Free She Only Speaks to Butterflies by Sandy Appleyard Page B

“Thanks, Alan.”
    “But we all gotta be on watch for whoever’s causin’ this trouble.” He changed tack. “Who knows what they’ll go after next.”
     
    …
     
    The Eldorado pulled up to Baker’s Farm. Sherry scrunched her nose at the stale, smoky aroma still filling the air. Ned and Kate were sitting on the front porch, talking to one of the farm hands. Noticing their arrival, Ned rose, bouncing on his toes playfully, successfully getting Denise to smile.
    “Well, there’s my little darlin’!” He squeaked, helping her out of the car. “Did ya come to visit me, the cattle or the butterflies today?”
    “Neither, actually,” Sherry smiled apologetically. “We came to see Doug.”
    “He’s just inside.” Kate rose, smoothing her apron in front. “I’ll holler at him.”
    Dale, one of the farm hands, dipped his head to Sherry in greeting. “Afternoon.”
    “Same to you,” she returned. “Awful smell that fire left.”
    Ned took Denise’s hand. “It’ll be gone in a coupla days.”
    “Hey there.” Doug appeared, waving at Denise. “Your ear’s not actin’ up again, is it?”
    The little girl looked at the ground.
    “Come on inside. We’ll have a chat.” Doug gestured with his head.
    The small hallway leading to Doug’s office was lined with periwinkle wallpaper. Doug’s makeshift office was the last door on the right, by the washroom. A peg board painted robin’s egg blue was telltale that the space used to be Doug’s childhood bedroom. Sherry sat on one of the adult-sized chairs while Denise took a smaller, wooden chair at a child-sized table, making herself at home coloring in one of the displayed art books.
    “What’s goin’ on there, little lady?” he grunted to Denise as he sat, but addressed the question to Sherry.
    “She had another bad episode,” Sherry answered quietly, as if it was an understanding.
    “Oh?” Doug joined Denise at the table. He inverted one of the wooden chairs so he could lean his chest on the backrest. Observing her, he bent down so he could see her face. She looked up. “And what have we here?” He noticed Denise’s reddened eye. Gently tugging at her lower eyelid, he examined the red blotch painted across the white of her eye. He released her eyelid and looked at Sherry. “Nothin’ to worry about,” he frowned. “It’ll go away in a week or so.”
    Sherry exhaled. “That’s a relief.”
    Doug stood up and opened the door. “Why don’t ya go see my dad, sweetie?” he offered. “He’ll take ya to go see the butterflies.”
    Denise didn’t wait a beat, she ran for the front door. Doug closed the office door, and sat opposite Sherry.
    “Have ya had her in with Dr. Malcolm since?”
    She shook her head. “No, but I will.”
    “I’ll send him a report in case the eye clears up before ya see him,” Doug explained. “He should know about this.”
    Sherry furrowed her brow defensively.
    “Why? Do you think it’s serious?”
    “The vessel break isn’t, no.” Doug said matter-of-factly. “But the fact that her emotional meltdowns are escalatin’ is.”
    Sherry swallowed. “What do you mean ‘escalatin’’?”
    Doug placed his left ankle on his right knee. “Was the break caused by screaming or exertion?”
    Denise recounted the horrifying experience. “She held her breath and pushed hard. I was afraid her eyeballs were gonna pop out.”
    “And she pulled more hair out?” Doug asked.
    Sherry nodded.
    “Dr. Malcolm will have more to say on this, but my guess is that it’s escalatin’ or comin’ to a head.” He scratched his chin. “She’s getting’ older and she may require more help, or she’ll soon get past whatever wall she’s put up for herself.”
    Sherry digested the information for a moment. “So you think this could be a good or a bad sign then?”
    Doug nodded. “I’d rather air on the side of caution myself, but I’m not a specialist.” Leaning forward, he patted her on the shoulder. “She’s