Free Letters to Leonardo by Dee White Page B

finds out I have a loony in the family?
    “What am I going to say to Tina if she wants to meet her?” I ask Troy.
    “I guess you’re right. Still, I reckon it’s pretty cool, having a famous mum.”
    “It would be even cooler if I knew where to find her.”
    “Maybe you could write to the gallery and tell them you are doing a school project on her. They might have some info,” says Troy.
    “Good idea.”
    All the way home in the bus my mind is buzzing with thoughts about Mum and her paintings. I can hardly believe it. Not only is Mum alive, she’s a well-known painter – sort of famous, in fact.
    The minute I get home, I race upstairs, turn on my laptop and write:
    Dear Sir/Madam
,
    I loved
Deepest Fears
by Zorina which I saw in your gallery
.
    I have decided to do a school assignment on this great artist and was wondering if you could tell me about her
.
    Does she live in Australia? How old is she? Does she still paint?
    I would really appreciate any information you can give me for my project
.
    Thanks a lot
.
    Yours truly
,
    Matt Hudson

    I wait over a week to hear from the gallery. I wear a path between the front door and the letterbox. Finally, it comes – an envelope from the gallery’s Education Unit. I text Troy to tell him I’ve got mail. He texts back:
B right there
.
    I tap the letter against my palm, I can’t wait for Troy to get here. Fingers shaking, I rip open the envelope.
    Don’t know what I expected. I guess I was hoping for an address, phone number, home town, anything – but of course, it’s never that easy.
    All the envelope contains is a brief letter and a bio sheet on Zorina. It still doesn’t mention her last name, doesn’t give a lot of personal stuff about her – just her place of birth and the fact that she now lives in the country.
    “Lives in the country!” That really narrows it down – not!
    Troy races in the door and I show him the pathetic “nothing” bio.
    “Why don’t we post something online?” he says. “We could scan in that photo you found in your dad’s room and ask if anyone knows her or where she lives.”
    The photo is old and faded but the scan doesn’t come out too bad. We muck around on the computer for an hour, then we get a hit – several hits.
    “I think I’ve found her! According to Katie57, she calls herself Zora Matthews now.” I nearly cry when I read that. Did she rename herself after me? Why start a new life without me, but use my name?
    My eyes sting. Maybe what she said in the letter is true. Maybe she never did stop loving me. Either Dave lied again – or he never really knew her. Who should I believe? The Dave who told me she was dead or the Dave who now reckons he wants to help me find her? Could I be more confused?
    I search the White Pages online for Mum’s address. I find a listing in a place called Hillton. Can’t be too many people around with the name Zora Matthews. Surely?
    My hand shakes as I write down the telephone number for the person who could be my mother.
    An online map shows that Hillton’s only a couple of hours away by train. I can get there and back in a day while Dave’s at work. He doesn’t even have to know about it. I know he reckons he wants to help me, but I have to do this bit on my own. I have to give Mum a chance to tell her side of the story.

    Dear Leonardo
,
    I’m getting close to finding Mum
.
    I feel like I’m your Tobias in
Tobias and the Angel
– on a journey with so many possible outcomes
.
    Wish me luck. (I hope I don’t need it.)
    Matt
    PS Dave has finally agreed to let me do Saturday art classes. I think Steve Bridges talked him into it. Troy thinks he might join too
.

    Thanks to Katie57 I have the ten-digit PIN to my mother. Get the numbers right and I can bring back the dead. It’s too freaky. But I’ve still got to get the courage to dial it.
    I’m petrified. She must have her reasons for staying away. Just as Dave has his useless reasons for keeping us apart.

    Troy and I are