Awake and Dreaming - Kit Pearson [36]
That was all? A lot of talking, ending with hugs and a hot dinner?
Theo felt sorry for Anna, but she had another bike to use, after all. The “worst day” … if this was as bad as a day in this family could be, then as long as she remained in this dream nothing would ever be awful again.
Then Theo thought of the care and the worry in Mum and Dad’s voices. They had worried about her as much as Anna. She was important to them. She really mattered …
11
Spring unfolded in a succession of perfect, peaceful days. Theo learned how to play soccer and ride on a skateboard. She played the part of the dormouse in their class production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She helped Lisbeth with her science project on earthworms and taught Ben how to tie his shoelaces.
During Spring Break the whole family went skiing at Mt. Washington. Theo had never seen so much snow. They fitted her out with Anna’s old skis and boots. Even Ben was better than she was, but she didn’t care. It was so exhilarating to careen down the hill—tumbling into the soft snow, then struggling to her feet to whiz on.
On the first Saturday in April Anna turned eleven. She shrieked when she came downstairs to find a new bike with a ribbon on it in the hall. “Oh, thank you, thank you!” she cried, hugging her parents.
“There’s a very good lock on it,” said Dad. “Use it!”
Anna flushed. “I will,” she promised.
Theo watched her unwrap the silver pendant of a dolphin she’d saved two allowances to buy. “It’s beautiful!” said Anna, squeezing Theo hard.
That afternoon Mum took Anna, four of her friends, Theo and Lisbeth swimming. Theo had been taking lessons—she was in the same class as Lisbeth.
“Good, Theo!” called Lisbeth, after Theo jumped off the low board and splashed to the side. “I did that when I was six,” she added. “But of course, you’re still catching up.”
Theo wasn’t sure about swimming. She always felt cold and it was a struggle to keep from sinking. But the others were so encouraging she tried to like it.
After swimming they went back and sat around the dining-room table while Mum and Dad served them the meal Dad had prepared. Anna had ordered her favourites—lamb, roast potatoes and peas. The girls giggled as Dad acted like a waiter. “Would you care for a Coke, madam?”
Lisbeth was unusually quiet, thrilled at being allowed to stay instead of going with John and Ben to their cousins. “When’s your birthday, Theo?” she whispered.
“June the twenty-sixth,” said Theo. She’d be ten then. But would she still be here?
She was back to thinking that living with the Kaldors was magic—the visit had lasted too long for a dream. Maybe her wish had come true.
It didn’t make sense that no one asked her a thing about her former life, that the Kaldors and even her teacher and new friends didn’t seem to find it strange that she was here. But maybe one day she’d find out why she’d been whisked so easily into this happiness.
Sometimes Theo would lie awake and think of her mother. How had Rae felt when Theo had disappeared? Did she miss her? But thoughts like these made Theo squirm. It was easier to simply shut Rae and her former life out of her mind. The longer she lived with the family, the easier it became to forget that difficult time.
Living in Vancouver had been like swimming—always struggling to stay afloat. But living here was like skiing, flying down the hill with joy. She soared through each day, busy and relaxed and, best of all, cherished. Every morning she woke up with delight that she was still here. Her magic wish had come true. In fact, every wish she’d ever had seemed to have come true. It was like being in a story, even if the story wasn’t logical. Her life was perfect.
Until the day the magic began to go wrong.
IT WAS A GLORIOUS APRIL afternoon. Theo and Anna and Lisbeth were lying on their backs under the angel. Above them towered trees dotted with new leaves and faded pink blossoms. More blossoms floated in the