The Whole Truth Read Free

“Doodle, that’s enough! You have to
forget!
Do you understand?”
    Polly started to cry. “No, I don’t! And let go, Maud. You’re hurting me! I don’t understand, and I think you’re hiding something!”
    Maud released Polly’s hands and handed her a handkerchief. “I’m sorry, Poll, but there’s nothing more to say. I’m not hiding anything. Really, I’m not!”
    Polly knew that Maud was lying. She was lying to protect Polly. Her secret was locked up inside her as tightly as her hair was braided. Pleading wouldn’t unlock it; when Maud was this determined, there was nothing Polly could do.
    She wiped her eyes and whispered, “Okay. I’ll try to forget. Are there any more rules?”
    “Yes. Number three: Don’t trust
anyone
but me.”
    “That’s easy,” said Polly. “I already follow that rule.”
    “Good. Number four: Be brave. I’m really sorry I’m going to boarding school and leaving you alone, but it’s important for me to get a good education. This is all horrible, but at least it gives me a chance at that. You’re going to miss me at first. I’ll miss you, too, Doodle. But we both have to be as brave as lions!”
    “I could
never
be as brave as you are,” said Polly.
    “You have to be,” said Maud. “You have no choice. Rule number five: Be polite and helpful and well-behaved. It’s important that Grandmother likes us. We want her to keep us, because we have nowhere else to go.”
    “But what if we don’t like
her?
What if she’s mean?”
    “Then it’s even more important that we make a good impression. But I don’t think she’ll be mean. She offered to take us, after all. And she’s always sounded nice in her letters.”
    Grandmother had written to them several times a year. They had sent short notes back, to thank her for birthday and Christmas presents. She had seemed so far away, in another life. But now they were going to be part of that life!
    “Maud, why haven’t we ever met our grandmother?”
    “We
have
met her. She came to Mother’s funeral—I can just barely remember her. I don’t know why she hasn’t come to see us since then. I asked Daddy once, but all he said was that she and our mother had a terrible argument and stopped speaking to each other.”
    Polly leaned against Maud. She started to weep again. “I don’t
want
to go to the island and live with Grandmother! I just want to stay on the train with you forever! I’m scared!”
    Maud squeezed Polly’s shoulder. Her own eyes were moist, but she sniffed and said firmly, “You’re already forgetting rule number four: Be brave. I should add one more: No crying!” She gave Polly a forced smile. “Let’s try to look on the bright side, Doodle. I bet our relatives will be fine. Maybe they’ll even have a dog!”
    Polly swallowed her tears. They gathered inside and filled her until she felt like choking. “That would be nice,” she whispered.
    Maud took her hand. “It must be almost time for dinner. Let’s go back to our room before the Turtle comes to find us.”

CHAPTER TWO
THE ISLAND
    E arly the next morning the train pulled into Vancouver. Polly followed Mrs. Tuttle into the crowded station, clutching her small suitcase in one hand and Maud’s hand in the other. Behind them, a porter wheeled the rest of their luggage.
    “Maud! Polly!” Four adults rushed up to them. Everyone was talking and hugging and kissing and the Turtle was fussing about their bags and Maud kept saying, “I’m so happy to meet you!” in a high, false voice.
    But Polly couldn’t speak. If she did, the tempest inside her would erupt. All she could do was stare. Sorting out four new people was hard work.
    The tall young man was Gregor. “I’m your first cousin once removed!” he informed her. Polly didn’t know what that meant, but her frozen tongue wouldn’t let her ask. Gregor lifted her right off the ground and gave her forehead a smacking kiss. He had woolly curls and a round, grinning face.
    His parents