To the vet, but a neighbor sees them outside.

This was the moment Lucy had been dreading, but also hoping for. She was being led out the front door by her father, who held a leash connected to her collar. People were going to see her crawling on the ground behind him. If not someone in the neighborhood, then whoever was at the vet's when they got there. That person's reaction would either seal Lucy's fate or set her free.

It turned out to be their next door neighbor, who had just stepped out to get the mail. When she heard the Carpenters coming out, Felicia Crawdad snapped the door of her mailbox shut and turned around to greet them.

Lucy's stomach was tying itself into knots. This was the moment of truth. Would Felicia freak out when she saw Tom dragging his naked daughter outside on a leash, or was this really her life now?

For a moment the bathrobe-clad woman stared in silence. Lucy dared to hope when she saw Felicia's hands rise to cover her mouth, and then she spoke. "Oh my god, Lucy?"

Ignoring Tom, Felicia rushed forward to crouch in front of the leashed girl. Lucy was about to beg for her help, to shout for her to run and call the police, when Felicia spoke again. "You are just the cutest pet ever! Yes you are!"

She extended a hand to pet Lucy, who jerked away like she'd been slapped. "No! No!" She couldn't stop herself from crying out in dismay as she pulled away. She didnt get far before the leash went taut, hurting her neck, and she fell on the grass beside the path to the driveway.

Lucy realized she'd just made a dangerous mistake, but it was too late to take it back. She just lay there and sobbed, miserably waiting for the consequence of her emotional outburst. Felicia was still crouching where she'd left her, looking rather shocked, but her dad was advancing on her. He held the leash in a tight, white-knuckled grip that made Lucy expect the worst.

But then, out of nowhere, Abby threw herself on her knees to hug Lucy protectively. "It's ok! She didn't mean to, she just got scared because you came right up to her so suddenly! Please don't be mad."

Her father sighed. "Well, she has been through a lot. And going to the vet tends to stress animals out, even if Lucy was never afraid of doctors. I'm sorry Felicia. I know it's our fault for raising her as a person at all, but she didn't know that until two days ago and we're asking her to unlearn two decades of her life."

Felicia stood up slowly. "No, I understand. I'm sure you're doing your best, we can't expect perfection already."

"Thank you for understanding," Tom said, the relief apparent in his voice. "Abby, do you think she can try that again?"