Awake and Dreaming - Kit Pearson [25]
The cat emerged from under the bed and trotted over to Theo. It gave a short “Mrra!”
“I see you’ve already met Beardsley,” Laura laughed.
“Doesn’t Bingo chase him?” asked Theo.
“Oh, no, they’re the best of friends. Sometimes they even sleep together.”
Theo sighed with content. Even the dog and cat were perfect.
A door slammed downstairs. “Mum! Where are you! Where’s Theo?”
Laura held out her hand. “Are you ready? Let’s go down.”
8
Theo sat quietly at the kitchen table while John, Anna, Lisbeth and Ben competed to tell her things.
“One at a time,” Laura kept saying. “Let poor Theo have some peace!”
But Theo felt like a limp rag doll that was being passed around from hand to hand. She listened to Anna’s story about her friend and assured John that she felt all right. She nodded when Lisbeth asked if she liked her room and while Ben told her more about his imaginary iguana.
“Grace was allowed to record a new message on their answering machine and do you know what she said, Theo? ‘Please leave a message after the honk.’ Her parents didn’t notice until this morning and—”
“—Try one of these, Theo, they’re—”
“—If you don’t like the single bed you can have the lower bunk. And you can sleep with any of my animals or dolls you like, even Heather. She’s my most favourite, I got her—”
“—Mortimer usually eats flies and bees, but sometimes he eats—”
“Everyone be quiet!” said Laura. They were for about half a minute and then they all started nattering again.
“You have really pretty hair, Theo. I wish I had curly hair. It’s not fair that Ben got it.”
“—and my soccer team is in the finals this Saturday—”
“—and sometimes Mortimer bites but I won’t let him bite you—”
“I’m learning a really hard piece on the piano right now.”
Theo turned her face to look at John. “That’s nice,” she whispered. She nibbled her sandwich again, but she wasn’t hungry. She was full of breakfast and full of something else—this new melting sensation that filled her like soothing warm water.
“It’s twenty to one,” said Laura finally. “Off you go, you older ones. You can see Theo after school.”
“It’s not fair!” said Lisbeth. “Can’t we stay home? Theo won’t have anyone to play with.”
“I can play with Theo. What about me?” demanded Ben.
“You’ll be taking your nap. Please, Mum …”
“I want to stay home, too,” said Anna. John nodded beside her.
Laura regarded them. “I do have a lot of phone calls to make and I don’t want you to be lonely while Ben naps, Theo.”
“I’m not having a nap,” said Ben.
Laura ignored him. “Okay, one of you can stay home … Lisbeth.”
“That’s not fair!” said Anna. “Lisbeth always gets her own way!”
“Why can’t we all stay?” said John.
“Just Lisbeth,” said Laura firmly. “Theo needs to get used to you one at a time. All of you are too overwhelming.”
“Lisbeth’s the most overwhelming,” complained Anna. She and John stomped out the door.
“Lisbeth, why don’t you show Theo your guinea pig? Come on, Benny, let’s have a story about Curious George before your nap.”
“I don’t need a nap!” said Ben, but he yawned as he followed his mother out of the kitchen.
Lisbeth looked ready to burst with importance. Theo was glad that Laura had picked her. She talked so much she was easy to be with.
The guinea pig, Snow White, lived in the laundry room. Lisbeth took her out of her cage and Snow White sniffed around the floor, making whistling noises. Lisbeth put her in Theo’s hands. The guinea pig’s claws tickled and she felt like a wriggly ball.
They went upstairs and Lisbeth introduced Theo to all her stuffed animals and dolls, then all of Anna’s—each had a name. Theo chose Peppermint, a floppy pink cat, and a small owl called Hoot to put on her own bed.
“Are you sure you don’t want Heather?” said Lisbeth, clutching the beautiful doll. She looked relieved when Theo shook her head.
Lisbeth let her hold Heather. “I got her for Christmas from Grannie and Gramps. Grannie knitted a whole lot of clothes for her.”
She told Theo the names of all the people