I Heard Animals' Voices novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Quiet One

"Interesting reading," said Dr. Bramhall.

She stopped three feet from Derrick and tapped the folder against her palm.

"Age nine. A school psychologist's file."

"A boy tells his teacher the class hamster has been telling him things."

"He tells his mother the neighbor's dog is afraid of the neighbor."

"He gets two weeks at a children's clinic, a lot of tests, and a very sensible plan to stop talking about it."

Derrick's face did not change.

I had never seen anyone so completely stop moving.

"Where did you get that?" he said.

"People talk," said Dr. Bramhall. "People always do, once you ask."

She turned the folder toward me.

"For two years I wondered why you never flinch when the cats roar, Derrick."

"Then a girl turns up who hears them speak, and it all clicked."

She smiled at me.

"Welcome to the family, sweetheart."

"Staff meeting is Monday," she said. "I thought everyone would like to read along."

She walked back to her car.

The sedan pulled out of the lot and its engine faded.

The sun came up behind the bear house.

I turned to Derrick.

"What was she talking about?" I said.

He didn't answer.

"The hamster," I said. "The dog. Derrick, what is that?"

"I need a minute," he said.

He walked away.

He walked fast, through the gate and down the path, past the flamingo pond.

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