CHAPTER 2 Home It’s funny how home can mean different places for different people Even in the same family Home for me is Calgary Alberta Mountains prairies big skies and bright sunshine Home for Mom and Dad is Nova Scotia Dad grew up outside of Halifax and Mom’s from Cape Breton a big island on the northeast coast of the province Fishing fog tides and water It’s a place I have imagined for as long as I can remember I’m finishing up my packing Mom is downstairs crossing items off her list as she puts stuff in her suitcase Don’t forget to pack a pair of tights to go with your dress Meranda It may be chilly this week Mom calls up And make sure you bring elastics and a hairband or something to get your hair off your face for the funeral okay Got it Mom I hear the front door close when Dad gets home Hello 5
Everyone packed and ready He tries to joke with Mom about her neurotic packing habits I don’t hear a laugh Did you get things tidied up at the lab she asks Dad’s a cancer scientist at the university He’s going to find a cure one day I’m sure of it He’s the smartest person I know even if he does tell the worst jokes Pretty much he answers I’ll keep in touch with them while we’re away Should be fine What can I do to help I hear Mom sending Dad off to gather the final things from her list I grab my crumpled copy of Legends of the Lakes from my bedside table to pack Gran and Grampa gave me this book when I was little and for years its chapters were the only bedtime stories I wanted to hear It’s written by a woman in Mom’s hometown which is famous for mermaids Yep mermaids or mermaid legends at least and this book is a chronicle of them all I know most of the stories by heart but when Gran visits I still let her read it aloud to me It makes her happy And maybe me too A little I smooth the bent edges of the cover and tuck it in the last pocket of space in my backpack on top of my math notebook Mrs Jackson said I wouldn’t miss much with this being only the second week of school but Mom insisted I get some 6
homework to bring with me Wouldn’t want to fall behind Not a worry there In fact the thought of being a bit behind in class would be a relief for a while Don’t get me wrong I love school Like really love school But I’m learning that in seventh grade that’s not normal and with a December birthday I’m always the youngest in my class which doesn’t help either I wonder sometimes if I didn’t try so hard then maybe the other kids would like me more I know that sounds pathetic Especially since in every other area of my life I can never quite keep up My crutches always ensure I’m a few steps behind in gym in the hallways at recess Somehow being extra quick at math doesn’t make up for my physical limitations Not that anyone is mean to me or anything but no matter what I do I seem to float through life a bit out of step In my dreams I can fly or swim faster than everyone no crutches needed either way But when I’m awake I’m Meranda Morgan smart slow moving quiet mostly invisible Invisible to everyone except my parents of course There’s no floating by them Some kids have helicopter parents I think of mine as seatbelt parents They don’t just hover they hold me tight to keep me safe and close Sometimes it gets a bit much like when the seatbelt locks and you can’t move Or breathe Apparently this is normal for an only child especially one with 7
