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“She doesn’t like the sound,” said Dani. They all looked at her. “We took her for a walk yesterday, and she didn’t like the sound of the electric fence. She could hear it clearly and shook her head, moving away. I think maybe one of her other enclosures had an electric fence, and she touched it.”
“Well, I guess that’s a good thing. But can we just let a four-hundred-pound gorilla walk around the property?” asked Ghost.
“Are you gonna tell her she can’t?” frowned Irene. “She ain’t hurt nothin’. She’s an old woman who’s tryin’ to live her best life and that includes bein’ with people she feels safe with. She don’t eat meat, she don’t hurt anyone. Hell, I know people that ain’t as nice as her.”
Irene’s whole speech was signed so that Sema could at least pick up a few words. Irene stood on one side of her, Lucy and Katherine on the other.
They all watched as Sema signed the word for ‘sad.’
“Why are you sad?” asked Keith.
“Babies gone.” Keith looked at the others.
“Five of the puppies died this morning. They were too far gone. We didn’t think she would notice because there are so many,” said Lucy.
“Well, she damn sure noticed,” said Gaspar.
He watched as Lucy explained that the puppies were sick and it wasn’t her fault. Her expression seemed so sorrowful the entire property was feeling it. Sema looked as though she might cry but nodded, then turned to Keith.
“Lonely.”
“Don’t be lonely. We’re all here for you. We’re friends.”
“Lonely.” She said it over and over again.
“Alright, alright,” said Gaspar, shaking his head. He looked at the seniors, who all had smirks on their faces. “Mama? Can we use a corner of the garden for Sema? We’ll move her enclosure here, and then she can come out when we’re all around her.”
“Well, I believe that would be just fine,” smiled his mother. “I have the perfect location that will put her within sight of everyone.”
“Irene? Hey, Irene,” said Grant, running toward her. “Oh, good she got here.”
Irene’s eyes got big, and she shook her head. Her sons all turned to her with their arms crossed.
“I thought I lost her for a minute. The boys have the enclosure on the truck. Where did you want me to put it?”
“What? Grant, I got no idea what you’re talkin’ about.” Grant stared at her, then looked at the others, his wife laughing beside him.
“You gave away the goose, baby,” smiled Evie.
“Oh, shit. Sorry.”
“Mama? You planned this,” said Jean. “You released a four-hundred-pound gorilla, hoping to gain our sympathies and let her live up front.”
“Now, that ain’t entirely true,” she said, shaking her head. “That poor girl is lonely. You saw her say so. I just thought maybe she would be happier up here.”
There was silence as all her children, more than two hundred, stared at her. But it was Katherine that burst into laughter, shaking her head.
“Honey, this isn’t funny,” said Pork.
“But it is. Y’all need to not question this. That woman knows more than any of us, except maybe Sema. This is absolutely the most magical thing I’ve ever seen, and I, for one, am thrilled that Sema will be part of our family from now on.”
“Shit,” muttered Gaspar. He stepped closer to Sema, signing to her.
“Welcome to our family. Be good.” She tilted her head at him, almost giving a smile.
“Always good.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
