Hey, Shell-bell,” I say, leaning over her and wiping her face with a napkin. “It’s the first day of school. Wish me luck.”Shelley holds jerky arms out and gives me a lopsided smile. I love that smile.”You want to give me a hug?” I ask her, knowing she does. The doctors always tell us the more interaction Shelley gets, the better off she’ll be.Shelley nods. I fold myself in her arms, careful to keep her hands away from my hair. When I straighten, my mom gasps. It sounds to me like a referee’s whistle, halting my life. “Brit, you can’t go to school like that.””Like what?”She shakes her head and sighs in frustration. “Look at your s
Hey, Shell-bell,” I say, leaning over her and wiping her face with a napkin. “It’s the first day of school. Wish me luck.”Shelley holds jerky arms out and gives me a lopsided smile. I love that smile.”You want to give me a hug?” I ask her, knowing she does. The doctors always tell us the more interaction Shelley gets, the better off she’ll be.Shelley nods. I fold myself in her arms, careful to keep her hands away from my hair. When I straighten, my mom gasps. It sounds to me like a referee’s whistle, halting my life. “Brit, you can’t go to school like that.””Like what?”She shakes her head and sighs in frustration. “Look at your s
