Getting Back to Normal Read Online Free PDF Page A

one deduction. Robby stirs in his sleep.
    Next question: if Archie isn’t Mayda’s father, how come he’s known her since she was born?
    The next thing I know is it’s morning and Robby’s calling up to me from downstairs to hurry up so we can visit the ducks. I get dressed and go into the kitchen. Robby and I drink a glass of orange juice. He takes the last two stale biscuits from the box. “For the ducks,” he explains.
    I don’t have the heart to remind him Daddy said not to feed them.
    “Morning,” we both call out to Daddy, who’s already at work in his new office.
    Daddy looks at his watch. “Give me twenty minutes, then we’ll have breakfast.”
    I’m nervous as we walk toward the duck pond, wondering how I’ll explain Archie to Robby if he’s lounging on the bench as he was yesterday. But Archie’s nowhere in sight. The ducks swim toward Robby as though they know he has food for them.
    “See, Vannie, they know I’m their friend.” He crumbles up the biscuits and tosses them into the water. He laughs and laughs as the ducks dive and gobble up the pieces.
    At breakfast, there’s hardly enough milk for our cereal. “Daddy, we need groceries,” I tell him. “I’ll write up a list.”
    “What?” Daddy’s been working out some MG business in his head. “Sure, Vannie,” he finally says. “Maybe we can go shopping later. First I have to talk to Casey. Iron out some problems about the arts and crafts show.”
    “I won’t be here, remember? I’m going to the movies with Tammy.”
    “Oh. Right. Can you take Robby with you?”
    I glare at my father. “Robby has a soccer game at one o’clock. I gave you his schedule, remember?”
    Robby tugs his arm. “You forgot, Daddy! And you said you’d stay and watch me play this time.”
    Daddy tries for a jovial laugh. It falls as flat as two-day-old soda. “Of course I will, Robby. Then you and I will go food shopping together.”
    I slam my dish down in the sink. “And you have to pick up Tammy and me after the movie, remember? You said you would last night.”
    Daddy’s face is red as he does some figuring. “I said so and I will. But I can’t make it any earlier than five o’clock, Vannie.”
    “If that’s the best you can do,” I tell him, but secretly I’m glad. It will give us plenty of time to browse the stores.
    Daddy gets up and clears his dirty dishes. “I can see I won’t be getting anything done today.”
    I pat his shoulder. “It’s Sunday, Dad. No one expects you to work today.”
    “Running Merrymount Gardens is a seven-day job,” he says as he leaves the kitchen.
    So is your job as a father, I think.
    *
    Tammy’s dad drops us off in front of the SixteenPlex Movie Theaters. We buy tickets to see this great romantic comedy all the kids are talking about. It starts at one, so we’ve plenty of time to eat lunch and do some window shopping.
    I don’t usually like malls, but today I’m happy to be here, surrounded by people talking and shopping and eating. Normal people doing everyday things. I feel normal, too, out with my best friend for a fun afternoon. No need to worry about Robby, or wonder how long we’ll have to live in that gruesome cottage at MG. I could forget about it completely, if only Tammy would shut up about it.
    “The cottage sounds really cute,” she says as we wait on line to order our pizza. “I don’t know why you think it’s so awful.”
    “It’s dark and musty and full of old furniture.” I turn and look her in the eye. “And I’d rather live in my own home.”
    “I know, Vannie.” Tammy hugs me. “But maybe your dad’s not the only one who needs a change.”
    I don’t answer. We move up to the front of the pizza line.
    “Two slices of vegetable pizza and a Coke,” I order.
    “Next!” the skinny teenager shouts.
    “Er—one slice of vegetable pizza and a Diet Coke,” Tammy says. She’s petite and a little on the pudgy side, so she’s always trying to diet. “Trying” is the