The Eclipse of Moonbeam Dawson (23 page)

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Authors: Jean Davies Okimoto

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“Good book?”

“Very. Margaret Atwood's latest.” Gloria closed the book. “Was that who I thought it was?”

“Yeah. She wanted me to take her out in the boat.”

“Are you going to?” Gloria asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

“I'm only a sitting duck once.” Reid smiled and slipped his arm around her. “I told her I had other plans.”

“What plans?”

“I said, ‘I have to cut my toenails.'”

“You didn't really say that!”

“No, I wish I had. But I'm always thinking of stuff I wish I'd said when it's too late.” Reid smiled at her. “But I do have something important to do this week. The lawyer that's representing Mum in the bear trial is also going to file papers for me to change my name legally. I'm going in town to sign them tomorrow.”

“So it's official.” Gloria looked up at him. “That's great.”

“Did I ever really tell you…” he hesitated.

“Tell me what?”

“How much it meant. That you helped me get the right name?”

“I knew you liked it.”

“I hope so.” Reid looked into her dark eyes, so similar to his own. He felt connected to her, and it wasn't like they were brother and sister. He wanted to stay next to her.

The warmth of the July sun enfolded them and above, the huge cedar boughs swayed as the summer wind came off the ocean. And he wanted to kiss her.

Maybe someday, Reid thought, as he left to meet Harvey and his mother at the lodge.

Also by Jean Davies Okimoto

NOVELS

My Mother Is Not Married to My Father

It's Just Too Much

Norman Schnurman, Average Person

Who Did It, Jenny Lake?

Jason's Women

Molly by Any Other Name

Take a Chance, Gramps!

Talent Night

The Eclipse of Moonbeam Dawson

PICTURE BOOKS

Blumpoe the Grumpoe Meets Arnold the Cat

A Place for Grace

No Dear, Not Here

SHORT STORIES

“Jason the Quick and the Brave”

“Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Bear”

“Next Month … Hollywood!”

“Watching Fran”

“Eva and the Mayor”

PLAYS

Hum It Again, Jeremy

Uncle Hideki

NONFICTION, COAUTHOR

Boomerang Kids: How to Live with

Adult Children Who Return Home

About the Author

Jean Davies Okimoto
is a widely published author of children's and young adult books, including
Take a Chance, Gramps!, Molly by Any Other Name,
and
Jason's Women.
She is the recipient of the American Library Association “Best Books for Young Adults” Award, the IRA/CBC Young Adults' Choice Award, the Parents' Choice Award, the Washington Governor's Writers Award, and the 1993 Maxwell Medallion for Best Children's Book of the Year. Two of her books have been recognized as
Smithsonian
Notable Books. Her work has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and Italian, and has been adapted for television for
Bedtime Stories
on HBO and Showtime. Her play
Uncle Hideki,
based on her novel
Talent Night,
was produced at the Northwest Asian-American Theatre, and her plays for young people have been produced in New York, Toronto, and Vancouver.

She and her husband, Joe, have four grown children, three grandchildren, and two dogs. They live in Seattle and are frequent visitors to British Columbia.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.

THE ECLIPSE OF MOONBEAM DAWSON

Copyright © 1997 by Jean Davies Okimoto

All rights reserved.

A scene from the novel is based on the story “Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Bear,” which first appeared in
Connections: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults,
edited by Donald R. Gallo, published by Bantam Doubleday Dell, and reprinted in
Features,
published by Nelson Canada, and in
Relating,
published by Prentice Hall Canada, Inc.

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.

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New York, NY 10010

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Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

First Edition: November 1997

eISBN 9781466889361

First eBook edition: December 2014

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