The Whole Truth Read Online Free PDF Page B

Maud?”
    “I remember some things …” Maud stopped chewing. “We sat in a big chair and she would read me the funnies. Then we’d tickle each other and laugh so much that we cried.”
    “She was a tickler, all right! She would come up behind me while I was cooking and tickle my knees—she’d scare the living daylights out of me!”
    Polly wished she could remember her mother. Whenever Maud and Daddy had talked about her, Polly had felt left out. But now she noticed how sad Maud looked. The trouble with remembering someone was that it made you miss them. Like Daddy … pain stabbed her insides, and she put down her spoon.
    “Good morning, girls.” Noni came into the kitchen, looking elegant in a grey silk dress with lace on the collar. She was carrying a fur wrap over her arm. “Are you ready for the service?” she asked.“Get your hats and carry your coats. I know it’s summer, but the church is always frigid.”
    The little stone church was a short walk away, just past the rectory. People were walking up the hill to it from all directions, heeding the call of its tolling bell. Noni and Maud and Polly sat in the front pew with Aunt Jean. They all stood up for the first hymn as Gregor led the small choir up the aisle, carrying a tall cross. He wore a white robe, and his usually grinning face was solemn. As he passed them, however, he gave the girls a quick wink.
    Uncle Rand, dressed in white and green robes, was the last in the procession. Words and music floated above Polly and she sat or stood or kneeled with rest of the congregation.
    The church was a bright space of wood and stone. Clear windows framed the green and blue colours outside as if they were living stained glass. Every pew was filled with adults and children in their best clothes. Most of them stared at Maud and Polly, the adults discreetly and the children boldly. Polly avoided their eyes.
    When Uncle Rand got up to preach, Polly tried to listen, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying—something about “atonement.” The rest of the congregation looked as mystified as Polly was. She rubbed her legs together.
    “Are you cold, hen?” whispered Noni. She took off her fur wrap and draped it over Polly’s knees.
    Polly waited in the pew while Maud, Noni, and Aunt Jean went up to the altar for Communion. Maud crossed herself when she received the wafer and wine. Polly remembered going to the Ukrainian Catholic church in Winnipeg with Grannie. She and Maud hadleaned on either side of her, half asleep, as the priest chanted the mass. Daddy had never come, and after Grannie had died, Polly and Maud had never gone to church again.
    Until Daddy’s funeral last week …
Don’t think about it!
    Finally the long service was over. Everyone lined up at the door to shake Uncle Rand’s hand. Aunt Jean led them to the parish hall behind the church.
    Polly and Maud stood beside Noni as people poured into the hall for tea and cookies. “These are my dear granddaughters,” said Noni, as person after person came up to meet them.
    “How do you do?” said Maud over and over again. Polly just held out her limp hand as if it belonged to someone else.
    Most of the adults acted kind and pitying as they welcomed them to the island. “Poor little orphans,” one muttered. The children who accompanied their parents looked suspicious.
    “Alice is delighted to have a new girl coming to school,” said a woman called Mrs. Mackenzie. “She’ll take good care of Polly.” She glared at her daughter, as if this were an order.
    Alice, a scowling girl with red hair, didn’t appear at all delighted. She examined Polly so disdainfully that Polly moved closer to Noni.
    “Polly won’t be starting school for another week,” said Noni.
    A week was a long time. Polly lowered her eyes to shield herself from Alice’s glare.
    After church they went to the rectory for what Noni called Sunday dinner, even though it was at noon. The rectory was smaller and darker than