pratchett’s. I’ll drop you off and pick you up. Tomorrow we’ll go on the bus and I’ll show you the route just in case I get stuck at work one day. Does that sound okay to you?” She looks worried about the bus idea, like just saying it out loud will make it come true.
    “Sounds good.”
    “I have to take classes starting next week so the state knows I can take good care of you. I’ll be gone on Wednesday evenings.”
    “I’m sorry for all the fuss.”
    “No fuss,” Margie says. She crosses to me, brushes my bangs back. “No fuss at all.”
     
     

 
Three
     
    The next morning Margie takes me on the bus to Dr. Pratchett’s building. It’s a straightforward route, no transferring. I’ll find it if I need to.
    “This is just in case I get stuck at work, Lil. My plan is to take you every week.”
    “Okay.”
    The building is a big glass one with dancing fountains out front. Yards of concrete lead up to heavy glass doors. There’s a fond smile on Margie’s face. “I saw Dr. Pratchett for awhile after I moved here. He helped me a lot.”
    I figure Margie saw Dr. Pratchett for stuff Grandpa Henry said. Probably he made her light flicker too. There’s no flickering anymore, though. Margie’s light is strong and warm—a happy light I don’t mind being around.
    Margie nudges me. “He’ll help you too. I just know it.”
    “Okay.”
    “Feel like heading to my favorite bookstore?”
    “Yes.”
    Margie looks happy. “Thought that might cheer you up.”
    I think I smile, but by the look on Margie’s face, it’s something else. She puts her arm around me and guides me back to the bus stop. I wonder if I’ve forgotten how to smile, how to feel something besides nothing.
    We ride for a little while before we stop at a bookstore with a neon cat on its