Free Hope Girl by Wendy Dunham Page A

come back as I slip my last sneaker on.

    After my appointment, Rosa drives me to the Whippoorwills’. We’re both quiet. I feel like I should talk and ask about Carlos, but I don’t. My head’s too crowded with stuff to worry about.
    Rosa opens her window, letting hot muggy air blow through the car. “Are you doing okay, River?” she says. When I don’t answer, she turns toward me. “I’m pretty sure if I were in your shoes, I’d feel scared.”
    I stare out the window. “I’m not.”
    â€œNo?” She says, sounding surprised.
    â€œNo,” I say again, feeling guilty for lying. “I’m sure my back isn’t as bad as Dr. Crane thinks. Besides, my dad won’t want me wearing a brace, anyway.”
    Rosa nods. “I’d probably wish that too. But I want you to know Dr. Crane is a good doctor.”
    We drive again without talking.
    Rosa adjusts her mirror. “Did I mention I have a son about your age?”
    â€œYou said you have a son, but that’s all.”
    â€œHis name’s Carlos,” she says. “An amazing kid, and almost fourteen. He’ll probably be in your classes come September.”
    â€œHe’s a year older, so I doubt it. I’ll only be in eighth.”
    â€œSame as Carlos since he missed a year.”
    â€œDid that bother him?”
    â€œNot really,” she says. “He had bigger things to deal with at the time. Now he’s just glad to be in school again.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    Rosa takes a deep breath. “He was severely burned in a scouting accident—it’s a miracle he’s alive. He got trapped in a tent fire and was burnt from head to toe. He spent months in the hospital having surgeries for skin grafts and going through therapy. He had to relearn some of the most basic things like how to walk, get dressed, even feed himself. And because the scars completely changed his appearance, he needed counseling. He doesn’t look like the Carlos we knew… more like a creature from another planet. But under that twisted, blotchy skin is the same Carlos. Unfortunately most people have a hard time looking beneath it.”
    I can’t think of anything to say except, “Maybe I could meet him sometime.”
    Rosa smiles. “I think he’d like that.”
    We reach the Whippoorwills’, and Rosa shuts off her car. She comes in to talk with Uncle Henry and Aunt Elizabeth, but I go right to Billy’s room and flop on his bed. Zoey rubs against me, her way of saying she’s glad to see me.
    I hear Rosa repeat everything Dr. Crane said, so I put Billy’s pillow over my head. I don’t want to hear it again. I close my eyes and fall asleep with Zoey.
    By the time I wake up, it’s completely dark. I must have slept through supper. And the house is quiet, so the Little Whippoorwills must already be in bed. Then I hear voices. It’s hard to tell who it is since they’re whispering. I hold still and listen. Sounds like Uncle Henry, Aunt Elizabeth—and Dad. I jump out of bed and hurry downstairs. I turn into the kitchen, and he’s there with my aunt and uncle and Rosa. Why is she here again?
    I hurry to Dad and wrap my arms around him. “You’re home!”
    He stands and wraps me in a hug. “I couldn’t get back fast enough.”
    Aunt Elizabeth pulls out a chair for me. “I saved your supper,” she says, setting a plate in front of me.
    Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Sounds like you’ve had quite a time. Rosa said you’re volunteering and told me about your doctor’s appointment.”
    â€œEverything I was going to tell you.” I move the meatloaf and mashed potatoes around my plate, making it look like I ate some. “Anyway,” I tell Dad, “my doctor’s appointment wasn’t a big deal.”
    He raises his eyebrow. “Not from what I hear. In fact, I’m meeting