Whiteout Read Online Free PDF Page A

killed. No one had told her anything else.
    Okay, be fair. She hadn’t exactly demanded to know. But this was the first time she and April had beenalone. Molly was a pest all day. And in the evenings, April talked to Mom. Snatches of their conversations poked at Robin like pins. Traction. Crushed pelvis. Screws. It made her stomach feel queasy.
    Robin scooped up snow in her mitten and tried to put together a question. She turned words around in her head. They felt like they were stuck together like chewing gum. She couldn’t just blurt out, “Will Aunty Liz be able to ski again?” April would feel horrible. And it wouldn’t change anything.
    It was too hard to talk about. “You know what would be fun?” she said instead. “To come up here by ourselves and stay the night.”
    “Would we be allowed?” said April doubtfully.
    “There’s a chance.” Robin’s mind was already formulating ideas.
    The girls worked out the details as they climbed to the top of the ridge. Baked beans or soup? Hot chocolate for sure. Marshmallows. They could roast them in the woodstove. Monopoly? It was no fun with two people. Cards would be better. And definitely some books.
    The ski back down the hill was fast and fun on the newly packed ski trail. As the girls headed across thelake to the house, they talked about their chances of an overnighter. Dad might go for it, but Mom was definitely a problem. They’d have to work on her.
    Making plans.
    Robin felt like singing at the top of her lungs. It was like old times—before April got that closed look in her eyes. Before the accident.

Chapter Six
    Robin approached Mom and Dad with their idea during supper. When she ran out of arguments, she looked at April for backup, but April was playing with her salad. She looked tired.
    “I don’t know—,” Mom began.
    “You always do this!” Robin burst out.
    “Do what?” said Mom.
    “Get this look on your face. And then come up with a hundred things that could go wrong that never do.”
    Mom looked offended. “I don’t think that’s true.”
    “It is a little,” said Dad, grinning. “Never mind. Every family needs one worrywart. I, for one, think it’s a good idea.”
    Robin had been prepared for a fight. She clamped her mouth shut and held her breath. Mom frowned.
    “They can take the walkie talkie with them,” said Dad. He sounded enthusiastic. “They could call if they ran into trouble. I could be up there in twenty minutes on the snowmobile if they needed me.”
    “Which we won’t,” said Robin.
    Mom sighed. “Do they have to do this right now, with everything that’s been happening?”
    “That’s exactly why they should do it now,” said Dad. Robin felt like leaping up and hugging him.
    Molly’s head had swiveled back and forth as she followed the conversation. “I’m going too,” she said.
    “No,” said Robin. “It’s just going to be me and April.”
    Molly’s face turned bright red. “That’s not fair!”
    “Life isn’t always fair,” said Mom automatically.
    “But I never get to do anything fun!”
    Molly sounded like she was settling in for a long siege. Robin turned to Mom and said loudly, “Well?”
    “When?” said Mom, giving in.
    “Saturday,” said Robin. They could come home from Kim’s party right after lunch and go.
    After supper, Dad offered to do the dishes. “Temporary goodwill, girls. Take advantage of it.”
    “Hot bubble bath for me,” said Mom.
    “Saxophone,” said April. “I’ve hardly done any practicing yet.”
    Robin grabbed her jacket off its hook. She had to feed the horses, and then she was free. “You want to help me, Molly?”
    Molly made a face. “I’m staying with April.”
    “If you’re quiet,” said April.
    Robin grinned. She wrapped her scarf mummy-style around her face. Molly quiet? When polar bears could fly.
    The bellow came just as Robin was about to leave. “I did not!”
    Dad turned around at the sink. Molly stormed into the kitchen, her face