Free Loco Motive by Mary Daheim Page A

on a dime. I told him he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. I was wrong about that. I’ve never been on an airplane since.”
    â€œFlying’s changed,” Judith said for the hundredth time. “That was 1928.”
    â€œSo?” Gertrude snatched a snickerdoodle off the plate. “Those planes still leave the ground, don’t they?”
    â€œNever mind, Mother,” Judith said wearily. “I’m going to Boston with Renie because she has a free ticket. Both Bill and Joe have business there, so we’ll meet them and spend a few days sightseeing.”
    Gertrude had taken a bite of cookie. After pausing to swallow, she wagged a finger. “That part makes sense, which is more than I can say for some of the stunts you and my niece pull off.”
    Judith leaned forward. “You’re not upset because I’m leaving?”
    â€œNo. Dumbcluck’s going away, isn’t he?”
    â€œWell…yes,” Judith said, wishing that her mother would use Joe’s actual name. “He’s got Renie’s plane ticket and I’ll take Bill’s place on the train.”
    â€œGood,” Gertrude said. “The plane might crash.”
    Judith’s shoulders slumped. “Mother—” She stopped. “Skip it. Have you told Mike or Kristin I’m leaving this afternoon?”
    â€œNope.” Gertrude picked up half of the sandwich. “They were in a big rush to get to church when they brought out my lunch and the other goodies.” She started to take a bite of the sandwich, but paused. “They don’t know, do they?”
    â€œNo.” Judith stood up. “I may be able to watch some of the costume parade, but I can’t trick-or-treat with them in the evening.”
    â€œYou’re in a bind, toots.” Gertrude bit into the ham-and-cheese.
    â€œI know.” Judith picked up the tray Kristin had brought to the toolshed. “Maybe I can do it with the boys next year.”
    The old lady put the sandwich back on the plate. “Next year.” She stared into space. “Yes, next year. If there is one for me.”
    â€œMother!” Judith exclaimed. “Don’t say things like that.” Gertrude shrugged. “I don’t kid myself.” Her smile was bittersweet. “Nobody’s guaranteed next year—or even tomorrow.” She picked up the sandwich again. “Enjoy yourselves in Boston. Don’t let the Redcoats get you down.”
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    T he McMonigle brood didn’t get back to Hillside Manor until almost a quarter after two. Mike explained that the McDonald’s they’d gone to had a play area. “It was really hard to get the boys off the slides,” he told Judith. “Finally we had to tell them, if they didn’t stop horsing around they couldn’t go to the costume parade. Kris is getting them ready now. We’ll leave here about ten to three. See you at Moonbeam’s.”
    â€œOkay.” Judith had second thoughts. Maybe she should tell Mike about her early departure. Before she could speak, he hurried down the hallway to the back stairs. Judith sighed, staring out the window over the sink. The sun had come out, promising good weather for the trick-or-treaters. She sighed again—and gave a start when the phone rang. Judith all but dove to snatch up the receiver from the kitchen counter. “Hello?” she shouted.
    â€œWhy are you yelling?” Renie asked. “We’re set. We’ll pick you up at four-thirty.”
    â€œYou talked Bill into leaving that late?”
    â€œSort of. See you.”
    Joe had already put her luggage in the garage. She decided to wait until after the costume spectacle to break the news to the rest of the family.
    Joe ambled into the kitchen. “What now? Last-minute jitters?” She gave her husband a sheepish look. “Bill and Renie are picking me up here at four-thirty. I can stay for the