Under Emily's Sky. Ann Alma

always had. The trees they were supposed to portray, the trees right outside the classroom window, swayed slightly in the wind. Lee swirled her brush to make branches.

      “Yes, good motion.” Ms. Candle smiled, lightly putting her hand on Lee’s shoulder.

      Before Lee knew it, the afternoon was over. She and Natasha walked home together, not talking much. The closer Natasha got to her house, the more she slowed down.

      “My grandma’s having a quilting party on Saturday afternoon.” Natasha sighed as she walked up the steps. “I have to wear my best dress and serve cookies and tea.” She made a face.

      “We’re going camping,” Lee said, not envying her friend. Natasha always had to act “properly” around her grandmother.

      When Lee got home, Minnie sat by the front door, meowing in protest.

      “Poor kitty. Are you miserable too?”

      Lee stroked the cat and fed her before turning the music on.

      In her journal she wrote:

      I could never live at Natasha’s house. No way. It’s the woods for me. I’ll wait till tomorrow or Sunday. Then I’11 split. Go up to the old sheds in the hills….

      Mom would be home any minute. She worked until 3:30 as a secretary in the high school office. She didn’t make a lot of money, but with Dad gone, he wouldn’t be able to spend most of it. Mom could buy things without borrowing money from her brother all the time.

      Maybe he would come camping with them tomorrow in his motorhome. Alex, her cousin, and Pat, Uncle Brooke’s partner, could all head out for an overnight at the beach.

      Even though they went to different schools, she and Alex spent a lot of time together, camping and hiking. Uncle Brooke and Pat loved to cook and invited Lee and her parents over for dinner often. Dad had never come along.

      “Hi, how was school?” Mom bustled in, dumping her purse and two bags of groceries on the counter.

      Lee grabbed a carrot, the only thing she was allowed to eat just before supper. Her mouth full, she mumbled, “Fine. We painted.”

      “Your teacher phoned earlier. Did the morning improve after that?” She handed Lee the food to put in the fridge.

      “Yeah,” Lee shrugged. “Can we invite Alex and Uncle Brooke to come camping?”

      “They’re coming later, Saturday afternoon. I phoned Brooke from work. We’ll set up camp tomorrow morning.” Mom smiled. She looked tired and her cheeks were pale.

      “Are you glad Dad is gone?” Lee slammed the fridge door shut. She had a funny feeling in her chest, as if something was pressing hard against her ribs.

      “Yes, honey. Your father should have left years ago. He wasn’t the kind of Dad you deserve.”

      Lee shook her head. “He used to be all right before….” She wanted to hit something. Then the tight feeling loosened a little. “Why can’t I talk to anyone?”

      Mom’s eyebrows shot up. “You can….”

      “You said I couldn’t,” Lee interrupted loudly. Her hands curled into fists.

      “Of course you can!” Her mother stood right in front of her. “But not to just anyone. Talk to me. Or your uncle, or your teacher.”

      “To you? What difference would that make?” Lee took a step back.

      “I know I couldn’t make him do what you wanted, honey,” she shook her head, looking drained, her shoulders sagging. “But some things we can only do for ourselves.”

      “I guess.” Lee walked to her room. She didn’t slam the door, but she did turn the music up.