Wind Dancer

by Chris Platt

  Dread washed over Ali. “His dad is probably the vet on this project. Keep walking,” she said, but she couldn’t help glancing back. Mrs. Marshall was standing right there, wringing her hands.

  Jamie was comforting the Appaloosa mare while his dad examined her. The poor horse was so filthy that it was hard to tell the difference between her leopard spots and the dirt on her coat. Jamie looked up again and this time he seemed to recognize Ali and Cara. He nodded, but the smile was missing from his face. She could tell that he was upset about the horses.

  Ali nodded back to him and kept walking. They made it another five steps before a sharp voice rang out.

  “Hey, you girls over there! Stop!” Mrs. Marshall hollered. “I think that’s them,” she said to the Animal Control officer. “Those are the girls who were in my barn last night. This is all their fault!”

  Cara dragged Ali straight down the road. “Don’t stop,” she muttered. “Don’t look back. Don’t even acknowledge that you heard her. Just keep walking. With any luck, they’ll say Mrs. Marshall is crazy.”

  Ali moved as fast as she could without making it look like she was running away. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the officers staring, but nobody tried to stop them.

  Ali and Cara walked around the corner, then broke into a run. Only after they were several streets away did they slow down.

  “Do you think they’ll come after us?” Ali shifted her backpack farther up on her shoulder while she tried to regain her breath.

  Cara looked behind them. “I don’t think so. They would have stopped us by now. Besides, who’s going to believe a nutty old lady who starves her horses?”

  They walked the next block in silence, each lost in her thoughts. “We should check with Animal Control later and see how the horses are doing,” Ali said.

  “Or we could wait and ask Jamie on the bus tomorrow.”

  “You’re incorrigible!” Ali waved goodbye and walked up her front steps. She pushed the door open, dropped her backpack in the hallway, and cut through the living room on her way to the kitchen for a snack. She stopped and stared. Danny was sitting on the couch, watching TV. She wasn’t used to seeing him out of his room.

  “What are you looking at?” He picked up the remote control and switched to the sports channel.

  “Er … nothing …,” Ali sputtered.

  Her mother had left a note on the kitchen counter saying she was getting her hair cut. Ali spied a pan of freshly baked brownies. She cut Danny an extra big piece and a smaller one for herself, then poured two glasses of milk.

  She balanced the plates on her arm, grabbed the drinks, and walked to the living room. Her hands shook as she set everything down on the coffee table.

  She took a seat on the end of the couch—not too close because Danny got restless if he felt boxed in. He gave her the stink eye, but then mumbled a barely audible “thanks” as he took a brownie. Ali smiled. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a beginning.

  She reached for her own brownie and settled back on the couch, telling herself not to get too excited. Danny had only been home for a month. With everything that had happened, it might take a while to get back into the brother-sister thing again.

  Ali picked at her brownie, eating one small piece at a time. She had to make it last so she could sit here until she worked up the nerve to start a conversation. Danny wasn’t much for talking these days—unless it was to one of his military friends still in Afghanistan, or someone he played video games with.

  “It’s a nice day outside,” she said. “Do you want me to open the curtains?”

  Danny took another huge bite and shook his head. “Nope. I like it just fine the way it is.” He turned up the volume on the TV.

  O-kaaaay…. Her heart sank a little. Nothing like talking to a brick wall. Her appetite vanished and she set the remainder of her snack on the coffee table.

  Danny must have sensed he’d upset her. “It’s all good, sis,” he said with an attempt at a smile. “I’m only going to be down here until the mailman comes. I’m waiting for some computer stuff to be delivered.”

  “Is it something cool?”

  Danny shrugged. “I ordered a new video card. The games changed a lot in the time I was gone, and I’m trying to play catch up with the rest of my online group. This card should do the trick.”

  Ali smiled and nodded. Danny lived inside of his computer these days, hiding away from the world.

  The doorbell rang and Danny sprang up without reaching for his crutches first. Ali watched in horror as her brother attempted the first step on a leg that wasn’t there. He went down hard, landing with a grunt.

  “Danny!” She ran to help, but the look in his eyes warned her she’d better not touch him.

  Danny let out a string of not-so-pretty words as he rolled onto his side and held his wounded leg. “Get the door!” he commanded. “Make sure the postman leaves that video card.”

  Video card? Danny had fallen, but the only thing that mattered to him was a stupid computer card? There was a whole lot more going on here than she knew about, and it was beginning to frighten her.

  Five

  If the postman heard the commotion, he didn’t let on. He’d left the package on the steps, and when Ali opened the door he was smiling and waving as he drove off.

  Danny was still on the floor when Ali reentered the house, but now he was sitting upright with his back against the coffee table.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” Danny scooted over to the couch and used it to pull himself up to his feet. He reached for his crutch.

  “You’re hurt.” Ali wanted to go to his side, but she didn’t dare. He didn’t want help. Kind of like Mrs. Marshall, now that she thought about it. What was it with people, anyway?

  “It’s not a big deal,” he muttered. “Sometimes I just forget …”

  “Forget what?” She sucked in a quick breath. “You forgot … that you’re missing your leg?” How could he forget something like that?

  “Quit looking like a hurt puppy, and don’t you dare cry.” Danny picked up his dirty dishes and made his way slowly to the kitchen. He turned back when he reached the doorway. “And don’t say anything to Mom and Dad about this, you hear?” His voice softened a bit. “They worry enough about me as it is.”

  Ali wanted to scream at him, It’s their job to worry about you! They’re your parents! But she didn’t.

  “Ali?” Danny gave her a hard look. “I mean it. Don’t say a word.”

  This was something her parents should know about. Why did her brother get to make all the rules?

  Ali placed her hands on her hips and stood up a little straighter. “I won’t tell Mom and Dad about this if you don’t tell them about me leaving the house last night.” She held her breath, hoping her false bravado would work.

  “And what exactly was it you were doing?”

  Ali tried to stand even taller, but she had reached the top of her five-foot, zero inches height. “Nothing,” she said, using her own brother’s word as she tried to keep her voice from shaking.

  A hint of a smile touched Danny’s lips. “Deal,” he said, and hobbled into the kitchen.

  She let out the breath she’d been holding and mentally patted herself on the back. This was the first time she’d ever stood up to Danny. It hadn’t been as hard as she’d thought it would be.

  She put a little swagger in her step as she climbed the stairs to her room, but she promised herself: no more crazy adventures.

  Ali was almost done with her English paper when she heard her father’s heavy footsteps on the stairs. He rarely ever came upstairs. Was he coming to visit her or Danny? She laid her laptop on the bed and sat up a little straighter, tuning into the sounds in the hall. The footfalls passed her bedroom and a second later, she heard a loud rap on Danny’s door.

  “Danny?”

  After a slight delay, her brother responded. “Yes, sir?”

  “Dinner will be ready in five m
inutes,” her dad said. “I expect you to be at the table tonight.”

  “I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.”

  Ali got off her bed and tiptoed to the door, placing her ear against the wood.

  “That wasn’t a request,” her dad said. “It’s an order. We’ll see you at the table in five minutes.”

  An order? It sounded like her dad and brother were in a showdown. Who would win? Ali’s bet was on Danny.

  The footsteps came her way and she scrambled back to the bed. She’d barely gotten herself settled when her father knocked lightly, then opened her door. Ali tried to look nonchalant, but she could tell her dad knew she’d been listening.

  “I’m sure you heard,” he said. “Dinner is in five minutes.”

  Ali turned off her laptop. This was getting interesting. On her way down the stairs, she remembered her deal with Danny: neither of them would tell their parents about last night. Her insides went a little wonky. She hoped he would keep his side of the bargain.

  She took her seat at the dinner table. Danny appeared a minute later. She wondered how he must feel to be grown up enough to go fight a war, yet be ordered to the dinner table like a little kid.

  Her mother said a quick blessing and everyone dug in. Ali took a couple of pieces of chicken and some brussels sprouts—green balls of death, Danny called them—and filled the rest of her plate with mashed potatoes.

  “So, we just hired some new workers that I’m expected to train,” her father began. He loaded his plate with several pieces of chicken and some potatoes, skipping the brussels sprouts. “I just hope I’m not training my replacement.”

  Ali’s mom handed her the butter. “I’m sure you aren’t, John. They wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

  Their dad turned to Danny. “How was your day?”

  “Fine,” Danny grunted through a mouthful of chicken.

  Her mother changed the subject. “I hear Animal Control took those poor horses away from old Mrs. Marshall today.”

  Ali tried hard not to choke. She looked at Danny, but he just shrugged. He had no way of knowing where she’d gone anyway.

  “I heard too. And Russell said the horses are in pretty bad shape,” her father continued.

  Ali pushed the brussels sprouts around on her plate. She’d forgotten her father’s friend worked for Animal Control. Her appetite was suddenly gone.

  “Apparently Mrs. Marshall says two girls broke into her barn last night,” her father said. “And she saw them again today in the crowd at her house.”

  Uh-oh. Ali swallowed hard. A piece of chicken lodged in her throat and refused to go down.

  “Do you think it was somebody you know, Allison?”

  He had used her given name—did he suspect her? If Russell was there today, then he probably saw her and Cara. So much for the idea that no one would believe Mrs. Marshall.

  Her family’s eyes were all on her. Ali thought about lying. Surely they’d believe her over Mrs. Marshall? She fidgeted with the silverware while trying to make up her mind. If she told the truth, she was in a lot of trouble. But could she lie to her parents?

  Ali looked her father straight in the eye. “Last night Cara and I snuck out to check on the horses. We just wanted to see if they were okay. They looked really horrible the last time we saw them.” She dropped her eyes to her plate and waited for her punishment.

  “And was it also you who called Animal Control?” her mother asked.

  Ali nodded.

  Her father drummed his fingers on the table. “Well, I’m a little befuddled about what to do here,” he said as he glanced at his wife. “On one hand, you knowingly went against our rules by sneaking out of the house. You put yourself in potential danger.” He paused a moment and gave her the Dad stare. “On the other hand, you girls most likely saved the lives of those two horses. And it’s good to see you showing some interest in horses again.”

  Ali felt a surge of hope. She couldn’t exactly agree that she was getting back into horses again, but saving those horses had to count for something, didn’t it? “Dad, you should have seen them,” she said. “They were so skinny and dirty …”

  Ali’s mom looked concerned. “Why didn’t you come to us about this, instead of sneaking out in the middle of the night?” she asked. “We might have been able to help.”

  Ali didn’t want to admit that it had been a foolish impulse to run off with Cara. Or that she’d done it partially to get even with her brother. “You and Dad were already in bed when Cara came by,” she explained. “Besides, you guys have enough to worry about with Danny. You don’t need to worry about somebody else’s horses too.”

  She felt the weight of her brother’s stare and instantly wished that she’d left that last part off. She folded her hands in her lap and kept her eyes on her half-eaten dinner.

  Her mother shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Ali, your father and I always have time for your concerns. I hope that next time you’ll come to us instead of making an unwise choice.”

  Ali wanted to crawl under the table. She’d managed—with only a couple of short sentences—to upset everyone.

  Her father cleared his throat. “Your mother and I will take a little time to think about the appropriate punishment,” he said. “I’m proud that you had the good judgment to admit the truth to us and the courage to stand up for those defenseless animals in the first place. But sneaking out of the house at night is very dangerous. Who knows what could have happened to you?”

  “I’m disappointed with you, Allison,” her mother said. “Running around in the dark and trespassing on other people’s property—even though some good might have come out of it this time. Really, what were you thinking, dear?”

  Ali hung her head and mumbled. “I guess I wasn’t really thinking. I’m sorry.”

  “For starters …” Her dad pinned her with another hard stare. “You won’t be allowed to see Cara for the next week.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said. Tomorrow was Saturday; Cara’s parents were planning to take them into town. She hoped she hadn’t just gotten Cara into trouble, too. She would have to call and let Cara know what had happened. That is, if her parents didn’t take away her phone and computer privileges too.

  Her dad turned his attention to Danny. “And, while I’m at it,” he began. “We’re going to have a few more changes around here….”

  Danny put down his fork and sat up straighter in his chair.

  “Son, we know you’re struggling right now; your injury is just one of the many things you’ve got to deal with,” their father said. “But you can’t stay holed up in your room all day doing nothing but playing on that computer. I know you don’t want to talk to us or a therapist just yet, but you do have to get back to a regular routine. No more putting it off.”

  Their mom took her son’s hand. “Sometime in the near future, you might even want to think about getting a part-time job or furthering your education. We’ll help any way we can.”

  Ali saw Danny’s jaw tighten and he quietly slipped his hand out of their mother’s grasp. It was obvious he wasn’t pleased about getting these ultimatums. She glanced nervously toward her parents. How far could they push her brother before he blew up and went back to his room?

  “Maybe we should see about setting up another appointment with the Veteran’s Administration?” her father continued. “You missed the last one. They’ve called several times to try to reschedule. They’re a good resource, son.” He paused for a moment. “I know you’re a grown man, Danny, and you’ve been off to fight a war, and have seen things we can’t imagine. But moping around the house doing nothing isn’t helping you move forward.”

  “Yes, sir,” Danny said sharply, and pushed back from the table. He grabbed his crutches and limped out of the room.

  “We just want what’s best for you,” their mom said as she followed her son’s progress with sad eyes. She turned to her husband. “I don’t think that went over very well, John. What are we going to do?�
�

  Ali felt like a fly on the wall. It was as if her parents had forgotten she was there, as though they’d forgotten they were mad at her.

  She knew she shouldn’t be jealous of her brother, but in a weird way, she did envy how much of their attention he had. She needed her parents too. Her life hadn’t stopped just because Danny came home.

  Her father looked old and tired. “I’m not sure how to reach him,” he admitted. “Outside of hog-tying him, tossing him in the back of the truck, and driving him down to the VA, I can’t force him to get help.”

  “Help for what, exactly?” Ali asked.

  Ali saw the unasked question pass from her mother to her father: Should we tell her?

  Her father shook his head. “Allison, would you please clean off the table and leave your mother and me to talk?”

  It was an order, not a question, so Ali did what she was told, but she felt angry. Why did they always keep her in the dark about this stuff? She lived here too. Didn’t she have a right to know what was going on with her own brother?

  Standing in the kitchen, she listened to her parents speak in hushed tones and tried to decipher what they were saying. She turned on the dishwasher, then tiptoed over to the doorway to listen. Several words jumped out at her: Veteran’s Affairs, psychologist, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled Vets, PTSD.

  This sounded important. Her parents probably thought they were shielding her from things she was too young to comprehend. But they were wrong.

  Ali returned to her room and switched on her computer. Maybe she could help. She wanted to help her brother. And right now, that meant doing some research, starting with discovering what PTSD meant.

  Six

  PTSD: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Ali clicked the icon to print the eight-page booklet from the website for the National Center for PTSD. She read over the information and was shocked to see how many of the symptoms Danny had.

  Agitated and jumpy. Yup.