Read Online Kat's Fall by Shelley Hrdlitschka - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shelley Hrdlitschka
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up early and take her over to see your mom.”
“He has? Why didn’t he tell me?” I try to swallow my alarm, conceal it from her, but I can feel my cheeks burning.
“Does he always have to check in with you, Darcy?” she asks softly.
“I would have prepared Kat,” I said. “This is going to be hard for her.”
“I’m sure your dad will do that.”
“I’m sure he won’t,” I blurt out, giving away more than I intend to.
Ms. Wetzell studies me a moment too long. “I know you’re not a guy who likes to talk about stuff, Darcy, but have you thought of keeping a journal, so you can record your feelings about the things in your life?”
“Haven’t you heard?” I ask. “I don’t have feelings.”
It takes every bit of control I have not to slam the door on my way out.
T HE HOURS AT Sammy’s house seem twice as long as usual. I have to admit, it’s Kat who mostly entertains Sam, and without her I have to work a lot harder. Fortunately Star keeps her entertained for a while, but I’m getting a little tired of dressing stupid Barbie dolls by the time Mr. K gets home.
I thinks Mr. K’s a little taken aback by how fast I’m out of there tonight. We often have a visit, in sign language, to brush up his skills, but I need to get home and find out if Kat is okay.
I find her sitting with Dad at the kitchen table. They each have a bowl of soup in front of them and I spot an empty can on the counter. The scene is so peaceful that a stranger would never guess this is not a typical family moment. Kat jumps up and greets Star as soon as we come in the door. I check her face for signs of tears. She looks perfectly okay.
“Well?” I ask her, signing and speaking at the same time, for Dad’s benefit. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she signs, returning to the table.
“And?” I ask.
She smiles. “It’s okay, Darcy,” she signs. “I met her. She seems nice.”
I stare at her, waiting for more, some rush of emo-tion, some hysterics. She goes back to eating her soup.
“She’s changed a lot,” Dad says. “She’s like a different woman.”
I plunk myself down at the table. “What do you mean?”
“She’s been drug free for a long time. She’s no longer paranoid or worried about where she’s going to find her next fix. It’s made her really calm compared to her former self.”
“I thought you said she’s borderline crazy.”
He shrugs. “Maybe not.”
I watch him slurp up a mouthful of tomato soup. “Why didn’t you tell me you were taking Kat there today?”
“I didn’t know until this morning. I had a light load, so I knew I’d be finished work early. Today seemed as good as any.”
“What did you guys do?”
“Just sat around and visited.”
Kat must have read his lips. She drops her spoon and begins to sign. “She’s really good at signing,” she says, way too enthusiastically for my liking. “She’s been practicing, just for me.”
Something snaps in my head. Here they are talking about my mother as if she’s just come back from an extended holiday, all refreshed and ready to carry on. I can’t stand it.
“That woman tried to kill you!” I tell Kat. “Her learning sign language doesn’t make that fact go away!” I turn to Dad. “And if you think she’s so wonderful and calm and safe and uncrazy now, why don’t you invite her to come and live with you here? You think it’s fine to dump Kat on her, but what about you? Are you willing to live with her again?”
I can’t stand the tragic look on Kat’s face. I push away from the table and nearly trip over Star. It’s too much. With a swift kick the dog is out of my way and I’m back out the door.
D AD PULLS UP beside me when I’m walking home from school. The Kippensteins are home this week with Sammy. Kat’s been going over to Mom’s place every day after school and Mom’s parole officer supervises their visits. Me? I’m out playing sports, hangin’ with my friends, having a
“He has? Why didn’t he tell me?” I try to swallow my alarm, conceal it from her, but I can feel my cheeks burning.
“Does he always have to check in with you, Darcy?” she asks softly.
“I would have prepared Kat,” I said. “This is going to be hard for her.”
“I’m sure your dad will do that.”
“I’m sure he won’t,” I blurt out, giving away more than I intend to.
Ms. Wetzell studies me a moment too long. “I know you’re not a guy who likes to talk about stuff, Darcy, but have you thought of keeping a journal, so you can record your feelings about the things in your life?”
“Haven’t you heard?” I ask. “I don’t have feelings.”
It takes every bit of control I have not to slam the door on my way out.
T HE HOURS AT Sammy’s house seem twice as long as usual. I have to admit, it’s Kat who mostly entertains Sam, and without her I have to work a lot harder. Fortunately Star keeps her entertained for a while, but I’m getting a little tired of dressing stupid Barbie dolls by the time Mr. K gets home.
I thinks Mr. K’s a little taken aback by how fast I’m out of there tonight. We often have a visit, in sign language, to brush up his skills, but I need to get home and find out if Kat is okay.
I find her sitting with Dad at the kitchen table. They each have a bowl of soup in front of them and I spot an empty can on the counter. The scene is so peaceful that a stranger would never guess this is not a typical family moment. Kat jumps up and greets Star as soon as we come in the door. I check her face for signs of tears. She looks perfectly okay.
“Well?” I ask her, signing and speaking at the same time, for Dad’s benefit. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she signs, returning to the table.
“And?” I ask.
She smiles. “It’s okay, Darcy,” she signs. “I met her. She seems nice.”
I stare at her, waiting for more, some rush of emo-tion, some hysterics. She goes back to eating her soup.
“She’s changed a lot,” Dad says. “She’s like a different woman.”
I plunk myself down at the table. “What do you mean?”
“She’s been drug free for a long time. She’s no longer paranoid or worried about where she’s going to find her next fix. It’s made her really calm compared to her former self.”
“I thought you said she’s borderline crazy.”
He shrugs. “Maybe not.”
I watch him slurp up a mouthful of tomato soup. “Why didn’t you tell me you were taking Kat there today?”
“I didn’t know until this morning. I had a light load, so I knew I’d be finished work early. Today seemed as good as any.”
“What did you guys do?”
“Just sat around and visited.”
Kat must have read his lips. She drops her spoon and begins to sign. “She’s really good at signing,” she says, way too enthusiastically for my liking. “She’s been practicing, just for me.”
Something snaps in my head. Here they are talking about my mother as if she’s just come back from an extended holiday, all refreshed and ready to carry on. I can’t stand it.
“That woman tried to kill you!” I tell Kat. “Her learning sign language doesn’t make that fact go away!” I turn to Dad. “And if you think she’s so wonderful and calm and safe and uncrazy now, why don’t you invite her to come and live with you here? You think it’s fine to dump Kat on her, but what about you? Are you willing to live with her again?”
I can’t stand the tragic look on Kat’s face. I push away from the table and nearly trip over Star. It’s too much. With a swift kick the dog is out of my way and I’m back out the door.
D AD PULLS UP beside me when I’m walking home from school. The Kippensteins are home this week with Sammy. Kat’s been going over to Mom’s place every day after school and Mom’s parole officer supervises their visits. Me? I’m out playing sports, hangin’ with my friends, having a
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