Free Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson Page A

“Where’s Ben?” she asked finally. Surely he was too young to go to school.
    â€œBen goes to preschool every morning. My neighbour brings him home at twelve. And Dan’s at work. He teaches English at the University of Victoria. I work at home—I’m a graphic artist. Right now I’m doing a line of greeting cards. I’ll show them to you later.”
    So that was why her fingers were stained.
    Laura leaned forward, her eyes full of affection. “Dan and I have been discussing what you should call us, Theo. Of course we aren’t your real parents, but since you’re part of this family now, do you want to call us Mum and Dad like the others do? Or would you prefer Laura and Dan … It’s entirely up to you, and you don’t have to decide right away.”
    Theo almost fell off her chair. “Part of this family now.” Then it had happened! But how? How could she possibly just wish on the new moon and have her wish come true? Even in a book that would seem unbelievable.
    But Theo didn’t want to think about how or why. She was here, in this safe, cozy house. Somehow her wish had come true—a pleasant woman was sitting beside her and asking Theo if she wanted to call her “Mum.”
    Maybe it would all turn out to be a dream, or to have some other explanation. Maybe this would end as suddenly as it began. In that case she was going to soak up as much of this wonderful adventure as she could, before it was snatched away.
    â€œIf you don’t mind … I’d like to call you Mum and Dad,” Theo whispered.
    â€œAre you sure? You don’t want to think about it?”
    â€œI’m sure.”
    There were tears in Laura’s eyes. “I would be honoured if you would, Theo.” She kissed her cheek gently. “Now you really are part of us.”
    Theo felt herself melt, just as she had on the ferry when Lisbeth had hugged her. This was magic. Her legs were wobbly and she could hardly stand up when Laura suggested they go upstairs and find some clothes. “The others will be home for lunch soon.”
    Laura took Theo’s hand and led her out of the kitchen. Bingo followed them with a ball in his mouth. When they reached the upstairs hall, he dropped it in front of Theo. He looked so eager that she picked it up, gooey with saliva, and threw it down the stairs. He rushed after it and was back instantly. Theo reached out and timidly stroked his head. His black fur was as soft as velvet and his adoring brown eyes begged her to throw the ball again.
    â€œJust ignore him,” said Laura. “He’ll never leave you alone if you don’t.” She sighed as they entered the girls’ room. “I’m the only neat person in this sloppy family. All Dan keeps in order are his books, and the rest of them are hopeless.” She began picking up the clothes on the floor. “I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with Anna and Lisbeth, Theo. At least they had this extra bed. Dan just converted a storage cupboard downstairs for John. It’s minute, but he loves being on his own—he used to share with Ben. I wish we had more space, but we love this old house so much we’d never leave it. Now let’s see … you’rein between Anna and Lisbeth for sizes. There’s not much that’s going to fit.”
    Laura poked around in the drawers and the closet and came up with underwear, a baggy pair of jeans, a sweatshirt with a dancing cow on the front and striped blue and green socks. “Here, try these on.”
    The jeans were too wide at the waist, but Laura cinched them in with a belt. She appraised Theo. “That’ll do for now. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you downtown and get you some clothes of your own. Here, try these old shoes of Anna’s.”
    Theo slipped on a pair of dingy white runners. She wondered what had happened to her own clothes—the ones she’d been