Hope's War by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Author:Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2001-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

KAT'S HEART BEAT rapidly when she saw the school bus pull up at her stop the next morning. She noticed Michael sitting in one of the seats, but the space beside him was full. None of the other kids even glanced at her as she stepped in and walked down the aisle. This was actually normal — studied indifference. She was about to sit down in one of the empty seats near the front when she glanced at the back and saw that Ian and Lisa were there. She was angry at herself for feeling a twinge of jealousy. Kat saw Ian look up at her. He motioned with his eyes for her to come and sit with him and Lisa. She noticed that Lisa had also looked up and was gesturing encouragingly too. She wanted to be close to Ian because she knew he was her friend. Also, she had his leather jacket neatly folded in her knapsack. She gave them both a faint smile, then walked down to the back and sat down with them.

It felt odd walking into art class that day. Kat expected her classmates to ogle her curiously, but that didn't happen. When she sat in her usual spot behind Michael, he turned about and gave Kat a self-conscious grin.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

So he knew.

As if he could read her thoughts, Michael said, "Nah, my Dad doesn't talk shop at home. I put two and two together when I read yesterday's paper."

Kat nodded in acknowledgement. Beth, who had been doodling on a blank sheet of paper on her desk, looked up, a frown creasing her brow. "What are you guys talking about?"

The comment surprised Kat. Didn't everyone here know what had happened to her grandfather? What was she supposed to say to Beth?

Michael saved her by quickly replying, "Kat's grandfather needs some immigration papers filed, and my Dad's looking after it."

"Oh," said Beth, not remotely interested. "And that was in the paper? Boy, this is a boring town."

If only, thought Kat.

Beth's lackadaisical attitude contrasted greatly with Mr. Harding's when he walked into class a few moments later. Kat noticed that he scanned the room, saw her sitting there, and immediately locked eyes with her. The stare made her blush, and so she looked down at her notebook.

They were working on detailed pencil sketches of an object. Kat's object of choice was her left running shoe. It was an emotional relief to be able to concentrate on replicating every stitch, every fabric crease of her old Nike. It was sheer pleasure to be involved in an activity that involved the skill of her hands, but left her mind free to wander.

"It's good to see you back at school, Kat," Mr. Harding said. He was standing right behind her.

Kat was so startled that she nearly fell off her stool. She had been so engrossed with her work that she hadn't seen through the corner of her eye when Mr. Harding crept beside her.

"Come see me after class, Kat," said Mr.

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