Free The First Three Rules by Adrienne Wilder Page B

three.” He looked stricken.
    Jon patted him on the shoulder. “I know, but that’s all forgiven.” How did he tell Rudy about Ellis without making him panic? “Remember how Ellis was sick?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, he went to see the doctor and he wants us to go too.”
    “But I’m not sick.”
    “Nope. I’m not sick either. But we need to meet him at the doctor so he won’t worry about you.”
    Rudy made a serious face. “Ellis worries a lot.”
    “Yes, he does. So let’s not make him worry more. Do you think you could get dressed for me?”
    “You’ll have to make sure my clothes aren’t wrinkled. Ellis always makes sure.”
    “I can do that.”
    He rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Do I have to take a bath?”
    “Not today.”
    “It’s nighttime, not today. If it was today the sun would be shining.” Rudy got out of bed.
    “You’re right. It’s tonight. You don’t have to take a bath tonight.”
    “Good. I hate baths because you get wet.” Rudy went over to his dresser and took out two shirts. “Which one? I like blue, but red is nice too.”
    Jon scrubbed a hand over his head. “Either color.”
    “Which one do you like.”
    “The red one.”
    “I like blue.”
    Jon walked over. “Rudy?” He looked at Jon. “I know it’s important to you that you pick out the colors you like, but today I just need you to get dressed.”
    “Are we in a hurry?”
    “Yeah. A little bit of a hurry.” Jon took out a pair of jeans and put the red shirt back in the drawer. “Here, put this on.”
    “I need underwear. Ellis always says I have to wear clean underwear.”
    Jon found a pair while Rudy pulled off his pajama top and put on the blue shirt.
    “Socks,” Rudy said.
    Jon checked the top drawers, he didn’t find any. “Where are they?”
    “Where they’re supposed to be.”
    “Where is that?”
    “In the closet.”
    While Rudy dressed, Jon found the socks in a set of plastic drawers and brought them over.
    “They don’t match.” Rudy held them up. They were both white but one had grey toes the other didn’t.
    “Wear them anyway.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Yes, you can.”
    “Socks have to match too. Ellis said that I have to look nice when I leave the house so people will know he takes care of me.”
    Jon went back to the closet and dug through the plastic drawers until he found a match. He gave them to Rudy. His shoes were under the drafting table.
    “Here.”
    Rudy took the sneakers and held them in his lap.
    “What’s wrong?” Jon said.
    Rudy’s eyebrows came down. “I forget which foot.”
    Jon put the shoes on the correct foot and tied them.
    “Okay, are we ready?” Jon exhaled a breath when Rudy nodded. “Good. C’mon.”
    “What about my teeth and my hair?”
    “We really need to hurry.”
    “So I don’t have to brush my teeth?”
    “Not today.”
    “I hate brushing my teeth. The toothpaste tastes funny.”
    Jon led Rudy down the steps.
    “Wait,” Rudy said.
    “What now?”
    “You’re all wrinkled.” Rudy pointed at Jon’s shirt.
    Large creases bunched up the fabric from sleeping in his clothes. “It’s okay.”
    “But you’re wrinkled and people will say Ellis doesn’t take care of you.”
    “I won’t let them do that.”
    Rudy seemed to think a moment.
    “Please, Rudy. We need to go.” Jon opened the front door and Rudy followed him out to the car.
    “Why aren’t we going in the truck.”
    “The truck is Ellis’s and besides I don’t know where the keys are.” Jon opened the driver’s side door of his car.
    “I can find them. I can find anything.” Rudy jabbed his thumb at his chest.
    “You get to ride in the truck all the time. Wouldn’t you rather ride in my car?”
    Rudy went around to the passenger side. He got in and put his seat belt on. Jon started the car.
    “Wait,” Rudy said.
    Jon clenched the steering wheel.
    “You have to put on your seatbelt. Ellis says to always wear your seatbelt.”
    Jon put it on.
    When Jon turned out of