Looking at the Moon by Kit Pearson

Author:Kit Pearson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP (CANADA)

10

A Visitor

A ll the next day the cleansing rain fell on the island. When Norah went up to breakfast, Aunt Dorothy and Aunt Mar were setting the children’s table together, singing “Pack Up Your Troubles” and tittering like girls. The rest of the Elders, looking as shamefaced as children who had misbehaved, pussyfooted around each other with careful politeness.

“Aunt Florence told me never to mention that shrub word again,” said Gavin solemnly, as he joined Norah on the verandah. “She says when we get back to the city she’ll check with the university and then she’ll know she’s right—but she wants the arguing to stop.”

Norah shrugged as she swung in the glider.

“Are you in a bad mood?” Gavin asked her. Bosley galloped up the stairs and shook a fountain over both of them.

She shrugged again, but because it was Gavin, managed a small smile.

“Would you like to have Creature for a while?” Gavin pulled the small stuffed elephant out of his raincoat pocket and handed him over.

Norah took Creature gingerly. His wool body was grimy and one ear was missing. He stank.

“Thanks, Gavin. Why does he smell so awful?”

“He got into the fish guts when we were cleaning some bass.”

“Pee-yew! Why don’t you wash him?”

“No!” said Gavin with alarm. “Haney says that too, but he might come apart—he almost did the last time he had a bath. You can keep him until tonight. I have to go now, we’re having an important meeting. Come on, Boz!” He and the dog ran off to join the other members of the Fearless Four.

Norah set Creature on the verandah railing to air out. Everyone but her was feeling better. But what about Andrew? He hadn’t appeared yet, and she was too tired to go check on him. Tired and sluggish, as if she’d been awake all night, even though she’d fallen asleep instantly after their swim. And her stomach felt bloated. Maybe she should go in and ask Hanny for some Castoria, but the thought of that disgusting liquid made her want to gag.

Why had Andrew been crying? Norah swung her chair violently. Was it because the family had been comparing him to Hugh? But he must be used to that. It could have been because of what he had told her—that he would rather be an actor than an engineer. She clenched her fists—they should let him do what he wanted.

Or perhaps he was crying because he didn’t want to be in the war. Maybe Aunt Catherine was right and Andrew didn’t want to fight. Maybe he was afraid.

Norah herself was frightened of the war. Every so often she had a terrible nightmare that her family’s house was being bombed to rubble. In the daytime it was easy to reassure herself. She and Gavin had been evacuated overseas to get away from bombs and the threat of an invasion, but now both dangers were more remote. She knew from school and the news that Hitler no longer threatened to invade Britain, and the terrible bombing it had received when she’d first lived in Canada had let up considerably.

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