incredible!”
“What’s a spirit bear?” Mr Reid asked.
“The Canadian First Nations once believed that the all-white spirit bears, who look like ghosts, had mythical powers,” Helen explained. “And they also believed the Creator made them white to remind them of the Ice Age and the troubles they no longer had to face. They’re also known as the Kermode bear, and mostly found in British Columbia.”
“What do you think, Sadie? Did the bear have special powers?” Annabelle asked.
Fortunately, my mouth was full. I don’t know how I would have answered her if it hadn’t been. Andrew jumped in, to my surprise.
“It was probably one of those experiences you can’t really describe.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Must have been incredible.”
I looked down quickly because once again, my eyes filled with tears. I was a mess. Helen seemed to notice my struggle because she quickly changed the subject. As the attention turned away from me, I took a deep breath and shoved my food around my plate. The evening was a failure and dinner was only half over. I’d almost cried twice, totally failing to prove how incredibly happy I was. I felt like Vivian’s turtle but without its protective shell.
It would be a long night.
From: Sadie Douglas
To: Pippa Reynolds
Date: Sunday, April 15, 9:24 PM
Subject: Remember the Hamiltons?
Do you remember Serena? She lived with her mom and dad in that big house on the hill? Remember how perfect everything was in their house? Her walk-in closet organized by color? And the snacks her mom would send to school in a bento box, and each mini-bite looked like it had been created by a professional chef?
That’s what Annabelle’s family is like. Perfect. Uuuuuuuughhhhh. Glad to hear things are better with Alice. Sorry that you feel like you can’t talk about church with her, though. That must be weird, to have to avoid subjects with the girls. I mean, we never were like that. Just a few more days until your birthday!!!
From: Sadie Douglas
To: Frankie Paulson
Date: Sunday, April 15, 9:30 PM
Subject: Re: Left Behind
It’s weird that you randomly met someone from your new school! Was she nice? Do you think you’ll like it there?
I liked the drawing of the umbrella left behind on a park bench, and your story about someone deciding to walk home in the rain. I like that idea more than someone just forgetting her umbrella. I feel like the sky is crying too, sometimes, when it rains.
Are you okay?
I’ll look for my abandoned object for the scavenger hunt tomorrow. I’m working over at Vivian’s house because we don’t have to go back to school until Tuesday. Monday is a teacher in-service day. The bad news is that Annabelle and Andrew are also coming to help clean up at Vivian’s house.
Chapter 18
Digging
M y reflection stared back at me, my eyes determined. Yes. I
will
go to Vivian’s house today. I will find an abandoned object for Frankie, and I won’t obsess over Andrew and Annabelle. I dropped my forehead against the cold glass and groaned. Sometimes being a girl was lame.
“Sadie,” Dad called from downstairs. “You ready to go?”
I lifted my head and stared myself down. “You can do this, Sadie.”
“Sadie?”
“Coming!”
Higgins followed me downstairs, nosing my hand all the way. Even though Dad pointed out all the reasons we shouldn’t bring Higgins to the cleanup, I promised to watch him and give him a bath afterward and be completely responsible. I needed someone to bury my face in whenAnnabelle became too much. Higgins sat on my lap with his head hanging out the Jeep window, tongue and ears flapping, as we drove. I held my arms up to block the drool flying out of his mouth, but he kept turning to me and giving me a “What’s your problem?” look, making me laugh too hard to shield myself.
“It’s good to hear you laugh,” Dad said. “I’ve been worried about you, Sades.”
“I’m fine,” I said, my automatic response.
“Well, if you
“What’s a spirit bear?” Mr Reid asked.
“The Canadian First Nations once believed that the all-white spirit bears, who look like ghosts, had mythical powers,” Helen explained. “And they also believed the Creator made them white to remind them of the Ice Age and the troubles they no longer had to face. They’re also known as the Kermode bear, and mostly found in British Columbia.”
“What do you think, Sadie? Did the bear have special powers?” Annabelle asked.
Fortunately, my mouth was full. I don’t know how I would have answered her if it hadn’t been. Andrew jumped in, to my surprise.
“It was probably one of those experiences you can’t really describe.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Must have been incredible.”
I looked down quickly because once again, my eyes filled with tears. I was a mess. Helen seemed to notice my struggle because she quickly changed the subject. As the attention turned away from me, I took a deep breath and shoved my food around my plate. The evening was a failure and dinner was only half over. I’d almost cried twice, totally failing to prove how incredibly happy I was. I felt like Vivian’s turtle but without its protective shell.
It would be a long night.
From: Sadie Douglas
To: Pippa Reynolds
Date: Sunday, April 15, 9:24 PM
Subject: Remember the Hamiltons?
Do you remember Serena? She lived with her mom and dad in that big house on the hill? Remember how perfect everything was in their house? Her walk-in closet organized by color? And the snacks her mom would send to school in a bento box, and each mini-bite looked like it had been created by a professional chef?
That’s what Annabelle’s family is like. Perfect. Uuuuuuuughhhhh. Glad to hear things are better with Alice. Sorry that you feel like you can’t talk about church with her, though. That must be weird, to have to avoid subjects with the girls. I mean, we never were like that. Just a few more days until your birthday!!!
From: Sadie Douglas
To: Frankie Paulson
Date: Sunday, April 15, 9:30 PM
Subject: Re: Left Behind
It’s weird that you randomly met someone from your new school! Was she nice? Do you think you’ll like it there?
I liked the drawing of the umbrella left behind on a park bench, and your story about someone deciding to walk home in the rain. I like that idea more than someone just forgetting her umbrella. I feel like the sky is crying too, sometimes, when it rains.
Are you okay?
I’ll look for my abandoned object for the scavenger hunt tomorrow. I’m working over at Vivian’s house because we don’t have to go back to school until Tuesday. Monday is a teacher in-service day. The bad news is that Annabelle and Andrew are also coming to help clean up at Vivian’s house.
Chapter 18
Digging
M y reflection stared back at me, my eyes determined. Yes. I
will
go to Vivian’s house today. I will find an abandoned object for Frankie, and I won’t obsess over Andrew and Annabelle. I dropped my forehead against the cold glass and groaned. Sometimes being a girl was lame.
“Sadie,” Dad called from downstairs. “You ready to go?”
I lifted my head and stared myself down. “You can do this, Sadie.”
“Sadie?”
“Coming!”
Higgins followed me downstairs, nosing my hand all the way. Even though Dad pointed out all the reasons we shouldn’t bring Higgins to the cleanup, I promised to watch him and give him a bath afterward and be completely responsible. I needed someone to bury my face in whenAnnabelle became too much. Higgins sat on my lap with his head hanging out the Jeep window, tongue and ears flapping, as we drove. I held my arms up to block the drool flying out of his mouth, but he kept turning to me and giving me a “What’s your problem?” look, making me laugh too hard to shield myself.
“It’s good to hear you laugh,” Dad said. “I’ve been worried about you, Sades.”
“I’m fine,” I said, my automatic response.
“Well, if you
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