Free Almost Eden by Anita Horrocks

hair out. We weren’t supposed to get her worked up worrying herself over us.
    “Is someone remembering to feed Tommy?”
    I nodded. “Sure. I’m taking care of him.” I’d have to remember to fill his saucer when I got home. I was pretty sure I’d forgotten that morning.
    After that I didn’t know what else to say. Good thing Lena was with. She gabbed away about how Beth was in charge and how she was helping take care of the house. How she’d gotten sunburned and I was painting the house and had decided to be a “veternarian,” but Beth thought it was stupid. How we were remembering to say our prayers every night.
    Mom didn’t even pick up on the veternarian thing. I didn’t bother to correct Lena. I could see from Mom’s eyes that she wasn’t really listening anyways.
    “
Nah yo
, it sounds like you’re doing just fine without me.” It was Mom’s voice talking, but it wasn’t Mom. This person was a robot filling in for her while the real Mom was far away somewheres.
    Just fine? Hadn’t she heard a thing Lena said?
    “I swam across the pool three times last week,” Lena was talking a mile a minute still. “Pretty soon I’ll be able to go in the deep end.”
    “Won’t that be wonderful?” said the robot Mom. “I’d like to see that.”
    “You can. Come swimming with us.” Lena tugged on her arm, trying to get her to stand up.
    Mom smiled. “Oh, not today,
schnigglefritz.
I can’t today.”
    “Yes you can. Just stand up and come with.”
    Something flashed across Mom’s face. Just like that she looked small, smaller than Lena even. She just sort of crumpled. She shook her head and pulled away.
    Lena’s lower lip trembled like it did when she was getting ready to bawl her eyes out. Before she could get going I stood up and put my hand on her shoulder, squeezing a little bit so maybe she’d get it that she shouldn’t cry. “Mom can watch you swim another day. You still have to get all practiced up anyways.”
    She nodded, whispering. “Don’t worry, Mom. You can watch me swim another day.”
    “That sounds good.” Mom gave Lena a weak smile.
    A few minutes later we walked Robot Mom to her room and kissed her good-bye. “We’ll come back soon,” I promised.
    “I think I’ll put my ear a bit on the mattress,” she said, sitting down on the bed and still trying to smile at us.
    “Do you want me to put out the light?”
    Mom nodded. “Take care of each other,” she said. “I love you, girls.”
    “We love you, too, Mom,” I whispered.
    “Get better soon.” Lena stuck her head back through the door for one last wave.
    And then we were hurrying down the corridor, through the lounge, and bursting out the front door, running for our bikes.
    “Mom doesn’t look sick,” Lena said. “How come she has to stay in there?”
    “She’s not sick on the outside. She’s sick on the inside.” I grabbed my bike.
    “Because of your pajama party,” Lena said, out of the blue.
    My blood turned cold. “I’ll race you,” I said. “You can have a head start.”
    I pedaled just hard enough to stay behind her, even rode part way with no hands.
    Far enough to wish I didn’t ever have to visit Mom in that place ever again. I wished it twice. I didn’t give a care that conditions didn’t favor my wish coming true.

    Dear God
,
    How come I feel worse after seeing Mom? I didn’t even have any fun at the pool after. Sadie and Jillian and Aaron and Pete and everyone were telling jokes and goofing off like always, but I didn’t feel one bit like laughing. Anyways, nothing they said was funny. It was all stupid and childish.
    I know they’re supposed to be helping Mom and everything, but I hate that place. Mom’s no crazier than other people, so I don’t know why she should even be in there. If she’s crazy, then probably I am, too. Maybe they should lock me up, too.
    Sometimes I think Auntie Nettie is right. Sometimes I think those doctors don’t have a clue how to help Mom. It’s