while I dress the baby in her snow suit and hat. Blah blah blah she says and grabs my nose. I give her another drink from the wet towel and then it is time to go.
Dont point that at me says Katy.
Sorry.
She takes the rifle from me and throws it in the backseat of the truck. I sit in the front with the baby in my lap. She looks around and grabs everything she can. Mostly me.
Katy drives off slowly.
Were you really going to shoot me? I ask. If I was a robber.
I told Susan Id watch her place while she was away.
And you do what you say youll do.
Well sure she says.
Its late and the road is empty and wild looking. Pine trees make it look even wilder. There is no town—only more sines with numbers. The truck smells of smoke. The cigaret buts in the ash tray look like an under sea animal—a coral or sponge with white things sticking up.
So you wuld of shot me? I ask.
I was going to try to scare you she says. But if you wouldnt be scared then yeah Id of pulled the trigger.
What if you missd?
You dont miss with a shot gun she says.
Katy has the radio on. The announcer guy has a gaspy voice and he says O boy a lot.
Less than 24 hours from now the ball will drop and the new year will begin he says. Then he starts talking about Aiden Tween who is in Toronto. O boy what a hart throb he says. Katy turns off the radio.
Cant stand that guy she says.
Aiden Tween?
Well yeah him 2. But I was talking about that radio host. He sounds like he has found a cure for cancer when hes giving a traffic report.
You know Aiden Tween rite? The singer? You baby you baby you baby are the 1 for me—that guy. Hes famous. The hair the pointing finger the screaming fans. Hes my age witch means we shuld have a lot in common—only we dont.
Katy pulls into the parking lot of the police station. It is near the 401 hi way and is the only big bilding I have seen in Canada so far. She shuts off the engine and we walk in together.
Your wearing skates? she says.
Yeah.
Rented eh? I see the number.
She opens the door for me and the baby. I click and clump across the floor of the station.
The sarjent behind the desk is yelling into 2 phones at once. She has 1 in her hand and 1 lying open in front of her.
There is a table and chairs near the front door—a waiting area. The magazine on the table has a picture of a guy with his hand in his shirt on the cover. Napoleon it says. He was a long time ago but the magazine looks old enuff to have gossip about him like he was Aiden Tween. Crazy Napoleon—whats he up to now?
I sit down and keep the baby in my lap. She pulls off her hat and drops it rite away.
I dont care Stevens! says the sarjent into her hand phone. Command center is breathing down my neck. Its been 5 hours now. Make up another search team and go to the customs shed.
Katy walks over to the desk and goes ahem. The sarjent puts up her free hand like a stop sine to say Wait a minit.
And bring search lites! she says. You can run them off the car batteries. Come on Stevens. Do it now!
The minit the sarjent gets off this phone the 1 on the desk rings. She leans over and says Yes sir and No sir a lot and then goodbye sir.
There is a moment of silence.
Hello says Katy who is still standing beside the desk. The sarjents hand phone rings.
Itll be a second she says to Katy and then says Yes into the phone.
Katy goes outside for a smoke. Its been a couple minits since her last.
The baby likes dropping her hat. And pulling my nose. These are her things to do. I poke her in the stomach and she giggles. I giggle back.
Not that I like her—I dont. Just a baby. Geez.
The sarjent is yelling into the phone again. Dont talk to me about how cold it is! she shouts. Its winter out there. Why do you think were all worried about little Adeline?
The baby stands up strait. Looks past my sholder.
And speaks for the first time.
Ad she says.
I dont know what she means. The word sounds like dad. Does she think Im her dad?
I give her that hat. She drops it.
Ad she says again.
The sarjent closes the phone she is talking into. Sorry she says to Katy who is back from her smoke now. This is a very busy nite. Theres a lost kid. Shes been missing for hours and there are search teams from Canada and the US looking for her.
Thats terrible! says Katy. She must be scared to death.
Her parents were picked up by American customs trying to walk across the river.
Really. Crossing the river eh? says Katy. She looks back at me.
The parents are on there way here says the sarjent. We are the nearest police station. Everyone’s panicking of course—Adeline is still missing. There are police and CBSA teams looking for her on this side of the river and home land security has people on the other side.
One of the sarjents phones rings. She says yes and then okay.
The baby is looking all over the place. Sharp eyes she has.
Ad she says. Ad ad ad.
Or is it dad dad dad?
Im not your dad I tell her.
Im not worryed about her like I was when she was cold. But theres something. It has to do with us being in the police station and her calling me dad. In a few minits I will hand her over and the police will take care of her. She wont be my baby any more.
Katy is talking to the sarjent about the missing kid. She must be safe now Katy says. Its so cold. Shes probly in a coffee shop.
You dont understand says the sarjent. Adeline is a baby.
What? says Katy. I thot you were talking about a teenager.
Not even a year old says the sarjent. The parents were carrying 2 bags—1 with close and an other with the baby in it. When the chase started they hid 1 bag to move faster. They thot it was the bag of close but it turned out to be Adeline.
Ad says the baby on my lap.
And then the door opens and a rush of cold air comes into the police station. I hear shouting and crying and muttering. 3 people rush down the hall past me and up to the desk. The woman is shouting and the man is crying and the customs officer is muttering.
Find her! shouts the woman. Find her!
She is wearing a green parka and has dark hair and big eyes. She looks like a bomb has gone off inside her.
The man has his hands in front of his face. Hes crying. The customs officer holds the neck of his coat practicly carrying him along—witch she can do easily. Thats how big she is.
Im watching you she mutters.
Shut up! says the woman. Your people havent found her.
Were looking says the officer. Now that your back in Canada where you belong your baby is our number 1 priority. We all want the same thing she says.
This happens in a few seconds while they are walking in front of us. The baby tries to jump out of my lap and I have to hold on tite. Her mouth opens.
Mama! Mama!
The woman is at my side so fast I do not see her move. It is like magic—she is yelling at the customs officer and then she is holding the baby. I culd not stop her if I wanted to. She wants the baby more than I have ever wanted anything.
Adeline she says. Adeline. Adeline.
She is crying but not boo hoo. Tears pour down her cheeks like rain. Like a waterfall. I have never seen crying like that befor.
Mama! says the baby. Mama!
The 2 of them are holding each other so tite I can not tell where mom stops and baby starts. It is like they are 1 person—like mom is pregnant again.
There is a thump. The man has fallen to the floor.
The customs officer is not enjoying the family reunion. Shes staring at me.
You! she says.
She is Brady or Alex—I dont know witch. The bigger tuffer 1.
Your in trouble she says. Theres a red file on you.
You belong in America.
No I say. I want to stay here.
She lifts Adelines dad up by his coat and drops him in the corner.
These folks will have to stay she says. But we will see about you.
Then she goes over to talk to the sarjent. I dont know why she has it so upside down. Why cant she take Adelines family back with her and leave me here? Then we wuld all be happy.
Katy comes over to sit beside me. Shes got a big smile on her face. She nods at Adeline and her mom who are still hugging each other. They havent moved.
See what you did? she says.