Sundancer by Shelley Peterson Page B

stayed .
    You were fine earlier. You taught me to skip! Has something happened?
    Don’t push it. Get lost .
    Okay, but I’ll be back. We have to talk. It’s important .
    Bird made her way back to the house feeling hollow inside. She didn’t know what was worse: Sundancer ignoring her, or having him send her away. She thought she’d gotten through. Now, she wasn’t so sure. Not for the first time, Bird was struck by the unique nature of the new horse. He had moods to reckon with. She needed to learn this and be patient.
    Bird quietly crept in the back door. She hopped up on the kitchen counter and wiggled into the space on top of the fridge. It was one of her favourite listening spots. People rarely looked up when they were talking, and she’d heard many interesting things at this post. Kitchen, hallway, living room — Bird could hear it all. She momentarily put her worries about the horse aside. It was time to find out what was going on with the people.
    Hannah led the way into the living room followed by the faithful Hector, who was limping painfully. “Let’s get everybody settled,” she said brightly. “I’ll show you to your rooms, and then we can talk about what you’d like to do this afternoon.” To Bird, her voice sounded forced and overly cheerful.
    â€œCan you hang this up for me?” asked Randy. He handed Hannah his coat. “It’s a Burberry. I got it in England.” He sniffed proudly. “Belted.”
    â€œOf course,” Hannah answered. Bird couldn’t see what was transpiring in the hall, but she heard every word clearly. “It’ll be right here in the hall closet.”
    Bird heard the clinks of hangers as Hannah found one for
    Randy’s coat.
    â€œLet me,” said Randy. There was a scraping sound as he squeezed all of the other coats over to one side of the closet and hung his separately. “There,” he said. “This is how I like it hung, not touching other coats, and with the belt flattened properly in the loops.”
    Bird chuckled. Ooh, I could have some fun with this.
    â€œI’d like to see Bird now, please, Aunt Hannah,” said Julia softly. “If I could.”
    â€œI didn’t forget, Julia,” replied Hannah. “I’m not sure where Bird is, but she knows where you are. You know what she’s like; she’s probably waiting until she can see you alone.”
    Bird smiled. True.
    â€œTalking about Bird?” asked Randy as he shut the closet door. He whispered audibly, “To tell the truth, living in a house with an autistic child is not my idea of a good time. Eva had to talk me into this visit. I’m not proud of it, but there, I admit it. I’m honestly not looking forward to meeting her.”
    Hannah’s voice was cool. “Bird’s not autistic. She has elective mutism. She chooses not to talk, but aside from that, she’s perfectly normal. In fact, she’s exceptionally bright.”
    â€œEva says she’s autistic,” stated Randy. “In my book, if the kid doesn’t talk, she’s autistic.”
    Don’t even bother, Hannah, thought Bird. It’s not worth it.
    Hannah took a deep breath. “Randy, it’s not always as simple as we’d like. Bird has decided not to talk. We don’t know why, but we do know she’s able to. Two weeks ago she said a word.”
    â€œShe said a word?” asked Eva from the living room. Bird heard her high heels clack-clacking into the hall. “What word?”
    â€œShe named a horse. Sundancer. The one she fell off.”
“Sundancer? Bird named him? You didn’t tell me, Hannah!” Eva was angry. “You kept it from me? Bird’s first word since she was six!”
    â€œCalm down, Eva.” Randy sounded annoyed. “What’s it to you, Eva?”
    â€œI care about Bird.” Eva replied quickly, reining in her emotions.