The weather remained warmer than usual. We still had no snow.

Hare-iette and Carla were now good friends. Carla was no longer mean or acting like a bully. She was a nice kid and Hare-iette liked her. Hare-iette had never told Carla she had asked Santa to help her father. What was the point of bringing it up if he couldn't do anything?

Hare-iette went regularly to visit Raul, who still hadn't spoken or even moved. She told him about our Thanksgiving plans. She told him how she was looking forward to Christmas. She even told him of some of her adventures. Although the young man hadn't said a word, Hare-iette felt like he was a friend.

The day after Thanksgiving, Hare-iette went into Raul's room. She went right to the bedside.
"Hi, Raul, how are you doing today? I had a great Thanksgiving."
"Who are you?"
The voice startled Hare-iette and she jumped and screamed. She turned around to see a girl of about 9, sitting in one of the chairs, with her knees drawn up to her chin.
"Who are you?" she repeated.
"I'm Hare-iette. I'm Raul's friend. Who are you?"
"I'm Elena, Raul's sister. I'm sorry I scared you."
"That's OK, it's just that no one has ever been in here before."
"I know. I'm not supposed to come here, but sometimes I can manage to get here when there is no school, like today."
"He's your brother and you aren't supposed to visit him?" Hare-iette asked.
"No, I'm not supposed to. You see, Raul and I live with our aunt and uncle. They say Raul is never going to wake up and I should forget about him and get on with my life." A tear rolled down her cheek before she continued. "Maybe they're right. It's been such a long time. I know my aunt and uncle come here sometimes. They think I don't know. They love Raul too, but they want me to get back to a normal life."

Hare-iette had no response to that. She just went over and gave Elena a hug.
"I have to go. I'm glad you come to see Raul."

Elena got up and left the room. Hare-iette went back to Raul's bedside and started reading to him from a book she had brought along.

Hare-iette still hadn't found the girl named Abbie.