Old Bones by Gwen Molnar

Author:Gwen Molnar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2014-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“It’ll be light for hours,” Mandy said. She and Casey were sitting on the Normans’ veranda. Mandy was eating Jell-O and Casey was enjoying a chocolate sundae. He looked over at Mandy.

“Is that all the dessert you’re going to have?”

“Well, I have to eat things that won’t irritate my throat, and with this darn milk allergy of mine, I can’t have ice cream or puddings or anything like that.”

“When are you going to be able to eat some more solid food?” Casey asked. “I make a heck of an omelette.”

“Somehow I can’t see you cooking, Casey. But when I can eat an omelette, I’ll let you know.”

“Good,” said Casey.

Mandy was pretty well; she looked better every day, and the wonderful glow she’d had the day Casey’d seen her in the cafeteria was slowly coming back. But she still wasn’t supposed to speak loudly or do any jumping or heavy lifting — or swimming.

When she’d first come home things had been awkward, Mandy not being used to anyone but her family living there. Mandy had not been her usual friendly self and couldn’t hide her resentment when Casey went off swimming. Casey finally realized it really got to Mandy that she couldn’t practise too, and cut his pool visits to one a week instead of three. Mandy was grateful and the good times started.

“I am so glad you’re back in town, Mandy,” Casey told her, thinking how easy she was to be with and, having grown up in a family of four boys, how different it was spending so much time with a girl — especially this girl. “It’s great to have something to look forward to after work. My days are awfully boring.”

Mandy put down her empty dish and smiled. “Your days are boring? Try mine.”

The Normans had had a celebration dinner for Mandy when she got home a couple of weeks ago. She could have only soup and Jell-O, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“It is so great to be back,” she sighed contentedly. “All those weeks away with only reading and TV. You’ll be happy to know, dear parents,” she continued, “I’ve finished all the homework for the rest of the year in social studies, so, when I finally get back to school, I can start a senior biology course.”

Mrs. Norman smiled. “Had a hunch you’d not be wasting your time.” Mandy attended St. Hilda’s, an exclusive, academically challenging girls-only school in Calgary.

“You planned anything for us to do tonight?” Casey wondered.

“Dad’s going to take us to Horsethief Canyon as soon as he can get away from the museum.”

“That’s great. I’ve been looking forward to seeing it.”

Whenever Casey was free, he and Mandy would set off on an adventure. They’d bicycle north on the west bank of the Red Deer River, cross at Bleriot Ferry, the little motor–and-winch contraption said to be the busiest ferry in Alberta, and ride home along the east bank. Mandy’s bike was good, but the red one Casey’d bought with his first cheque was much better.

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