Awake and Dreaming - Kit Pearson [14]
“Good. One more thing, Theo. Do you have a shower or a bath in your apartment?”
“A shower,” whispered Theo.
Ms. Sunter looked her briskest. “It’s a good idea to have a shower and wash your hair every day. Does your mother forget to remind you?”
Theo hung her head. The only times she took a shower were when her hair got so matted she couldn’t comb it.
“Your clothes are in bad shape, too,” said the counsellor. “I know your mother must have a lot of worries and she can’t afford to get you new ones. Did you know we have a free clothing deposit at this school? Let’s go and pick out some things for you.”
She took Theo’s hand and they went along the hall to a locked room. Ms. Sunter opened the door and found a lot of clothes for Theo—a patterned red sweater, two pairs of jeans, T-shirts, a sweatshirt and a quilted green jacket with only a few stains on it. Best of all was a pair of pink high-top runners that were just a bit too big for her.
Theo wriggled her toes in the roomy shoes. She exchanged her skimpy sweater for the warm red one. Ms. Sunter put the rest of the clothes in a bag. “You can leave it in my office until after school,” she said.
“Thank you,” whispered Theo.
Ms. Sunter shook her hand. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Theo. Let’s have another talk next month. But you can knock at my door any time, all right?”
Ms. Sunter was nice, decided Theo, as she walked back to the classroom, looking down at her new pink shoes all the way. Ms. Sunter understood what it was like to be poor.
But she and the counsellor had forgotten that the other kids would immediately notice Theo’s change of clothing. Some looked at her with pity and some with disdain as she slid into her seat.
RAE WAS ANGRY when she saw the clothes. “Do they think I can’t take care of you? I bought you some shoes, didn’t I?” Rae had come home for dinner and presented Theo with a brand new pair of navy runners. She wanted Theo to take back the pink ones.
“Oh, please—can’t I keep them both?”
“Well … all right,” grumbled Rae, getting dressed to go out again. “But don’t accept any more of their charity or they’ll start checking up on us.”
Theo took both pairs of shoes to bed with her. She couldn’t decide which ones she liked the best. The pink ones were more in style but the white rubber on the navy ones was so smooth and clean. She couldn’t remember ever having two pairs of shoes. She decided she would wear the navy ones tomorrow and the pink ones the next day.
After she turned out her light, Theo thought about her talk with Ms. Sunter. She was relieved the counsellor hadn’t found out how she really lived—but if only she could help her. If only she could somehow find Theo a real family, not to stay with temporarily, but to live with always.
She hugged Sabrina and went over the familiar details.
Four children, two boys and two girls … Theo would share a room with the two girls and after they went to bed they would whisper and giggle and tell each other secrets …
“KITTEN, I have something to tell you. Cal and I are going away for the weekend,” Rae said the next morning.
“Going away? Where?”
“To Harrison Hot Springs. Cal has the weekend off and he has a friend who has a cabin there we can use.”
“What about me?” said Theo. “What will I do?”
Rae looked evasive. “You can stay here, can’t you? It’s only for two nights. Donna’s working Saturday for me. We’re leaving Friday after work and we’ll be back on Sunday night. Mrs. Mitic will keep an eye on you, and I’ll get you lots of treats to eat.”
Theo shivered. “Please, Rae … I don’t want to stay here alone. Can’t I come with you?”
Rae drained her coffee, her eyes down. “The trouble is, Cal doesn’t really feel comfortable around kids. And we need a little time to be by ourselves.”
She looked up. “I know you want to come, Kitten, but this is really important to me.” Her eyes pleaded so strongly that Theo stopped objecting.
She tried to persuade herself how great it would be to wallow in books all weekend. She could open all the windows and clear the apartment of Rae’s smoke. But