SB Left Behind illy quit pretending not to eavesdrop Not go she cried I have to go I always go Lilly dear began her poppa You'd be miserable said her momma No I won't said Lilly Tl be with you It s a long trip said Lilly's momma T ve been on long trips before Lilly argued All our trips are long trips But this one is by boat said her poppa T m sorry Lilly but we think it s best if you don't
Lilly's momma reached out and wrapped an arm around Lilly Sweetie we'd love for you to come with us But remember how scared you got kayaking up the Torpid River Lilly nodded And how terrified you were when we had to wade across a stream on Mount Rushless said her poppa Lilly nodded again She had made them all wear life jackets even though the water came up only to their ankles She herself had worn two life jackets Lilly took a deep breath I can do it now she said I know I can Somehow she would stand being on a boat on water for an hour or so if it meant not being left behind Lilly said her poppa this isn't just a short trip It's days and days by boat Over the ocean added her momma Lilly's breath stuck in her throat I can do it she said again but even Lilly heard how her voice quavered It s not just the boat trip said her poppa We ll be spending all our time on islands Small islands Islands had ocean all around them with tides that went in and out so you were never sure if the water was creeping up on you or drawing you out onto the sand so it could wash over you again Ocean with untrustworthy waves that curled up green and grinning and tried to steal away what you loved best in the
Is Breathe sweetie said her poppa rubbing the middle of Lilly's
Lilly dearest we love you too much to put you through all that said her momma Lilly clutched her book What would Millicent Murray do She would go with them of course She would sail the ship herself She would fight of dangers along the way and bring them safely to the islands At the very least she would try to stow away on the boat if she was left behind Maybe Millicent Murray could do all that but Lilly couldn't She would die of fear if such a thing were possible Will I just wait here for you then asked Lilly She would be lonely but she had a box full of new books She had her worry books to fill Where else could she go They didn't have a house somewhere like the people in the books Lilly read They had lived in tents and huts and hammocks all Lilly's life Oh sweetie said her momma you're a big girl but you're not that big We couldn't leave you alone said her poppa We re not sure how long we'll be gone and we want to know you'll be safe What about you Lilly wanted to ask They wouldn t be safe They wouldn't even know how unsafe they were Perhaps you could go to stay with your great uncle Ernest in Mundelaine said Lilly's momma He s all the family we have Great Uncle Ernest Lilly had never even met him He was very kind to me as a child said Lilly's momma We haven't seen him in years because Uncle Ernest never really goes anywhere at all But I know he ll be glad to have you visit I write to him and see if you can stay with
