Sundancer (4 page)

HALF AN HOUR LATER, dinner was on the table. Hamburgers with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and tomato slices shared space on their plates with leafy green salad lightly tossed with vinaigrette. Hannah was the last to sit down, and she bit into her burger hungrily. “Your message light is blinking,” noted Kimberly with her mouth full.

“Thanks,” responded Hannah. “I'll check it later.”

“What if it's my mother?”

“It can wait until we eat, Kimberly.” Hannah took another bite before the eager look on Kimberly's face made her reconsider. Reluctantly she put down her burger and went to the answering machine. She pressed “messages”.

“Hannah, it's Eva. We'll be there the weekend before Labour Day; Randy, Julia, and me. Can we stay with you? Mom's place is too small, and Dad, well, you know. He likes his privacy, and I don't want Randy to be alone with him for too long. The old twenty questions routine.”

Bird slouched in her seat. The sound of her mother's voice took away her appetite.

Eva's voice rattled on. “Can you be a dear, Hannah, and have a dinner party for us? Invite Mom and George, Dad and whoever he's dating now? I know you won't have a date; ha ha ha ha; you never do. Don't get touchy, now. Call me back today, but not too late. I need my beauty sleep now more than ever! Bye-bye! Call me back.”

Bird stared at her burger and willed herself to eat. So, her mother was really coming. Wonderful. At least she'd get to see her sister.

“Eva never needed beauty sleep.” Stuart's voice interrupted her thoughts. “She's one good-looking gal.”

Hannah nodded. “Mmm.”

“And nice, too,” Stuart continued. “I've only met her a couple of times, but I remember how she makes everyone around her feel special.”

Specially stupid, Bird thought.

“Wow, does she ever talk a lot!” exclaimed Kimberly. “What's with the baby voice? And who's Eva, anyway?”

“Eva's my sister,” answered Hannah. “Bird's mother.”

“Bird's mother? I didn't know Bird had a mother. Why doesn't Bird live with her, not you? Is it because she doesn't talk? Her mother talks so much, no wonder Bird doesn't say anything!”

Kimberly didn't see the plate coming. Smack in the face with all the fixings. She sat for a second in shock, onions and mustard dripping down the front of her shirt. Then she responded in kind, hurling her own plate at Bird. Bird ducked.

The plate, loaded with Kimberly's entire messy dinner, missed Bird's head by inches and shattered on the wall behind her, a mere inch to the left of the window. Immediately, the kitchen became a war zone. Bird leaped at Kimberly and tackled her to the ground, knocking over two chairs and shoving the table aside on the way.

Kimberly fought back, screaming indignantly. “Get off me, you savage! Hannah! Get her off me! Now!” The girls scrambled and wrestled each other with all their might.

After a moment of shock, Hannah and Stuart sprang into action as well. With a great deal of effort, Hannah was able to grab Bird by the arms while Stuart successfully contained Kimberly. Each pair retreated to a separate corner of the kitchen. All were panting with exertion and covered in condiments.

Bird struggled against Hannah's grip, a low growl coming from deep in her throat. She stared hard at the red-headed girl across the room.
Do you see me now? Can you tell that I'm here?

Kimberly's eyes were wide with surprise as she returned Bird's look.

Hannah and Stuart assessed the damage, not letting either girl go. Aside from the broken dishes and splattered food, the only injury was a scrape under Kimberly's right eye where Bird had scratched her in the tussle.

“What a mess. I'll take Bird, Stuart. Can you manage Kimberly?”

Stuart nodded, raising an eyebrow. “No fatalities. I think we're okay.”

“The medicine chest is above the microwave. You might want to disinfect that scratch. Human nails and all that.”

Hannah took Bird to the washroom where she sponged off as much of the dinner as she could. “These are guests, Bird!” she exclaimed, rubbing at the stain on the front of her own shirt. “You don't throw food at guests! You don't throw food at all!”

Bird set her face in a stubborn grimace. And guests should be polite to their hosts, she thought. What did Hannah expect her to do? Let Kimberly insult her? She just didn't get it.

“What will Mr. Gilmore think? He's the principal of the school for heaven's sake! What do you think your chances are now?”

Bird wearily appraised her aunt. She didn't get this, either. Bird didn't care about her chances. Right now, she didn't care about anything.

By the time they returned to the kitchen, Stuart had righted the table and chairs, and wiped the floor. Kimberly's tiny wound had been bathed with antiseptic soap, sprayed with Solarcaine, and bandaged at Kimberly's request. Kimberly sat in a sulking heap.

Hannah took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Okay, girls, let's start again. Who'd like a new burger?”

“I want to go home.”

“Kimberly, your mom'll be here by nine thirty. We've got a little time, so you might as well make the best of it. Have something to eat.”

“Forget it!” She glared across the table at Bird. “She's a maniac!”

I can be a maniac, sure, thought Bird.

Once again, Bird growled from deep in her throat, and Kimberly sprang out of her chair. “She's scaring me! On purpose! What is she? An animal?”

We're all animals, reasoned Bird.

Stuart quietly intervened. “You insulted her mother, Kimberly. Maybe you should apologize.”

“I don't apologize to animals!”

“Apologize, please.” Stuart's tone was kind but firm.

“If she apologizes first.” Kimberly stuck out her jaw.

Bird slowly touched her face with her index finger, on the place where she'd scratched Kimberly. Then she lowered her head and placed her hand over her heart, watching Kimberly closely all the while.
I can be nice. Can you?

“Bird has apologized,” Hannah said, amazed. “And very nicely, too. Well done, honey. Now it's your turn, Kimberly.”

The girl's eyes filled with tears. “I don't know why I should apologize! She attacked me and cut my face open!”

“But you insulted her mother and called her an animal.”

“But I like animals! That wasn't an insult!”

“Come now,” coaxed Stuart. “You meant it as an insult. Apologize, and we can forget this ever happened.”

“Okay! I apologize! But …”

“Let's leave it at that,” said Hannah quickly.

Bird smiled at Kimberly. First a small smile, then bigger and broader. Kimberly was suspicious at first but then seemed to realize that it was sincere. She put out her hand. Bird looked at it, unsure how to react. Kimberly began to withdraw it, feeling silly. Suddenly Bird grabbed her hand, then dropped it, embarrassed. Kimberly smiled at her and said, “Can we try to be friends? Not like normal or anything, but friends?”

Bird smiled back. Mission accomplished.

LATER, AT THE ICE cream parlour, the girls sat side by side on a bench licking their cones. Bird wondered if they looked like friends to the people passing by. She hoped so. She looked at Kimberly. Kimby, she'd call her if she ever talked. Kimberly was too adult, too formal. Kimby was a girl who needed friends, thought Bird. Real friends who cared about her for herself and not for the clothes she wore or the cool holidays she took with her dad. Show-off stuff. Underneath all that, Bird could feel a goodness in Kimberly, and a creative swirl. Orange and purple. She offered her chocolate fudge to Kimby to sample. Kimberly took a lick, smiled, then held out hers for Bird. Bird smiled back broadly and tasted Kimby's Rocky Road.

Bird cast her eyes to the bench on the other side of the parlour door, where Hannah sat talking with Mr. Gilmore. She could tell they were talking about her now, and she strained to hear their conversation.

“Stuart, I need to ask you something. And of course you'll answer honestly and I'll accept what you say.” Hannah breathed deeply, then blurted, “What are Bird's chances of a place at Forks of the Credit? I haven't had any luck getting her in anywhere else. That I can afford, I mean.”

Bird waited for the principal's answer, fingers crossed. The tantrum at dinner should've done the trick.

Stuart sat in thought for a moment. Finally, he said, “I think we can try again.”

Oh no, thought Bird.

“Thank heavens,” whispered Hannah with pure relief. “I didn't know what I was going to do if you said no. Thank you, Stuart.”

“Hannah, I can't promise that she can stay.”

“I understand.”

“I hope so. Tonight at dinner was a good example of the problem. Bird reacted to Kimberly's prods swiftly and violently. Not much has changed since last year.”

“But she apologized. I've never seen her do anything like that before.”

Stuart smiled. “That's what changed my mind.” I can't believe this, thought Bird.

“I came over tonight to tell you that we couldn't have her back this year. Now I think there might be hope after all.”

“She'll be there, first day of school. With bells on.”

“Hannah, I must caution you. I can't jeopardize the entire class for one child. If she causes too much chaos …”

“I know.”

“If it doesn't work out, it won't be for lack of trying.”

“Thanks, Stuart,” Hannah said earnestly. “And I'm sorry about your shirt.”

Stuart looked down at his white shirt, now stained forever with mustard. “Invite me to dinner when Eva's in town and we'll call it even.”

“Deal.” Hannah smiled. “You can't know how much this means to me. And how much this will mean to Bird.”

More than you know, thought Bird sadly. I hate school. Everyone thinks I'm a freak. Even I feel like a freak when I'm there.

Bird sat dejected. School started soon. Her life as a free person was over. She let her melting scoop of chocolate fudge fall to the ground.

BY TEN O'CLOCK, KIMBERLY'S mother still hadn't shown up. There was no answer on Lavinia's cell phone, and no one was home. Bird noted that Hannah had left four messages, just in case.

“Kimberly?”

The girl looked up from
Horse Sport Magazine
, where she and Bird were checking out some shiny new horse trailers. They particularly liked the Four Star three-horse slant with a dressing room.

“You're in the guest room tonight. Bird's blue nightgown will fit nicely, and here's a spare toothbrush. Towels and soap are in the linen closet at the top of the stairs.”

“But Mom'll be here any minute!”

Hannah smiled gently. “Don't worry. Climb into bed now, and when she comes, I'll wake you up. We all need our sleep. Bird, you too.”

Bird was already yawning at the welcome thought of bed, but

Kimberly looked uncertain.

“Aren't you tired?” asked Hannah. “You've had a long day.”

“Yes, actually. Very tired.”

“Then come along. Bird'll show you to your room. You can get some sleep before your mom arrives.”

Kimberly's eyes filled with tears. “Do you really think she's coming?”

“I'm sure she is.”

Kimberly whispered, “I think she forgot me.”

“Your mother wouldn't forget you,” Hannah said lightly. “She's just been held up.”

“At her boyfriend's house!” Kimberly spat out. “She always forgets about me now that she has her precious boyfriend!”

Hannah reached out to her, and Bird watched as Kimberly's anger dissolved into tears. She felt sorry for her new friend. She knew exactly how she felt.

“Don't you worry.” Hannah gave Kimberly's shoulder a squeeze. “He's old, too! As old as my grandfather. It's disgusting. And she acts like a baby around him. He buys her everything she wants, and

likes her to wear teenager clothes. Ugh!” Hannah patted her back and listened.

“Mom doesn't spend any time with me any more.”

A little later, when Kimberly's head started to nod, Hannah helped her upstairs. Bird ran ahead and opened the guest room

door and turned down the bed. The minute Kimberly's head hit the pillow, she was asleep.

Bird kissed her lightly on the cheek. She hoped that the sleeping Kimby would think it was her mother. It's hard to live without a mother's love, thought Bird. Even for a short time. She turned out the light and quietly closed the door.

The phone rang loudly, cutting through the stillness. Hannah ran to her room to answer it, not wanting to wake Kimberly. “Hello?”

Bird peered through the crack in the door. Hannah sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders tense. It had to be her mother.

“Of course, Eva, you're welcome to stay — Julia and Randy, too.” Hannah's voice was light, but Bird knew that she was making an effort to sound happy and relaxed.

“A real family. That sounds good. I'm happy for you, Eva.” Hannah smiled sadly. “Of course I mean it, Eva.”

In the dim light of the hall, Bird felt actual pain as her heart filled with grief. She choked back a sob so Hannah wouldn't know she was there. Bird had no illusions. Her mother's “real family” didn't include her.