Read Online And Nothing But the Truth by Kit Pearson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kit Pearson
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said Maud. “This is
Polly’s
day! Aren’t you going to open your presents?”
Opening presents, blowing out thirteen candles, and enjoying her favourite cake lifted Polly’s gloom for a time. Maud’s small box revealed a set of the china dogs that Polly collected. Biddy and Vivien had pooled their money and bought her some green barrettes. Aunt Jean had knitted Polly her annual sweater—this year it was pink. Mrs. Hooper had wrapped up a movie magazine, which Biddy and Vivien immediately seized. Daddy had sent some handkerchiefs all the way from Winnipeg. They were embroidered with her initials. Gregor and Sadie had sent a book called
National Velvet
.
Then Noni handed Polly a blue velvet box. Inside was a short strand of pearls. “Oh, Noni, they’re beautiful,” breathed Polly, running the cool beads through her fingers.
“They belonged to my mother,” said Noni. “I offered them to
your
mother once, but she didn’t want them. They’re only to be worn for special occasions.”
“Thank you!” said Polly. She’d never owned anything so grown-up. Daddy had bought Maud her pearls in the days before the crash, when he had a steady job. Now Polly had some, too!
“Time for bumps!” shouted Vivien. She and Biddy and Maud seized Polly and bumped her on the carpet thirteen times. Polly laughed so hard she thought she’d throw up her cake.
After the guests went home, the family had a light supper. Maud chattered about university all through the meal.
“Well, you certainly seem to like it,” said Aunt Jean, after Maud had regaled them with stories about her courses and the residence and frosh dances and rushing for the sorority. “Are you sure you’re eating enough, chickie? You’ve slimmed down.”
Maud chuckled. “I needed to, don’t you think? Yes, I’m getting plenty to eat. The food’s as terrible as it was at St. Winnie’s, but Ann and I buy sausages and cook them over the fireplace in the lounge.”
“I don’t know how you have time to study with all those activities,” said Noni.
Maud shrugged. “I only have five courses—that seems so few compared with school.”
Polly listened to her answer Uncle Rand’s question about her history professor. She didn’t mind sharing Maud with the others; she’d have her all to herself later.
“Polly, aren’t you going to tell everyone your decision?” Noni asked.
Polly was trying not to think about it. “I’ve decided to be a full-time boarder, because I want to take special art and it’s only on Saturdays,” she muttered.
Maud beamed at her. “You’re going to board full time? That’s swell, Doodle! The boarders have so much fun on the weekends. You’ll love it.”
“Polly’s art teacher is Frieda Falconer,” Noni told them. “She’s a well-known Canadian artist.”
“What a wonderful opportunity, chickie!” said Aunt Jean.
“But it will be hard for you not to come home,” said Uncle Rand gently.
Polly gave him a sad smile. He was the only one who understood.
As usual when Maud was home, she came into Polly’s room and sat on the bed to chat.
“How’s school?” she asked immediately, as Tarka demanded that she rub his tummy. “I enjoyed your letter, but you didn’t tell me how you liked it.”
What could Polly say? Maud had loved boarding school. She wouldn’t understand any of the things Polly hated about it.
Polly shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess.”
“Are my friends looking out for you?”
Polly nodded.
“Tell me more about your roommates! Who’s your homeroom teacher?”
Polly didn’t want to waste one minute talking about school, but she had to tell Maud all about the Fearless Four and the Hornet.
“I miss St. Winnie’s sometimes,” said Maud, “but it’s fabulous to be so free. There are no bells and no rules, and I can wear my own clothes. We have a nightly curfew, but apart from that I can do what I want.”
Maud’s face was thinner, which made her long nose and strong chin stand
Polly’s
day! Aren’t you going to open your presents?”
Opening presents, blowing out thirteen candles, and enjoying her favourite cake lifted Polly’s gloom for a time. Maud’s small box revealed a set of the china dogs that Polly collected. Biddy and Vivien had pooled their money and bought her some green barrettes. Aunt Jean had knitted Polly her annual sweater—this year it was pink. Mrs. Hooper had wrapped up a movie magazine, which Biddy and Vivien immediately seized. Daddy had sent some handkerchiefs all the way from Winnipeg. They were embroidered with her initials. Gregor and Sadie had sent a book called
National Velvet
.
Then Noni handed Polly a blue velvet box. Inside was a short strand of pearls. “Oh, Noni, they’re beautiful,” breathed Polly, running the cool beads through her fingers.
“They belonged to my mother,” said Noni. “I offered them to
your
mother once, but she didn’t want them. They’re only to be worn for special occasions.”
“Thank you!” said Polly. She’d never owned anything so grown-up. Daddy had bought Maud her pearls in the days before the crash, when he had a steady job. Now Polly had some, too!
“Time for bumps!” shouted Vivien. She and Biddy and Maud seized Polly and bumped her on the carpet thirteen times. Polly laughed so hard she thought she’d throw up her cake.
After the guests went home, the family had a light supper. Maud chattered about university all through the meal.
“Well, you certainly seem to like it,” said Aunt Jean, after Maud had regaled them with stories about her courses and the residence and frosh dances and rushing for the sorority. “Are you sure you’re eating enough, chickie? You’ve slimmed down.”
Maud chuckled. “I needed to, don’t you think? Yes, I’m getting plenty to eat. The food’s as terrible as it was at St. Winnie’s, but Ann and I buy sausages and cook them over the fireplace in the lounge.”
“I don’t know how you have time to study with all those activities,” said Noni.
Maud shrugged. “I only have five courses—that seems so few compared with school.”
Polly listened to her answer Uncle Rand’s question about her history professor. She didn’t mind sharing Maud with the others; she’d have her all to herself later.
“Polly, aren’t you going to tell everyone your decision?” Noni asked.
Polly was trying not to think about it. “I’ve decided to be a full-time boarder, because I want to take special art and it’s only on Saturdays,” she muttered.
Maud beamed at her. “You’re going to board full time? That’s swell, Doodle! The boarders have so much fun on the weekends. You’ll love it.”
“Polly’s art teacher is Frieda Falconer,” Noni told them. “She’s a well-known Canadian artist.”
“What a wonderful opportunity, chickie!” said Aunt Jean.
“But it will be hard for you not to come home,” said Uncle Rand gently.
Polly gave him a sad smile. He was the only one who understood.
As usual when Maud was home, she came into Polly’s room and sat on the bed to chat.
“How’s school?” she asked immediately, as Tarka demanded that she rub his tummy. “I enjoyed your letter, but you didn’t tell me how you liked it.”
What could Polly say? Maud had loved boarding school. She wouldn’t understand any of the things Polly hated about it.
Polly shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess.”
“Are my friends looking out for you?”
Polly nodded.
“Tell me more about your roommates! Who’s your homeroom teacher?”
Polly didn’t want to waste one minute talking about school, but she had to tell Maud all about the Fearless Four and the Hornet.
“I miss St. Winnie’s sometimes,” said Maud, “but it’s fabulous to be so free. There are no bells and no rules, and I can wear my own clothes. We have a nightly curfew, but apart from that I can do what I want.”
Maud’s face was thinner, which made her long nose and strong chin stand
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