The Pilots Wife by Anita Shreve

Author:Anita Shreve
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Queensland Braille Writing Association
Published: 2002-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

Then the band will play

"Trumpet Voluntary, " everyone will go home, and she can start computing grades for her sophomore history class.

Mattie has a math final tomorrow.

She hears applause, the hush of anticipation as a name is read, another round of applause, sometimes a whistle from the crowd.Seniors from the front row of the auditorium mount the stage and return with ribbon-tied scrolls in their hands, occasionally a trophy.Beside her, Jimmy Demartino receives an award for outstanding academic achievement in physics.She holds his tuba for him while he is on stage.

After thirty minutes have passed, Kathryn listens for the lull in the proceedings that will signal that the evening is coming to a close.

In preparation, she stands and walks toward the conductor's box, making small motions with her hand to remind the musicians to pick up their instruments.She changes the music on the stand, waits with her hands folded in front of her to begin.

But she is mistaken.The principal is not done.There is one more award to be given.

Kathryn hears the words highest possible score and sophomore.A name is called.A girl stands and hands Kathryn her clarinet.In a white T-shirt, a skimpy black skirt, and work boots, the girl ascends the stage.The audience, in a mixture of admiration for the achievement and relief that the assembly is over, breaks into applause.Kathryn tucks Mattie's clarinet under her arm and claps as hard as any of them.

Jack should be here, Kathryn thinks.

Afterward, in the band room, Kathryn smothers Mattie in a hug.

"I'm so proud, she says.

"Mom, Mattie says breathlessly, breaking away, "can I call Dad and tell him?I really want to.

Kathryn thinks a moment.Jack is in London and will be sleeping in preparation for another trip, but she knows he wouldn't mind being woken for this.

"Sure, Kathryn says to Mattie."Why not?We'll use the phone in the principal's office.

Using her calling card number, she dials the crew apartment, but there is no answer.She hangs up and tries again.Through the window, she can see the wind sending gusts of rain down the street.

Kathryn tries a third time, thinking that the repetition of calls alone will signal to Jack that she's trying to reach him.It's one-thirty in the morning in London.Where is he?

"We'll call from home, she tells Mattie with a smile.

But at home, when she dials the London number, there is still no answer.

Kathryn calls three times, twice while Mattie isn't looking.

She leaves a message on the voice mail.Feeling the enthusiasm and pride of the evening beginning to dissipate, Kathryn abandons the effort to reach Jack, and to celebrate Mattie's achievement, makes up a batch of brownies.Mattie, too excited to study for her math test, sits at the kitchen table while her mother mixes the batter.For the first time ever, they discuss colleges, and Kathryn thinks of schools she might not have considered before.She looks at her daughter in a slightly new way.

When Mattie goes to bed, Kathryn's forced good cheer begins to wane.

She stays up late, calculating grades.She calls the London number at

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.