Free as a Bird Read Online Free PDF Page A

run-of-the-mill mutt. Hell, some aren’t even as smart as that.”
    Millie looked at me. “Well, that’s probably true for most of them. But Ruby Jean — I think maybe she’s got more going on in that head of hers than she lets on. Isn’t that right, Ruby Jean?”
    I dint answer her. But I never talked so she dint spect me to.
    â€œIt’s her unpredictable behaviour that makes her a problem — and a perfect candidate for this program.” Millie laughed.
    I dint think much bout what Millie was sayin cause I was watchin Morris oudda the corner of my eye.
    When I finished eatin Millie took me to the day room. Other kids were already there rockin an pacin an starin out the barred windows. Susan too. When the uniforms let me I always sat with Susan. That’s cause she was my best friend. Norval Fontaine was my best friend too, but he got put downstairs when he got old. After that I only saw Norval when we was walkin outside. He always waved at me an said, “Hello, Ruby Jean. How’s it goin?” I dint answer him. But I never talked so he dint spect me to.
    Norval’s favourite thing was watchin hockey on TV. When the Boys was round they always put the hockey games on. He told me one day he wanted to see a real-life hockey game. I sure missed Norval after he left Ward 33. That’s cause he told me things — an even if I dint never tell him, Norval knowed I was listenin. He dint mind me not talkin anyways — that’s on account of talkin was his second best thing to do after watchin hockey. I learnt lots of things from Norval, that’s cause he could read an write a liddle an cause he’d been round Woodlands longer than anybody I knowed. He got left at Woodlands by his momma an poppa cause they was poor an cause he was a mental retard.
    â€œThey had to work hard to get enough money to look after my brothers and sisters, Ruby Jean. It wasn’t their fault. After the doctor told them I was an imbecile and wouldn’t amount to much, he said they should just put me in Woodlands so I wasn’t a burden to the family. Sometimes my brother, Walter, comes to visit — brings me chocolate and batteries for my transister radio. And Vi always sends me cards at Christmas. Don’t know what happened to little Ronnie and Elsa — I guess they’re all grown up now.”
    Norval liked to listen to his radio in bed at night when the uniforms were busy. “I can hear music, and sometimes there’s talking about important things — I don’t understand so much of it. But I was listening the day they said a man was walking on the moon. Can you believe it, Ruby Jean — a man walking on the moon? I sure would like to walk on the moon one day. Wouldn’t you?”
    Susan was my other best friend, but she was like me — she dint never talk. Susan an me had been together on Ward 33 for a long time. Even though we dint say nothin to each other — I could tell if she was happy or jittery, an she knowed when I was bout to do somethin to make the Boys come. That’s why she’d get up an move to the far side of the day room. But sometimes me an Susan was both jus fine an when that happened we sat holdin hands like sisters. I was glad I had Susan cause else I wouldn’t have no one.
    That mornin when I came in with my nice hair an priddy shirt Susan smiled so big. Then she touched my sticky hair an laughed. I sure wished Susan could get a nice shirt an sticky hair like mine.
    â€œSit here, Ruby Jean,” Millie told me. “When it’s time to go out, I’ll come for you.”
    I sat on the green plastic bench nex to Susan an waited. I dint knowed where I was goin, but it dint matter cause I had a pink-flowered shirt an priddy combed hair.
    After a while, a lady wearin shiny red shoes an dark pink lipstick came into the day room. I wondered if she was the one who was gunna take me out. But she dint look at me