Reader's Digest

July• 2018 | 11

READER’S DIGEST

do I get into more trouble. It seems
everybody’s always paying attention
to her – she’s little she’s cute. And we
have to go to bed at the same time
I’ve had it!
SoIgotomyroomandItake
my white vinyl Partridge Family
sleepoversuitcaseandIputiton
thebedandIstarttopack.Intothe
suitcasegoNancyDrewandAmelia
Bedelia–Iwasanearlyreader–
andsomeBarbiesandbythetime
I’mdonethereisnoroomleftfor
clothes.
But I’m leaving forever so I know
I’m going to need a
wardrobe.AndIputon
two pairs of underwear
irst because you’ve got
tochangeright?Apair
ofpantsapairofshorts
aT-shirtahoodiea
raincoat and over it
all a crocheted poncho
withfringes.AndIgo
downstairs. My mother
isinthekitchen.She
looksupandasksifI’m
running away. I told her yes.
She’snotnearlyasupsetbythisas
Ifeelsheshouldbe.
She looks at me and says “Are you
goingtoGrandmaSylvia’s?”which
istheonlyotherplaceIknow.It’s
noteventwokilometresaway.Ican’t
believeshecanigurethisout.She’s
like some kind of witch!
Idon’tanswerher.Igooutthefront
door and down the driveway. Now

rememberit’sthe1970sandthey

have not yet invented suitcases with

wheels and mine is full of books.

SowitheverystepI’mdragging

my suitcase. I go down the driveway

witheverystepI’msweatingand

draggingandsweatinganddragging.

I’msointentonmymissionthatI

don’trealisethatmymotherisabout

20 metres behind me following and

waving concerned citizens away.

FinallyIgettonumber73

Grandma’s apartment building.

IgoupthestairsandbeforeIeven

knock the door opens.

My grandma tells me

she’s very happy to see

me but I’m certainly

notlivingthereforever.

AndIrealisemymother

hascalledaheadand

Ihavebeenbetrayed.

My grandma says

“Doyouwantadrinkas

long as you’re here?”

She goes to get me

some juice and I’m

standing in her living

room taking of my layers and my

mothercomessweepingin.And

shesitsdowninmygrandfather’s

wingback chair and she pats her lap.

Shesays“Comehere.”Idon’twant

to because I am righteously peeved

butI’mhotandI’miveandIgeton

mymother’slap.Shepushesmyhair

back behind my ear and she says

“Sweetheart what is it? Why have

you left? Why have you run away?”

Every time we do

something we

are not supposed

to do I get into

more trouble ...

she’s little

she’s cute