A Beautiful Truth Read Online Free PDF Page B

point to hers. He was either getting it wrong or showing there was no difference.
    He was always watching, and aware of anything new. A wallet in the hand, a hairpin, rubber boots on a rainy day—anything unusual attracted his inspection. And he had unusual preferences which might otherwise be called taste. He screamed at a La-Z-Boy that Walt bought and was terrified when it reclined.
    The house was mapped in his mind, and he didn’t like change unless it came from himself. Judy had a rubber plant which she was very proud of, that she would move around the house atdifferent times of the year to find the right light and humidity. She moved it to the landing and found it later in the living room where it had been for its first few months. She moved it again, and again found it back in the living room. She asked Walt why he kept putting her rubber plant back in the living room and he said why do you keep stealing my toggle bolts. Looee rested on Judy’s hip and stared at a pendant piece of amber as though it was a caramel Shangri-La.
    Judy stared at Walt. I don’t think I know what a toggle bolt is she said.
    The work required was staggering. For the first year or so Looee stayed close to Judy, and even though his curiosity meant spills and surprises, it was kept within a limited range. His constant presence would have been a trial for any mother, and Judy was the tiniest bit relieved when he got bored with her for a moment. But when his range expanded, they had to be prepared.
    A padlock on the fridge was an obvious measure. The old high doorknobs on most of the doors in the house were a boon to Walt and Judy because he wasn’t tall enough for a while. But he had quietly observed them in all their daily tasks and soon knew how to deal with every handle, knob, lever, door, switch, clasp, plug, button, tie or unlocked lock in the house. And because he was so good at climbing there was little they could put beyond his reach.
    Walt remembered the cage which Henry Morris used for Buddy. He proposed it, and Judy said absolutely not.
    Judy made checklists all around the house and tried to keep loose objects secured unless they were willing to sacrifice them as missiles or toys. Walt put padlocks on most of the cupboards. He tried to make the electrical outlets safer and always kept an eye over his shoulder when he was manning the grill; but he also figured a burn here and there was the surest way to learn.
    Looee had an insatiable appetite for playing. And because of the weather in Vermont it often meant that diversions were required indoors. He loved hide-and-seek, but sometimes played it when others didn’t know he was playing. He climbed onto the mantel one afternoon and watched as Judy walked around the house calling his name. Looee it’s time to clean up the dining room, come on my little man, my Looee where are you. When she came around the corner he leapt from the mantel onto her shoulders and she lost control of her bladder. He then walked to the bathroom, took toilet paper and ran around the house, unravelling it and laughing.
    Judy’s concern was not her own emotional state so much as how he reacted to it. When he saw her fear or anger he got frightened himself and he would run around screaming, trying to find comfort where he could until he felt he could touch her or get a hug. It magnified the impact of simple frights and required massive mental energy from Judy to feel calm almost before her fear.
    They usually found such delight in seeing how much he could do, though, and, when they were in the right mood, they loved to watch him play. He learned by observation, by staring and remembering. He learned to crack eggs. You sit up on the counter there. He held the electric beater. He could spread butter on his toast with a knife. It was rarely done with grace or without a mess, but they imagined he would one day be more careful.
    He loved to wear Walt’s ski-doo helmet, which was half the size of his body. He wore it