72

EXACTLY 5:14 AT NIGHT,
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18TH

“The Special Olympics basketball tournament will be on Sunday, January 23rd,” says Maura. “Then, the day after that, we’re going to Saint Genevieve’s. We’re really hoping you like it. The pictures Sister Josephine sent sure are nice.”

That wasn’t a question so I don’t say anything.

“Ginny?”

“What?” I say.

“Are you...excited about going to Saint Genevieve’s? It will be nice to meet some new kids. Kids who are special like you.”

“The kids at Special Olympics are special like me,” I say. “And Room Five.”

“That’s right!” says Maura. “It will be a lot like Special Olympics. Everyone will be special.”

I look at Brian. He is sitting across from me at the table. Not talking. Maura stays downstairs now with Baby Wendy during the day and Brian stays home too. He is taking it easy until he gets 100 percent better, Maura said on Sunday when he got home.

Brian drinks some wine. He drinks red wine every night at supper now. And doesn’t eat things with lots of salt. He isn’t going back to work this year. “I’m looking forward to the basketball tournament, Ginny,” he says. “It will be nice to see the team again.”

“Rick said in his email that we should take pictures,” I say.

“Oh, I’ll take lots of pictures,” says Brian. “And I promise I’ll send some to good old Rick.”

I wonder if Rick will come up to Canada with me and Gloria. I don’t think he will but I really want to thank him. Because he gave me Return of the Jedi and Gloria’s phone number. I wanted to call Gloria last night but I know people can hear me when I talk in my room. So I need to find a quiet place when no one is around. I need to find a place that’s private. There aren’t any private places at school. There aren’t any private places here at the Blue House. There’s always someone here.

“Ginny?”

“What?”

It is Brian. “What’s on your mind tonight? You seem awfully distracted.”

“Is everything all right at school?” says Maura.

“Yes,” I say.

“It’s the trip to Saint Genevieve’s, isn’t it,” says Brian. His voice didn’t go up so he didn’t ask a question. Then he says, “How do you feel about going there?”

“We are going there on Monday, January 24th,” I say.

“Yes, but how do you feel about maybe going to live there?”

I don’t want to answer so I wait. Because sometimes if you don’t answer then someone will answer for you or someone will say something else to help you know what to say.

“It’s going to be hard for us, too,” says Maura. “Like I said the other day, we’ve had some good times together. But I’m glad that you’ll be in a place where people can give you what you need. You’re going to be very happy.”

“What was the question?” I say because now I don’t remember.

“I asked how you feel about going to live at Saint Genevieve’s,” says Brian.

“I feel like I would like to go to my room now,” I say.

He nods his head. “All right,” he says. “You can go to your room. I understand.”

I get up from the table.

“I’m really looking forward to the tournament,” he says. “Aren’t you? It will be like one last good time.” His eyes are wet.

“Yes,” I say. “It will be the last good time.”