Free as a Bird by Gina McMurchy-Barber Page B

talked on the phone. She dint mind cause Pops liked to nap like that too. Then one night Nan put a radio side my bed an left it on. Priddy soon I was goin off to sleep listenin to Kenny Rogers an Dottie West an Ronnie Milsap an lots of others too. After that I slept like a baby. Sometimes when I listened to them guitars an sad songs I wondered bout Norval — wondered if maybe he was lyin in bed listenin too.
    One thing I liked best bout livin with Nan an Pops was how the house smelled. My room smelled clean — not a’tall like Lysol. More like flowers. An the bathroom smelled like a garden too, even after … ya know … big business. But the kitchen smelled the best … like liciousness. That’s cause Nan was a awful good cook — yup, awful good.
    Nother thing I liked bout my new home — I could help Nan cook. She said I was good at choppin vegables an stirrin the pots. But the best part was when we baked — Pops always got to lick the spoon an I got the bowl. I never knowed a bowl could taste so good.
    Mrs. Gentry came to see me a lot. One day she brought some pictures. They was nice pictures … of food … an people walkin in a park … of a man sleepin in bed an lots more.
    â€œWe need to find a way to help Ruby Jean begin communicating with us,” Mrs. Gentry said. “For now she could use these pictures to tell us things. If she wants to go outside for a walk, she could show us this picture of people walking. Or if she wants to help plan meals, she can tell us by choosing from these food pictures.”
    I looked at the pictures of all the things to eat an boy oh boy, I suddenly got hungry — hungry for spaghetti an pie, soup an buns, salad, apples, an muffins!
    â€œI hope one day Ruby Jean will begin talking again,” Mrs. Gentry said. “We know she used to when she was little. But that’s not likely to happen until she feels completely safe. So for now these pictures will be a good way for her to start. Right, Ruby Jean?”
    I smiled as big as I could at Mrs. Gentry.
    â€œLet’s try it out,” Nan said. She spread the food pictures all over the counter. “Okay, Ruby Jean, tonight’s your turn to pick supper.”
    I looked into her smilin eyes — I could always tell bout Nan by her eyes.
    â€œNan, this is a new experience for Ruby Jean.” Mrs. Gentry said. “She’s never been asked before about what she wants. It might take her some time to get used to it.”
    I looked at all em pictures an my mouth got slurpy — yup, awful drooly. There was macaroni, hamburgers, spaghetti an chicken. Everybody laughed cause I took so long.
    â€œSorry, Ruby Jean, can’t have it all tonight!” Nan said. “But you can pick one.”
    After a long time all that decidin got me jittery. I jus couldn’t pick so I started scratchin my hands. But then Pops helped me an pointed to the macaroni.
    â€œHow about some good old macaroni and cheese?” he asked.
    I membered Gramma used to make that. I smiled an put my hand on the picture of macaroni.
    Nan smiled. “Mac and cheese it is! Don’t worry, Ruby Jean, dear. It’ll get easier.”
    After that Nan an Pops used those pictures all the time to help me make decisions. They’d put em out on the table an say, “What would you like to do today, Ruby Jean?” Or “Which of the chores do you want to take on — dusting, folding laundry, drying dishes?” Or “It’s Friday night, Ruby Jean. What will it be? A movie, maybe a puzzle … how about dancing?” Thinkin bout dancin with Pops always made me laugh.
    Then one day Nan told me it was time I started makin my own breakfast. “There’s lots you can prepare by yourself, dear. Of course, there’s toast and tea. But you could get yourself cereal, fruit, put some waffles in the toaster … lots of things. And on special mornings we’ll cook eggs