The next day Atley kept sent his mother out of the room on several little errands. Whenever she was away he'd say my name over and over, over and over, after a while I got annoyed, "Why do you keep saying my name,"

"I like it...I like you," he said happy. "I like Amina!"

"Will you be quiet, you're mother will hear us…."

"Why can't you talk when she's here,"

"She told me not to,"

"Why not,"

"Just stop,"

"No,"

Mrs. Kessle came back and I read for another hour before he thought of something else to send her out with. She got up and left and I decided to rest my voice some. I was also getting sick of reading. I looked out the window wished I was with my friends playing stick ball or fishing at the river. On my way to the house I saw Chuck and the others carrying their rods. I didn't have one of my own, maybe I would ask for a rod to be my present.

"Amina...Amina…"

"Stop talking to me," I spat.

Ately began to cry. I knew it would make Mrs. Kessle come running "Don't do that, don't cry"

"Then don't go," he said

"I'm right here."

"I don't like it when you go away," he said sadly.

"I haven't gone anywhere, see..."I bit my lip realizing he couldn't. I got up and went to him, "Here I am," I reached out and grasped hold of his hand, without a second thought.

He gasped, twitching suddenly. He seemed frightened, his hand felt as cold as the ice. I pulled my hand back but he quickly snatched hold of it. He held it so tight, like he was afraid it would disappear. He brought my hand up to his nose and smelled it.

I laughed, "You're weird."

He licked it and I cried, "EWW gross,"

He smiled and then rubbed my hand against his cheek, "You're so soft and your hand is so so small,"

"Hey...your hand isn't much bigger," I chimed.

"Hmm," he said running his fingers over my fingers.

Just then Mrs. Kessle came back in, with a bowl of peas and screamed. You would have thought the house was on fire. She dropped the bowl and it shattered sending green peas and glass everywhere. She rushed up to me and slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground, "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HIM WITH YOUR FILTHY HANDS,"

I held my cheeks and began to sob but it was nothing compared to Ately voice. I knew he could scream but this was the loudest he'd ever been. He began to flail about searching around him with his hands. Mrs. Kessle rushed to him. She grasped hold of his arms and then wrapped her arms around him in a hug,"It's okay, mommy is here,"

"NO! NO! NO! NOOOOO!" Ately just kept screaming. He pushed and slapped and hit her. He even dug his teeth into her.

Mrs. Kessle screamed and calling out, "Dr. STAYLE COME QUICK. HE'S HAVING AN ATTACK!"

Altely just kept frantically screaming, "WHERE ARE YOU! AMINA, AMINA! WHERE IS AMINA!"

He fought Mrs. Kessle so hard, he nearly fell out of bed. She fought with him, struggling to keep him still. His face was turning colors as he just kept screaming my name. Mrs. Kessle glared at me like never ever before as she tried to sooth him "STOP ATLEY! YOU'LL FALL! YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF!

"AMINA! AMINA! AMINA! AMINA!"

"Dr. STAYLE! DR. STAYLE!"

I just sat there watching them both screaming and fighting one another. There was so much noise. I help my face it hurt but I just wanted them to stop. I grasped hold of Atley's reaching hands and cried out, "HERE I AM! NOW STOP IT! STOP IT!"

Ately stopped crying, he rushed his hands over mine, grasping hold them so frantically he held on tightly even tighter then before it began to hurt. I tried to pull my hand back fearing he'd crush it but he kept kept squeezing. I pulled harder and he moved, reaching he grasped my arm and then pulled me to him. "LET GO," I cried, "YOU'RE HURTING ME!"

But he wouldn't, he just held tight to my arm, pulling. His mother tried to protest, to stop but he was too determined, it was like he was holding on for dear life. He pulled me so hard that I eventually fell forward and into him. He paused then trembling when he discovered there was more of me then just my hands and arms.

His hands moved frantically, messing up my hair, pulling at my braids. He ran his hands over my face and ears and cackled."YOU...YOU'RE LIKE ME!

It was like, he'd never touched another child and I realized, he hadn't. Up until now he'd probably only touched his mother, doctor and the maid. He seemed bemused, over the moon that there was someone his size. He kept running him hands over my face, when he poked my eyes, I had enough.

"That hurts, don't do that."

"Don't do what." He did it again, "This,"

"Stop it!" I pulled away and he grasped hold of my hair, "No, don't go stay, stay!"

"Only if you let go of me. You can hold my hand," I said giving him my hand. He held onto it and seemed content.

The doctor finally came rushing into the room a moment later. Mrs. Kessle glared at him like she glared at me. I saw the doctor put some liquid on a rag and then bring it over. She put it to Ately's face. He seemed to know what it was and didn't want it. He let go of me trying to fight it, after a second or two he went limp all over and appeared to be instantly asleep, at least I think he was.

His eyes were still open, so close to him, I was able to really take his eyes in, for the first time. They were so a light but vivid blue...they were also cloudy, he seemed to be missing the black part of his eyes that was suppose to be in the center. His eyes reminded me of marbles more then eyes. Mrs. Kessle quickly ran her hands over them shutting them.

She struggled to move Atley to the center of the bed and tucked him in. Once she was on her feet she shook her head, "Do yo see how you up set him yet again. I warned you...I warned you."

"He thought I had gone. I was just showing him I was here,"

"I told you reading, nothing more. I was very clear" I was sure she was going to be mad or upset but instead she just sighed. She looked sad, exhausted even as she moved over to a rocking chair in the corner. "My poor poor boy what am I going to do."

I looked at her wondering what I should do. After a minute she waved her hand and said, "Go...you're done for the day."

I nodded and thought the Mr. Stayle would take me home but he didn't look so good. He seemed ill if you asked me. He was breathing heavily and had to lean up against the wall for support. I just let myself out and figured I could walk home.

When I stepped outside the iron gate, I realize how early it still was. I wondered if I should go home just yet or wait. I knew if I came home too early, my mother would want to know what had happened. I didn't really know what had just happened...Everything had happened so fast...I kept seeing Atley reaching out, screaming and then going limp. I decided not to go home just yet. Instead I walked across the empty field and went to the river.

Chuck, Carry and Andrew were there with the new boy, who I learned was Randy, they were all fishing with their poles and laughing. When they saw me approaching they began to whisper about me. I decided to put a stop to this, once and for all. Even thought I was in my dress, some sacrifices had to be made to set things straight.

I got a running start and threw myself at Chuck. I was still angry for him not believing me. I hit him dead on and we both tumbled to the ground from there, I slapped and punched him. Chuck roared out and hit right back, we wrestled then rolling and tossing in the mud. The other boys cheered Chuck on but in the end I won. I might have been a girl but I wasn't no push over.

"I give up, I give up," Chuck screamed as I twisted his arm behind his head.

"I win," I said.

"You win," he said.

I let go but he still had some fight left in him. He sat up and grabbed a big wad of mud. He threw it in my face. It was a bit hard to see but I grabbed two handfuls of mud and smashed them on the side of his head. The others were laughing then and Chuck whined, "Mom's gonna kill me, she told me not to get dirty,"

I laughed, "You think you're dead I'm in my only dress,"

"You're super dead," said Chuck.

"We'll be buried together," I joked.

"You two are weird," said Randy.

"They always like that," said Carry. He offered out a hand and I took it.

Chuck got up on his own but I took his fishing rod before he could. I started fishing and with it and we all started chatting. I was a little afraid they might task me about Atley but they didn't instead they caught me up on Stick Ball. The Fillo brothers were up to no good again. Apparently one of them had an extra ball on him and used it to try and get Carry out, saying the other ball wasn't the real one. I mostly just listened and fished. I didn't feel like talking too much. I didn't feel like much of anything still thinking about Atley.

I caught a fish but it was too small so I had to throw it back. When it started getting late, we all walked back. The others ran past the Kessle Estate but I didn't feel the need to anymore...I wasn't afraid of Atley, not anymore. The others all rushed on ahead, but Chuck came back for me. He claimed it was cause I was holding his fishing rode but I had a feeling it wasn't. I could tell he was still scared looking all around us as we walked but he still stayed next to me.

I went to his house for supper cause I guess we were friends now. Not best friends mind you but I suppose I'd let him hang around. I helped chucked clean the fish he caught. I knew when he went fishing it weren't for fun. I know the others fished for fun but Chuck fished so they'd have something to eat. The end of the month was always tight for them.

Chuck's dad died when we was really little, I don't remember much about him all I knew was he was a fisherman and one day he went out and there was a storm and his boat didn't come back. Now it was just his mom, him and his two little sisters, Dora and Nora. They were twins, I thought it was weird to rhyme kids names. I once told Chuck if I ever had kids their names weren't gonna rhyme. Chuck thought it was funny that I would ever have kids. He didn't think of me as a girl. I suppose I didn't either most days.

I set the table while Chuck cooked up the fish, he was really good at it to. He knew how to use the stove and add spices. Mother still wouldn't let me even touch the stove. I kind of wish he'd show me how to use it but I was still sore at Chuck for being mean so I didn't ask.

When he was finished he called his sisters to come eat and we all sat at the table and ate. Chuck saved some fish for his mom and then cleaned up. I didn't like doing the dishes so I just sat at the kitchen table. I don't know why but I started telling him about Ately...I told him how he was blind and acted more like a baby then a kid. I admitted he wasn't like us after all and that seemed to make Chuck happy. He wanted to know what I had been up, if I was still reading to him. I didn't really feel like talking any more about it so instead I asked if I could play with Chuck's truck.

I could tell he didn't really want to let me but in the end he said yes. I quickly ran to get it. It was pretty cool truck. His grandmother had gotten it for him, you could take it apart with tools and put it back together. While he finished up the dishes he sat on the floor with me and we both played with it. It was pretty fun, I like how I didn't think when I was taking it apart or putting it back together. I though maybe I'd ask my parents for a truck of my own instead of a fishing rod.

When Chuck's mom got home she looked tired. She was too tried to notice Chuck and me were muddy though the mud had mostly turned to dirt. She worked as a waitress down at Kattie Diner. She dragged her feet and hung up her purse and coat. She sat on the couch and Chuck bough her some fish. The phone rang and he answered it. It was my mother she was looking for me and said I needed to come home, right now.

I didn't really want to go right away, I dragged my feet some. I put the truck back together before I set out. It was dark outside by then and a little eerie but Chuck came with me. His mom didn't like the idea of me walking home alone, even if it was a few blocks. We raced most the way. When I got home, I notice the Kessle carriage outside my house. I wondered what now. Chuck ran off and I went inside to find Mrs. Kessle was in my house, sitting on my couch, drinking out of one of our cups.

It was so weird to see her here. She didn't look happy, she looked even more unhappy when she saw me. She looked me up and down and shook her head, "This is what I'm talking about."

My mother frowned and my father asked me what I had been doing. I told him I went fishing with the boys. Mrs. Kessle turned her nose up and clicked her tongue while dad told me not to play in the mud no more. Before I could tell him I wasn't playing I was fighting, mother came over and marched me up stairs.

I asked why Mrs. Kessle was here but she didn't want to take she just made me a bath and told me from now on I had to be cleaner. She told me I was gonna have to take a bath every day. I hated bath's, she knew I hated bath. I knew this had to be Mrs. Kessles doing. I was sure of it.

I was upset but I took my bath and then got ready for bed. When I came downstairs I thought Mrs. Kessle would still be there but she was gone. Mother told me Mrs. Kessle would be back in the morning for me, that we would be running some special errands, just me and her. I didn't know what she meant but I didn't like it. Father was quiet he just kept looking at something on the table.

I told him I knew what I wanted I asked if I could have the truck you put together and take apart. I knew they weren't cheap but Father said I could have it, he'd even make it a fire engine. I knew Chuck was going to be so jealous his was only an old blue truck. I couldn't wait to get it and show it to him. Stew wanted something to but only asked for a top he could spin.

The next morning Mrs. Kessle showed up bright and early. I ate breakfast and then she took me too a store, downtown. I'd been to the store before but not down town. I usually went to the market and supplies store. This store however had clothes and other things I wasn't used to seeing. As soon as we walked in there was someone there to greet us.

Mrs. Kessle looked at various books and bought me all new dresses, gloves, hats and shoes. She had them take my measurements and then we went to another place I'd never been. They sat me in a chair and cut my hair. When they were done I looked like one of the baby dolls Barbra Anette was always carrying around. I hated dolls but Mrs. Kessle said she wouldn't have her Ately getting dirty.

From now on I needed to be a proper little girl, no more tomfoolery. I wondered who this Tom Fooly was and what he had to do with me. She got me a brush and then made sure I knew how to use it. She also taught me how to clean under my finger nails and said I'd have to do it every day. It was not a fun morning and in the afternoon I still had Atley.

He wouldn't settle down for reading any more. He wanted to hold my hand and talk.

I told him I got a hair cut and dresses. He wanted to feel my hair and then ran his hands over my nose and stuck his finger in it. I whined that it was gross.

Mrs. Kessle pipped in and reminded him of manners. Ately just touched my hand after that and we just talked. It was mostly Ately asking a lot of questions. He wanted to know where I went when I wasn't there. I told him I went home and he didn't like that he wanted me to stop doing that and just stay with him. I told him I couldn't stay that I needed to go home to my own bed and my family.

He knew what a mother was but didn't really understand about fathers, brothers and sisters. His mother would pipe in every now and then trying to explain but I could see he was confused a lot. I realized not only could he not see but he didn't know much beyond this room. I realized he probably never been outside and I wondered what he did all day and what he and his mother talked about. As far as I could see she made him sit and stay quiet. She'd read to him but I don't think he understood a lot of what he was hearing.

Most of the stuff he knew was just him repeating things. After a while I mostly just talked and he listened. I told him about the truck I was going to get and that it was going to be a fire engine. I tried to describe it and colors to him. He seemed more and more lost and started to get cranky like a baby who needed a nap. I got to go home early cause he eventually went to sleep. I think it was just a lot for him.

Sometimes my brother would run around shouting and scream and then just pass out on the floor. It was funny. When I got home I found my truck was already there. Father and Mother had gone shopping as well and I saw that we got a new fridge and a stove. Mother said we were getting a new couch as well but it would take time to come in.

I wondered how much Mrs Kessle had paid this time but I didn't ask instead I played with my firetruck taking apart and putting it together. Stew wanted to play with it after his top got boring but it wasn't my fault he didn't know how to ask for cool things. I ended up sleeping with the truck cause he kept wanting to touch it. The day I even took it with me, when I had to see Atley.

He was still confused about what a fire truck was but I let him run his hands over it. When I took it apart and put it together I let him run his hand over mine so he could feel what I was doing. After a while I took the truck apart and put it together a few times Ately wanted to try. His mother didn't want him playing with the tools. She worried he'd hurt himself but I showed her they weren't sharp. They were meant to be for kids, they were fun not bad.

Still she protested, she didn't think Ately would be able to put it and together and would get upset. She didn't want him to get sad. At first he did struggled with it and he did get upset. When he started to whimper, Mrs Kessle wanted to take the truck away but I helped him. I took his hand and had him feel things out I had him take a wheel and then feel where it was suppose to go and what he needed to make it stay on.

I did it with him over and over again. It took him several times to get the hang of it but when he did he was so happy. I showed him how to take the wheel off then and he would take it off and put it on over and over again all by himself.

He quickly asked Mrs Kessle for his own truck then. She tried to say later but Ately said now. He wanted his own truck right now. He began to throw a fit until she got up and had Dr. Stayle got down to the store and get one.

I thought it was strange how if Atley wanted something, he just had to throw a fit and they'd jump over themselves to get it for him. I told him I bet he could get some ice cream.

Atley continued to play with the truck and didn't understand what ice cream was but he wanted to try it and asked his mother for some when she got back but she put her foot down. He started to cry but I distracted him by showing him what else he could do with the truck. He quieted down and we spent the rest of the day playing with my truck.

When he got his own, he ran his hands over it but got upset. He said it wasn't like mine. I told him it looked just like mine but he said it felt different. He took my hands and this time he showed me. I realized he was right things did feel different. I told him he could have my truck and that I would take his. That made him happy. When I left that day he was still messing with it.

When I came back again the next day, he showed me he could take it apart and put it together all by himself. Mrs Kessle seemed exhausted, apparently he'd stayed up all night playing with it. When it was time for him to eat, Mrs. Kessle fed him. Without thinking I told him if you can put a truck together I bet you can eat on your own too.

Atley didn't realize he could feed himself. He wanted me to show him how but Mrs. Kessle wouldn't even let him try. She just said he'd make a mess. After a while he just let her feed him because he was hungry. I didn't think it was fair, how was he suppose to learn.

I remember my big brother Hasley used to tie my shoes cause it was really hard. I couldn't do it and he always would but after a while he would tie them only to untie them. He got tired of doing it for me and wanted me to. I got so mad but after a few days I got the hang of it. I suppose if he kept doing it I wouldn't know how.

I thought about telling Mrs. Kessle but she looked really tired. I found out that Dr. Stayle had been sick and a few days later...he died. Atley didn't understand what that mean, I tried to tell him that it meant someone went away and never came back. After he understood though he got really upset when it was time for me to leave. He wanted me to stay. Mrs. Kessle asked my parents if I could for a few days, that without the doctor Atley wouldn't need extra care.

My parents said yes and brought me a few things from home. I got a really big room to sleep in and a really big bed but I didn't like it. It was scary, though I didn't spend much time there. Whenever I was gone to long Atley would call out for me. I would go to him and we'd play with our trucks. We started to race each other to see who could do it faster and would you know what, he was faster then me.

Mrs. Kessle was beside herself. She would give Atley the medicine that made him pass out sometimes but knew it wasn't good to do it too much. She made a lot of calls and wrote a lot of letters, trying to find a new doctor. Apparently Dr. Stayle had been Atley's doctor since he was born.

I'd only ever been to a doctor once I wondered where my doctor was now, if they were suppose to be there when you are born. Mrs. Kessle said you only had a doctor all the time if you needed one and could afford it. Atley needed one and apparently his family was rich so they could afford it.

After about a week or so Mrs. Kessle got a special telegram back and a few days after that the new doctor came to town on the train. There was no one to pick him up so he had to come on his own. I remember looking through the window seeing a young man carrying a suit case and a cane. I didn't think doctors could be young.

The new doctor reminded me of my brother Hasley, well if he wasn't dead. I think he would have been around his age. Though the doctor walked with a limp, apparently one of his feets was different sizes from the other. He introduced himself to us Dr. Everett Neevis.