The Fancy by Mercedes Keyes, Lawrence James Page A

common
    everyday words that she often used or heard;
    making her write them and then every time the word
    was said or the item used, such as wood for their
    fire, the kettle, spoon, tea, coffee, cup, plate, door,
    floor, stairs, bed - he would ask, “What letters come
    to picture in your mind? What word, do you see,
    when you see Moose? Write it – write as close as
    you can to what you see.” He had her carry a book
    around and every time she saw a word in the book
    that also existed around them, she was to point it
    out. It became a game that brought laughter to him,
    to watch her, racing about the house, touching things
    she saw as a word in the book.
    Often they dressed warm and walked the
    woods, doing the same; Moose romping around
    them; Quinton listening, Suga reading. Another
    game they played while out had her finding anything
    she wanted, laying her hand on it for him to spel it
    out for her and in turn, requiring her to repeat the
    spel ing back to him.
    If she had a book in hand, he treasured the
    moments she came to him, pointing to a word she
    could not figure, for him to help her sound it out, then
    tel her it’s meaning fol owed by insisting she use the
    word every chance she had.
    Quinton could not believe her progress; her
    mind was like a sponge; her eagerness, her aptitude
    only confirmed what he already knew about her,
    about the people she'd come from; intel igence –
    speed – adaption was the very core of their makeup
    – Suga confirmed this and more.
    She was enjoying the slow opening of new
    doors, through clear and clean windows, to seeing a
    whole new world just from learning to read words that
    other people had put together to tel a story, or
    record events. It was like traveling on adventures,
    making great discoveries without ever leaving their
    home. Untold delight was hers to know, that she too
    could write words, sentences, and start to slowly
    chronicle – she never imagined there was such an
    exquisite diversion. The more words she learned,
    the more she wanted to learn. She wanted to read a
    book, an entire book.
    Now, at the break of dawn, she was up and
    eager from the bed that Quinton had made for her;
    built by Erwin in the room downstairs, off the hal
    from the kitchen. Because of what he knew,
    surrounding their living arrangements, he did al he
    could not to touch her in an inappropriate manner,
    which meant, giving her a room of her own. It secretly
    saddened him that she was so happy in her new
    room at the same time, it gave him joy; she caused
    many complex feelings within him.
    Out of bed, Suga rushed about doing chores,
    chores surrounding taking care of Quinton; taking
    care of Moose; taking care of their home.
    As soon as al was done, she wanted to read,
    she wanted to write – she thirsted for it as if addicted
    to learning.
    Quinton had never known he could feel such
    pride.
    And so, their evenings were spent with her, on
    a stool positioned before the fire, with him sitting in
    his favorite chair, smoking a pipe and Moose at her
    feet. There she would read to him. Her excitement
    was a vision he longed to see growing with each day
    that passed. He found himself always holding back
    from embracing her, touching her, he longed for it
    more and more but could not risk al for one moment
    that would lose him everything, her.
    Consequently, he noticed, as she did, like an
    unspoken awareness between them, fewer knocks
    were happening at the door for urgent matters;
    Quinton figured it could be due to the fact that there
    simply hadn’t been anything happening they’d been
    needed for, but stil – it seemed to be right after he’d
    sent his missive. He knew that it was not because of
    Suga going along, al those who had been treated,
    benefited from her input; no, it was due to his
    gamble; and also due to the fact that, Suga – was
    living with him – a bachelor.
    It was 18 days before they final y received a
    knock at the door; a cool early morning;