THAT EVENING, AFTER Mom had tucked the twins into bed in the back of the van, I asked her about swimming the next day.
Mom shook her head. “I’d like to be on the road by nine. It’s a short drive to Hope, less than an hour. We can do a morning show there and be in Kamloops in time for a late-afternoon show.”
“Two shows?” I made a face.
“We’re going to be doing two shows most days, if possible. The whole point of this trip is to reach as many people as possible.”
“I get that, Mom. I just think the twins could use a break.”
“A break, already? We’ve only just started.” She tilted her head to one side, studying me. “Are you sure this is about the girls, Wolf? Because you're the only one I hear complaining.”
“Yeah, actually I don’t even like swimming. But in case you haven’t noticed, Whisper hasn’t even spoken since we left home. Not. One. Word.”
“She’s fine,” Mom said dismissively.
“She’s not,” I said. “And I think these shows are really hard on her. Seriously, Mom. All the pressure? It’s killing her.” I had a mental image of the health bars Duncan had been making in his computer game—a little row of hearts hovering above Whisper’s head, slowly disappearing one show at a time.
“She’s always been quiet,” Mom said. “You can’t compare her to Saffron. They’re two different people.”
“I know,” I said. “You always say that. But it’s not normal for a kid to go for days without speaking at all.”
Mom stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Well, Wolf, if we don’t save the bees, her speech will be the least of her concerns.”
I just stood there for a few seconds, staring at her. It was like there was this thick glass wall between us, and everything I was saying was bouncing right off it.
She wasn’t even hearing me.
In the morning, we packed up the tent and piled back into the van. Violet wrinkled her nose and opened her window. “Wherever we stay tonight, there better be showers,” she said.
I tried to breathe shallowly. The van stank of sour milk and stinky feet and French-fry grease.
Anna came outside to wave goodbye. “Bye,” I called out. “Thanks for everything, Anna!”
Anna waved. “Good luck!” she said. “Stay safe.”
Curtis nodded and gave her a thumbs-up and turned the key in the ignition.
Ka-thunk.
He groaned and tried again.
Ka-ka-ka-ka-thunk.
“What’s wrong with it?” Mom asked.
“How should I know?” Curtis snapped. Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka… He swore loudly, and I looked at Anna, hoping she hadn’t heard.
“You’re the mechanic,” Mom said.
“Yeah. Right. I’m not a mechanic, Jade.”
“Not technically. I just meant the van’s your department.”
He turned to her, his voice tight as a fist. “This is my fault? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Don’t twist my words. I just thought you might know, that’s all.”
“Well, I don’t.” He got out of the van and opened the hood. We all sat there, and I held my breath. The air felt thick with tension.
“Uh, maybe I could take a look with him,” Ty said. “You think?”
“Be my guest,” Violet said.
Whisper started to cry. “Don’t worry,” Saffron told her. “George will be okay.”
“Look, Mom, maybe I should take the twins and…”
“Fine,” Mom said. “Don’t go far. Hopefully, this won’t take long.”