Page 43 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Six

to sleep. But it has more to do with my deep sadness than the
city lights. I can’t look out and see the stars, like at home, in
the country. I won’t get to see my friends out in the schoolyard
anymore. I won’t have piano lessons, or choir or the girl’s club I
belonged to. Or our swing set. Horses to ride whenever I want.
So many things will be missing. But it’s Daddy I worry about
the most. What about him?
My sweet Daddy is the last thing on my mind as I finally
drift off.

~~~

It takes some time (and some tears) but now that we’re all
enrolled in our new schools (Billy in Grade 9, Vian in Grade
2 and me in Grade 6), I am starting to feel an underlying
wonderment about this new city life. There is, as strange as
it may seem, a small hint of excitement that I have a hard
time admitting to myself. My cousin Rhonda Lee lives here
in Calgary and now we’re closer to one another. She is most
definitely a city girl. I remember her visiting with us on the
farm. She was very frightened of silly old harmless dragonflies
(I know, they look way more dangerous than they are). She is
also terrified of cows. I am not kidding – cows!
But now I am joining Rhonda Lee on her turf - the big city.
No dragonflies and no scary cows but oh, so much to learn!
The thing I love the most about living at “Village on the
Green” (the name of our townhouse complex) is all the kids!
On the farm, Vian and I only had each other to play with.
But here, there are kids everywhere. We spend hours playing
hide-and-go-seek. I’m getting to know every tree and shrub on
these grounds.
Freedom - ah yes, freedom. We are most definitely

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