Read Online Kin by Lesley Crewe - Free Book Online

getting in the way, with school and chores, homework and church. Annie did spend a few weekends at the Johnsons’ over the winter, once when her father was going out to Mira on the train anyway, and another time when Uncle Joe had to come into town on a Friday, so he drove Annie back to Round Island with him. Annie and Lila spent all their time outside, playing in the snow and running with the puppy. At night they curled up together in one of the beds upstairs.
    â€œThis is the best place,” Lila said. “It’s full of fairies and princesses and ballerinas.”
    Annie made a face. “No it’s not.”
    â€œOh, yes. I’ll show you in the summer.”
    â€œWhy can’t you show me now?”
    â€œBecause they don’t want to be seen yet.”
    Annie was curious but much too tired to argue. “Promise you’ll show me this summer?”
    â€œI promise.”
    They were asleep as soon as they closed their eyes.
    Summer seemed a long time coming, as spring in Cape Breton was often a long, drawn-out affair, prone to sudden snow squalls and cold, windy days. It would be lovely one minute and freezing the next. Flowers could be blooming in Halifax and nowhere to be found on the island.
    But then, seemingly in an instant, the first robins showed up and spring peepers started calling out in the night and it was warm enough to take off your sweater. May was, for the most part, bug-free, but it very quickly went downhill with blackflies first, then mosquitoes, then houseflies coming to life inside the window panes and finally the mighty horsefly that could take a chunk of flesh out of you in a painful hurry.
    Grading day was the best day of Annie’s school year. She ran to school, got her grading certificate from Miss Doom, and happily ran home again to rejoice in the freedom that lay ahead. Two whole months was a lifetime when you were almost eight.
    The neighbourhood kids gathered by the rock pile and made plans for the coming weeks. Some of them, Annie and David included, were going out to bungalows in Mira for the summer. That’s when Uncle Howard’s bakery truck came in mighty handy. The cousins would lie down on the shelves in the back of the van and Uncle Howard could take eight kids to Mira in one run. That was a hoot!
    The kids who weren’t leaving town made sure to announce the great time they’d have playing and watching baseball games, going to the Savoy or the Russell theatre to watch Westerns, and eating at local diners.
    Annie thought David looked wistful as his friends talked about the fun they’d have roaming the town. He was now eleven and Annie could detect a slight change in his enthusiasm for the bungalow. There were friends to play with in Round Island, but by the end of a school year they were often like strangers. And you had to play with whoever was there, even if they wouldn’t be your friend in town. It was almost two different worlds they lived in, with their summer friends and their winter friends. Annie had no reservations. Her best friend and Freddy were waiting for her.
    By this time, the Macdonalds had a car of their own, a Chevrolet, and so Dad and Mom piled in the supplies they would need for a summer at the bungalow. Dad worked all week and only came out to Round Island on the weekends.
    â€œPoor Dad, he never gets any fun,” Annie said.
    â€œI think he enjoys the peace and quiet, so don’t worry about him,” Mom laughed.
    When they arrived all of them hauled things from the car, but after that Mom and Dad said they were free to go. Mom was going to spend all day organizing, making beds, and putting groceries away, and she was happier when they weren’t underfoot.
    â€œJust don’t go in the water,” Mom yelled after them.
    â€œWe won’t!” David answered as he ran down the hill with Annie. No one wanted to go swimming the very first of July unless June had been exceptionally warm,