9
HECTOR

I don’t like too many people.

From the branches of the old oak, Bird watched as Randy carried out his bags and loaded them into the trunk of his car. Every once in a while, he stole a sad glance at Eva, who stood in the shade of the tree with Stuart. Randy didn’t deserve this, thought Bird. He had his faults but he seemed a decent fellow, underneath the bravado. Bird hoped that he’d find somone who’d be nicer to him.

Through the front window of the house, Bird could see her grandfather. He was watching Eva, she thought, but there was something else — something very focused about his gaze. Bird looked into the pasture below. Sunny grazed peacefully, completely unaware of all the turmoil. Lucky guy. Bird looked down to where Eva and Stuart had been standing. They were gone, making their way up the path toward the house.

When Bird turned back to face the window, Kennth Bradley had a cell phone pressed to his ear. Bird didn’t like his intensity one bit. Something was wrong here, she just couldn’t figure out what it was.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the slamming of the car door. Bird watched as Randy walked around to the driver’s door. With one last look at Eva, he got into his car and started the engine. Too late, Bird noticed the patch of yellow — still dressed in Burberry — asleep on the driveway.

No no no no no! Hector! Wake up! Move! Bird slithered down the tree in record time and rushed toward the car. Hector!

Hector didn’t move; he was too soundly asleep to hear her thoughts.

“Arrrrgh!” Bird screamed through dormant vocal chords. “Raaaaa!” She tried her hardest, but the noise that came out of her mouth was not loud enough for either Hector or Randy to hear above the engine noise. Waving her arms, she tried again. “Raaaagh!” It was no use.

Inside the house, Paul was carving the turkey. The remaining guests had just taken their places at the table when a horrible mix of howls and screams and screeching of brakes erupted on the driveway. After a stunned moment of shock, everyone stumbled out of their chairs and went running to see what had happened. Hannah shot out the front door first, followed by Paul.

Bird was under Randy’s car, and Randy was yelling for help. Eva was screaming and trying to reach Bird, but Stuart was holding her back.

Hector lay under the back wheels. Blood dripped out of his nose and mouth as Bird gently stroked his head. His tail thumped slowly. He whined softly, eyes full of pain and love.

Stay with me, girl. Please.

I won’t leave. I’m sorry, Hector. I was too late. The car moved.

Are you hurting?

All over. The car moved backwards.

I love you, Hector. I always will.

I love you, girl. Goodbye. Say goodbye to Hannah. Goodbye, Hector, my old friend.

The old yellow dog jerked his head up, stiffened his legs, then dropped down limp. Bird swallowed. He was gone. She silently backed away, and sadly climbed back up the oak tree to her perch.

As she passed her mother, Eva reached out as if to stop her. Hannah’s voice cut through the silence. “Let her go, Eva. She needs her space.”

“Please give me room to work,” ordered Paul. “Hannah, bring my truck over here and back it in as close as you can.” He threw her the keys.

“I didn’t see him!” exclaimed Randy sorrowfully. “He must’ve been sleeping under the car. I’m so sorry.”

Everyone made way for Hannah as she navigated Paul’s truck. Paul opened the tailgate where he kept his medical supplies, and began to prepare.

“Randy,” said Paul. “Please drive your car forward. I need some room.”

Randy obliged. His eyes looked hollow.

Kenneth strode over to Hannah as she stood silently beside Paul’s truck. “Hannah, I’ll take my leave. There’s no sense crowding the place up at a time like this.”

Hannah nodded blankly.

“Lemon pie, face the facts, the dinner’s over. But I’d like to take a doggy bag if I may.”

Bird stared down at her grandfather in shock. Could he really be that insensitive?

Hannah was too tired to argue. “Sure. No problem. The food’ll go to waste if someone doesn’t eat it.”

Kenneth was pleased. “Eva! Come here sugar pie.” Eva came running like a child. “Yes, Daddy?”

“Get your Daddy some takeout dinner, will you? And don’t be stingy. I have a healthy appetite.”

“I know that, Daddy!” Eva ran into the house, eager to do his bidding.

Bird watched. Her fists were clenched with tension as she looked at the chaotic scene below. I did this, she told herself. I’m to blame for Hector’s death. He wouldn’t be dead if Randy had stayed for dinner. If I hadn’t ruined his coat. If I talked. She watched as Paul worked on Hector. She knew it was hopeless.

And for what? I wanted to make pink look ridiculous. I wanted to pay Randy back for what he said about Hector. I wanted my mother to notice me. But I wrecked everything. Now Eva will hate me for driving Randy away. And Alec for sure thinks I’m crazy, which I most likely am. The worst thing is that Hector — my sweet, kind, wise Hector — is dead.

Bird balled up her fists and ground her teeth. Tears fell unhindered. Why, why, why do I do these things?

When she opened her eyes she saw Alec kneeling beside Hector. He looked so sad. Bird watched as he slowly and carefully removed the dog-coat. She was touched by the tenderness he showed.

Sunny nickered from below her tree. Bird looked down at him. He was looking up at her. That’s odd, Bird thought. Most horses don’t look up. She nickered back, then climbed silently down the tree and over the fence.

I have something to say. Just now, the Tall Man came here.

What Tall Man?

The Tall Man from the other barn.

Where you came from?

Yes. From there.

What did he do?

He watched me from his car. For a small time. Then he left.

He watched you? Bird remembered her grandfather, standing at the window with the cellphone to his ear.

Only that. But I don’t like him, Bird girl. He doesn’t like me.

Don’t worry, Sunny. I’ll watch out for him.

Bird looked over to the driveway. Her grandfather was gone now, and most of the other guests were taking their leave. Dr. Daniels and Alec were covering Hector’s body with a sheet.

Kimberly held Julia’s hand protectively. Stuart stood with Eva while Randy sat dejected on the steps. Silently, Bird crept closer. She wanted to be near Hector’s body, but she didn’t want anyone to talk to her.

“Thanks for trying, Paul,” said Hannah, looking down at Hector lovingly. Tears glistened on her cheeks.

“He died quickly,” said Paul.

“He was a great dog,” Hannah murmured.

“The best,” nodded Kimberly.

“The very best,” agreed Julia. “Even though I just met him.”

Randy stood and brushed the dust off his pants. “I’m sorry, >Hannah,” he said, without meeting her gaze. “I never meant for this to happen.”

Hannah nodded and walked him toward his car.

It wasn’t your fault. Bird watched him drive away. This was my doing. She looked again at the sheet that covered Hector. Me.

“I think this would be a fitting time for the funeral,” said Paul to those who remained. “Don’t you?”

Hannah nodded sadly as she rejoined the group. “We have the mourners assembled.”

“And even the funeral feast,” added Paul. “We just have to choose the place to bury him.”

Bird knew just the place, and she knew that Hannah would, too. Close to the barn, under the sugar maple and on a slightly higher elevation than the house. Here was the place Hector chose to nap when Hannah wasn’t home. From here he kept an eye on the farm and was the first to know when her truck pulled into the lane.

Shortly, the hole for Hector’s body was dug. Hannah, Alec, Julia, Eva, and Kimberly stood quietly by the grave, and watched while Paul and Stuart gently carried Hector from the driveway and respectfully placed him at the bottom.

Paul and Stuart took turns throwing in shovels of dirt.

Cody arrived for the funeral. He’d come to honour the life of a good dog. Alone, the small coyote sat in the bushes behind the people.

Suddenly, they all heard the steady thud of hoofbeats coming fast.

Everyone turned to look.

From the front field, Bird came galloping bareback on Sundancer. He came to a full stop at the grave. Sunny dropped his front hooves lightly on the ground, bowing deeply to Hector. Bird slid off Sunny’s back and knelt at the lip of Hector’s grave. Tears of grief streaked the pink paint on her face. She thumped her head on the ground. She howled like a wolf. Then, exhausted, Bird fell in a heap and curled herself into the fetal position.

Sunny stretched his neck down and gently nudged her. He sniffed her face, and walked his lips over her scalp to comfort her.

Hannah knelt beside Bird and stroked her sticky pink hair. She spoke soothingly. “Bird, my darling Bird. It was awful, what happened. But Hector died quickly. He had a wonderful life here with us.” Bird sobbed. She was inconsolable. Hannah tried again. “He loved you, Bird. You know that. And you were the last person he saw. I know he was happy that you were there.”

Bird rolled over and stared up into the sky. “Sor … ry … Hec … tor,” she croaked, her chest heaving.

Hannah put her arms around her to try to control the shaking. She cried along with Bird. “It’s not your fault, Bird! Oh, no, Bird. It was an accident.”

Cody disappeared as silently as he had arrived.

Slowly the group made their way to the house for the remains of the neglected dinner. Hannah held Bird close. Once inside, Julia and Kimberly sat with Bird at the table with their arms entwined.

Hannah bowed her head. “Please bless this food and welcome Hector into Heaven, as all creatures have a place in Your House.”

“Amen.”

Julia spoke. “And it wasn’t Bird’s fault, and Randy didn’t mean to drive over him, and please know that Hector was a good dog, and faithful.”

“Amen.”

Bird looked at her little sister with eyes full of tears and gratitude. Alec watched the emotional scene. “You’re right, Julia. It wasn’t Bird’s fault. Or Randy’s. It just happened. And it sucks.” He looked tentatively at Bird. She glanced up from her plate for a split second, then put her head down again. She didn’t know how to react.

BY THE TIME DINNER was over, the sun had almost set, casting a rosy glow over the farm. Out on the driveway, Bird, Julia, Alec, and Kimberly solemnly built a little tent of wood over Hector’s coat. Bird didn’t want to see the coat ever again. It made her unbearably sad about Hector and reminded her of all the trouble she’d caused. She snuck in the back door and got some matches out of the mud room without disturbing the adults. Now, the pyre prepared, she struck a match and bent down to light it.

“Wait!” commanded Julia. Bird blew out the match. “I have something else to burn.” She ran into the house and up the stairs. Two minutes later Julia reappeared with her arms overflowing with pink fabric.

“What are you doing?” gasped Kimberly. “Those are all your clothes!”

“I know. I’m going to burn them.”

“Are you crazy? Your mom’ll kill you!”

“I don’t care. I hate them. I’ll never wear them again. Ever!”

“She’s doing the right thing,” said Alec. “Those are horrible.”

Bird grabbed bundles of frilly pink clothes and helped Julia stuff them under the wood while Alec ran to get more kindling. Bird winked at her sister and gave her the thumbs-up.

When everyone was ready, Bird struck another match and handed it carefully to Julia. She let her little sister light the pink pile.

In seconds the fire was roaring. They all took turns throwing more pink clothes onto the fire. Pink socks, pink skirts, pink tops, pink sweaters, pink dresses, pink tights. With each additional piece of clothing, they whooped louder. By the time all the clothes were burning, the three girls were dancing and jumping with joy around the leaping flames while Alec stamped and clapped.

From the kitchen window where she was washing dishes, Hannah noticed the flames. “Paul! There’s a fire! Outside on the driveway.” Without a word, Paul grabbed the fire extinguisher from the mud room wall and headed outside. Hannah was close behind.

They stopped in mid-step at the sight of the three girls leaping around the fire holding hands.

“What’s going on!” yelled a woman’s voice from the dark. Kimberly and Alec jumped back and froze in terror, but Eva’s daughters kept on dancing.

“We’re burning my clothes, Mommy!” answered Julia. “I hate pink! I hate pink! I hate pink!”

“Julia! Bird! Go to your room. Now!” Eva appeared in the light, her face furious, made more horrible by the glow of the flames.

Stuart appeared beside her in the fiery light. “Eva, relax. They’re only clothes.”

“Only clothes! Expensive clothes!”

“Eva, clothes can be replaced. You should look at the motive here.”

Right you are! thought Bird, as she continued her crazy dance. “What do you mean, motive?”

“The reason she’s burning them.”

“Those were beautiful clothes! They were exactly like mine!”

“Those clothes were inappropriate. A child needs to look like a child.”

Bird regarded Stuart with new respect. Finally, someone was making some sense.

Not surprisingly, Eva didn’t agree. Her eyes slitted. “How dare you, Stuart! Who are you to tell me how to dress my child?”

Stuart didn’t back down. “I’m a school principal.”

No longer dancing, Julia and Bird watched while Eva made her decision. It could go either way.

“All right. But we’ll need to go shopping tomorrow for ‘appropriate’ ones.”

Stuart smiled at Eva. “Good idea.”

Eva put her arm through Stuart’s and smiled back at him. “And Bird can come, too, if she wants.” Eva looked searchingly at Bird. “Bird, will you come with us to buy school clothes tomorrow?”

Bird was startled. Her mother had just spoken to her. She looked at Hannah with questioning eyes.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Hannah agreed. “I’ll come, too.”

Bird grinned and nodded. Tears sprang up unbidden, and she wiped them away. She felt extremely grateful, but uncertain, too. This was new.

“Good, then,” asserted Stuart. “I’ll pick you ladies up tomorrow morning at ten.” He shook Paul’s hand and turned to Hannah. “I’ll be on my way now. Thank you for a delicious dinner.” Stuart leaned down and regarded Bird. “Bird, I’m very sorry about your dog.” He gently ruffled her pink hair. “Good night Kimberly, good night Julia, Alec, Eva.” Stuart fished his keys from his pocket and got into his car.

“We’d best be going, too,” said Paul with a quick glance at his son. “It’s been a long evening and I’m sure we could all use a little quiet.”

Bird and Alec smiled their goodbyes. As the vet’s truck rumbled down the driveway, Bird’s eyes rested on the remains of the fire. A little quiet would be good.

Kimberly had brought a movie with her, and the girls settled in front of the television to watch. Hannah and Eva stayed a few minutes, then headed for the kitchen. Bird watched them go. This was going to be interesting, Bird thought. The two sisters had a lot to talk about, and Bird wasn’t about to miss it. She silently relocated herself to the coat closet by the kitchen door. Perfect.

She heard a pleasant gurgle as liquid hit glass. “Pour one for me, Eva?” asked Hannah.

“Going to join me? I’m so glad.” More gurgles. “You look awful, Hannah. I’m the one who lost a fiancé tonight.”

It was the wrong thing to say, and Bird could tell by sound of chair legs scraping on the floor that Hannah was preparing to leave.

“Where are you going? I thought you were going to join me?”

“Eva. I had a tough night, too. Aside from the disastrous dinner and the drama with Randy, I lost the most terrific, wonderful dog I can imagine. If I look awful, there are reasons.”

“Hannah, you’re right. Please, can we talk?” Eva sounded sincere.

“Okay,” said Hannah with a sigh. “You first.”

“I want to get to know Bird. How do I do that?”

In the closet, Bird leaned forward, pressing her ear to the crack in the door.

“She’s worth getting to know, that’s for sure,” answered Hannah. “But it’s not going to be easy. She has a lot of defenses. That you’re taking an interest is the first thing.”

“And what’s the second?”

“She needs to know you love her.”

“Of course I love her!”

“You left her with me two years ago, remember? Then you told Randy that I’m her mother. Do you think she’s getting some kind of message?”

Loud and clear, thought Bird.

“I see how it looks. But I call. And I send her birthday cards and clothes.”

“You don’t honestly think that’s enough? Spend time with her. Take her places. Get to know her. Think about her. Be her mother.”

“But how, Hannah? She doesn’t talk.”

“She communicates in other ways, Eva. And there must be a reason why she doesn’t talk.”

“Are you blaming me? Because if you are, then ...” Eva stopped herself, and for a moment the kitchen was quiet. When she spoke again, her voice was different. Calm, thought Bird. Focused.

“Number one: I want to be Bird’s mother and I need your help. She relates to you. Number two: I want to be a good mother to Julia, as well. I can tell she’s losing respect for me, like Bird did. Number three: I want this thing with Stuart to work out. He’s the one, I just know it.” A little self-conscious laugh erupted from Eva’s throat. “I realize how it looks — Randy is gone for one minute, and I latch onto Stuart — but Hannah, he’s the best man I’ve ever met. Ever.” She paused again, catching her breath. “I know how to catch a man, but I don’t know how to keep one. And I know if this works out, my whole life will be better, and my girls’ lives will be better, and I can make Stuart’s life better. But I don’t know how! I need your help.”

Bird was intrigued. Did this mean that Eva was thinking of staying? Was she serious enough about her wishes to change her life? A flicker of hope burned in Bird’s chest as she allowed herself to imagine a life that included her mother and her sister. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Hannah was saying, “I can try to help you with your kids, Eva, but if you think I know anything about men and relationships, then you’re sadly mistaken.”

“Men respect you, Hannah. They want to be around you. You’re a friend and a real person to them. I don’t know how you do that.”

“Eva, you’re the one with all the boyfriends.”

“I can flirt. That’s all I know how to do. I need your help, Hannah. Can you give it to me?”

Bird crawled out of the closet and peered around the kitchen door.

Hannah was leaning across the table to hug her sister. “Of course. If I can. But you have to help me, too.”

“What help can I give you? I only know how to screw up my life.”

Hannah smiled conspiratorially. “You can teach me how to flirt.”

Bird sat back on her heels. Hannah wanted to flirt?

“Why, Hannah! It’s Paul, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And I have no idea what to do.”

Bird remembered the uncomfortable scene at the door a few days earlier. So Hannah did like Dr. Daniels after all!

“I can teach you,” Eva was saying. “But Julia and I have to be here to do it.”

Hannah smiled and took her hand. “Deal.”