The Power of Testimony

32 || ALL BUT NORMAL
way the nurses had taught them, using a basin filled with
warm water. Afterward, she began brushing Bev’s hair.
“You’re getting much better at walking,” Connie said with
a mother’s assurance. “It won’t be long before we’re all back at
school. Everything’ll be fun. Ooh, your hair looks nice, too.
I’m glad we washed it—”
Without warning, Bev swung her elbow around angrily,
smacking Connie’s arm and sending the hairbrush f lying
across the room. Connie jumped back, unable to mask her
emotions. The hairbrush clattered to a rest. Bev’s eyes f lashed
with ire, and she settled into an angry, unexplained silence.
Connie quietly picked up the basin and walked out of the
room.
Questions poured out when the girls were riding in the
car with their mother.
“Why is Bevie different now?” April asked.
“Because of the accident,” Betty said.
“But why?”
“April, that’s enough.”
“Is she going to be normal again?”
Betty paused. “She’s going to be just fine.”
Connie and Gail looked at each other, wondering how
much hope to set on her words.
• • •
After two months, Bev was walking and talking well enough
to enroll for her sophomore year in the fall. The high school
had passed her through ninth grade, due to her academic
strength. Now it was time to return to normal life.