First Came the Owl Read Free Page B

put his arm around her, she leaned against him and wiped her eyes on his shirt.
    â€œI’m going to take her to the hospital,” he said. “Anne’s mother says you can stay with them tonight. Okay?”
    â€œIt’s—” Nita was going to say, not okay. She didn’t like to stay overnight at other people’s houses, even Anne’s. But Dad looked so worried that she heard herself say, “Okay. Can they … can the hospital get her to feel better?”
    â€œThey have some different medication, they have things they can try.”
    â€œBut why won’t she talk?”
    â€œShe can’t,” said Dad.
    â€œIs there something the matter with her throat?” Nita asked.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen she can talk.”
    â€œShe can’t.” Dad spread his hands out by his sides, as if he didn’t know what to do. “Nita, I know you’re upset. But remember, Mom’s had a hard life, and I think her trip reminded her of some sad things.”
    Nita did remember one of Mom’s stories. A story told long ago, in whispers, of a long escape through the trees, a dark night, and a hunt. Soldiers hunting her mother’s family, who ran and ran through the jungle.
    But now, Mom wouldn’t even tell stories. She was like a clock not working—running down, ticking slower and slower, and finally not working. As if the whole world could just stop. Somehow, Nita felt if Mom would say one word, only one word, the world wouldn’t stop. But Mom couldn’t.
    â€œPack some stuff,” Dad said. “Marian is coming to get you. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    He’s not looking at me, thought Nita. All he thinks about is her, her, her. Or maybe … he’s afraid, too? That was the worst thought of all.
    Dad gave her another hug, but she could hardly hug him back. Headlights swept the lawn in front of the lighthouse. “Here they are. Get your toothbrush.”
    Nita hurried into her bedroom and threw some stuff in her duffel bag. Pajamas. Her old stuffed cat. Her school bag and her special pen with a tiny Mayflower that sailed back and forth in a capsule of fluid. She put on her earmuffs.
    As she went to the front door, she looked back and saw Dad sitting on the edge of Mom’s bed. He sat very still, and he didn’t turn his head to see Nita leave. She made her way down the path by the flashing lighthouse beam that made things look white and then dark, white and then dark.
    Anne gave Nita a scared look when she got into the warm car, but Anne’s mother just acted normal.
    â€œGet your skates,” said Mrs. S. “Our pond is perfect at the moment, and we’re going to go skating by moonlight.”
    â€œTonight?” said Anne and Nita at the same moment.
    â€œTonight.”
    Nita smiled thankfully at the back of Mrs. Stillwater’s head. She climbed out of the car, went up the slippery path again, and took her skates off the hook by the entryway. She took a last look at her parents through the little window beside the inside door. They hadn’t moved.
    In the car, Anne bounced on the seat. “Night skating!” she said.

Four
    P ONDS DIDN’T STAY frozen very long in Maushope’s Landing, and tonight there was a moon, but it was also a school night, and even the lively Stillwaters didn’t usually let you go out then.
    The car went over the hill to High Street. “I’ll be right back with some cocoa,” said Mrs. S. She went into the house.
    â€œI didn’t even know we were going,” said Anne. “I think she just thought of it to cheer you up.” They got Anne’s skates from the bench in her front hall and went back outside.
    The moon was out, riding across the sky behind tattered shreds of cloud. The white blanket of snow in the yard glittered in the moonlight.
    When the girls slid down to the pond in back of the house, they saw that the ice was perfect,