Small as an Elephant - Jennifer Richard Jacobson [61]
“You always looked so small in that great big bed.”
Jack looked at the ground and rocked from side to side. “Will that . . . will that bed be —?” He couldn’t bring himself to ask the question.
Gram seemed to read his mind. “Will that bed be yours now? Is that what you were going to ask?”
Jack nodded.
“If it fits,” said Gram.
Jack looked up at her, not sure what she meant.
“I was actually thinking I might sell the big house in Cambridge, move to a smaller one in Jamaica Plain. You could stay with me and still attend the same school — with Nina! Goodness, Nina — she’s worried sick about you, you know.”
Nina. He was surprised to find that thinking about her no longer made him angry. He could see now that she’d done what she thought was best — what probably was best. And a part of him was actually looking forward to seeing her again. He could hear her voice, egging him on to tell her about all of his crazy adventures: Once upon a time . . .
“And as your mom gets better,” said Gram. “Well, then, you’d have two homes to go to.”
Jack felt light-headed with hope. “Mom will be allowed to come home?”
“Well, she will probably have to stay in the hospital for a time —”
“Not jail?” breathed Jack.
“Oh, no! You mother wasn’t in her right mind, Jack. She needs a place where they can help her get better. Get better and stay better. Stay better for you.”
Jack fought back tears. He wouldn’t cry again, not about something happy. Instead, he hugged his grandmother, gripping her as tight as he dared. When he finally let go, he saw Big Jack approaching. He ran to greet him. Gram followed.
“This is Big Jack. He brought me here.”
“Another Jack!” Gram said, taking hold of Big Jack’s arm. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was my pleasure,” said Big Jack. He turned to Jack. “I just called the police to let them know that you’ve been found, that you’re with your grandmother. All of the news stations will be rushing to get the story. Your life is going to be a zoo for a few days.”
Jack nodded. “Would you do me a favor?” he asked.
“Another one, kid? You’re really pushing your luck here.” But he was smiling.
Jack laughed. He pulled the elephant from his pocket. He studied it for a moment, running his fingers over its legs, its back, its ears, and, finally, its raised truck. He handed it to Big Jack. “Can you give this to a girl in Searsport? Oh, and this, too,” he said, remembering the ten-dollar bill that Wyatt had given him.
Big Jack nodded, and Jack gave him Sylvie’s name. “I don’t know her address, but if anyone can find her, it’s you. Except,” he added, “you can’t tell anyone that I sent you, or ask her anything.”
“OK,” said Big Jack, clearly confused but at least willing to go along with it. “Anything you want me to say to her?”
“Tell her . . .” Jack thought for a moment. “Tell her I got it. I got my Monopoly.”
Big Jack looked bemused. “Whatever you say, kid.”
“And, Jack?”
“Yeah, kid?”
“Tell her the elephant’s name is Mudo.”
Big Jack laughed. “You got it.”
And then Jack couldn’t help himself. He grabbed Big Jack around the middle once more and squeezed tight.
Big Jack hugged back, and when he finally let go, he said, “Someday you’re gonna be there for someone else, kid. Wait and see.”
Jack just nodded, afraid that the waterworks were going to start again.
“We’ll stay in touch,” said Gram.
“Don’t forget to say hi to Lydia,” Big Jack called as he walked away. “She’s waiting for you.”
Lydia! Jack almost forgot!
He followed Gram back to the elephant pen. It was a small wire enclosure with a wooden hut in the middle for shelter and a platform off to the left where people could climb up some steps and then slide onto the seat on Lydia’s back. Lydia was standing with her back to them. She turned as they approached, as if she’d been expecting them, and meandered closer.
Jack’s heart jumped to his throat. “She looks like she’s smiling, just like she did in her pictures,” he said.
“She looks a bit impish, doesn’t she?” asked Gram. The way she said it, Jack knew she admired impish.
Lydia