The Missing by Melanie Florence

Author:Melanie Florence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lorimer
Published: 2016-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Safe Haven

The rec centre was more than just a place for homeless kids to stay or teens to crash when they got into fights with their parents. It was a sanctuary. Kids could come and spend an hour or a few days — whatever they needed. It didn’t matter where they came from or what they did on the street. They could get a hot meal, a shower and a bed if they needed it or come in and play basketball or pool or watch TV. No judgment. No questions asked. It was a much-needed haven in our community.

I hadn’t spent much time there myself, but Mia had taken me a few times to hang out and play board games when she didn’t feel like going home. It was clean and there were lockers where you could keep your stuff safe. Overstuffed sofas and chairs were in the main room along with tables where you could play cards or do your homework.

Michael was a tall, unimposing guy who had a smile on his face every time I saw him. He had run the rec centre for years and treated every kid as if he or she was the most important person in the world. That’s why they came back and that’s why they talked to him when they felt as if they couldn’t talk to anyone else. Mia adored him, and when she brought me to the rec centre with her, he had made me feel incredibly welcome.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I saw Michael shooting hoops with a few boys who were significantly shorter than he was. He did an easy layup, his long braid flying behind him, and passed the ball to one of the kids. He looked up as Jake and I approached, and I waved.

“Tanisi, Feather. Good to see you,” he called, catching a pass and dribbling it before passing to another kid.

“Hi, Michael,” I replied. “Namoya miwasin. It’s not good,” I repeated. “Could I talk to you for a minute?” Michael was Cree, like me.

“Yeah, of course. Boys, I’ll be back in a few.” He waved to a small boy wearing a Toronto Raptors jersey who was watching from the sidelines. “Thomas, can you do me a favour and sub in for me? Take it easy on them though, okay?” He ruffled the boy’s hair. Thomas grinned at him and ran onto the court. Michael grabbed a bottle of water and sat down at a nearby picnic table. He smiled at me and nodded at Jake, holding out his hand. “Hi, there. I’m Michael.” Jake reached out and shook it.

“Jake. How’re you doing?”

“Good, thanks. So what can I do for you?” he asked, chugging his water and then wiping the sweat off his face with his sleeve.

“Did Mia come here last night?” I asked, my fingers crossed for his answer.

“Last night? I’m not sure. Definitely not before eight o’clock. I left then and she wasn’t here.”

“No, it would have been later. Sometime after midnight.

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