Miles To Go by Beryl Young

Author:Beryl Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heritage House
Published: 2018-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

Maggie

FRIDAY, MAY 21, AND SATURDAY, MAY 22

IT’S ANNA’S BIRTHDAY next Thursday—her thirteenth birthday—and I want to get out to the farm to see her. The problem is, I need a ride. I’ll ask Dad as soon as soon as he gets home from Regina. He probably doesn’t want any more to do with Mr. Lozowski, though.

I want to give Anna something special. I don’t have money to buy anything, and I don’t want to try knitting another scarf. I lie in bed thinking about what to get until Mom calls me for a final piano practice. The exam is tomorrow morning.

I sigh and force myself to the piano bench.

Mom says, “Don’t you care how you do on the exam?”

“Actually, I don’t, Mom.”

The important thing to me right now is to see Anna for her birthday. I can’t think of anything else.

“Get practising and put your mind to it.”

I pound away at the pieces for a whole hour. Every time I strike a key I’m more certain than ever that she can’t be my real mother. My real mother would smile and tell me I already play these pieces perfectly.

Dad came back from Regina this afternoon. Before dinner, he tells Mom that the prisoner is healed enough to stand trial.

I grab his arm. “Will he be in jail?”

“Probably in the mental institution over in Weyburn.” Dad puts his arm around me. “He’s a sick man, Mags. No need for you to worry about him.”

“I do think about him, Dad. I can’t figure out what’s going on in his head.”

“The doctors in the institution will help him sort himself out.”

“I sure hope so.” I take a breath. “Dad, I’ve been waiting to ask you something important. Could you please drive me to see Anna?”

“Sorry, Mags, I’ve been away and I’ll be up to my ears in work for the next week.”

“It’s Anna’s birthday, Dad. She’s my best friend. Please, drive me.” I hear my whiny voice.

Mom interrupts before Dad can answer. “Maggie, stop pestering your father and set the table. Dinner’s almost ready.”

She’s chopping celery and apples for Dad’s favourite Waldorf salad. She turns to me and says, “Carolyn’s mother phoned to ask if you’d like to go to their horse farm tomorrow afternoon. I said you’d go.”

“I’m not going,” I say too quickly. “I’ve arranged a bike ride with Jerry after my music exam.”

Tommy sings out, “Maggie’s scared of hor-ses!”

It’s true. I am a bit afraid of horses. I like watching them, but they have such big teeth. I’m afraid they’ll bite. I glare at Tommy.

“Why don’t you want to go?” Mom says. “You’re not the best person at picking friends.”

“I can pick my own friends,” I mutter.

“What did you say?” She chops furiously.

“I said, I don’t want to go anywhere with Carolyn.”

“What do you mean, you don’t want to?”

“I mean, I can’t. I promised Jerry I’d go bike riding with him.”

“You can go bike riding next weekend, Maggie.” She scrapes the chopped apples into a bowl.

“I can’t go with Carolyn, Mom.

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