Hansen and Gracie

Hansen and Gracie — page 7 — 2 I'll be back in a second Gracie whispers I just heard something in the hallway I think it’s Ms Young Ms Young is the woman who runs this place She’s not as miserable as you might guess She’s nice enough when she’s in a good mood and we think she probably got into the business of running an orphanage for the right reasons But it’s a miserable job and things never seem to go as well as grown-ups think they will Even grown-ups grown-ups who have the best intentions Oscar is with her Gracie adds and Hansen who could just make out the voices as well hearing them through Gracie’s ears shivers

Hansen and Gracie — page 8 — Oscar as far as we can tell is some kind of building maintenance man Or he’s supposed to be But he really only fixes drips and creaks when he gets around to it He prefers to spend his time trailing behind Ms Young offering advice she doesn’t ask for Unfortunately Ms Young is often too meek to ignore his advice and his advice well that’s what makes the orphanage such an especially unpleasant place Have him sleep next to the boiler for seven nights Oscar might say when a boy hasn’t finished his supper and Ms Young will click her tongue and agree sending the boy to the basement Put her in the courtyard for some quiet time he might whisper in Ms Young’s ear if a girl’s language is foul when she’s doing her chores And off the girl goes though both grown-ups know very well that the courtyard is infested with rats the size of terriers This morning Gracie huddles deeper into the shelves of food where she’ll never be spotted She

Hansen and Gracie — page 9 — pulls in her knees and holds her breath Get back here Hansen says his voice full of worry Gracie shakes her head I wanna hear what they’re talking about she says Besides they’re still in the hall How would I ever get back Hansen clenches his jaw and grumbles Hush Gracie says I want to listen So Hansen hushes and he strains to hear the conversation too It’s the way they look at everyone says Ms Young Like they’re I don’t know Oscar finishes for her his voice a cruel and raspy whisper Like they’re watching us on TV We can hear the solemn agreement in Ms Young’s voice when she replies Yes Like we’re not real Like we exist only for their morbid amusement It’s time to get rid of them then Oscar says His voice is brave now louder than it should be not that he knows we are listening to him

Hansen and Gracie — page 10 — What does he mean Hansen says and Gracie shushes him again The woman clicks her tongue Her feet shuffle on the old wood floors I’ve tried Ms Young says I’ve really tried The two have been in and out of foster homes since their parents passed away Then another won’t hurt Oscar says Ms Young moves into the kitchen Her clunky footsteps and her ice-cold voice echo off the tile floor and walls I’m afraid it’s not that simple she says Some of these children I could place in foster homes in theory But these two it’s impossible I suppose so Oscar says as if he might drop the matter But then he says There might be another way Ms Young stops and leans on the counter Gracie can see her now just barely from her hiding spot in the pantry What are you getting at

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