Fort Liard [Due South]

Chapter 9

"I think he's ready to go into the first grade, but they don't allow that sort of thing without adequate testing," Caryn said, smoothing peanut butter across the slices. She had laid them out in three rows and was efficiently making sandwiches in assembly-line style. "Frankly, though, it's obvious to me that he's ready. He's already reading second-grade level books, Ruthie said." Caryn scooped out a gob of raspberry jelly and spread the other halves.

"Who's Ruthie?" Meg grunted, tugging snow boots onto Maggie, and trying to keep the little girl from rolling away from her all the while. "Hold still, honey."

"Town librarian," Caryn answered. She licked the jelly off her finger, then wiped it on a napkin and started cutting the sandwiches in half. "Paul? Don't forget to bring the two books you borrowed last time!"

"I won't, Mom," Paul piped up from his bedroom.

"He always keeps them so neat," Caryn said proudly, more to herself than anyone else. "He keeps them on his night stand."

"He likes reading?"

"Loves it." She wrapped the finished sandwiches up and put them, with the rest of the lunch, into the bag. There was enough for Meg and the two children, plus snacks. Meg finished getting Maggie's boots laced and her mittens on snugly. The little girl promptly took off running, in full suit, and disappeared into the bedroom she and Paul shared. After a minute, she suddenly gave a shout.

"Mommy!"

"What, Maggie?"

Maggie walked out the bedroom with an odd wiggle and made a face. Caryn sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I hafta go pee, Mommy."

"Meg, can you—?"

Meg smiled, Caryn shook her head, and a moment later, Meg had whisked the girl into the bathroom to unzip and unbutton and unlace everything she'd just finished. A few minutes later, after tugging everything back on again, Caryn and Paul met them at the door with books and the lunch bag.

"You'll be okay? You know how to get there?"

"Yes, I've gone to town a number of times, now—I'll be fine." Meg pulled on her jacket, gloves, hat, scarf...was she missing anything? Caryn handed her the lunch bag and the thermos.

"You know how to get to the school?"

"Caryn, there are less than two dozen buildings in the centre of town. I think I can pick it out: the one with the brightly-coloured slides."

"You'll do fine," she grinned, stepping back from the door.

"Do I have any books, Mommy?" Maggie asked.

"Not this time, honey. But you can take out two if Meg decides to take you to the library. Only two!"

"When is the library open?"

"It's attached to the school; it'll be open. Do you know which room to go to?"

"I'll ask at the desk."

"Remember to get home before dark. It'll be dark by three. It's harder to see—"

"Yes, Mom," Meg said with a smile, ushering the two children out the door. Caryn pushed the door closed behind them and watched them through the nearby window. Meg followed the excited children over to the sled behind the snowmobile, and buckled them in securely. She tucked the books, thermos, and lunch bag in the compartment in the front of the sled. Pulling her helmet on, she sat down and revved the engine, making sure it was warmed up. Caryn waved from the window, and the kids waved back, making muffled noises, all bundled up in scarves and pull-over winter head wraps. Meg gave a wave, and then they were off, flying down the hill to the valley below.