Page 38 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

What is in that letter?
“Where’s Daddy?” I break the deathly silence. “Why isn’t
Daddy coming with us?”
“He can’t come with us.” She doesn’t take her eyes off the
road. “He has to look after the ranch.”
“But how long are we going for? And where exactly are we
going?” I keep trying.
“I want Daddy to come with us!” Vian pouts.
Billy pipes up from the back. “Just let her drive. Be quiet,
okay?”
He knows something. I can tell.
We drive on in silence, afraid to upset Mommy. But I think
I am even more afraid to find out the truth. The truth about why
Daddy isn’t with us. I knew that he was going off to a cattle sale
today. He was standing by his truck when the school bus pulled
up, all decked out in his tan cowboy hat, denim shirt and pressed
jeans. His brown cowboy boots were scuffed and muddy. He
wasn’t wearing the new ones. Those are only for special occasions.
He had come right over to us for a good-bye hug. “Have fun
at school and be good for your teachers,” he said. “I’ll be home in
time for supper. I love you girls.” Then he hopped into his shiny
red and white Ford pickup and waited until we were safely on
the bus. It was all so normal. So regular. We all waved goodbye
like every other day.
Now, just a few hours later, the four of us are piled into our
car without Daddy and we don’t have any idea where we are
going. Or why.
I am hating this day and everything about it. Are we running
away from Daddy? Is it because of his drinking? Because of his
threats? It’s not that bad, is it?
Could it be because of what Daddy said about Mommy and
Mike?

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