Where I Belong by Tara White

Author:Tara White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tradewind Books
Published: 2015-10-18T22:48:50+00:00

Chapter 9

I am in a taxi, going home to McDonalds Corners. As we drive away, Gramma’s house grows smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror. A white bird flies past the car toward the house. A gunshot rings out, and the white bird falls to the ground. It’s dead. A siren shrieks. I shout to the driver to stop, but he doesn’t listen—he taps on the steering wheel with a drumstick, and the drumming sound grows louder and louder.

I woke in a cold sweat. For a moment I didn’t know where I was. I grabbed my notepad and jotted down the crazy dream I just had.

I went into the kitchen. Gramma and Harold were speaking in low voices at the table. They stopped talking when I came into the room.

“Good morning, Carrie,” Gramma said.

“Good morning.” I smiled. “Hmmm, can I make a phone call?”

“Of course you can, this is your home now,” Harold said. “Want to call your parents?”

The thought hadn’t even occurred to me. “N-no,” I stammered, feeling embarrassed. “Actually, it’s a . . . a friend I need to call.”

Gramma gave me a funny look. “You go right ahead. C’mon, Harold, help me water the garden.”

After they left I picked up the phone and dialled Tommy.

It took forever for Tommy to get there. I waited impatiently on the couch, staring out the window for what seemed like hours. Finally a clunky old Chevette pulled into the driveway.

The doorbell rang and Harold opened the door. “Hi, Tommy,” he said. “What brings you here?”

“He’s going to show me around the reserve,” I piped in.

Tommy was wearing the same ball cap that he wore when I met him at the mall, the one with the little white bird.

The white bird in my dreams.

“Coach Williams,” Tommy said, “great to see you again.” He held out his hand. “Carrie and I met at a hockey tournament a while ago.”

Harold turned to Carrie. “I coached Tommy’s hockey team a few years ago. Jessica used to come along to watch us practise. Tommy, how’s your brother?”

“He’s still scoring lots of goals,” Tommy said. “Is it okay with you if I take Carrie for the day?”

“Sure,” said Harold. “Have a good time, but be careful. There’s trouble brewing.”

“I know all about it. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. Ready, Carrie?”

I nodded. “Bye, Gramma,” I shouted down the hall.

Mom and Dad would not be pleased.

Tommy and I chatted and listened to music as he drove.

I pointed to a video recorder in the back of the car. “That looks pretty professional.”

“I want to be ready in case a good story pops up.”

“Are you some kind of reporter?”

“Sort of. A few of my stories have been broadcast on our local channel, nothing big.”

“What kind of stories?”

“Nothin’ major. But one day I’m gonna get a really big story. That’s why I keep the camera with me all the time. So I’ll be ready.”

“Wow, that’s so cool.”

“Yeah, in September I’m going to journalism school.”

“Where?”

“Maybe Toronto. I’m on a waiting list.”

“What’s it like living on a reserve?”

“Same as anywhere.

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