Free The Family by Marissa Kennerson Page A

that.
    The girl started to sing the words to the song: “California gurls, we’re unforgettable…”
    “Oh…here comes Snoop,” the boy said. He started to raise his crutch again, but he slipped. The crutch escaped his grasp and went clattering toward Twig. It landed at her feet.
    “Oh!” Marianna giggled. She took a step back away from Twig.
    The boy began to hop toward his crutch. The girl took the globes out of her ears and went to help him, but when he noticed Twig, he put his hand up to stop the girl.
    “I got this, Haze,” he said, smiling up at Twig, who was trying to lean down to help him retrieve his crutch. He spoke a little too loudly because the globes were still in his ears.
    They reached the crutch at the same time, and their hands touched. Twig felt a bolt of electricity go through her. His skin was so soft. She removed her hand immediately, embarrassed. What was she doing? What if Marianna and Dr. Young were wrong or deceiving her? She hadn’t thought about it; she had just reached out on instinct.
    She noticed the boy’s cheeks turn a slight pink. He placed his crutch under his arm, righted himself, and extended his hand again.
    “Uh… I’m Leo,” he said.
    Twig paused for a moment. Corruption. Evil. The words slammed into her brain, but they slipped away just as quickly. She didn’t feel anything but good coming from this boy.
    You’ve been lied to . She heard Dr. Young’s words echoing in her head.
    She stuck her hand out. “Twig,” she offered.
    “Twig,” Leo repeated. “I like that. It’s different. Hey, sorry for almost knocking you out with my crutch. We were just messing around,” he said.
    Twig smiled awkwardly. “That’s okay. It wouldn’t have been the first time.” Twig touched her forehead with her long fingers.
    “Ouch,” he said. “Are you okay? What happened?”
    “I was dancing to Katy Perry on top of my horse, and I got bucked off.”
    What was that? It just came out. Twig began to turn red.
    Leo looked at Twig quizzically, his eyebrows knitted, his perfect lips pushed out while he considered what she had just said. Then he grinned.
    “You are so messing with me.”
    “I am.” Twig smiled back. This was fun!
    “I like that,” Leo said quietly. “But what really happened? And, you don’t really listen to Katy Perry, do you?”
    “I don’t even know who she is,” Twig admitted in a more tentative voice.
    That was an understatement , Twig thought to herself. Sometimes Adam played classical music for them or strummed some songs on a guitar. There were the few records, classical and folk, for special occasions like weddings. But that was it. Anything else rotted the mind.
    Leo suddenly noticed Marianna. “I’m so sorry,” he said. He looked up at Marianna and stuck his hand out. “Leo,” he said with a smile. “Forgive my rudeness.” Marianna stepped forward to shake his hand.
    “ Mucho gusto . Yo comprendo . I understand,” she said, smiling and glancing down at Twig.
    “So, what really happened to you?”
    “I really did fall off my horse.” Twig admitted, frowning slightly.
    “Ouch,” Leo said, wincing.
    “Ahem.” The girl cleared her throat behind Leo.
    “Oh!” Leo stepped aside to introduce her. “Twig, this is my sister, Hazel. Hazel, this is Twig, horsewoman extraordinaire.”
    Hazel offered a warm smile, extending her hand to Twig. Twig reached forward in her chair, and Hazel came closer. They shook hands.
    Hazel held Twig’s hand for a moment. “You’re a pretty little thing,” she said.
    “Me?” Twig answered, feeling disheveled after her ordeal and awkward in her hospital gown and papery robe. Hazel looked so grown-up and polished. “You are gorgeous! Both of you.”
    The flush returned to Leo’s cheeks. Hazel looked at her brother.
    “Leo, you’re a mess. Thank you, Twig. Lee, I’m going to go find Mom and Dad. I want to get out of here. Twig, it was lovely meeting you.”
    Hazel mouthed something to Leo and then