Sing for Me by Karen Halvorsen Schreck

Author:Karen Halvorsen Schreck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

THIRTEEN

Wednesday and Thursday pass as Wednesday and Thursday will. Friday is on the horizon. When I finally sleep on Thursday night, I dream that I am running through dark streets in my blue dress, running and running, trying to get somewhere—where I don’t know, but I know it’s a place as important as my life. Someone is chasing me; I hear footsteps not so far behind. Someone will catch me if they can, stop me if they do. I run harder. I am almost there. Then a hand comes down on my shoulder.

Someone is shaking me awake. It is dark and cold. Friday—it’s Friday. I was supposed to arrive at Calliope’s at seven. If it’s this dark, I must be late. I must have taken a short nap after work, and it turned into a long one.

“Rose.”

Mother’s voice. Mother’s hand on my shoulder, drawing me from my dreams.

“What time is it?”

“Nearly six.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I can make it to Calliope’s by eight.

“Wake up, Rose.” Mother raises her voice. “Sophy, you, too. We have to get some breakfast into you both.”

I’m aware now of Sophy’s warm weight in the bed. Sophy never takes naps in the late afternoon or early evening. If she does, she won’t sleep at night. She mumbles something into her pillow. Something that sounds like a version of “not hungry yet.”

I rub my eyes, confused. “Breakfast? Don’t you mean dinner?”

“Not unless you want to have dinner for breakfast. I’ve got oatmeal on the stove. Come on.” Mother gives me another shake. “Hurry now. We can’t be late.”

Nearly six in the cold, dark morning. That’s what time it is. The day still stretches before us.

Sophy groans.

“Late for what?” I dread the answer; it’s lurking like a shadow at the back of my mind.

“The Nygaards, sleepyhead! Zane’s party.” Mother clucks her tongue. “I told you about this after church last Sunday, Rose. Remember?”

“I guess I forgot.”

Mother heads for the bedroom door. “Bring only a work dress today, Rose. Tomorrow you’ll pack a nicer one for the party. Quickly now!”

Mother hurries from the room. A snore escapes from Sophy. Clearly, Mother’s words had no effect on her. On me, they had plenty. Wide awake, I sit bolt upright in bed. If I know Mrs. Nygaard, she will have us cleaning until late tonight to prepare for her party, and tomorrow, the party itself will go late into the night. I will not make tonight’s eight o’clock rehearsal and performance. Or tomorrow night’s, either. And if I don’t show up at the performance, the Chess Men will never perform at Calliope’s again.

I need to come up with a good excuse to slip away.

I go to the closet, rifle through my small collection of work dresses, pull the cleanest one from its hanger, and put it on.

If only excuses could be found in closets.

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