8

Tommy’s parents had a medical emergency in their family that meant they had to drive to Calgary, and since Della had taken a Friday off earlier in the year, Tommy’s parents asked for the sleepover in a way that suggested Della couldn’t say no. The house the Howards lived in had only two bedrooms and a smaller spare room with no bed, so Tommy would have to sleep in the same bed as Stacey for the night. Everyone agreed that would be okay. Woohoo, Stacey said in response. Tommy, who she fought with half the time Della babysat him and played with heartily the other half, would be the first friend to sleep overnight at her house.

When Tommy’s parents dropped him off early Saturday afternoon, the day was clear and crisp after two days of snow. Della didn’t feel right about assigning housekeeping duties with Tommy there, so she told them they could watch an afternoon movie on TV but that they needed fresh outside air for two hours first. The two of them busied themselves building an igloo and forgot about coming in for the movie.

If we build it right, maybe we could stay out here overnight, Tommy said. Eskimos live up north in igloos, and they sleep in them and everything.

It would be cold, don’t you think? And it would be so dark out at night, how could you read when you went to bed?

I guess they read in the daytime, Tommy said. Or they must have lanterns that burn blubber.

A crust had formed on the top of the snow, but the snow underneath was wet enough they could roll balls a foot in diameter, shave them off to approximate squares, then lift them into place along the four walls. They only stopped once for hot chocolate, and by dark they had four walls built as tall as Stacey, but they hadn’t thought to make a doorway into the house. They turned the porch light on and worked a while longer, but they couldn’t lift the heavy snow above their heads.

Why don’t we use some of the fresh snow in your front yard? It’s like new.

I like to leave the front yard that way. Right now it’s even on both sides of the sidewalk. When Dad gets home, we’ll get him to help. He’s strong enough to help us build it higher. But what can we do about the roof?

I don’t know. They must have used boards or something. Do you have any boards lying around?

They looked behind the garage and found some one-inch boards under the eave, out of the snow. Soon they had a small igloo with boards stretching overhead from wall to wall. We’ll get your dad to help us finish, Tommy said. By the time we’re done, no one will know the difference.

Behind the Howards lived the only neighbours they didn’t know well. A broken-down wooden fence separated the two yards, and they often heard yelling and swearing coming from the house. Molly the Nose said the Browns lived there, or some of them. Mr. and Mrs. Brown hadn’t decided whether they should live together, she said, and every time Mr. Brown came back, it lasted for a day or two until more yelling and swearing left only Mrs. Brown to look after the two sons, twins, either fourteen or fifteen. Molly said that even though they were twins, they had been born in different years. One before midnight and one after. Della didn’t know what to think about that, but she had heard a big blow-up the previous fall and had brought Stacey in from the backyard and told her she could watch whatever was on TV. Molly the Nose didn’t know the twins’ names, but she thought they both began with D.

In the afternoon, the twins stood at the fence, watching. They asked what Tommy and Stacey were building, and Tommy told them it was an igloo. Then an hour later, the two boys hid behind the part of the fence still standing and threw snowballs at them while they worked.

Stacey told Tommy some D-twins stories she knew and called them disgusting. Tommy said Eskimos had enemies too, and once they got their igloo finished, they wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore.

Sage had covered for someone at work and didn’t get home until late, but Della had dinner ready when he finally got in. The whole time they ate, Stacey and Tommy pleaded with him to go back out and help finish the igloo, but Sage had numerous excuses, such as it’s dark out there now, I’m too full to build an igloo and I’m dead tired from working all day. Stacey knew her dad didn’t work on Saturdays but said nothing because she hoped to appeal to his sunny side if she could find it. The debate got them nowhere, and Della suggested Sage could help them in the morning when she went to church. Tommy thought that would be all right, but Stacey wasn’t satisfied. This was no way to treat a guest, she said. Della said she would make them another hot chocolate and they could each take a piece of chocolate cake and eat out by the unfinished igloo for half an hour before a bath and bed. Tommy thought this would be a great adventure and took charge of carrying a tray with the cake and hot chocolate, and Stacey had a flashlight so they could see what they were eating. That should have been a perfect ending to an almost perfect day, except that when they got out to the backyard they found their igloo trampled to the ground. The boards lay akimbo, and none of the remaining walls stood more than a foot high.

Wow, Tommy said, as he’d never experienced such destruction. Stacey cried and Della and Sage came out to the backyard.

It’s the D-twins, Stacey said. They were watching us and throwing snowballs at us all day. They’re the only ones who knew what we were doing.

Della gave Stacey a hug and patted the toque on Tommy’s head. You’ll have to go over there, Della said, meaning Sage. If that woman doesn’t know how to raise kids, someone’s gotta tell her. They worked hard to build this and now look. If you don’t go over there, I will.

I’ll go, Sage said. I’ll see what’s up. We didn’t see them, that’s the problem.

Della took them both inside and let them eat their cake and watch the second half of Bridget Loves Bernie while Sage followed signs of foot traffic in the snow between the fence and his backyard. He went through one gap in the sagging fence and up to the back door of the Browns’ house, where every light they owned seemed to be on, and even from the back porch, he could smell cooking grease. He knocked on the door and one of the boys answered. Is your mother in? I need to talk to her. The boy looked sideways at Sage, as if the request were unreasonable in some way or had never before been made.

Mom, a man wants to talk to you about something.

Sage heard broken glass and some cussing, and then Mrs. Brown appeared at the back door. She looked dressed up as if she might be going out somewhere. It’s you, she said. What do you want?

The kids built an igloo in the backyard this afternoon, and while we were eating supper, someone came over and trashed it. I’m wondering if your two boys know anything about it.

Are you accusing them of something? she said.

No, I’m just wondering if they know anything about it. The kids are heartbroken.

Donny! Dickey! Get your asses out here this minute. Mrs. Brown glared at Sage while they both waited. Sage jammed his hands into his coat pockets. Do you two know anything about smashing an igloo over at this man’s house? Both boys said they knew nothing about it, then stood there staring at Sage as if his allegation was preposterous. He wondered how two kids that came from the home they did could learn such confidence.

I thought they might, Sage said. We had fresh snow yesterday, and footprints go between the broken fence and the igloo.

Look Mister, both my kids said they don’t know a thing about it. End of story. Sage didn’t know what else he could say. Mrs. Brown turned and waved the two boys back into the house, and then she pulled the door behind her and stood out on the back porch facing him. She wrapped her arms around herself to brace against the cold.

Look, Sage said. You can see the snow trampled down the middle of the backyard. Of course I didn’t see them smash the igloo, but it seems obvious by the footsteps.

Footsteps? You want to talk about footsteps? I know a few people in this town. I’ve lived here a long time. Some people I know have been watching your footsteps on Sundays. Up the stairs at the back of the pub. If you’re so concerned about where people are walking, Mister, you might consider where your footsteps have been lately. She turned away from Sage and closed the back door between them.

What happened? Della wanted to know. Stacey lay curled up on the couch, a pillow under her head. Sage could hear water running in the bathroom.

She said her boys know nothing about it. I’m sure it was them, but we have no proof. Why isn’t Stacey having her bath?

Because Tommy’s in there having his bath. When he’s done and in his pyjamas, it will be her turn.

I don’t see why they couldn’t share the same bath.

A year ago, they wouldn’t have known the difference, Della said. This is what happens when kids get older.