The Great Googlini by Sara Cassidy

Author:Sara Cassidy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459817050
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2018-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

“I’ve been replaced by a nurse?”

“Sort of. But you and I will hang out soon, okay?”

“Sure.”

Uncle Mato gives me a long, serious hug.

“Why such a long, serious hug?” I ask.

Uncle Mato shrugs. My stomach clenches up like it’s preparing for a punch. But Uncle Mato just kisses the top of my head. “Happy birthday, double-digit Filip.”

Ivan and I work on my turbine model until Ivan’s stomach growls and he heads to the kitchen for another piece of baklava.

When he returns, he’s shaky.

“Did you break a glass or something?”

“No.”

“What then?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh, obviously something.”

“Okay, something.” Ivan gnaws his tongue. “Your parents are talking at the supper table.”

“That’s kind of normal.”

“They’re talking about—” Ivan swallows.

“Me? It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

“About your uncle Mato.”

“About his new girlfriend?”

“He has one? Cool! It’s about time too, hey? I mean—”

“What were they talking about?”

“Yeah, well, I guess, it seems, apparently, you know, like—”

“Spit it out.”

“He has cancer.”

There’s the punch. But everything clicks into place too. Mom and Mrs. Zupan going quiet at the window. Dad crying when Uncle Mato sang. Mom at The Paprenjak, not wanting him to play soccer. How he met a nurse!

“I’ll get your mom,” Ivan says, backing out of the room.

A minute later Mom knocks at the door. She looks tired. “I didn’t want you to find out now. Definitely not on your birthday. Not until we know how bad it is. Or how not bad it is. You know, he could be fine. The lump could be benign.”

“Lump?”

“Near his bladder.”

“Ugh.”

“I’ll be heading off,” Ivan says. “Happy bir—well, not so happy, huh. Thanks for having me over. I’m sorry about your uncle.”

I give him my worst look.

“Hey,” Mom says. “Don’t dig a hole under the messenger.”

“That’s not the expression, Mom.”

“It isn’t Ivan’s fault, Filip.”

I look at Ivan. His nose is red. That means he’s upset.

“Sorry,” I say.

“It’s okay. Let begonias be begonias, hey?”

It’s our old joke.

From before I was ten.

From before Uncle Mato had cancer.

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