The Wooden Mile by Chris Mould

Author:Chris Mould
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 2011-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

7

Through the Telescope

A few days later, Stanley was sitting at the dinner table playing with his pie and mash. He could feel Mrs. Carelli’s eyes fixed on him, and knew what was coming.

“What is it Stanley, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” he answered so unconvincingly that she pressed him further.

“Yes there is, young Buggles. You normally eats like a horse but I ain’t seen you eat more than a crumb for days and you’ve gone quiet. Especially quiet.”

She did have a way of weeding things out of him, but Stanley would have to keep hold of this one for now.

“OK, OK,” he started. “You’re right … You see, the truth is, well, I’m just missing home a bit. I mean, I love it here you know but, well, I’ve never been away from home before. I know it’s stupid.” And he started to dig into his meal. He made sure he cleaned the plate.

Mrs. Carelli’s face dropped. “Stanley, I’m here for you night and day should you need me. Not just for cooking and cleaning. I know how it feels to miss someone. Years ago I lost my husband. Victor, his name was. Went on a fishing trip out at sea, he did, and never came back. A bad storm took his boat. We found bits of it washed up on the beach.”

Stanley had stirred some feeling deep inside her and discovered something he had not known. His guilt turned into a lump that stuck awkwardly in his throat.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He could think of nothing else to say.

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