Read Online Say Good-bye by Laurie Halse Anderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laurie Halse Anderson
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good-luck charm like that ourselves today.
Yum-Yum squirms a little, as if he can’t get comfortable. I stroke him softly, and he seems to settle down.
I try to entertain Jane, to keep her from worrying. I tell her about what it was like living in Manhattan, a place she’s only seen on television and in the movies. “I wish you could meet my mom,” I say. “You’d really like her.”
“I feel like I know her already.”
“How?” I ask, puzzled.
“From watching her soap on TV, silly!” Jane laughs. “I tuned in to watch the show when your grandmother first told me about Rose being on TV. Then I got so hooked on the show, I couldn’t stop watching! I always used to have it on in my shop, and all my customers got stuck on it, too.” Jane shakes her head and smiles. “I’ll never forget that first episode. Rose only had a few lines that day, but your grandmother and I gave her a standing ovation. J.J. was so proud of her!”
“Really?” I say. “I didn’t know that.” I don’tthink my mom knows that, either. Somehow I always got the feeling that Gran didn’t approve of Mom’s acting.
“You look just like her,” Jane says.
That makes me smile.
Jane sighs. “The day the last episode ran, a couple of my regulars and I just sat in front of the TV and cried. We couldn’t believe they’d canceled that show.”
“I couldn’t believe it, either,” I say softly.
Jane shoots me a quick glance, then reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Tough break for you, too, huh, kiddo?” she says.
I nod. “It’s hard…” I don’t finish my sentence, but Jane seems to understand what I mean.
“Don’t worry,” she says cheerfully. “Your mom’s young and gorgeous, and unlike a lot of those soap stars, she can actually act. She’ll get something fabulous going before you know it, and then the two of you will be back together again.” She pats my hand, then says with a little catch in her voice, “Meanwhile, Yum-Yum and I are really glad you’re here.”
And it hits me—even though I miss Mom really badly, I’m glad I’m here, too.
Glancing down, I realize that Yum-Yum hasfallen asleep, and I study the little dog in my arms. He looks the same as always—tiny and plump, with a cute little nose half hidden by long, silky hair. I brushed him well today before coming so he’d look his best. Jane dressed him up with a bright red bow.
If I didn’t already know how sick he is, there’d be no way to tell from looking at him. It’s hard to imagine the illness spreading secretly through his body.
Maybe he’s not all that sick yet. Maybe we’ve caught it early, and they’ll be able to make him well. I make a wish on all the hex signs we pass along the way.
• • • • • • •
Finally we reach the cancer center. As we get out of the car, I can tell Jane is nervous.
“Don’t worry, Jane,” I say as I gently pass Yum-Yum into her arms. “Gran says the doctors here are the best.”
Jane shakes her head. “J.J.’s the best. But if she recommends these folks, I’m sure they’ll be great.”
Inside we check in at the front desk, then get sent to a waiting area. It’s a lot like the waitingroom at Gran’s—only much, much bigger. Lots of people are waiting with their pets. Some of the animals don’t look sick at all. Others look tired and weak.
I wonder what’s wrong with them. I wonder if some of them have cancer like Yum-Yum.
At last a tall woman in a white coat comes out to meet us. “Ms. Young?”
Jane looks scared. “Yes?”
“Hi, I’m Dr. Edwards. I understand you’re a friend of J.J. MacKenzie’s.” She holds out a hand for Yum-Yum to sniff. “And Dr. Mac’s taking care of little Yum-Yum here, huh?”
Yum-Yum wags his tail and licks Dr. Edwards’s hand.
Jane seems to relax. I guess she thinks if Dr. Edwards passes the Yum-Yum test, she’s all right.
When Dr. Edwards looks over at me, I hold out my hand. “I’m Zoe, Dr. Mac’s
Yum-Yum squirms a little, as if he can’t get comfortable. I stroke him softly, and he seems to settle down.
I try to entertain Jane, to keep her from worrying. I tell her about what it was like living in Manhattan, a place she’s only seen on television and in the movies. “I wish you could meet my mom,” I say. “You’d really like her.”
“I feel like I know her already.”
“How?” I ask, puzzled.
“From watching her soap on TV, silly!” Jane laughs. “I tuned in to watch the show when your grandmother first told me about Rose being on TV. Then I got so hooked on the show, I couldn’t stop watching! I always used to have it on in my shop, and all my customers got stuck on it, too.” Jane shakes her head and smiles. “I’ll never forget that first episode. Rose only had a few lines that day, but your grandmother and I gave her a standing ovation. J.J. was so proud of her!”
“Really?” I say. “I didn’t know that.” I don’tthink my mom knows that, either. Somehow I always got the feeling that Gran didn’t approve of Mom’s acting.
“You look just like her,” Jane says.
That makes me smile.
Jane sighs. “The day the last episode ran, a couple of my regulars and I just sat in front of the TV and cried. We couldn’t believe they’d canceled that show.”
“I couldn’t believe it, either,” I say softly.
Jane shoots me a quick glance, then reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Tough break for you, too, huh, kiddo?” she says.
I nod. “It’s hard…” I don’t finish my sentence, but Jane seems to understand what I mean.
“Don’t worry,” she says cheerfully. “Your mom’s young and gorgeous, and unlike a lot of those soap stars, she can actually act. She’ll get something fabulous going before you know it, and then the two of you will be back together again.” She pats my hand, then says with a little catch in her voice, “Meanwhile, Yum-Yum and I are really glad you’re here.”
And it hits me—even though I miss Mom really badly, I’m glad I’m here, too.
Glancing down, I realize that Yum-Yum hasfallen asleep, and I study the little dog in my arms. He looks the same as always—tiny and plump, with a cute little nose half hidden by long, silky hair. I brushed him well today before coming so he’d look his best. Jane dressed him up with a bright red bow.
If I didn’t already know how sick he is, there’d be no way to tell from looking at him. It’s hard to imagine the illness spreading secretly through his body.
Maybe he’s not all that sick yet. Maybe we’ve caught it early, and they’ll be able to make him well. I make a wish on all the hex signs we pass along the way.
• • • • • • •
Finally we reach the cancer center. As we get out of the car, I can tell Jane is nervous.
“Don’t worry, Jane,” I say as I gently pass Yum-Yum into her arms. “Gran says the doctors here are the best.”
Jane shakes her head. “J.J.’s the best. But if she recommends these folks, I’m sure they’ll be great.”
Inside we check in at the front desk, then get sent to a waiting area. It’s a lot like the waitingroom at Gran’s—only much, much bigger. Lots of people are waiting with their pets. Some of the animals don’t look sick at all. Others look tired and weak.
I wonder what’s wrong with them. I wonder if some of them have cancer like Yum-Yum.
At last a tall woman in a white coat comes out to meet us. “Ms. Young?”
Jane looks scared. “Yes?”
“Hi, I’m Dr. Edwards. I understand you’re a friend of J.J. MacKenzie’s.” She holds out a hand for Yum-Yum to sniff. “And Dr. Mac’s taking care of little Yum-Yum here, huh?”
Yum-Yum wags his tail and licks Dr. Edwards’s hand.
Jane seems to relax. I guess she thinks if Dr. Edwards passes the Yum-Yum test, she’s all right.
When Dr. Edwards looks over at me, I hold out my hand. “I’m Zoe, Dr. Mac’s
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