Awake and Dreaming (23 page)

The best present was from Laura and Dan—a painting Laura had done of all the Kaldors and Theo sitting on the steps of the house.

“Remember last month, when we went out to the front and Dan called that man coming up the street to take our picture?” said Laura. “I did it from that.”

Theo remembered. It had been raining for days but then the sun had burst through the clouds and they'd gone out to breathe in the freshly washed air. It had been a shining moment.

She could hear Cecily's voice: “There are lots of shining moments.” Now she had this picture to remind her of one of the many she'd shared with her favourite family. “
Thank
you,” said Theo.

A
FTER THEY
'
D STUFFED THEMSELVES
with cake and ice cream, all six children left the adults and ran out to the cemetery.

“Are we allowed in here?” said Skye. “It's creepy!”

“We play here all the time,” said Lisbeth. “Come on, let's race to the angel!” The others ran after her, John and Anna quickly taking the lead. Anna won, and dropped to the ground triumphantly.

“Is your mum a rock singer, Theo?” asked Lisbeth.

“Shut up, Lisbeth,” hissed John.

“Why do you have two mummies, Skye?” said Ben.

Skye flushed.

“She just does, that's all,” said Theo, giving her friend a reassuring smile.

“How do you like your new place?” Anna asked Theo.

“It's okay. There are two trees to climb and the dogs are really friendly.”

“What kind are they?”

“Scotties. Scotch is old and fat, but Soda likes to chase sticks. Next week Mrs. Lundy's going away for three weeks and then we get to use the whole house.” Theo paused. “You'll have to come over with Bingo. He'd like to play with the dogs.”

“Sure!” said Anna.

Theo was relieved. Her new life still felt fragile; having the Kaldors over would make it more real.

Rae had found a job in a souvenir store on Government Street. She said it was easy: she spent all day talking to American tourists. When Theo got tired of hearing about them, she'd walk over to Sharon's and watch TV with her.

“Only a few more days of school,” sighed Anna happily.

John looked anxious. “My last few days at this school,” he reminded her.

“Don't worry, I bet you'll like grade eight,” said Lisbeth. “You can go to dances and take out girls on dates.” John looked even more worried.

“We're going camping for a week at Long Beach as soon as school's out,” said Anna. “What are you doing, Skye?”

“I get to spend all summer with my father,” said Skye eagerly. “He lives on a farm near Duncan. There's chickens and a donkey.”

Anna looked at her with more respect. “I've never see a donkey,” she said.

“How about you, Theo?” asked John.

“Rae can't take any holidays in the summer, but Sharon gets two weeks in August. She and I are going to stay at her friend Mandy's parents' place on Saltspring. Rae can come over on her days off.”

“You'll like Saltspring,” said Anna. “We camped there once.”

“Could you come with us to Long Beach, Theo?” Lisbeth asked.

“We would have asked you before, but we weren't sure what your plans were,” explained Anna.

Theo grinned at them. “I'll ask Rae,” she said.

She curled her arms behind her neck and squinted at the sky. The summer had fallen into place, waiting for her to enjoy it. Everything would probably even happen the way it was arranged, she thought in wonder. And in the fall she'd go back to the same school again.

But would it stay the same? Maybe Rae would get restless. Maybe Sharon would finally travel.

If only kids were allowed to live alone—like Pippi Longstocking. I'd like to live in a tree, decided Theo. I'd
cut shelves into the trunk for my dishes and food, and sleep on a hammock …

“What are you dreaming about, Theo?” asked Anna.

“She always does that,” said Skye.

Theo smiled at her friends. She had them to turn to if things went wrong again. “Friends are like gold,” Cecily had said.

She jumped up. “Let's play follow-the-leader!” She led them in a line through the cemetery. They skipped in and out of the shadows the thick foliage made on the grass. Theo held out one arm, walked with giant steps, hopped from leg to leg and waved her hands in the air. She deliberately ended up at Cecily's grave, then took them in a dancing circle around it.

“
My
turn to be leader!” cried Lisbeth. “You have to go to the back of the line, Theo.”

Theo ran behind Anna. Then she paused by the plot while the others dashed off.

She examined the white shrub rose Cecily had asked her to plant. Dan had helped her move it from the front garden of the house. They had clipped the grass and pulled up all the dandelions.

There was no sign of Cecily, of course. Theo knew she had gone away for good. She smoothed the marble pages of the book with her palms, as if she were pressing it firmly open.

“I won't forget,” she whispered.