Shark Girl Read Online Free Page B

I hope you don’t mind. Please feel free to write or call when you are well enough, if you ever want advice or just to talk. I’d love to be friends.
    Best wishes,
    Kristen Miller-Capshaw
     

    Jane, I’m going to go home for a while. Aunt Karen is going to stay with you.
    Okay, Mom.
    Hi, honey. Do you need anything? Some more water?
    No, thanks, Aunt Karen. I’m fine.
    Ben and I are staying in your room back home. I hope you don’t mind, but I was looking through your bookshelves last night.
    I don’t mind.
    I didn’t know you had so many cookbooks. I didn’t know vegetarians had so many great recipes. Your mom said you like to cook. That you do most of the cooking during the week.
    Yeah, well, I guess I won’t be doing that anymore.
    You’ll learn how. You don’t need two hands to cook.
    Mmm.
    You sure have some nice art books, too. Would you like me to bring some in for you to read?
    Uh, no. That’s okay.
    I don’t mind.
    I don’t want to read art books right now.
    Well, I brought all your Harry Potter books. See? I’ll put them over here. Your mom says you always read these when you’re down.
    How would she . . .
    What, honey?
    Nothing. Thanks, but I don’t feel like reading.
    Oh. Well, I’ll just put them over here. By the roses, see? On top of these cards. Goodness.
    What?
    So many cards.
     

    Uncle Ben?
    Hey there, how was that shower?
    Where’s Mom?
    She had to go to work, hun. I’m going to sit with you this morning, then Karen will be over this afternoon. Okay?
    Sure.
    Uh, do you need help with that gown, that, uh . . .
    If you could just call the nurse, she’ll tie it for me.
    Right.
    (Later)
    You know, Jane, I have a friend who was struck by lightning. Burned all the skin on the left side of his body. He lost his hearing and was disfigured for life.
    Really.
    Yep. But you know, he never lost his faith in God? Never questioned why that happened to him and not someone else. Can you imagine?
    No.
    (Long pause.)
    I’ve been asking God about this, Jane. And I think as bad as it is, we have to remember how close you came to death. I don’t know why this happened, but I believe in my heart that God saved your life that day.
    (Pause.)
    You think I’m full of baloney, don’t you?
    No! I just . . . I don’t know. It’s hard to feel grateful.
    I understand.
    (Pause.)
    Oh, Lord, I didn’t mean to make you cry, Janie.
    I’m sorry. It’s just that my arm hurts today. It hurts so much.
    Should I get the nurse? Will they give you something?
    They already did. I have to wait now until my next shot.
    Come here. Oh, honey, come here and let me hold you. It’s okay. You cry on me as much as you want, all right? Just cry on your uncle Ben.
    I feel so stupid.
    Why? Jane, don’t even say that. If I were in your shoes, I’d be crying, too. Don’t you know how brave you’ve been? You have a lot to cry about, and don’t ever apologize for it. It’s part of healing. The tears wash away the pain.
    I remember you telling me that when I was little. That time I fell down off my bike and broke my finger.
    Oh, yes, I remember that. Such a tough little thing you were. Just like your mother.
    Really?
    Oh, yes. She was so stubborn when she was your age. Like you are now. But you know something? Her stubbornness has done her good. I thought she’d die of grief when your father passed away, but she just dug in her heels and refused to give up. Went back to school, finished her degree, got a good paying job to support you and your brother.
    Yeah . . .
    And your stubbornness is going to pay off for you, too. Something like this, losing your arm, honey, that’s enough to make some people lie down and die. But not you. That’s not going to happen to you.
    I’m never going to draw again, Uncle Ben. Not well, anyway.
    (Pause.) You will, too. When you’re ready, you will. You have a gift too special to give up on.
    It won’t be the same.
    I know.
    Nothing is ever going to be the same.
    It’s all right.