Republic of Dirt Read Online Free PDF Page A

spicy it stops his heart!”
    “The paramedics said it was a panic attack. They said he gets them all the time.”
    “A heart panic attack!” said Mrs. Sandhu. “He was maybe about to get engaged. To a very nice girl of forty. But now she hears about his heart and she’s not sure anymore.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Are you married?” asked Mrs. Sandhu.
    “Well, no.”
    “Are you maybe looking for someone who likes spicy food? But not too spicy?”
    “No, thank you. I have a boyfriend.”
    “Anoop’s cousin Gurbinder, he’s pre-law. He’s top of his class. Top half, anyway. He is going to Trent. You ever hear of Trent University?”
    “No, I’m afraid not.”
    “It’s good,” she said. “Very good.”
    “Okay,” I said, not wanting to inflame her and not understanding if she was bragging or threatening.
    “I wanted you to know.”
    “Is there something I can help you with?”
    “Do you know any single girls? Anoop plays video games. He says he will get a job after he gets married.”
    “Oh,” I said, not following.
    “He plays video games all day and all night. He has friends online. None of them work. It’s time for him to get married.”
    “Ah,” I said.
    “You can call if you know of a girl,” she said. “Or activities where he might meet a girl. I’ll give you my number.”
    It occurred to me to wonder how she’d gotten my number but I was too tired to ask.
    “We will come visit you sometime,” said Mrs. Sandhu, before hanging up. “In case you think of anyone.”
    I clicked the receiver off and stared into the dark night. I woke up to find Eustace carrying me inside to bed.

Sara
    T he time I have spent living at Woefield with Prudence and Seth and Earl is my favorite time in my life, so far. When my mom asks when I want to move home, I never know what to say. Our old house in Shady Woods Estates is for sale, so I guess I would live with my dad in his basement apartment near the Tire Depot on Cedar Road, or at my aunt’s in Duncan with my mom. My mom has asked about me moving home three times since she saw what happened at the farmers’ market with the rugby players and the man who had to go away in an ambulance. Last time we talked, she said that she feels like people, such as my aunt, are looking down on her for not taking care of me herself.
    It’s sort of funny that she wants me to move home, since I don’t think she enjoys our visits very much. We always do the same thing. We go to the A&W across from Southgate Mall and then we go to the big library in Nanaimo. Or we clean the house in Shady Woods, even though no one lives there and it’s not dirty. In Jr. Poultry Fancier’s Club, I learned that keeping things clean is part of good husbandry, but cleaning things that are already clean is not a good use of resources.Sometimes my mom cries when she cleans. She even cries at A&W. I think she’s depressed. The only time she doesn’t cry is when she writes in her journal, which is what she does when we go to the library. She also does it at night when she should be sleeping.
    On my visits with my dad, we watch TV. He enjoys watching poker and other sports. He says he’s sorry to be boring, but he’s really tired. He doesn’t mind if I read while he watches TV, so at least I’m getting something done. He’s also asked about when I want to move home, but he always says, “We should think about you moving back with your mother soon.”
    My other news is that I’ve taken three mule books out of the library and am looking forward to reading them.
    My teacher, Miss Singer, sent me home with a notice about parent-teacher interviews. She said she’s aware of my “situation” and she said I should give the form to my custodian. Which is funny, because the custodian is the janitor at the school! I hope it doesn’t sound mean when I say that I’d rather have the janitor go to my parent-teacher than try to figure out whether I’m supposed to give the form to my