How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd

Author:Maggie C. Rudd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

* * *

The next morning, Raymond found Stigs in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee.

“Your folks’ll be coming home today, then.” It was more of a statement than a question. Raymond couldn’t bring himself to say anything so he just nodded.

“Listen, kid, is there anything I can do to help? Someone I could call for you?”

“No,” Raymond said, a little too quickly. He’d heard this question before. He corrected himself and tried to shrug it off. “No, really. I’m fine.”

Stigs studied Raymond. “What about Rosie? You think you’ll be able to get her to a vet?” Raymond didn’t answer. “No, I didn’t think so. Well, her leg is healed anyhow. I’d feel better if she was properly looked at by someone, but I think she’ll be okay. She’s a tough ol’ girl.” Rosie had come into the room and affectionately rubbed her back against Stigs. He patted her head. Over the past week, Rosie had become very attached to the old man, following him from room to room.

Stigs took a deep breath. “When you’re ready, I’ll get you home.”

“That’s okay,” said Raymond, standing quickly. “We can walk from here. It’s not too far and I can carry Rosie if she has trouble.”

Stigs didn’t respond right away. He was staring out the kitchen window, his back to Raymond.

“My son was like you,” he said finally. “He talked more than you and was always more eager than he needed to be. But he was smart. And he managed a lot on his own. More than he should’ve.”

“What happened to him?” Every time Stigs had mentioned his son, which wasn’t often, he used the past tense.

“Afghanistan,” Stigs said, still looking out the window. He hung his head for a minute and then turned around to face Raymond. “One way or another, war takes your life. Whether you come back or not. Whether you keep on living or not. It changes you and you can’t ever get back to who you were before. No matter how hard you try.”

Raymond looked at his friend. He thought about the picture of the younger Stigs smiling with his son in the boat. He wondered if Stigs was talking about his son or himself. He guessed maybe both.

After breakfast, Raymond made his bed and picked up around the spare room. Stigs handed him a grocery bag of a few wrapped-up leftovers, some protein bars, and medicine for Rosie. He also dropped in the few cans of dog food that he had left. He gave him instructions on how to administer the medicine, and Raymond nodded, listening carefully. He handed Stigs the old fur army hat that he had let him borrow, but Stigs shook his head. “Keep it,” he said. He gestured to Rosie. “If she needs anything, just bring her by the house.”

Raymond nodded again. He wanted to hug the old man but couldn’t imagine actually doing it. “Thank you,” he said instead, holding out his hand. Stigs grunted, shaking it.

Then Raymond tried to let go, but Stigs held it firm.

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