The Mechanics of Being Human Read Online Free PDF

girl and offered her hand. The little girl took it and beamed at her. The little girl's cupcake cheek smile was impossible not to return.
    "My name's Felicity, by the way." Felicity squeezed her hand. "You want to be friends?"
    Friends. Fawn knew immediately friends were good. She also knew that, as far as she was aware, she didn't have any at all.
    "I would love to be friends."
    The glow of Felicity's eyes could have lit up the world's darkest night. In that instant, as Felicity tugged her while slipping and sliding through the lake of soft golden sand, Fawn knew everything was going to be all right. The veil of darkness in her heart lifted, revealing emotions so powerful and good she wished they would never leave. It was warmth, joy, and happiness. It energized and warmed her in a way drinking her black ooze never could. In that moment, as she scrambled up the steps after Felicity, she belonged somewhere. She was happy.
    Fawn followed behind Felicity up to the highest tower where the twins' mom stood a moment before. She peered over the side of the slide and saw the mom stood at the bottom next to Candace, who piled sand into shapeless masses while sitting cross-legged on the ground. The woman eyed Fawn, an attentive lioness ready to spring at the first sign of danger. She ducked back, smiled down at Felicity, then watched as the little girl sat at the top of the slide. Without a moment of hesitation, the little girl pushed herself down, hooting and hollering as she gained speed. The girl made it to the bottom with her pudgy fists raised in triumph. She flew off the end like a super hero, but balanced herself before she fell by swinging her fists in a windmill motion.
    Nervously, Fawn sat down at the top of the slide too, eyes wide. She could see the whole park from the top of the slide and, judging by the specks of the city in the far distance, everything else too. Amazing. She felt as though she had climbed the highest peak in the world and everything around her was ant-like specks. As she sat there, she could have done or been anything. Maybe there was something to not having memories after all. This feeling that so much was unexplored was incredible. Fulfilling.
    "Come on," Felicity cried from down below.
    Her little sister joined in with her identical, high-pitched cartoon voice. "Come on."
    Soon both girls began to chant at the same time, "Come on, come on, come on." It sounded almost like a song.
    Yeah, Fawn, come on. With a smile, Fawn grasped the sides of the slide, then, imitating Felicity, gave herself a strong, hard push. She felt herself gain momentum, then the wind ran its cool fingers through her long strands of hair. The chilling air stung her eyes. As she whooshed down the slide and came to the end, she slid off the plastic and kept going. For a moment, she raised her hands as adrenaline gushed through her seconds before she hit the sand and rolled.
    As Fawn lay on her back and stared at the sky, she tasted sand but didn't care. Felicity, Candace, and their mom hovered over her and stared at her face.
    "Wow. You went fast. Way faster than I've ever gone." Felicity's eyes were huge. "Are you okay?"
    Fawn was more than okay. She was warm and as bubbly as her mom's soda. She could not help but laugh. Soon Felicity and Candace laughed too. Even their mom, who appeared pale-face and tense about her presence, smiled. When Fawn finally stopped laughing five minutes later, Felicity offered her a hand to help her up, though there was no way she could because she was so tiny. It was like a cat helping a horse. Her mom must have realized this, because she offered a hand instead. Fawn took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.
    As Fawn glanced down at herself, she realized she was covered in a golden layer of sand. She wiped away the dirt with a smile. When she looked up, she saw Felicity's mom stared at her, eyes hungry with curiosity. Her eyes were blue and intense just like the girls' were. The woman