“WHISPER’S TUMMY HURTS,” Saffron told me. We were sitting on the lawn, watching Curtis and Ty gazing into the engine like it was a crystal ball. I had a feeling neither of them really had a clue.
I looked at Whisper, who was crying quietly and chewing on a lock of her hair. “Does it? Does your tummy hurt, Whisper?”
She turned her face away from me.
“Saffy?” I nudged her.
“Yeah?”
“Has Whisper said anything to you?”
She shook her head. “She doesn’t talk anymore. I told you.”
“I know. I just thought…How do you know her tummy hurts?”
Saffron looked at me like I was dumb. “Because her tummy always hurts when they argue. Mom and Dad. She doesn’t like that. Or if she has to go somewhere, like school or something.” She wrapped her own arms around her middle and squeezed herself. “And she goes like this.”
“Maybe we should take her to see a doctor,” I said. I couldn’t imagine how I’d talk Mom into that. She thought doctors were best avoided.
Curtis straightened, walked around to the passenger window and talked to Mom. She got out of the car and walked over to where we were sitting. “Well,” Mom said. “It looks like we’re stuck.”
“Oh dear,” Anna said.
Mom gave her an apologetic sort of smile. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to impose on your hospitality for a little longer.”
“You’re very welcome to stay,” Anna said. “Very welcome.” She clapped her hands together. “Oh! Perhaps you can go swimming after all. Or there is a nice park, just down the street…”
“Swimming!” Saffron said. “Please, Mom? Can we?”
“We’ll see,” Mom said. “Hopefully Curtis will get the van running by lunchtime.”
“Whisper wants to swim too,” Saffron said.
“I said, we’ll see.”
“I am sorry,” Anna said. “I’m afraid I have caused an upset.”
“Not at all,” Mom said stiffly. I could tell she was annoyed though.
Curtis walked over to join us on the lawn. “Anna, is there a garage nearby? Somewhere I might be able to get an engine part?”
“There’s a Canadian Tire,” she said. “Not too far away. On Vedder Street.”
He nodded. “Saw that yesterday, come to think of it. Thanks, Anna.” He turned to us. “Well, gang, looks like you’ll have to find a way to amuse yourselves for a few hours.”
“Swimming!” Saffron shouted.
I looked at Mom hopefully. “If we’re stuck here anyway…”
She got to her feet and brushed grass off her butt.
“Ty and me are going into town,” Violet said.
Mom put her hands on her hips. “Can we just remember why we are here, please?”
“Uh, because the van won’t start?” Violet said.
“This whole trip.” Mom sounded angry. “Why are we doing this?”
“For the bees,” Saffron said.
“That’s right. So why, as soon as one little thing goes wrong, are you all forgetting about that?”
There was a long silence. Anna looked uncomfortable. “Ah, perhaps I’ll just…” Her voice trailed off, and she backed away from us, turned and walked into the house.
“We’re not forgetting,” I said.
“I told Dad not to get a stupid Ford,” Violet said.
Saffron put her hands on her hips. “George isn’t stupid.”
Whisper ran over to the van and climbed inside, banging the door closed behind her. Back home, she would have run to her room. The van was the closest thing she had to a bedroom now. It was the closest thing we had to a home.
No wonder she was upset that it was broken.
“The point is,” Mom said, “that if we’re stuck here, we should make the most of our time.”
It seemed to me that taking the twins swimming would be a very good use of our time, but I knew that wasn’t what she meant. “You want to do another show?” I said.
“Why not? We hardly spoke to anyone yesterday.”
“Where though? I mean, we can’t drive…”
Mom pointed down the street. “We’re within walking distance of a high school. I looked online; it’s only a few blocks. And young people, well, who better to be talking to, right? They’ll be the decision makers in just a few years’ time.” “Count me out,” Violet said resolutely. “Ty and I will meet you back here.”
“That is not acceptable, Violet.” Mom’s voice got louder. “You are a part of this family whether you like it or not.”
“I’m not even in the show,” Violet said furiously. “What difference does it make?”
Ty put an arm around her. “It’s okay, Vi. We can go, right? Why not?”
Violet whirled on him. “Because it’s embarrassing, that’s why! Have you seen her costume, Ty?”
He shrugged. “It’s cool. She looks good.”
Violet snorted and turned her back on him. “Whatever.”
“I’m not wearing my costume,” I said. “Not at the high school. No way.”
Mom shook her head like I was completely hopeless. “Can you help your sisters get dressed at least?” she said. “Or is that too much to ask?”
I looked down at Saffron, whose lower lip jutted out in stubborn disappointment, and then at the van, where Whisper was presumably still sobbing in her seat. “Yeah,” I said. “Fine.”
Sometimes I thought Mom was so focused on the stupid bees that she didn’t see anything else at all.