Free My Sister's Voice by Mary Carter Page A

but kept it hidden from Kelly. She wanted to yell “One-legged freak!” as loud as she could, but she didn’t. She wanted to tell her she loved Miss Lee, but she didn’t do that either. In the first place, she couldn’t remember if Miss Lee showed up before or after Kelly left. In the second, she wanted to keep her memories of her art teacher all to herself; if Kelly were to tell her how Miss Lee doted on her too, told her she was special, beautiful, could do anything—Lacey wouldn’t think twice about kicking Kelly out of the moving car. Miss Lee belonged to her.
    “I lost my parents too,” Kelly said. “But I knew who they were. I knew where I came from.”
    “Just drive,” Lacey said.
    “Why do you think we called you Ice?” Kelly continued. “There was always a cold, hard part of you, and you messed over anyone who ran into you. Like an iceberg.” Lacey watched the yellow line on the road flash by like bouts of lightning. You used to call me Princess Prank too, Lacey thought. Because I was fun. Because I was brave. The only one not afraid to cause a ruckus in the evening and face up to Margaret in the morning. I was cool. Lone Wolf. Ice. Fuck off!
    This part of the highway ran along a dense stretch of nameless woods. Lacey could easily rip Kelly’s fake leg off, beat her over the head with it, and bury her body in the woods. Nobody would ever know.
    Did you hear? everyone would ask her. Did you hear what happened to Kelly Thayler? Lacey would point to her ears, shake her head no.
    No, I didn’t hear; how could I have heard?
    “I’m sorry,” Kelly said. “I just want this for you. A family. A sister.” If it can’t be me hung silently from the end of Kelly’s fingertips. Kelly loved Lacey. Why did love work this way? How could one person feel so strongly, and the other not care? Despite her recent fantasy to murder her and bury the body in the woods, Lacey didn’t have bad feelings toward Kelly. But she didn’t love her. She didn’t think of her as a sister. She didn’t think of anyone as a sister. Maybe she just wasn’t capable of that kind of love. Maybe if you didn’t get it early enough, you were screwed. Lacey put her head back and closed her eyes. She didn’t care if Kelly jabbered to herself the rest of the way there; as long as she closed her eyes, her world would be filled with nothing but the vibrations of the road, and a long, blissful silence.
     
    A little over an hour later, Kelly took the next exit. Lacey opened her eyes and took in the sights. The place had a cozy, small-town feel. The houses were so close together, the neighbors could pass dinner back and forth through their windows, but they were all freshly painted, and flowers adorned almost every single porch. Then they passed a post office the size of a postage stamp, and a street sign warning: S LOW. D EAF C HILDREN . Kelly glanced at Lacey.
    “I’m an adult,” Lacey said. “Go fast.” Kelly laughed but maintained her slow speed.
    “What?” Lacey continued. “Because they’re deaf they’re not going to look both ways before crossing the street?”
    “You know,” Kelly said, “I used to be afraid of you. Now you amuse me.”
    “Great.” Soon they entered a section of town littered with shops and restaurants. Kelly spotted a parking place and pulled in alongside a bakery. Lacey looked at the sign. H EAVENLY T REATS . “Is this it?” Lacey said. “Or are you hungry?”
    “I’m always hungry,” Kelly said. “But that’s not why I’m stopping.” She looked at the sign, and a little smile played across her face. “Do you think she still puts salt in the desserts?” Kelly said.
    “There’s only one way to find out,” Lacey said. A warm, sweet smell wafted toward them as they approached the bakery.
    “I want a chocolate éclair,” Kelly said. “Or a cinnamon bun.” Lacey wanted a glazed donut and answers.
    Dogs, Lacey thought as she entered the bakery. Margaret’s life has gone to the dogs .