A Handful of Time Read Free

sympathetic look. Patricia averted her eyes and dropped her head as her cousins were introduced.
    Kelly was the oldest. She had the kind of assured good looks that the popular girls at school had—tall, fair and slender. Trevor was stocky, with a sunburnt nose. Skinny Maggie stuck her tongue out. The cheerful baby was Rosemary.
    â€œYou’re just in time for lunch!” bubbled Aunt Ginnie. Slowly, Patricia began to feel a bit more cheerful.
    They ate on the sloping front lawn of the Grants’ cottage. It was high above the lake, which stretched out below as far as Patricia could see, the towering sky extending its blueness. The grass prickled her legs uncomfortably as she gulped down a chicken salad sandwich. Kelly and Trevor stared at her when she took two more.
    They think I’m greedy, she thought, but she was too hungry to care. At least the food was going to be good.
    Uncle Doug came over to her and pointed out landmarks.
    â€œThat ugly tower far to the right is a power plant. We all hate it—it makes the water too weedy and spoils the view. And all that green to the left is an Indian Reserve.”
    Patricia nodded politely but didn’t reply. It was just as it had been on the plane—the more people tried to draw her out, the more she wanted to disappear.
    The only unthreatening person in the family was the baby, who lolled on a blanket beside her and crowed with joy. Patricia stuck a tentative finger in her fist and Rosemary gripped it with surprising strength.
    â€œShe’s the easiest baby I’ve had,” said Aunt Ginnie. “Always in a good mood. I think she finds us all very amusing.”
    Then her aunt took Rosemary in for a nap and Uncle Doug followed them. Maggie had wandered off. Now Patricia had to face her older cousins alone. She clutched her knees to her chest and pretended to be looking at the view.
    â€œNo one wears skirts at the lake,” Kelly said flatly, stretching out the long tanned legs that emerged from her ragged cut-off jeans.
    â€œI came here straight from the plane, that’s why I’m dressed up,” mumbled Patricia. “I have shorts in my suitcase.”
    â€œHow old are you?” Kelly asked her.
    â€œTwelve.”
    â€œTwelve! Are you sure? Mum said you were my age.”
    â€œI turned twelve in May,” said Patricia, suddenly feeling as if she weren’t actually sure.
    â€œYou don’t look older than me,” said Kelly doubtfully. She undid a knife she had strapped to her belt and began whittling on a twig.
    â€œHow come you’re staying for the whole summer?” asked Trevor. He made it sound like an eternity.
    Patricia tugged some clover out of the lawn. “My parents both have a lot of work to do. They wanted me out of the way.” That, at least, was the truth.
    â€œWe’ve seen your mother on TV and Mum showed us your dad’s column. What’s it like having such famous parents? Have you ever been to the TV studio? Did you like being in that article your mum sent?” Kelly seemed really curious and her voice was friendly for the first time.
    But Patricia stiffened. “I’d rather not talk about that stuff,” she said abruptly.
    â€œYou don’t have to be snobby about it,” said Kelly. She turned to her brother and nodded.
    â€œI guess we’ll give you our present now, Patricia,” announced Trevor. His round freckled face grinned as he pulled a small blue box out of his pocket and handed it over.
    Patricia took it warily. She lifted the lid, then squealed as a tiny brown toad dropped into her lap.
    â€œIt’s just a toad—are you afraid of it?” Trevor captured the toad and held it close to her face. “Here, take it.”
    This was a test Patricia knew she would fail. She just couldn’t touch the dry, throbbing skin. “N-no thanks,” she mumbled, getting up. “Where can I go and change?”
    Kelly shrugged, looking