The Urn Carrier Read Online Free PDF Page B

every
morning. As soon as there was a hint of sun it was as if every cell in her body
expanded and inhaled and wanted to greedily drink in more daylight. Even in
winter, Tessa was always the first awake. Her mom found her downstairs under
the kitchen table, doodling on paper, little figures, dreams she was drawing
“from memory,” she said.
    She didn’t want food, she didn’t want breakfast, she just wanted
more paper and crayons and chalks and pencils and paints. Later, in school, she
discovered ink and specialized pens. While everyone else was enamored with game
boys, phones, and laptops, Tessa was in the back drawing.
    At first, the idea of school seemed fine. Her mom told her she’d
be able to draw all day. It was not exactly true, but her first week of
kindergarten, they did draw a lot. The school was practically kitty-corner to
their house.
    Her mom had walked her and Eli there the first two days. She
showed them how to cross with the light at the busy corner. First straight down
from their house. Wait for the light. Even when it was green look both ways
because sometimes cars sped through lights. Then wait at the corner and turn
left. Repeat.
    This day, Eli stayed home with an upset tummy. Tessa had no idea
that their mom watched every morning, just to be sure they were safe. At the
first corner, by the boarding house, Tessa noticed the knot of kids on the side
of the school.
    She resisted the urge to dash kitty-corner across the street and
join in the fun. Bigger kids were throwing rocks. She was good at throwing
rocks and she was anxious to show the big kids how good she was. She swung her
lunchbox back and forth impatiently, the light finally turned green. She
sprinted across the street and then remembered about speeding cars. Everyone
stopped for her and she ran. The next light seemed even slower and she was
afraid the school bell would ring before she could join the big group of kids.
    Finally, she was on school grounds and raced over to see the
excitement. Kids were dashing around finding rocks, and she scooped one up on
her way. She pushed her way through the bigger kids, she couldn’t wait to show
what a good shooter she was and then she saw the black-and-white cat cowering
against the brick wall of the school as one of the older kids flung a stone,
finding its mark. She dropped her lunchbox and the rock and hovered over the
cat.
    “Hey! Are you crazy?” a fourth grader shouted at her and tried to
pull her away. He couldn’t budge her.
    “Get out of here. We’re gonna hit you instead
if you don’t move.”
    “Yeah! Move!” another big kid said and his
rock stung her on the base of her head right by her neck. She didn’t even
flinch.
    “No!” she shouted, loud and clear. “You’re not hurting this cat
anymore.”
    “It’s not your cat. Get away from it. It’s a mangy stray.”
    She didn’t obey. She blocked out their
shouting and the pelting rocks. More rocks and stones hit her, but the bell
rang.
    “Oh, let’s go,” the older ones said.
    “The bell rang. Haw! You’re going to be late protecting some dumb
ass cat!” they called to her.
    She didn’t move until every last one was in the school. Then she
scooped up the cat and took it home. She told her mom everything. Her mom
walked back with her to the school and talked with the teacher. Tessa never got
in trouble. And Bandi became her cat.
    Bandi loved her. She followed her everywhere. She lay on Tessa at
night and purred. Tessa felt Bandi’s purr go straight into her heart. It was
the most delicious feeling in the world.
    She began hating school. She was the child with her nose pressed
up against the window, wanting to be outside. She was the child who only
breathed fully when she was outdoors, running, playing, climbing.
    She recreated movies and worlds and played funny games, getting
others to join her in her play acting at recess.
    One time they crossed an invisible line, where all the boys
played. The older boys picked her up