Toronto is bigger than Vancouver. Everyone is more dressed up and walking really quickly. We saw the new city hall that looks like a big space ship surrounded by two giant skyscrapers. Dad said it looked “Groovy”. He is so out of it. Sidney said he was old fashioned and totally embarrassing to be with. If I said that I’d get a real talking to, but no one said anything when Sidney said it. Mom told me to stop rolling my eyes and to show more respect for my elders and for goodness sake fix my collar and smooth my hair a bit like this, here let me comb it out for you, you look like a hobo, don’t squirm I’m just going to rub this dirt off your forehead so you don’t disgrace us in public.” I can hardly wait until I’m an adult.
We went to the top of one of the skyscrapers and looked across the city to the island. I like the idea of a big city having an island across from it somehow, but maybe it’s because I never thought about lakes being big enough to have islands in them. We also went to an area called The Beaches. I really liked the old houses there even though they were kind of run down and full of hippies. Mom wouldn’t let us talk to anyone because they were smoking something she called ‘mary-jane’. I thought ‘mary-janes’ were a type of shoes but most of the people we saw there didn’t wear any shoes at all.
Toronto’s pretty ok I guess. It’s a good place to shop and Mom took us out for tea at the Royal York Hotel which was really grand. Dad didn’t come with us because he said it’s too expensive and if Mom wants to use her money for such things that is her prerogative but leave him out of it. While I tried not to spill anything, Mom just kept looking around and sighing, and I know she would rather be staying here instead of our “scratty little motel” as she calls it.
We were given our allowance and I immediately spent most of it on an old book with a beautiful red leather cover. It smelled wonderful and was called “The Voyage of the Beagle,” which sounded romantic and funny at the same time. I also got some really cool striped socks with toes in them. I had a bit left over so gave it to this old guy who looked hungry and who had asked me politely if I had any spare change just as if I was a grown-up. When she found out, Mom sighed and said “At least the socks are fun and have some practical use, but why can you never save your money?” It’s true, I always have to spend it right away.
Mom always tells me I waste my allowance and that it didn’t surprise her but it did disappoint her. I hate it when she says she’s disappointed in me. She got mad at all of us today for no reason except she hates our motel. Boy, if one of us was hurt real bad, then she’d be sorry. Like if one of us got hit by a train or a car or something. I tried to picture how Mom would react if Sam, her baby, were to lie all crushed and dead. How she’d lift her hands up to her face and cry, cry, cry. And how she’d look at Sidney and me and hug us saying “I’m sorry, so sorry, please forgive me. You are all I have left now.” and how Sidney and I would be gracious and forgive her.
I had an idea.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“Go lie on the road. By the hotel entrance.”
“Why?”
“Just do it. Go on.”
Sam stuck her tongue out at me and said “You first”. I knew my plan would have a flaw. It always does. If I was the one that was run over Mom would probably not even notice.
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