Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Crisp blue drapes framed the window looking out onto a partially filled parking lot and filtered the morning sun streaming into the brightly painted yellow room. The occupants were sitting in plastic bucket type chairs, leaning close together as they kept watch over the sleeping form inhabiting the bed.

Kate had been sitting on one of the uncomfortable chairs for a few minutes when she realized what was missing. The beep. She stood and inspected the machines that surrounded the room. Everything seemed to be working, but there was no sound. She looked at her dad who picked up on her train of thought.

“You watch too much T.V.,” he whispered.

“But why doesn’t it make any sound?” she whispered.

“How would anyone get any sleep with all that beeping going on?” he said. “The machines are being monitored at the nurse’s station.” He pointed out the door.

Kate turned back to the bed. She watched as Mr. Shaw slept. The door opened and a doctor and nurse entered. The doctor picked up the chart from the end of the bed and just as quickly replaced it. Mr. Shaw stirred on the bed and opened his eyes. He looked at the faces surrounding his bed. His eyes landed on Kate and he smiled. Kate began to say hello, but was cut off by the doctor.

“How are we feeling today, Mr. O’Callaghan?”

Kate froze, hearing the wrong name spoken by the Doctor. Was this one of those hospitals where they took the wrong patient for a gall bladder surgery, when all they really needed was a nose job? She thought.

“This isn’t Mr. O’Callaghan,” she informed him. “This is Mr. Shaw.”

Kate’s dad put his arm around her shoulder. “No, honey the doctor is right. This is Mr. O’Callaghan.”

Kate frowned, eyebrows knitting together, as she looked at him. What was he saying? He knew good and well that this was not Mr. O’Callaghan.

“Let’s you and me step outside while the doctor examines our Mr. Shaw.”  Her Dad led her from the room to the waiting room around the corner.

As they walked down the hall, out of earshot from the doctor, Kate's concerns came flooding out.

“What was all that Mr. O’Callaghan talk in there?  Dad, they have the wrong chart!  Mr. Shaw is really sick and they are going to amputate his leg or something. We need to get back in there and straighten this all out and now!”

Kate’s dad gently shook his head, quieting her, and sat down on one of the squeaky, vinyl-covered chairs and patted the one next to him. Kate reluctantly sat on the edge of the seat and faced her father.

“Dad...?” she said, the rest of her questions unvoiced, seeking his explanation.

“Kate, the man in that room. His real name is Mr. O’Callaghan,” he started, and seeing the confusion on Kate’s face continued. “Let me start from the beginning.”

Kate rolled her eyes as her dad gathered his thoughts.

“When Mr. and Mrs. Shaw met, his name was O’Callaghan, and it still is, but then...I’m not doing very well, am I?”

Kate shook her head, agreeing with him.

“One more time. Mrs. Shaw, that is her maiden name, worked in her parents’ dog kennel, ‘The Shaw Kennels.’ She met and married a man named Mr. O’Callaghan.” Kate started to interrupt but he held up his hand for her to wait. “When her father died, Mrs. Shaw’s mother decided to retire and give the business to her only child, our Mrs. Shaw. Instead of changing the name of the kennel to ‘O’Callaghan Kennels,’ they left it ‘Shaw Kennels.'”

Kate began to understand where this was heading.

“After a while,” her dad continued, “Mr. O’Callaghan became tired of explaining that he was Mr. O’Callaghan and not Mr. Shaw. He found it easier to let people believe that he was Mr. Shaw and avoid the confusion between the name of the kennel and his own.”  He let out a big breath, “How did I do?”

“So that man in there that I have been calling 'Mr. Shaw' for the last, oh, I don’t know, since we have been in this country, is really a man named 'Mr. O’Callaghan'?”

“Yes.”

She calmed down. “Well then, you did a good job. So Mr. Shaw is like a nickname.”  Her dad bobbed his head.

Kate stood up and walked to the window, relieved Mr. Shaw wouldn't lose his leg or his spleen to a bookkeeping error. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. She crossed her arms to ward off a chill. Why would he keep his real name a secret?  Secrets...big secrets. Josh had his secrets and now Mr. Shaw or Mr. O’Callaghan, she corrected herself. What about her mom? She looked at her father. Was he keeping secrets?

Mr. Shaw was awake, but looked weary when they entered the room. Kate felt her stomach tighten and her throat burned. He looked so frail and helpless. Kate had never known anyone who was seriously sick in a hospital like this before. She wanted to help him, to make him feel better again, make him smile again.

“Zo,” she said in her best German accent. “I hear you have been keeping zecrets from me Mr. O’Callaghan, if dat ist your real name?” He turned his head toward her and smiled. Kate smiled back and continued. “Vaht else have you been keeping'k from me?  Are you also zome kind of zpace alien? Or perhaps an undercover zpy for a major medical corporation posing’k as a patient to get ze zcoop on ze latest bed pan technology ze Zcottish have to offer?”

“I guess the truth is out now,” he said in a weak voice, the smile lightening his features.

She sat down in the chair next to the bed and said, “Your real name is O’Callaghan, huh?” He nodded. “Dad told me the story about the kennel. I find it very boring and lacking intrigue. Tell me you have a better story than that,”

He nodded and said, “Yes I do, but you will have to ask me another time. The test they are giving me are tedious, and very exhausting. The old doctor gave me something for the pain they inflicted. It makes me sleep, which is all I seem to do here. You will have to remind me to tell you how I came to live in Edinburgh. But I will have to beg your pardon, for now.” He closed his eyes and promptly fell sleep.

Kate continued to sit and study Mr. Shaw for a moment. The light from the window played across his face, giving him an almost saintly look. Gradually the gleam became brighter and more brilliant until she had to look away for a moment. As it faded, a boy stood next to the bed, the boy she knew from her dreams. The boy reached out hesitantly to touch Mr. Shaw’s face. He opened his eyes and looked at the boy and he smiled.

“Andrew? Is that you? What happened to you?” Mr. Shaw reached out as he began to fade away, going back to wherever he came from. Mr. Shaw closed his eyes, the smile still on his face, and fell back asleep.

Bruce whistled softly and said, “Wow, I wish I could get some of whatever they gave him.”

They stood and watched Mr. Shaw sleep for a few moments then together, very quietly, they left the room. Kate studied her father, he showed no signs of seeing the boy.

“Have you ever heard how Mr. Shaw came to Edinburgh?” Kate asked as they stood on the street waiting for a taxi.

“No. I know that Mrs. Shaw was born here. I always assumed Mr. Shaw was from here too.”

“What are we supposed to call him now? Mr. Shaw or Mr. O’Callaghan?” Kate asked.

“I guess you should ask him what he prefers. But in the meantime, I don’t think he will mind if you continue to call him Mr. Shaw,” her dad assured her.

They hailed a cab and climbed into the back. Kate stared out the window watching the people on the street.

“You saw that little boy?” he asked.

She looked out the back window at a family walking down the sidewalk, “Which boy? The one there with his parents?”

“No, the little boy in Mr. Shaw’s hospital room,” he said.

Kate whipped her head around to look at him. “You saw him too!” He nodded his head. “I thought you didn't have visions while you were awake?”

“I don't. But ever since we've moved here... I guess the rules have changed,” he said.

“Have you seen him before?” she pressed.

“No, but that’s not the first time you’ve see him, is it?”

She shook her head no. “What's changed?”

He shook his head. “When I am closer to the happenings, sometimes I daydream, and the vision becomes much clearer, more accurate. But it's not the same as being awake. How many times have you seen this boy?”

Kate thought about it. “Several times, but only in my dreams, until today. What does it mean?”

“It could mean anything. Possibly, that what you're dreaming about is close to happening.”

“That can't be. All my dreams are about the past. Like distant past, different clothes, different cars.”

“These visions when I am awake are all new to me, but I think when my mom arrives, we should have a nice long chat with her,” he said.

Kate nodded and turned to watch the world outside the cab's window go by as she contemplated the day's events. First, the recurring dreams, then a boy from those dreams appears in Mr. Shaw’s hospital room. Were the two connected? Even stranger, Mr. Shaw called him by name. 'Andrew, what happened to you?' Did he know him?

Kate and Andrew managed to beat Billy to the breakfast chow line. Billy looked stunned when he came out to the breakfast tables and saw them already there. This time it was for Billy, that Christopher and Sean had saved food.

“Why din’t you wake me?” Billy asked.

“What?  Wake you when I haven’t beaten you to breakfast since I have known you?”  Andrew said, “No!  I wanted to be the one to have the mushrooms and bangers all to myself for once!”

“Bangers? Where? I don't see any,” Billy said.

“You would have if you had gotten here aboot five minutes ago,” Sean said.

Billy looked heartbroken.

“But I did manage to save you some mushrooms,” Christopher said.

Billy sat down to eat as Sean and Christopher resumed their conversation.

“I hear that we will arrive in Edinburgh today.”

“Yea, I heard that too. The older men are worried aboot the Police that have been discharged to escort us,” Christopher added.

“Rumor has it, we plan to march right up to the door at Holyrood Palace,” Sean said.

Billy, forgetting to chew, stared open mouthed, “Up to the door?”

“That’s why they are sending the Police in to toss the lot of us in jail,” Christopher said.

“Nobody’s going to throw anyone in jail.” Robert walked up behind Billy and put his hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Come now. Finish up. There is still a bit of packing t' be done,” he said patting Billy on the shoulder before he walked away. Billy shoveled the last bit of his breakfast into his mouth and hurried to catch up with him, a worried look on his face.

Kate and Andrew looked at Christopher and Sean who were shaking with suppressed laughter.

“You two can be evil little gits when you want to be,” Andrew said as he laughed along with them.

“Some people are just easier than others,” Sean said.

They all stood and followed Billy to gather up their belongings.

Kate and Andrew picked up their packs and went looking for Andrew’s dad. They found him and Ol' Rob as the men were gathering. Kate’s eyes were drawn to Ol' Rob's shoes again. They looked worse than before, the brown oily spots, she could only assume were blood, were larger than yesterday. She was worried that the old man wouldn’t make it to the end of the walk. As she approached, she heard Frank arguing with him.

“Rob, there is no shame in it at all and the cost has been covered. I’d rather see you go that way then have to carry you me self,” Frank was saying.

“Over my broken and dead body!” Rob said and hobbled off.

Kate and Andrew approached his father. “What's going on?” Andrew asked.

“Rob's feet. He needs to stop this madness. He can ride the bus to Edinburgh and join us there, but he won’t do it,” Frank answered.

“I think I saw blood on his shoes,” Andrew said.

“I did too. That’s why I have been arguing with him to ride the rest of the way, but he won’t do it. He wants to walk into Edinburgh, it is that important to him,”

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Morning was brutal after a late night of unpacking, putting up curtains, hanging pictures and cleaning up the boxes. Kate had an excruciating time pulling herself out of bed. A fragment of her dream flashed through her mind and she spent a moment reflecting upon the oddness of having different dreams with a reoccurring cast of characters. She shook her head and her thoughts turned to her plans for the morning. She was looking forward to lazing around the house in her pajamas and having a wonderful slow breakfast with her dad, admiring all their hard work. She yawned, stretched, kicked the covers onto the floor and braced herself to get out of bed.

She shuffled, yawning, into the kitchen where her dad was standing at the stove looking at an empty pan.

“It works better if you put something into it,” she yawned.

He stood there for a moment, lips pursed, staring at the pan, then he turned off the stove and moved the pan off the burner.

“How about breakfast out?” Seeing the protest on her lips he hurried on. “I walked by an interesting little place just the other day. Its menu had some fun entrees on it. What do you say?”

Kate, still just a bit groggy, whined, “I... I thought you were going to cook me breakfast.”

He folded his hands in prayer and gave her a look that told her he, too, was worn out, and needed a break. She relinquished to his silent plea.

“All right. I'll go get dressed,” she agreed.

They were seated at a street-side table looking at the menu. “When are you going to tell me about Grandma and Mom?” she said as casually as if she had said, 'It's a beautiful day.'

Not looking up, he commented, “Oh the full Scottish breakfast. Doesn’t that look good? I think I will try that, and a side of toast. What are you going to get?” he said, completely ignoring her question.

She looked at her menu. “I want pigs in a blanket but I don’t seem to find it on the menu,” she said, “and quit trying to change the subject.”

“Just order the American pancakes and sausage and roll them up yourself,” he replied. “And I’m not avoiding the subject, I just don’t want to be interrupted once we are talking. Order first, talk later.”

“Fine,” she huffed.

The waiter arrived and they placed their orders. Kate tried to relax and let him start the tale in his own time. She watched the people on the street and took in the nice, almost sunny weather. Bruce took a long drink of his juice, placed his hands flat on the table and put on his best business face.

“I am a little uncomfortable telling you this. You and your Grandmother have such a wonderful relationship and I am afraid it will put a bad light on her. Are you sure you want to hear it?” Kate thought for a moment. Hearing the venom in her mother's voice when she talked about her mother-in-law made Kate's teeth grind. She had to know where that all came from. What had her sweet grandmother done to cause her mother to hate her so? She nodded, definitely. “Where to start? You know the end, so I guess I should start from the beginning. When your mother and I started dating, it was a long time before I brought her home to meet my mother. The reason for that being...” He gestured to her.

“The psychic thing,” she answered.

“Yes, the psychic thing. You have to understand, your grandmother, like yourself, doesn’t need to be asleep to see things like I do. Her gift is more, how can I put it? In your face, so to speak. She can meet people and know things about them right away.”

“And she saw something in Mom?” she asked.

“Yes. She saw something big, something important in her, I could tell, but I could never get her to tell me what it was. She would say something about freedom of choice that was given to us by God. Your Grandmother can be very cryptic.”

“Did she ever tell you?”

“Now, you’re getting ahead of the story and if you truly want to understand what the situation is, then you have to hear all of it.”

Just like him. Kate knew her dad had to tell the story like he cooked. From the beginning of the recipe to the end. He took another drink of juice and a big breath.

“Your mother and I were really hitting it off and she was coming over to the house more and more and your grandmother was polite, but she always made herself scarce. As you can expect, your mother was keenly aware that my mom didn’t seem to like her. You wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientist, like your mother, to figure that one out. Meg would show up and all of the sudden my mom would pretend she was just leaving on an errand or she claimed to be in the middle of pickling some pickles that desperately needed pickled. She even managed to start some tie dyeing before we made it up the driveway.”

Kate chuckled at that.

“That seems funny now, but that one was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. We had gone there to surprise them with the news of our engagement, but Dad wasn't home and we couldn't contain ourselves.” He looked over his glasses to see her reaction.

“Are you telling me that you went to Grandmother's and Grandpa's to tell them you were going to be married and she didn't ever pretend to be happy for you?” Kate was appalled.

“I had just finished, by picking up your mom's hand with the ring on it to show her, and she just got up from the couch, said she had some things that she was dyeing, and left the room. She proceeded to spend the rest of the evening dyeing a bunch of old clothing,” he said.

“What? That doesn't even make sense. I can’t believe Grandmother would be so rude. She seems so funny and sweet,” she said incredulously. She was beginning to see why her mom had such strong negative feelings.

“Believe me, even I couldn't believe that my own mom could have acted the way she did. I was so hurt and angry with her.”

“What did Grandpa say?”

“Grandpa wasn’t there when all this happened and your mom was trying to leave when he got home. He always had a way with your mom. He managed to calm her down and escorted her back inside. We told him our news and he was very happy for us. He cried and kissed us both, embarrassed your mom by asking when he could start expecting grandchildren, he even opened a 100-year-old bottle of brandy to celebrate. He called for your Grandmother to come celebrate with us, but she just couldn't, or wouldn't celebrate with us. Your mother never forgave her.”  Kate had to agree with her mother for once. “From then on, whenever we met my parents for dinner or some event, she would shun my mother, she wouldn't even acknowledge her presence and your Grandpa became her favorite.”

Kate was flabbergasted. “I don't blame her. How did she avoid it without seeming rude?”

“Your mom had no problem being rude to my mom. And your grandmother took it really well. Of course they didn't want to speak to each other, so it wasn't that big of a problem. It was never how we envisioned our life together would be.”

“So, did your mom ever tell you what she saw?” she asked.

“Yes, she did.”

“Are you going to tell me?” She sat on the edge of her seat, torn between curiosity and fear of what her grandmother had said.

“Remember, I told you that your Grandmother was cryptic?”

She nodded.

“She said, and I quote ‘It’s not the truth and it will break her heart.’” He sat back and stared off into the distance.

She looked at her father. He seemed so sad and a million miles away. His eyes unfocused and brow furrowed. Was he back in time with his mother, asking her what she meant, or was he comforting his bride whose heart had been hurt by the mother of the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with?

She sank back into her seat, her thoughts shifting between these images.

“Huh? What did it mean?” she finally asked.

“I have no idea.”

Kate was shocked. “What? She never explained it to you?”

Bruce shook his head. “She refused to tell me. She said that she wished us the best and that’s all I could ever get out of her.”

“Wow.”  Kate put her hand over her mouth. “Wow. No wonder Mom has issues. If I didn’t know Grandmother the way I do, and heard that story, I don’t think I would like her either.”

He leaned forward taking her hand. “Kate, I am glad you do know her the way you do. I don’t want you to think your grandmother is horrible or a bad person. She saw something that made her react. She definitely distanced herself from your mom after that night. But then you came along and we couldn’t get rid of her. She was at the house every day helping with chores and taking care of you. Your mother never got one day alone with you for three months. I had to tell my mom to go home and make sure dad was still alive, to get her to leave.”

“Why, what difference did it make?” she asked.

“None. It didn’t make any difference. Your mother still didn’t talk to her and my mom didn’t initiate conversation with her. She was only interested in spending time with you. I was pleasantly surprised and must say she is a very good grandmother.”

“Yes, she is.”

Their breakfast arrived and they tucked in, after a few bites, he turned the tables on her. In his best New Jersey accent he said, “So what did Josh have to say?” She looked up at him and pointed to her mouth full of pancakes. “Oh no you don't. I told you mine, now you tell me yours.”

She washed her food down with some water. “He wanted to say he was sorry that he started dating Lily before he broke up with me and that he really loved me and wants to get back together.” She looked back down at her plate. That wasn't as hard as it would have been the other night. He bobbed his head a couple of times.

“And you said?” he prompted, trying to keep the shock out of his voice, but his eyebrows had met his hair line.

“I told him we are too young and too far apart to even think about a long term, long distance relationship.” She stuck her fork into her mouth and licked off the syrup. “I think if this had happened two or three weeks ago I would be a mess, but so much time has passed and so much has happened since then that, even though it still makes what he did despicable, it just doesn't hurt as bad. Like I have outgrown him.”

He smiled at her. “You definitely have grown.”

They continued their breakfast with small talk about school, defense training and the impending arrival of her grandparents. The food was good, definitely different from what she would expect from her dad’s kitchen, but still good. She looked at him over their juice glasses. She could see he was making mental notes about the food, trying to figure out what ingredients were in the sausage. She smiled, never a dull moment for his inner chef. She looked down at the sausage on her fork and tried to figure out what her Grandmother had meant by her cryptic revelation, 'It's not the truth and it will break her heart.'

After breakfast, Kate and her father had a few things on their shopping list for their guests. Even though her grandparents were only staying one night, they decided the items they needed would be used by more friends and relatives they hoped would visit. Pillows, blankets and a blow up bed for Kate to sleep on, while her grandparents used her bed for the night, were on the list. At the linens store they ran into Tavey and Frazier. At first she thought they were shoplifting. They were skulking in the pillow aisle, stuffing pillows up Frazier's shirt. She acted like she didn’t know them but Frazier waddled up to her with his shirt bulging from the pillow beneath.

“Pardon me, does this make me look fat?” Frazier asked with a perfectly straight face.

“No, I don’t think it makes you look fat. It just makes your bum look big,” she said with a straight face of her own.

Tavey doubled over laughing. Kate’s dad was in the next aisle watching with an amused look on his face.

“Frazier don’t you know who you are talking to?” Tavey asked.

Frazier looked at Kate, recognition dawning on his face.

“Oh, hello love. How’s it going? We were just... doin' a little...shopping. We missed you yesterday at the castle.” He was walking backwards, slowly mashing and readjusting the pillow beneath his shirt.

Kate’s dad walked past Tavey and up behind Frazier. Frazier backed into him and stopped, not realizing it wasn't Tavey standing behind him.

“Tavey thought it would be fun to see what people would say if, well, you know, the pillow and all,” Frazier elbowed her dad. “Tell her Tavey.

Tavey walked over to stand by Kate. Frazier stood completely still, and slowly pointed to Tavey.

“If Tavey be there, then who is standing behind me?” Frazier whispered and motioned over his shoulder with his thumb.

“Frazier, this is my father.” Kate motioned to her father standing behind him.

Frazier slowly turned and held out his hand to Bruce.

“Hello, Mr. Thorn. Very nice to meet you.” Continuing to shake his hand he said, “Sorry aboot the elbow.”

“Hello. Frazier is it? Are these some of your school friends, Kate?” He asked solemnly, still holding Frazier's hand.

“Yes Father, they are,” Kate answered just as formal. She didn’t know what he was up to so she followed his lead.

“Well then. It is very nice to meet you.” He dropped his hand and looked down at the pillow bulging under Frazier's shirt then back at his face. “That pillow, under your shirt,” he pointed to Frazier's obnoxiously large shirt. “That pillow... really does make your bum look big.”

In the ensuing silence, the boys looked at each other and at Kate, baffled at how to react. Kate and Bruce's composure crumbled and they burst out laughing. Frazier and Tavey, shaking their heads, joined in.

“Sorry boys, I couldn't resist. It is really nice to meet some of Kate's school friends,” Bruce said, bobbing Frazier's hand again, more warmly this time.

Frazier pulled the pillow out from under his shirt and gently threw it at Kate. He and Tavey relaxed into the company of kindred spirits. “It's very nice to meet you too.” Tavey dramatically pushed Kate out of the way to greet her dad as a long lost relative.

“I love Americans,” they said together.

Later that night, after dinner, Kate and her father were quietly sitting in the living room, Kate doing her homework and Bruce fiddling with plans for a restaurant, a dream he had been imagining since she was young. She knew he had brought his packet of ideas from home, and after some initial coaxing, she managed to get him to break it out as a good distraction from the here and now. Meg burst through the front door, ending the peace. No words were spoken but the undercurrent and sharp, staccato hammering of her heels spoke volumes. Meg went to the bedroom and changed out of her work clothes and returned to the kitchen to reheat her dinner. She sat in the kitchen nook and ate alone, washed her dishes and put them away. She then walked back to the bedroom and closed the door. She never said one word to Kate or her father. The ensuing silence was deafening. Bruce whistled under his breath.

“Wow. She is really furious,” he said.

“I don't think I have ever seen her this upset,” Kate said.

“You weren’t there the night I announced our engagement. At one point she stopped breathing.”

“Didn’t you say that your dad saved the day with a 100-year-old bottle of Scotch?” Kate asked.

“Brandy,” he corrected.

“So Grandpa was the saving grace. Maybe he can be the saving grace here too,” Kate said.

“You are so bright, sometimes, I forget you are my child. I guess I have to remind your mom he is coming too.”

He got up from the chair and went to the kitchen. She heard him open a cabinet and pour something. He reentered the living room with two glasses of amber liquid.

“What do you think your grandpa did with the rest of the bottle?” he winked and continued his walk down the hall

Kate watched as Billy quietly walked up to where Andrew was sleeping.

“Get up, time to eat and start a new day,” Billy said.

Andrew sighed, “Sometimes I think Da tricked me into coming on this march so I would never ask to do anything ever again.”

“I hear the march today will be a bit shorter than yesterday's,” Billy informed them. “If you hurry, there may still be a bite or two left from breakfast. I was going to wake you but I figured you would be liking a wee bit more sleep after all the talking you did in your sleep last night.”

Billy always managed to get breakfast before them. They found Andrew’s dad sitting with some of the men he worked with. Ol' Rob and his boys were there. They sat down next to Sean, who then shoved his plate over in front of them.

“I saved you a little bit. They ran out of food about five minutes ago,” Sean said. Christopher added his left overs to Sean’s plate.

“Next time, you’ll think twice about having a lie in, won’t you?” Frank teased them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The day wore on and to keep walking sometimes seemed impossible. Just when Kate thought she could not possibly take another step, Frank motioned them off the road toward a low stone wall shaded by a line of trees. The brief break allowed the group to share a meager meal, some cheese and a small, but fresh loaf of bread with water to quench their thirst.

Later that day they entered another town and, as before, the barriers that were constructed by the town council crumbled at their approach. People turned out to meet them, bringing food and what little money they could spare to fill the collecting tins.

Once again, the townspeople found a place for them to sleep. Billy, Andrew and Kate found their spot in a corner.

“You kids stay together. They will be opening a chow line in a few minutes and after that, there will be another meeting. I don’t want to worry about where you are, so make sure you come back here after you eat,” Frank said.

“Dad?” Andrew said.

“Yes, son?”

“Can I go with you tonight to the meeting?”

Frank looked over Andrew’s head toward the food line and rubbed his two-day-old beard, then looked at Andrew again and said. “I want you to stick to me like glue. Do you understand me?  If things get a little mad, I want you to come back here to this very spot and not move unless your life is in danger or I am with you. Do you understand?”

Kate did not really understand why Frank was so harsh, but they nodded their acknowledgment. “Yes, I understand,” Andrew answered.

The meeting itself was very boring. Kate was beginning to wish Andrew hadn’t mentioned coming. She began people watching and was surprised at their haggard faces and ragged clothes. She felt awful for them as she looked at her own clothes and realized she was better dressed than most of the men there. She began to compare Frank and Robert's clothes to those of the men around them and saw the same result. Frank was standing next to Ol' Rob. The older man caught Kate’s eye and gave her a smile of greeting. Kate tried to smile back but quickly bowed her head, not wanting the man to read the pity on her face. She started looking at Rob’s shoes. They were old and beat up and had spots around the toes that looked like dried blood. Kate's face heated up and tears sprang to her eyes. She didn’t want Andrew or Billy to be ashamed of her, so she just kept staring at the ground in front of her. A horrible realization came over her this wasn't a fun outing she was on, it was life or death movement, these people were in serious trouble and needed help.

It started to rain, which brought the meeting to a close. Kate was thankful for the rain that fell on her face and hid her tears. They made their way back to their cots and without much fuss, managed to get comfortable. Kate looked at the ceiling and thought about Ol' Rob with his worn shoes. She thought about telling Andrew and Billy about him but as she turned over, she heard the unmistakable sound of Billy’s snores coming from under his covers. Kate decided to tell them in the morning.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Kate slapped the alarm as many times as she could before it escaped her hand and fled behind her headboard to the floor below. Unable to sleep through the incessant buzzing, she dragged herself from the comfort of her blankets and wormed her way under the bed toward the annoying little machine. Flattening her body and pointing her toes, she stretched her fingers as far as they could go, but it just wasn't enough and she only succeeded in nudging the spawn of hell further away. Frustrated, she wiggled out from under the bed, jumped to her feet, and spun around until she spied the cord snaking its way behind her bed side table. Snatching it up, she jerked until the plug released its hold from the life giving juice and the obnoxious noise ceased. Her heartbeat slowed as she sank onto her desk chair.

Well now what? She thought.

She turned her back on the now frightful state of her room and looked at the content of her desktop. Her math book lay open and with a groan, she remembered why she had set her alarm so early. She picked up her pencil and began.

A while later, she finished her homework and self-inflicted chores and was looking for her school bag when she heard the chirping of her mom's cell phone. She waited for her mother to come rushing down the hall for her beloved instrument of communication. But when she didn't appear Kate grabbed it off the coffee table and answered it. A man was on the other end.

“Meg?” he said.

“No, I’m sorry. This is Kate, her daughter,” she answered.

“Kate, wow you sound so grown up. How was the move?”

Kate, caught off guard by the question, hesitated before answering. “It's been an experience, that's for sure.”

There was a long uncomfortable pause then he said, “Is Meg available? This is Mr. George, from the office.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. George. We had sort of a late night around here. I think my mom may be running late this morning,” she replied.

She heard footsteps coming down the hall. She turned to see her mom in her robe and stocking feet, hairbrush in hand, squinting at the lights Kate had turned on in the living room.

“Who is on the phone, honey?” Meg asked.

Honey? Warning bells sounded in her head. Kate hit the mute button.

“It’s a Mr. George, says he is from the office.”
            “Oh!” she said, wide awake now, smiling as she fixed her hair and put her hand out for the phone.

Kate laughed.

“Mom he’s on the phone. He can’t see you.” She mimicked her mom fixing her hair.

“Katherine.” She held out her hand for the phone and stabbed the mute release button, “This is Meg. Hi Chad. Yes, I am just about to leave. Oh don’t worry about that, I am sure my assistant can run those up to you in no time. Just let me make a call.”

She paused, “No, no problem at all. Just let me...”

Another pause.

“All right. I will personally hand those reports to you. Yes, I look forward to that. 7:30 it is. See you then,” she gushed and hung up.

“Gee Mom, are you delivering reports or making a date?” Kate teased.

Meg whipped around to her. “What did you say?”

“It just sounded like you were really kissing up to this guy. I mean he just wants some stupid reports. Doesn't he?” Kate said.

“Oh my God, are you really my daughter? Sweetie, in the real world when your boss asks you to do something, you do it. If he wants some stupid reports delivered in person, you do it. If he wants you to stand on your head, you do it. Work late, you do it.” Her voice became louder, “Mr. George is an incredibly bright man and it's through his generosity that we are getting the experience of living in this amazing city, and he deserves all of our respect. I thought they taught you respect at that karate school of yours.” She brushed her hair back into an immovable bun. “I know you think it has been hard on you moving here, you have made that extremely clear to everyone, but one day you will thank me.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode quickly from the room.

Kate stood for a moment dumbstruck. 'Work late, you do it.' What was all of that about?  She glanced at the clock. She still had plenty of time for a leisurely walk to school. She packed up her bag and headed out the door.

“Good morning.”

She had barely shut the outer door when she heard someone’s greeting. There sitting on the steps, below her flat window, were Kenzie and Monkey.

“Well, good morning you two,” she answered with a questioning look at Kenzie.

“Ms. Kenzie and I have been sitting here enjoying the morning together. She tells me that she has come t' walk with you t' school,” Monkey offered.

“You don't mind do you?” Kenzie asked.

“No, sure, why not? Exactly how long have you been sitting out here?” She asked.

Kenzie looked at Monkey.

“What d' you think? About fifteen minutes?” she asked Monkey.

“Nooo, I'm thinkin it be closer t' forty. Remember we had been sitting here talking quite a while before we heard the tele ring and I remember you were pretty upset when you heard that lady raise her voice t'  Katie here,” Monkey nodded toward Kate using a nickname only her Grandpa used.

Kenzie looked sheepish. Kate felt her face go red with embarrassment.

“Could you hear all that out here?” she asked, mortified.

“Not any actual words lass, just the loud voices,” Monkey soothed.

Kate felt a little better.

“But you could definitely tell someone was in trouble. Was it you Ms. Katie? Have you been a naughty child?” Monkey asked, mischief in his eyes.

“We really shouldn't have been listening,” Kenzie said.

“Speak for yer self girlie, I want t' know. I think our little lass here needs some looking after, especially from that banshee who lives here. I wouldn’t trust her, oh no she has that look, that look of someone who hides things, like money and feelings and truths,” Monkey said with a sort of desperate vehemence, quite out of character from the conversation to that point.

“That woman you are talking about happens to be my mother,” Kate said, starting to become angry with this strange, unusually talkative, little man.

“So sorry, lass. My apologies. Sometimes old Monkey here gets these feelings aboot things. Most of the time I am right, and that is why I live the way I do. Cannae chance getting too close t' someone for fear of what I might start t' feel aboot them. I had a wife once you know,” he said, his attention wandering and voice drifting off.

“No, I didn’t know,” Kenzie said, her curiosity and sympathy tweaked.

Monkey continued looking down the street, his attention not focused on either of them, “Well she could’nae hide her feelings very well. She married me, but she did it t' get away from her family. I thought I loved her...but...too many years...too many lies.”

Monkey's attention snapped back to the present, “Must let you two have yer privacy. Old Monkey donnae want t' become a third wheel.” He stared intently at Kate and she saw great sadness there. “Keep in mind Katie, things aren’t always what they seem. But sometimes they are.” With that he stood and shuffled away.

“What was all that about?” Kate asked, sitting down next to her friend as they watched Monkey make his way down the narrow close.

Kenzie replied, “I think we have seen a side of Monkey that not many people have.” She turned to Kate, “I hope we didn’t embarrass you. I wanted to walk with you to school, but I din’t know what time you left, so I got here a wee bit early.”

“Could you really hear our voices out here?” she asked.

She nodded, “But honestly, we could only hear the tone, no words.”

Kate looked at her shoes, she looked at the ground, and she looked everywhere, but at Kenzie. Seemed her mom only found time to correct and yell at her these days. She was truly upset, but didn't want Kenzie to see. She looked at her watch.

“Time to go,” she announced, standing up and shouldering her pack.

She held out her hand, pulled Kenzie to her feet, and started up the close. The click-click sound of a woman, moving quickly in high heels, echoed off the buildings after them. Both turned to see Kate’s mom walking briskly toward the car park. She gave a quick squirt of perfume on a scarf that she draped around her neck and fished her lipstick out of her purse as she walked, oblivious to the fact anyone was watching her.

“That be yer mom?” Kenzie asked

“Yup, that’s her,” Kate said.

“I’ve never seen her before.”

“Not very many people have,” she sighed.

“Wow, she’s in a hurry. Is she always like that?”

“Not sure, I hardly ever see her. She is always at work. Or going to work or coming home from work. Oh wait, coming-home-from-work? I think that’s a myth.” Kate said sarcastically.

“I take it that you and yer Mom are not real close,” she said.

“You could take it that way. At least that’s the way I take it. It’s mostly me and my dad. He is the one who really raised me. I call him my single parent,” she laughed at her inside joke, but she was the only one who did. They resumed their walk to school.

Kate was surprised at how fast the day flew by. Class periods now behind her, she only had self-defense and then she would be on her way home to ready the flat for her grandparents' arrival. Finally something she could look forward to.

She was the first one, besides Mr. Corkin, to enter the room designated for self-defense. She watched him from the doorway, a little tentative to be alone with him after the flash she had of him standing over the beaten and bloodied woman. He was looking through the folder she had given him earlier in class. He was going through some of the movements trying them out before the students arrived. Her dad's voice in her head reminded her that not all visions were true, and even Monkey had spoken about “not all is what it seems.” But then she remembered his warning; “but sometimes they are.” She entered the room and he looked up as she walked closer.

“These are great! I can’nae wait to show the class. I know I have been boring some of the older students out of their minds for the past few years. It will be nice for them, and me, to do something new.” He motioned to one of the moves in the open folder, “I can't quite figure out how this one is supposed to work.”

She looked over his shoulder at the move in question.

“No problem. I can show you right now.” A few moves later he was on the mat.

“Isn’t this how I ended the last class?” he laughed. She offered him her hand to pull him up. “I still don’t know, are you a black belt or not?” he asked.

“I am a black belt,” she offered.

“Just a black belt?” he countered

“No.” She squinted at him, uncomfortable with being more qualified than her teacher at something. “I am a second degree black belt who was a couple of months away from my third degree when we left.” He looked impressed, so she quickly added, “I’m not the best. I wasn’t even close to the top of my class at home. Of course it's not how big you are. We had this girl, smaller than me, who could do things I can only dream about. But I can teach it. Like the old saying, ‘those who can’t do, teach’.” She regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. “I didn’t mean that. That came out wrong. You are a wonderful teacher,” she backpedaled, looking for a graceful way out of the conversational corner she'd painted herself into.

“Kate, relax, I always wanted to be a teacher. But, I ‘can do’, to borrow some of your phrase.”

“Do you want to be the one to teach these new moves?” he offered.

“If it’s all the same, I would rather not,” she said. “I really don’t want to distance myself from anyone any more than I already have. It would be nice for once, to just blend in,” she answered.

“I don't see it that way, I don't think you would ever blend in. You are the ‘new kid’ and an American at that. So the 'blending', not an option,” he thought for a moment then said, “I could use an assistant?”

“I can do that,” she agreed.

“Brilliant, and with the amount of new moves here, I think we have enough material for this week and next, so I don't see any reason to stay after on Friday. I have your phone number in your application file and I may call if I have questions.” Kate nodded. “Now, about that last move...?”

The door opened and Boyd leaned in.

“Can I come in?”

“Sure Boyd, why don't you leave the door propped open,” Mr. Corkin said, dismissing Kate.

Boyd set his bag in the corner, claimed a spot on the mat and began to stretch out. Kate had never really talked to Boyd, or ever really heard Boyd talk. She walked over to him and sat on the mat next to him.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello,” he answered.

She couldn’t think of anything else to say so she just started stretching out next to him.

“Are you coming t' tea with us after?” he asked.

“I wish I could, but my Grandparents are coming for a visit next week and we haven’t finished unpacking. I promised my dad that I would come home and help. I know pretty sad, huh?” she said. He nodded, retuning his attention to trying to connect his fingers with his toes. The silence expanded. Kate felt a bubble form around them, like the cones of silence. She felt a hysterical need to scream.

“I don’t have any grandparents.”

Kate's head snapped back to reality. “That’s sad. I am sorry to hear that. Have they been gone long?” she asked.

“I never knew them. My parents are older,” he said, making it sound like aulder.

She was intrigued. “Older, like what?” she asked

“Older, like their parents died way before I was born. I guess you could call me their miracle child. They never thought they would have children and, just as they were resigned to a life alone, surprise,” he laughed.

“So, you are an only child?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“So am I,” she said.

“We have something in common,” he smiled.

“I always hoped for a little brother or sister so I could have someone else to point to and say, ‘she did it.'” They both laughed.

“My parents are probably about as old as your grandparents so, I don’t think I have a hope of that ever happening,” he said.

“Well, my mom and dad are hardly in the same room together anymore so I don’t think it will happen for me either.”

“Oh,” he said quietly.

She looked at him and realized what he was thinking. “It’s not like that. My mom is a workaholic. She is never in the house. I mean flat,” she corrected herself.

The room was filling up. Gavin came in and sat down by Boyd. Mairi came next and sat down by to Gavin. Kate smiled at her, a smile Mairi did not return.

“It must be confusing for you. Don’t you call it an apartment?” Boyd asked.          

“Yes and yes. I still have a hard time calling potato chips ‘crisps’. But mostly we speak the same language. I also have a hard time taking a ‘holiday’ instead of a vacation. Holiday to us is an actual holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving, the 4th of July,” she said.

“Kate, we don't have a Thanksgiving holiday over here. But we do have a 4th of July,” Gavin teased her.

“Har, har very funny.” She rolled her eyes. “But you don’t celebrate on the fourth like we do. And really why should you?” she teased back.

“Ok, I’m lost. What is on the fourth of July?” Boyd asked.

“Independence Day!” Kate answered. “In 1776, the colonies declared independence from England. We have parties and shoot off fireworks. Most of the cities and some of the schools have huge fireworks displays, we have picnics and cookouts, with games...” she continued quietly, “I didn’t even think about it. I am so going to miss that. This really sucks.”

“Ah no, hold on a minute you need to give us a chance. You haven’t been here for ‘The Fringe Festival' or Bonfire Night or Hogmanay, and the Fire Parade. You just wait Kate Thorn, it’s going to be a wonderful year. You're going to see some amazing things that might quite possibly make you forget your Fourth of July,” Gavin said.

While he was talking, she spied Kenzie entering the now full room. She raised her hand and waved at her, Kenzie waved back. Picking her way between groups of students, Kenzie found a spot between Kate and Boyd. Boyd immediately became interested in something on the floor.

“What are you looking at?”  Kenzie asked.

Boyd’s head snapped up and Kate realized that Boyd was not looking at anything, he was simply trying not to look at Kenzie.

“I was just thinking, that’s all,” Boyd said picking at the laces of his tennis shoes.

“Thinking about what?” Kenzie asked.

Boyd looked at Kenzie and froze. She was the most beautiful girl in the school to him, her deep brown eyes and cute little nose. His eyes traveled to her mouth and back to her eyes. He could sit there all day taking her in.

Kate began to feel like a peeping Tom, uncomfortable watching this examination of Kenzie. She wanted to say something to break the increasingly awkward silence, but couldn’t think of anything. She caught Gavin's eye, who was also watching the exchange.

“Remember that mime from the Fringe last year?” Gavin blurted out.

Boyd's attention was pulled from Kenzie's face. He was smiling.

“I could have killed that mime. Everything I did, he did. I tried walking away and he followed me,” Boyd said, seemingly unaware of the release his friend had given the group.

“Yeah, he followed you for what, an hour?” Gavin said.

“Closer to an hour and a half.”  Boyd rolled his head back and put his hand over his eyes. “I really could have killed him,” he finished.

They all laughed.

Self-Defense class was turning out to be one of Kate’s favorite times of the week and today was no different. Helping Mr. Corkin show the new techniques made Kate feel more comfortable with the rest of the kids in the class. She was able to pair up Boyd and Kenzie for most of the class. Boyd seemed incredibly uncomfortable at first, but soon he and Kenzie were laughing and making up moves of their own.

She had tried to get Vika and Gavin together but Mairi insinuated herself into that pairing. Kate just smiled and moved on pairing Vika to Duncan. To her surprise, Vika's face lit up and she shot Kate a huge smile. Kate shook her head at the odd match.

About twenty minutes later, Mr. Corkin asked Mairi to be Frazier's partner, freeing up Gavin to be Kate's. After a few rounds of who is going to be whose victim, Kate gave up and let Gavin be her fall guy.

“I couldn't have done it better myself,” Gavin whispered in her ear as he stood behind her, waiting for her to throw him over her hip.

“Do what?” she whispered back over her shoulder.

“I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to get Kenzie and Boyd together. It’s a good thing your mom moved you here or they would have never even talked to each other, let alone touch. Look at ‘em,” he snorted.

Kate looked over to Kenzie and Boyd. Boyd’s smile said it all. He was holding Kenzie close, closer than was necessary, and Kenzie from the look on her face, was enjoying it. She was smiling with her eyes closed, pretending to concentrate. Then, with a quick move with her knees and hip, she had him on the mat. They burst into laughter.

“Perhaps I should give them homework?” Kate said.

“Why?  They seem to be getting it.”

She looked over her shoulder at him and sadly shook her head. “You are right. If I had never come here, those two would never have had a chance.” Kate sighed and flipped him onto the mat.

“Oh. Riiiight. Homework. I get it, homework, and a reason to see each other. I am daft,” he said looking up at her from flat on his back. She offered him her hand and he took it, pulling himself up.

“All right everyone, I see you have made progress with mixed partners. Let's see what happens if we have two guys together, which does occur more often that we'd like,” Mr. Corkin said.

“Oh, oh me, me. Pick me,” Frazier's hand shot into the air along with Tavey's, who had been paired up with Lanie and Mairi.

“What goofs,” Kate said.

Kenzie and Boyd had walked over to stand by her and Gavin.

“Fine. Let’s have you two demonstrate for us,” Mr. Corkin said.

Tavey and Frazier put their heads together, seeming to have a silent debate.

“Sometime today, gentlemen.”

Frazier walked into the middle of the room trying to swing his hips as much as he could.

“Oh, what a wonderful night oot. I sure hope it is safe for such a sweet innocent lass like me,” Frazier said in his best falsetto voice. The crowd laughed.

Tavey strutted up from behind and grabbed him.

“Hey little girly, why don’t you come along nice and quiet like,” he threatened, using his best cowboy movie accent.

Frazier started screaming, “Help me! Help me!”

“I said, nice and quiet like.”

Frazier bent his knees and with a quick pop, Tavey was over his hip and on the mat with a loud whump. Tavey looked up to Frazier and laughed.

Kate loved the way the two of them were so comfortable with themselves and everyone around them. Who wouldn’t like these guys?  She could also see how Mairi could have fallen for Tavey's good looks and easy going nature. She looked across at her standing next to Vika, a dejected look on her face. Kate's heart went out to her.

“Very good. I like the dramatics, I was thinking more along the lines of “mano e mano,” but that was very entertaining,” Mr. Corkin said. “That does it for today. Have a nice weekend and remember that we are off on Monday. School will resume on Tuesday. Which reminds me, shall we meet on Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday?”

The group mumbled for a bit talking to each other about it.

Gavin shook his head. Coming forward he addressed the group, “All those in favor of two times next week, raise your hands.”

Not one hand.

“Those in favor of three times next week?”

Every hand shot up.

“I believe we want to meet on Tuesday too,” he concluded, nodding to Mr. Corkin.

Mr. Corkin nodded his head, grinning, and marked it on his calendar.

“Tuesday it is.”

As the class began to file out, he caught Kate’s eye and pointed to his class folder. Kate nodded, understanding his silent request for more defensive material.

Out in the hall, she met up with Gavin, Kenzie and Boyd; Mairi was hanging towards the back of the group walking alone. She caught her eye and motioned for her to catch up with them. Mairi smiled and swiftly caught up with them walking beside Kate as they walked out of the school. Laughter echoed through the halls as they all recounted their experiences with the new move and Frazier and Tavey's rendition of it. Kenzie and Boyd exchanged glances and smiles openly. She stayed with them as far as the restaurant. Feeling good about her matchmaking efforts and self-defense instruction, she said her goodbyes and headed for home, knowing there were kennels to clean and a mountain of boxes waiting.

The singing had long since died away and the marchers drifted in groups of ever changing number and walking speed. She looked up as buildings faded and were replaced by countryside. Wildflowers appeared and disappeared, trees loomed around her and once she thought she saw a sheep. The countryside was wild and unpredictable. Her feral side wished she could live here forever, but the more practical side realized this was a dream and told her she would sooner or later wake up and forget all of it.

As they drew closer to the first town, rumors drifted through the group that the town council would not allow the marchers to enter. Kate was afraid of what lay ahead. What would happen when they tried to enter? Would the townsfolk barricade the road and stand ready to defend it with pitchforks? The reality of what awaited them took Kate’s breath away. The entire town turned out to greet them. Kate heard a rumor that the town Council Members and Aldermen were nowhere to be found.

Kate, Andrew and Billy, with the rest, were given a place to sleep while Frank and Robert left to attend a meeting in the town square. The trio smiled at each other, but were too tired to talk. They lay on their cots and listened to the sounds of the night and the cheers of the meeting, before drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Six Off the Beaten Path

Chapter six

Steel gray of predawn light painted Kate's room with heavy shadows. A garbage trolley rumbling down the close next to her window roused her from sleep. Kate's eyes popped open, the dream from the night before still etched vividly in her mind. She jumped out of bed and ran straight to the few remaining boxes left in the living room. She ripped into one that said 'Kate’s Room,' pulled out a robe and a smaller box full of paint, pushed aside shoes and socks and a small bag of cds, wondering who had cds anymore. Her Dad padded down the hall in his pajamas and stocking feet, hands running through his hair and pushing his glasses onto his face.

“What the heck, Kat?” he whispered. “You don’t even have to be up for another hour.”

She ignored him and kept rummaging around in the box. When she didn’t find what she wanted, she shoved it aside and grabbed another. She ripped that one open and continued to empty its contents onto the floor.

“Kat!” her Dad grabbed her arm, “Hello, you awake?”

She looked at her Dad. “What? Yes, what?”

“What are you looking for?”  He enunciated each word precisely.

“Journal, I need my journal. I know it was in one of these boxes.”

“It's five o’clock in the morning, what could be so important?” he asked, finishing with a yawn. “Hey there's my cds.”

She sat back on her heels and pushed the hair out of her face, “I had another dream.”

“Gotcha.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “I know it was in the box that had all the winter clothes in it,” he said. He looked at the stack and pulled a box from the back and ripped it open, “Here is the winter clothes and well, look here, your journal.” She plucked the journal from his hands, hugged him and started back to her room. She stopped and spun around.

“Winter clothes?”

He pursed his lips and thought about it, “I remember you said you didn’t want to take it through customs because you were afraid your bag would be searched. So I put it in a box that would make the most sense.”

“Uh huh,” she grunted shaking her head no.

“It makes sense. Winter clothes cover us up and when we write down our most personal secrets, we want to make sure we keep them secret.”

Kate nodded her agreement, but walking down the hall to her room she shook her head no again. If it made sense to him, who was she to say differently. She really shouldn’t complain, he had gone straight to it. Must be a chef thing.

She climbed back into bed, opened her journal and set about describing the boys in her dream; their names, what they looked like, what they had done and the names of their parents. She wrote about how they interacted with her like they knew her, really knew her. How one of the boys had looked straight at her, not her in the dream, but her real self, and winked. She wrote and sketched every detail she could remember, the dream fading quickly if she concentrated too hard on a specific detail. At last, it simply faded away.

She turned to a fresh page and began the dream of Josh. The shock and confusion she felt when she found out it was true. Difficult as it was, she recorded the name of the real girl in the car. Somewhere between the Josh dream and concentrating on the little boys, she fell asleep.

“Kate! Kate, you’re going to be late. The way your father talks about you, I thought you were beyond all this. I swear, if someone isn't here to manage you, you'd never get anything done.” Her mom poked her as she walked through her room picking up stray bits of clothing and draping them over her arm. “I thought your father said you were up early?” She yanked the covers off Kate. Kate gasped and grabbed for the covers pulling them back over herself. “You’d better get a move on, school starts soon. If you are late, there will be repercussions.” Meg had reached the door. “He also said to remind you about the kennels again this afternoon. I really wish you'd set your sights higher than a part-time job at a kennel. Get up now. I don't want to have to come back in here.”

“It's not a job,” Kate said to her mother's back as she left the room. “I am doing them a favor.” Then quieter to herself, “You'd know that, if you ever spent any time at all here.”

Sleepily, she wondered what her mother was doing home. Kate sat up, stretched and looked at the clock. She rolled her eyes. Seven forty. Ugh. She hated rushing around, but only slightly less than getting up early. She threw on her uniform, a concept which at first had seemed completely ridiculous to her, but in hindsight, was the most wonderful thing that could happen to someone who was habitually late. For breakfast, she grabbed some leftovers from the night before and raced out of the flat. She was still adjusting her pack when a voice called from behind.

“Where are you going is such a hurry that you donnae say good morning to yer friends?”

She turned around and found Mr. Monkey sitting on the side of the water fountain in the courtyard. She forced a smile and said. “Good morning, sir. I didn’t see you sitting there. How are you this morning?” She checked her watch, she really didn’t have time for this, but she also didn’t want to be on the bad side of this strange little man.

“Aye, I have been better an' I have been worse. But I never have seen anyone in more of a hurry on such a fine day. Where you be off to?”

She continued to adjust her pack, “I am on my way to school and I’m afraid I’m going to be late.”

He smiled, “School, school is it? Well donnae let ol' Monkey keep you. I’m sure the teachers there are as strict as they were when I was a lad. Just thinking of it ooh! Makes my backside hurt.” He rubbed his seat.

She smiled as she turned and said, “Have a good day, Mr. Monkey.”

He shouted out to her, “Aye! I will! And you have a good day too, Ms. Kate.”

Smiling to herself about the odd encounter she just experienced but still feeling good, she was half way up the close when that good feeling slipped a little as she realized that he had called her by name. She couldn't recall ever giving him her name. And where was her dad this morning? He was usually the first one up, but not the first one out. That was her mom’s gift. But she was home this morning. Mom never stayed home, even when she was sick and from the looks of it she wasn't going in to work today. This morning was getting weirder and weirder and she was getting more confused as she hastened up the close.

She managed to make it to school by the first bell and didn’t have time to wonder about her father or mother or Monkey during her classes, but mulled it over during passing time. What on earth would force her mom to stay home past seven in the morning? It would have to be something cataclysmic.

Lunch was no better. No sooner had she sat down, then Lanie sat down next to her.

“I knew you were in this lunch period. I’ve seen you from across the room,” she pointed and Kate followed her finger. In the corner were some of the roughest kids she had seen. “Wanna come sit with us, or are you into being alone?” Lanie smiled.

Kate still wasn’t sure about Lanie, she looked tough and a little bit scary. She pushed the whole uniform thing to the extreme with the platform shoes, loosened tie and shirt unbuttoned way too far, but she seemed to have another side to her and although she never thought they would be great friends, she didn’t want to blow her off either.

“I would love to sit with you,” she managed with a smile.

Kate picked up her tray and pack and headed across the lunch room. Lanie's people dressed similar to her, using the dress code as merely a suggestion. The girls' hairstyles mostly involved the hair being caught on top of the head in whatever fashion they rolled out of bed with. Pre-tied ties thrown over the head, the tails stashed in blazer pockets and shirts that had Kate wanting to reach over to do up a couple more buttons for her own comfort. The boys all had 5 o'clock shadows and she wondered if they stayed up to shave at three in the morning to get this look by noon. The hair and the school ties done up more like a hangman's noose, and their shoes were all the boys really had to work with, she guessed, but the effect was the same. A group that basically flew the bird at the establishment and their stuffy rules. She smiled and nodded as Lanie rattled off the names of the individuals in the group. Kate didn’t really think she could, or would, need to remember them. The group resumed their conversation after the introductions and Kate did her best to follow.

“So how is that American boyfriend of yours? Is he still in hospital?” Lanie asked at the first lull in the conversation.

Kate had her fork full of peaches half way to her mouth and stopped. What should she say?  Should she lie? 'He’s great can’t wait to see him?' Or tell the truth, 'What a jerk! He was seeing another girl when it happened,' or be completely honest, 'it’s a good thing I’m not there; I’d have pulled the plug.' She opted for all of the above.

“Former boyfriend, and he is fine, which is good for him. He had a date with him that night, which would have been bad for me, if we were still together. But at the time of the accident, our split hadn't been formally announced.”

Lanie put up her hand to stop Kate, “He was out on you?” Out sounding like “oot.”

Kate put her peach in her mouth and nodded.

“Technically, if that’s what you call it when your 'boyfriend' is not faithful, then yeah, he was out on me.” Kate wiped her mouth with her napkin and added, “I found out last night that he has been 'out on me' for the past three weeks. Basically, as soon as my side of the car was cold. He was with her when the accident happened. She didn’t get hurt, but he did. Ah, Karma. I guess that means I have been single a lot longer than I thought. So, you know any nice, single guys?”  She meant it to come out sarcastically but it arrived more desperately.

Lanie didn’t say anything, which was unnerving because Lanie always had something to say. She just tapped her ring laden fingers on her lip rings and smiled, making Kate more than a little alarmed.

“What?” Kate asked.

Lanie continued to tap in silence.

“Lanie, you are making me more than a bit uncomfortable.”

Lanie smiled and said, “Never you mind. Just never you mind.”

Kate shook her head and looked down at her peaches, wishing she had stayed at her own little table, as the tapping continued.

“Lanie, please stop with the tapping. What's that supposed to mean anyway?”

“Not a thing. It annoys you though, doesn't it.”

“Yes,” Kate said. Lanie smiled and continued tapping.

Kate managed to gulp down the rest of her meal before the bell rang. Lanie never did say anything more and Kate was more than puzzled by her reaction, adding one more mystery on her 'to do' list. As Kate walked through the hall to her next class, she wished that she had just stayed home to hang out with Mr. Monkey.

After school let out, Kenzie found Kate at her locker. “I heard about Josh.” Kate slammed her locker. “I guess that answers my next question.” Kenzie took a step away. “Want to talk?”

“Not really.” She started walking down the hall and Kenzie fell into step beside her.

They walked in silence. “How can you be so calm?” Kenzie blurted out after a few steps.

“I'm not calm.” She looked at the girl walking beside her. “Really, not calm.”

“Sorry, it's just if I had found out last night that me boyfriend had been out on me, I probably would be furious. I would have been out for blood.”

“Well that's the difference I guess, your boyfriend would be here but mine is four thousand and eighty-two miles,” she spun around to get her bearings, “that way.” She pointed vaguely west. “I'm really dense Kenzie, you probably shouldn't hang out with me. I mean, what was I thinking? Four thousand miles...deep down, I knew it couldn't last,” they walked in silence for a moment. “It’s been about three weeks since his last phone call or email,” she confessed quietly.

“How did you find out about it?” Kenzie asked.

“A friend from home Mug Chatted me last night and told me everything.”

“If she knew, how come she din’t tell you sooner?”

“She said she couldn’t and I was here and he was there...she said she felt really bad. What would you have done if you had really bad news to give your best friend?”

“That's a toughie. I guess it would be hard but only for the few minutes that I was telling her. I don't do well lying to people. What about you? How would you have handled it?”

“I don't know. It's the whole out of sight, out of mind thing. Maybe she was hoping I would call her someday and tell her I had a new guy and then she wouldn't have to ever say anything. And she would be right, I am making friends here,” she looked hopefully at Kenzie, who smiled and nodded her head. “And thinking about Josh with another girl, it doesn’t hurt as much as I imagined it would. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pissed, but not that deep down hurt.”

Kenzie shook her head, “I din’t get that last part?  Oh and pissed, or pished, means you're drunk.”

“That's good to know.” Kate stopped and looked down at the floor. “I guess I didn’t really love him. I mean, like you said, you’d be furious and I wasn’t. I just moved here and moved on without even realizing it.”

Kenzie rolled her eyes and said, exasperated, “Americans.”

Kate leaned closer to her, “Pardon me?”

Kenzie looked at her, “Even if I had moved on, as you say, I still would be angry that he played me for a fool. Doesn’t that make you a wee bit irate?” Kenzie asked, gesturing with her finger and thumb an inch or so apart. Kate shrugged her shoulders. “You Americans always seem so level headed and the ‘let's think things through’ to make you seem calmer. Or are you just scheming?”

“No I am really pis...angry,” she corrected herself, “I just don't see the point. Like you said yesterday, what am I supposed to do from here?”

“I couldn'ae tell you. You could hit something or someone, I suppose.”

“I’m not gonna hit ya. At least not on school property,” Kate said.

Kenzie nodded. “See what I mean? A Scot would have pummeled me. And we both would feel better, you for getting it out of your system, and me for helping you.” They laughed again as they continued to walk.

“So why aren’t you angrier?” Kenzie asked.

“I really don’t know,” Kate sighed.

“Is there someone who’s caught your eye? Distracted you a bit?” Kenzie pried.

Kate hugged her books and sighed again. Then she punched Kenzie in the arm.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kenzie rubbed her arm. “What are you hitting me for? I just asked the question; which I might add, you din’t answer.”

“But didn't it make you feel better for helping me blow off some steam?” Kate teased.

“Ah ha, knew it! You do have your eye on someone don’t you? Oh, don’t tell me let me guess. It’s a guy.”

Kate gave her a sideways glance.

Kenzie didn’t miss a beat. “Of course, sure, it’s a guy,” She started taking big steps, moving in front of Kate as they walked. Then she turned back to Kate and continued to walk backward. “A guy in this school?”

Kate made another mock surprised look and said, “Where else am I supposed to meet guys?  Now you're two for two.”

Kenzie turned and started taking big steps again. “A guy at school. Oh, oh!  I know! Tavey.” She swung around to see Kate’s reaction. “No. Okay. It’s not Tavey.”

“Strike one. You know, in American baseball, you only get three,” Kate reminded her.

Kenzie didn’t react. She continued naming the boys Kate knew. Kate tried to keep her face neutral when Kenzie got to Gavin.

“Well now. I have no idea who it is, unless it is someone I have already mentioned,” Kenzie said. “But give me a moment, I’ll be figuring it out. Are you coming for tea?” Kenzie asked as they reached the end of the hall.

“I’m sorry, Kenzie. Mr. Shaw is still in the hospital and I have to go clean out the kennels again tonight and I don’t want to be as late as I was last night, so I am going to skip tea today. Then Mr. Corkin asked me to put together some ideas for the defense class, so I should work on that and there is homework, yada, yada, yada.” Kate lamented.

“All right, all right I get it. Too busy for tonight,” Kenzie agreed as they walked out the school doors. She started rummaging through her bag and pulled out a piece of paper and pen and began writing. “Here is my number if you need or want someone to talk to.” She handed her the paper, smiled, and headed over to a group of kids that were gathering by the corner of the building, ready to set off.

Kate noticed some of the kids waving her over and then their attention diverted to Kenzie telling them something. They all waved at her and set off down the street the opposite way they had headed yesterday. She wondered where tea would be today. She waved back and headed up the street, glancing back to watch them turn a corner and then they were gone. She felt lonely knowing that yesterday at this time she was part of that group. She had felt included, something she hadn’t felt in a while. It was nice having them take notice of her. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Maybe, they would miss her.

Chili raced out of the flat at break neck speed, Kate in tow, for the first tree he could see. She wondered if anyone had been home all day to take him out. Heading toward the park cutting through side streets, Chili made frequent stops. Finding many new flowers and trees to inspect, confirming the fact that no one had been home all day to care for him. Where had her dad been this morning and where had her mom disappeared to this afternoon?

They reached the kennels quickly, found the key and went inside. The picture of the little boy on the wall caught her attention again. The inkling in her brain moved to full on nagging. The background of the picture was familiar, but she just couldn’t place it. Thinking if she put it aside it would come to her when she wasn't trying, she moved on to listening to the phone messages, playing them twice to make sure she wrote them down accurately. One message was for her.

“Hi Kat,” her dad's voice whispered from the small box. “I am at the hospital with Mrs. Shaw. I couldn't go back to sleep this morning so I came here to keep her company while Mr. Shaw was having tests.” Kate wondered if he had a dream. “I hope I will have some good news when I come home this evening. Until then, which I hope will be by 6:30-ish, have a good day and do your homework.” Typical father ‘be good and do your work.’ She felt bad for Mr. Shaw. Having medical tests was no way to spend a day. She said another quick prayer for him then headed back to the kennels.

After letting Chili and the other dogs out into the play yard, she went looking for the broom. Not finding it in the back she went looking in the front but was irritated to find the door wide open instead. She was dismayed to see dust and leaves had blown across the recently clean floor. She heard another breeze blowing the leaves outside and managed to catch the door before it allowed anymore leaves in. She closed it and locked it this time. She checked the closet for the broom. It wasn’t there. She looked behind the counter but it wasn't there either. She knew she had put it in the closet last night. Maybe Mrs. Shaw had done something with it before she left for the hospital this morning. She could have left it by the dog food. She pushed the kennel door open to find the back door wide open. What was going on? She was positive she had closed it when she let the dogs out.

“Looking for this?” Startled, Kate swung around and backhanded the speaker, connecting with something soft. Gavin stood there, broom in one hand and a small dog bed in the other, grinning at her.

“What?” She was so startled her heart had jumped into her throat and she couldn’t speak.

“What am I doing here?” he finished for her.

“Yes, what are you doing here?” she recovered.

“I watched you walk up the street all by yourself and you looked so lonely. I figured this is where you were heading and thought you'd might like some help again,” he said, with an impish grin.

Kate smiled and shook her head. She was so surprised. Her heart started beating faster, in a good way. Had Kenzie sent him? She closed the back door. It gave her something to do while she regained her composure. She turned around and found him hard at work changing the bedding in the kennels.

“Where is Kenzie?” she finally asked.

“Oh, I asked her to come with me, but she said she couldn’t get the smell out of her hair last night and she was going to have to wash it again tonight.”

Kate rolled her eyes. The old 'I have to wash my hair' routine. Kenzie was smart, but had she figured out which boy or did she take a stab in the dark? Kate thought she had kept her face calm when Gavin’s name came up. She had to admire how Kenzie came across so clueless but underneath it all, she was cool and calculating. It's always the quiet ones.

Then there was himself. She didn’t know any boys at home that would have given up free time to help her do any sort of chores and here he was up to his elbows in puppy doggy poopy. He turned around to look at her.

“Are you going to just stand there and watch or are you going to help?”

“I will get the water bowls and the dog food,” she recovered quickly.

They worked side by side in silence for a while and then he said, “I heard about yer boyfriend, former boyfriend,” he corrected himself. “He was wrong to do that. I don’t care how far away you are or when you talked last, you should always be honest.”

Kate froze, her arm elbow deep in the dog food bag, tears springing to her eyes. What was this? Why would she cry now?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn'ae said anything. That was really thoughtless of me.” Kate started to cry in earnest. He put the broom down and walked toward her. He took her hand in his. “Kate I am so sorry. I guess I don’t have great timing, but I am sorry that you are hurt.” Kate shook her head no.

“It’s not that. I just realized he was selfish and self-centered, I am better done with him,” she searched her feelings for the right words. Her heart started pounding again. “You,” she sniffed, “You didn’t have to come here to help me and yet here you are. I never asked you to come last night but there you were. You have been so kind to me and I hardly know you. I moved here and felt so alone. Now I'm blubbering and I don't know why it's coming out now. I guess it's been a while since someone has been kind to me.”

She started sobbing again. He put his arms around her. He felt unexpectedly soft and strong. He held her tight and said, “I hope we can fix that.” He held her until she quit crying and then he let go and walked across the room. She wished he hadn't let go, he had made her feel so safe and protected. He walked back with a tissue. “Here now, dry those pretty eyes and let’s get this finished so we can do something fun tonight.” She started to protest about all the homework she had, but he held up his hand. “At least let me walk you home.”

They completed their task in short order and put the animals back into their cages. Gavin grabbed Chili’s leash and took him to the front door. Kate turned the lights out in the kennel room and came to the front room. She found Gavin with Chili looking at the picture of the small boy on the wall.

“I finally figured out where that photo was taken. It’s in front of the Tron Kirk. I was walking by there last night and I saw the strange round windows over the doorway. See, right there.”

Kate leaned over him and looked. After all the puppy poopy, he was still smelling good. “I see.” She stared hard at the boy, a tickling at the edge of her memory returning, “You know that boy looks really familiar, but I just can’t figure out from where.”

“I thought you said it may be Mr. Shaw?” he said. Kate squinted her eyes trying to see Mr. Shaw in the small boy that looked back at her.

“I don’t know. Could be, but I just can’t imagine Mr. Shaw was ever that young,” she said. They laughed. Kate turned the lights out and reached for Chili’s leash.

“I got him,” Gavin said. Kate smiled. Something’s got to give. Her dad always said if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was.

The sun was setting the sky on fire as it slowly sank behind the buildings. They walked in silence as the city was closing for the evening. It was one of the things that Kate found so strange. At five o’clock sharp, all of the merchant shops closed their doors for the night leaving only pubs and restaurants remaining open. Upon entering the garden, Gavin stopped and turned to her.

“Actually, I have to leave you here. I just remembered there is something I need to take care of.” He handed Chili's leash to her. “You going to be all right?” he asked. She nodded she would. He turned and walked away.

“Just you and me now,” she said to Chili as they started up the close.

A wonderful smell hit her as soon as she opened the door.

“Dad?”  She called.

He answered from the kitchen. “I’m in here.”  She released Chili and followed her nose to the kitchen.

“Dad, when did you have time to do all this? I thought you were at the hospital with Mr. and Mrs. Shaw?” she asked. Before her was a steaming golden turkey dinner with stuffing, green rice, green beans and cranberry sauce.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked.

Her Dad bobbed his head, “You caught me. I was getting home sick and I thought some nice comfort food would do the trick. I put the turkey in before I left for the hospital and I made it home sooner than I thought I would.” She noted the two place settings on the table.

“Mom’s not coming home for dinner,” she said it more as a fact than a question.

“Nope, it’s just the two of us.”

The phone rang in the other room and her dad went to answer it.

“Hello,” he paused and then, “Kat,” he called to her. She took the receiver and was startled to hear Josh’s voice on the other end.

“Kate?”

“Josh, what on earth? I thought you were in a coma?”

Bruce slowly walked into the kitchen. She heard him getting out the cutting board and sharpening the knife. She supposed it made him feel better to be sharpening a weapon while his little girl was on the phone with the boy who hurt her. She knew it made her feel better. Strengthened by his action, she turned her attention back to the phone.

“That was a bit blown out of proportion, I lost consciousness, but was never in a coma.”  He sounded weak. “I have been awake for a while. I just called to tell you how sorry and stupid I have been.” Kate had to agree with him but she didn’t say anything. “Kate are you still there?”

“Yes, Josh, I am still here.” In Edinburgh, thousands of miles away. “I don’t know what to say.” After a long pause she continued, “I’m glad you are all right.” But I hope your injuries are life altering, is what she wanted to say.

“I hope you can forgive me for not telling you about Lilly.”

“Josh, I don’t think we need to get into this. I’m sure you need your rest. Let’s just let it pass. I am not angry at you.” In fact I don’t feel anything for you. Oh, she wished she could be mean just this once.

“Kate, I don’t want Lilly anymore, I want you,” he said.

Kate was dumbfounded. How on earth could he say that? It was probably the drugs he was taking.

“That's very interesting.” She felt uncomfortable saying anything more with her dad just in the next room.

“Kate, I love you and I always will.” Kate’s jaw dropped and she couldn’t help but snigger.

“Yes, and you proved that by not calling or writing and going out with Lilly.” Dead silence. She felt a small pang of guilt that she was calling him out, so soon in his recovery.

“I said I was sorry.” There was silence on the other end of the line. Then a girl's voice broke the silence.

“How's my Joshie poo today?” Her guilt evaporated. Josh cover the receiver and a short, muffled couple of words were said, then he was back

“This is never going to work is it?” he asked.

“Josh, the more I think about it, I don’t believe it ever could. I think we were kidding ourselves. We are too young and there is way too much distance.” She knew he didn't know she meant distance in her feelings for him, “I really don’t want to talk right now. Dinner's on the table and it sounds like you've got company. Take care of yourself Josh, and get better.”

“I guess this goodbye then,” he said.

“It hurts, I know, because I feel it too, but it’s the right thing to do.” She paused, “Goodbye Josh.”

She hung up the phone and stared at it, feeling the gravity of what just happened. She was surprised at the crushing hurt she felt and then again at the sense of lightness that followed closely after. She took a deep breath and looked up to see her dad peeking around the corner.

“So, how is Josh?”

“I really don’t want to talk about it right now. I need to get it straight in my own head first.”

He picked up the carving knife pointing it at her, “Fine, but I want details. It gets to be so boring around here with you at school and your AWOL mom. I need some spice in my life.”

Kate kissed him and said, “Don’t worry, I will give you all the details.”

A traditional turkey dinner in the middle of Scotland with her dad and her favorite dog, was a treat Kate didn’t even know she needed. After dinner was over, she cleared the table and then cleared a spot in the living room.

She had just started to work on some self-defense tactics when the phone rang. Kate reached it first.

“Hello. Hi Grandma! No I wasn't busy, I was just. What? When? Tuesday? Four o’clock our time? Did you want to talk to Dad? Yes, he’s right here. Just a sec.” Kate handed the phone to her dad. He took the phone and started writing down times and numbers on the pad next to the phone.

“I love you too, Mom. Bye.”

He hung up the phone and started whistling the tune from the “Twilight Zone.”

Kate was smiling, “First Thanksgiving, followed shortly by the Fourth of July. Let the fireworks begin.” He looked at her uncertainly. “You hid the fact that Mom and Grandmother don't like each other when I was younger, but I'm older now. I deduce, you know, stuff.”

“You mean like your Grandmother’s temper? Or your Mom’s?” he asked.

“Both,” she said.

“Ya, it's true they don't get along well.” She gave him a look. “At all. And five points for 'deduce,' good word. Don't worry about your mom. It's all good.” He mutilated, good, into sounding like, “guuud.”

 She worked for a while going over Mr. Corkin's syllabus, removing the obsolete moves and reworking some of the more basic and intermediate self-defense moves, taking notes on her computer. As she printed off the pages of her notes, the front door opened and her mom walked in. Kate looked at her dad who gave her the run for the hills nod. She collected the pages from the printer, stuck them in her backpack, kissed her mom on the cheek, and retreated to her room. Spying her journal, she opened it slowly, flipping through the colorful pages in the front of the book. A part of her life she had begun to think of as the Blue Springs years, pondering all the things that happened last night and today. She found a blank page and began to write.

Staring at the ceiling of her bedroom, Kate's eyes slowly drifted toward the open door, as her father and mother’s voices sliced down the hallway. She had been writing about the last of her dreams, of the little boy she was getting to know as Andrew and of Gavin, the older boy she was hoping to know better, when her concentration had been broken by her mother's shriek.

“I can’t believe you just let that woman dictate to you! She didn’t even give you time to talk it over with me!” her mother said.

“She isn't some woman, she's my mother. Honestly, I don’t see any reason that they can’t stay with us for one night. Then we can find them a hotel,” her father said.

“One night, two nights why not a whole week?” her mother's voice rose an octave and stayed there.

“They are my parents, coming to see us. Why shouldn’t they stay with us?  Or is there something else you'd like to be discussing? Meg, what is the real problem?” her father said.

“What real problem, exactly?” she said. Kate had eased off the bed and tiptoed to the door tilting her head against the door jamb straining to hear what was said.

“Like the fact that when we decided to move here, you said things would be different. That you would make our marriage a priority. That there would be no more late nights at the office.” Her dad's voice took on a hard and unyielding tone. “But things aren't different, they're exactly the same. Exactly.” He over-enunciated “exactly.”

There was a pause and then her mother said, “I’m going to bed.”

“Walk away Meg, just walk away. I guess Mom was right about you after all.”

Kate quickly swung her door shut as her mother's heels clicked down the hall on the hardwood floor. The slam of her parents' bedroom door caused her to jump and she stood there a moment, her heart pounding in her chest, listening to the dishes clink in the kitchen. She opened the door and walked down the hall to find her father finishing the last of the pots and pans.

“So you finally got around to telling Mom that Grandmother and Grandpa are coming,” Kate said.

“I am sorry you heard that,” he said. “Sometimes I let my anger get the best of me.”

“Why does Mom hate Grandmother so much?” Kate asked.

“I don’t know. Well I do know, but I really don’t want to talk about it right now. How about we get some sleep and then soon we will get together and I will tell you the whole, sordid story. And you can tell me your sordid story.”

Late that night, she awoke to the sound of a woman crying. She left her warm bed, careful not to make a sound, and stood outside her parent's door. She put her hand on the door, wanting to give comfort to the woman, wanting to be part of that private moment, when, to her horror, it clicked and opened ever so slightly. Through the crack she saw her father holding his wife, her head buried in his shoulder and her body shaking as she wept. Glancing toward the door, his eyes found Kate's and he gave her a sad smile. Kate felt her heart drop as the rest of her body went cold. She closed the door and returned to her room. She lay on her bed, her body curled around her most trusted friend, tears mingled with fur, angst mingled with fear; fear for her family. Sleep claimed her as the image of her dad holding her mother faded from her mind.

A crowd surrounded Kate as she moved down a narrow lane; a few women and children peppered the mostly male group. She felt almost as if she were caught up in a party or a carnival, yet there was a restrained undercurrent to the gathering. Something was happening, or going to. She followed Billy’s father and Andrew’s father to the other side of the street in front of the grocers.

“All right you three,” started Billy's father, “I don’t want t' regret the decision t' bring you, and I figure that since you three seem t' be inseparable, then that’s the way it’s going t' be. I don’t want t' look at Billy and not see you other two,” he finished as he pointed to Kate and Andrew.

“Exactly,” chimed in Andrew's father, “I want you all to stick to each other like glue. There are a lot of people out here and I am going to insist you walk within sight of Mr. Stewart or myself. If you see someone you would like to walk with, get permission from one of us. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

“Yes sir,” they answered.

“Good,” Andrew’s father said.

They left the grocers and crossed the narrow road to the crowd who stood listening to the group of men standing on the steps of the school entrance. Kate looked around the crowd. Faces faded in and out, some that she recognized from the shipyards, others she did not.

Kate was not able to hear the details of the discussion, the words were just a buzz of sounds, and as the men on the steps continued to speak, the mood of the crowd shifted from jovial to very somber.

“Da, I see our teacher, Mrs. Snodgrass, up front, can I go say hi?” Andrew asked.

“Sure, go on, but make sure you are by my side before we leave.”

They made their way through the crowd to where Mrs. Snodgrass and her husband were standing. After a brief hello and the announcement of what they were about, they reached that uncomfortable realization they had nothing to talk about. They made their goodbyes and headed back to the spot where they left Andrew's father, only to find it empty. The men on the steps had finished their speeches and the trio climbed up near them to get a better view. Immediately they heard Andrew’s father calling out his name. Another voice joined in and soon several men’s' voices echoed out his name. They searched the crowd for his father's face. Kate looked at Andrew; he winked at her as he raced off toward the sound of his father’s voice.

“Where did you go?” Andrew interjected before his father could speak. “I looked and looked for you. As soon as we finished talking to Mrs. Snodgrass we came right back here and you were gone.”

“I am sorry Andrew, I just saw Ol' Rob over there and went to talk. That was my fault. From now on when you leave me, you’ll find me in the same spot. I promise. Now pick up your things, it looks like the group is getting ready to go.”

As the group began to loosely assemble and move in, more or less, the same direction, they found themselves falling in next to an older man accompanied by two young men.

Andrew's father quickly introduced them, “Rob, this is my son Andrew.”

Andrew shook Ol' Rob’s hand.

Ol' Rob introduced his sons, “An' these younglings are my Sean and Christopher. They're not that bright, but it's all I've got.”

Christopher, the older one, leaned over Ol' Rob's shoulder. “Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.” The group laughed.

Kate guessed that Sean and Christopher were around 16 to 18 years old. She learned they had left school to start working as soon as their father lost his job at the shipyard a few weeks ago.

The crowd moved down the street, the sound of feet tramping on the cobblestones slowly became a marching beat. Smiles passed from one to another and soon the first songs lifted into the air. They sang different songs at first, but soon, one song, a local festival favorite, gained singers and strength as it worked its way through the crowd until a single, cheerful tune sang out. The song reverberated off the buildings along the street. People poked their heads out of windows and leaned out into the street to wave hankies and cheer them on.

Kate tried to take in as much of it as she could, committing as many details to memory as possible. It would make a great story to tell her Dad and she wanted to get the feeling and emotions just right.