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dutifully slid the edge of the letter opener under the flap, slit open the envelope, took out the paper inside, looked at it, and gasped.
    Not a dismissal notice. It was a cheque. A cheque for his first month’s duties. A big cheque. Casey sat at the desk and laid the cheque on it. He saw Trevor sliding towards him and just got the cheque turned over in time.
    â€œStashing away your ill-gotten gains, I see,” Trevor made a lunge for the cheque but Casey caught his wrist and gave it a hard twist.
    â€œMind your own business, Trevor,” Casey said as he pocketed his cheque.
    â€œIf you’re getting more than me for just sitting around, I’m going to make an official complaint.”
    â€œAnd if you don’t stop bugging me, I’m going to make a complaint.”
    Trevor slunk off and Casey sat down.
    â€œMy money,” he whispered, no longer tired or bored or frustrated or humiliated: just happy. “I earned this. It’s all mine.”
    He sat staring at the cheque. “Maybe I won’t cash it. Maybe I’ll frame it and look at it. Then again …” Into his mind flashed the imagine of a mountain bike he’d seen on the last walk he’d taken into downtown Drumheller. It was a flame red. It had all the bells and whistles. It had more gears than he’d ever seen. And , Casey thought to himself as he picked up the cheque and smiled a huge smile, I can afford it!

Chapter Twelve
    â€œIt’ll be light for hours,” Mandy said. She and Casey were sitting on the Normans’ veranda. Mandy was eating Jell-O and Casey was enjoying a chocolate sundae. He looked over at Mandy.
    â€œIs that all the dessert you’re going to have?”
    â€œWell, I have to eat things that won’t irritate my throat, and with this darn milk allergy of mine, I can’t have ice cream or puddings or anything like that.”
    â€œWhen are you going to be able to eat some more solid food?” Casey asked. “I make a heck of an omelette.”
    â€œSomehow I can’t see you cooking, Casey. But when I can eat an omelette, I’ll let you know.”
    â€œGood,” said Casey.
    Mandy was pretty well; she looked better every day, and the wonderful glow she’d had the day Casey’d seen her in the cafeteria was slowly coming back. But she still wasn’t supposed to speak loudly or do any jumping or heavy lifting — or swimming.
    When she’d first come home things had been awkward, Mandy not being used to anyone but her family living there. Mandy had not been her usual friendly self and couldn’t hide her resentment when Casey went off swimming. Casey finally realized it really got to Mandy that she couldn’t practise too, and cut his pool visits to one a week instead of three. Mandy was grateful and the good times started.
    â€œI am so glad you’re back in town, Mandy,” Casey told her, thinking how easy she was to be with and, having grown up in a family of four boys, how different it was spending so much time with a girl — especially this girl. “It’s great to have something to look forward to after work. My days are awfully boring.”
    Mandy put down her empty dish and smiled. “Your days are boring? Try mine.”
    The Normans had had a celebration dinner for Mandy when she got home a couple of weeks ago. She could have only soup and Jell-O, but she didn’t seem to mind.
    â€œIt is so great to be back,” she sighed contentedly. “All those weeks away with only reading and TV. You’ll be happy to know, dear parents,” she continued, “I’ve finished all the homework for the rest of the year in social studies, so, when I finally get back to school, I can start a senior biology course.”
    Mrs. Norman smiled. “Had a hunch you’d not be wasting your time.” Mandy attended St. Hilda’s, an exclusive, academically challenging girls-only school in