3. Introducing the Escapist

3 Introducing the Escapist When he and his father climbed out of the van at the Foxes' farmhouse a few hours later, Stanley was greeted by a big shaggy dog that bounded up, flattened him to the ground, and licked his face. "Sequoia!" a voice called. "Heel!" The dog leaped off of Stanley and sat panting beside him. A barefoot woman with curly blond hair and a flowing, brightly colored dress reached for Stanley's hand, helping him up. "I'm Lily's mom, Amber," she said, and turned toward Mr. Lambchop. "And you must be Stanley's father."

"It's George," Stanley's dad replied. "Well, I want to thank you both for being part of our little caper." She threw one arm around Dr. Fox and put her other hand on Lily's shoulder. "When our Lily sets her mind to something, she never gives up." The Foxes led them up to the farmhouse. After Stanley's father had called Stanley's mom to check in, they joined Lily and her parents for dinner around a worn wooden table. There were so

many different colors of food, they reminded Stanley of the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket. "We grew most of this here on the farm," said Amber, serving Stanley some kale slaw. "In fact, if you eat fruits or vegetables back home that are grown in America, chances are they come from California. There's no place better on Earth." She rattled off the things on the table: "Artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, basil, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, edamame, eggplant, escarole—" "Mom," Lily gently interrupted. "They get the idea." "But I'm only at the letter e!" complained her mother. Stanley realized that Amber had been listing foods alphabetically, and he slapped his forehead.

"That's something my mom would do! She's crazy about anything which has to do with language." Amber said, "I think you mean that, not which, Stanley." Stanley and his father both laughed at how much she sounded like Mrs. Lambchop. "I don't know which my mom likes more, vegetables or vowels," said Lily. "Last summer she attached a plow to the back of my wheelchair so I could help in the fields." Stanley's father said, "A human plow, huh? I suppose that's how you got so strong, Lily." Lily said, "I was born strong."

After a dessert of fresh blackberries, blueberries, and boysenberries with cream, Dr. Fox said, "Ready to head out to the barn?" "I could've skipped dinner, I'm so ready," said Lily. Following them to the big barn, Stanley was surprised to find there were no animals. Instead the inside of the barn looked like a spotless, high-tech body shop for fixing up cars—only without the cars. On the wall hung at least a dozen different wheelchairs gleaming like jewels. One looked more like a tiny Formula One racecar, red and white and shiny with a pointed nose. One was clad in a varsity athlete's uniform, complete with white striped wheels instead of socks. One balanced on what looked like a pair of ice-skating blades instead of wheels, and it hung near a hockey stick with a sawed-off handle. And one looked like the bottom half of a ball gown, with sparkly fabric covering everything but the bottom of the wheels.

"What kind of a doctor are you, anyway?" Stanley's father asked. "I have a PhD in mechanical engineering," replied Dr. Fox. "And you made all these?" said Stanley. "Lily and I designed and built them together," said Dr. Fox.