When Charlie is on the first step, Jamie turns back to me.
“That was nice, what you did for my brother,” he says softly, looking at the book in his hands and then at me.
“Pardon?” I’ve heard the words, but I can’t make sense of them. I’m wondering just how long Jamie Sutcliff was standing there, watching us toiling over the words. The whole time?
“Not many people take the time to make him feel like he can try something new.”
“Reading is new?”
“It is for him in a way.”
“Why isn’t he in school?”
“He went for as long as he could. He just can’t retain what he learns from books and teachers. Not like you and I can. But today’s the first time in I don’t know how long that he even wanted to try reading a book again. So thanks. You’re very kind.”
Jamie turns to leave, and I find that I don’t want him to.
“Wait....”
Jamie pauses at the open doorway.
I search for a reason to have asked him to stop. “Um. Charlie says I should see Hog Island. He says you take him there sometimes.”
Jamie smiles. “I do.”
“So. Maybe...”
“You want to come with us next time we go?”
“Okay. Yes.” I look away, embarrassed by how forward I’ve been. “It’s just that, we just moved here and, well, I want to get to know the place.”
“Sure.” He turns, takes a step, and eases back around. “And I meant what I said. You were very kind to Charlie just now. I appreciate that.”
He is on the third or fourth step and gone from my view before I can whisper the wordsyou’re welcome.
I’m alone in my room again, and my heart is beating like I’ve justrun up the two flights of stairs to get to it. I can’t explain why, but I feel like everything about my life is suddenly different. Not just the outside of it—like where I live now—but the inside of it as well. Something has begun deep within me.
I don’t understand what it is. I just know I don’t want it to stop, even though it scares me a little. I don’t want to go back to where I was yesterday.
