Authors: Kit Pearson
“Look,” whispered Polly. The twins had fallen asleep on top of each other. The dogs lay beside them, finishing the half-nibbled carrots.
“Whew! It’s okay—we can talk normally. Nothing wakes them once they’re asleep.” Biddy looked hesitant. “Polly … there’s something I think I should tell you.”
“What?”
“It’s about your grandmother. My mum is really upset with her.” How could anyone be upset with
Noni?
But Polly made herself listen.
“You know Mrs. Osaka, Seiji’s mother?”
Polly nodded.
“Well, she and Mum are good friends, and she asked Mum if she could join the Women’s Auxiliary. Mum asked your grandmother and she said she couldn’t—because she’s Japanese! Mum didn’t say anything more because she’s so much in awe of Mrs. Whitfield. But she doesn’t think it’s right, and neither do I.”
Polly reddened. “I’m sure my grandmother must have a good reason,” she said stiffly. “She’s a good person. She wouldn’t say no just because Mrs. Osaka is Japanese.”
“Well, she did,” said Biddy calmly. “I’m sorry to tell you, Polly, but maybe she’s not as good as you think.”
Polly jumped up. “I think I’ll go now. Come on, Tarka.”
She ran all the way home and waited for Noni. When her grandmother entered the house, Polly said in a rush, “Noni, did you tell Biddy’s mother that Mrs. Osaka couldn’t join the Women’s Auxiliary because she’s Japanese? Biddy told me you did.”
“Oh, hen …” Noni sat down at the kitchen table. “Let me explain. These things are too hard for children to understand. Mrs. Osaka is a very nice woman and I have nothing against her. But she’s not the same as us. She would feel out of place and uncomfortable in our group—that’s why I said no.”
“But she
wanted
to join!”
Noni’s mouth was set. “Yes, she did, but her request was inappropriate. I decided what was best for everyone. I don’t want to talk about this any more, Polly, and I don’t want you and Biddy discussing it further. I wish her mother hadn’t told her. Do you understand?” She smiled. “Now, tell me how you got on with the preserves. Did you finish them?”
Polly nodded, unable to speak. “I have to walk Tarka,” she muttered, and left the room.
She marched along the beach, wiping tears from her eyes. Her kind Noni had done something wrong! Polly couldn’t bear feeling so disappointed in her.
It was too confusing to think about. Maybe Noni was right; maybe Polly was simply too young to understand.
January 1, 1934
Dear Daddy,
It’s hard to believe that a whole year has gone by! Last Christmas Mrs. Tuttle was here and I found out you were accused of stealing. That was awful, but then things got better.
I’m happy here, Daddy. I have a wonderful dog and two good friends and a loving family. I miss you terribly and I miss Maud, but I see her in the holidays and I know I will see you one day.
We had a very nice Christmas and I got lots of presents. I gave everyone a painting and they said they liked them. The concert and the pageant went very well. We had a delicious roast goose for dinner, just like last year.
I still feel guilty about eating meat, but I don’t think I have the will power to be a vegetarian. I won’t eat venison, though, because I see deer every day. I see chickens every day too, but chickens don’t seem as real. I wish I was stronger, but maybe when I’m older I’ll be able to stand by my principles.
Maud acted as if she wasn’t really here and kept looking at us all in a superior way, but Noni said she’s just being normal for her age. I am never going to be like that.
Daddy, I hope that wherever you are you had a good Christmas as well.
Much love,
Polly
February 22, 1934
Dear Daddy,
This month is so cold that I have to take a hot water bottle to bed. Tarka tries to lie over it. There was a layer of ice in my water pitcher this morning. It’s not usually this cold in B.C. The road is too slippery to ride bikes, so Biddy and I have to walk. We wear scarves over our faces just like I used to have to do in Winnipeg.
The boys at school have made an ice slide! They poured water down the hill at the back of the playground and every day at lunch we slide down it on pieces of cardboard. I pretend my cardboard is my old toboggan.
Your Polly
March 10, 1934
Dear Daddy,
Our house (Oz) is finished! I wish so much you could see it. We’ve swept out all the dirt and scrubbed every inch of the walls and floor. We tapped away the old glass in the windows and nailed canvas cloth over them. There are three stumps for chairs, and a table made out of boxes. In another box we keep cups and cookies and a bottle of water and sometimes we have meals there. There’s an old green rug on the floor. Every day we
pick leaves and flowers and put them in a jug on the table. As soon as we go in, we pin back the cloth in the windows and it’s nice and bright. We’re hoping that when it’s warmer, we can sleep there. Love,
Polly
In late spring Polly, Biddy, and Vivien got permission to sleep overnight in Oz. Uncle Rand had inspected the house to make sure it was stable. He told them it used to belong to a hermit. “His name was Gus. He built this house a long time ago. We were terrified of him when we were kids. He’d come out of the woods and stumble along the road to the store, his beard almost down to his knees!” He smiled at them. “You’ve done an excellent job of fixing it up—and all by yourselves too! I’m proud of you.”
After they’d eaten the supper they had packed, the three girls and two dogs all piled together on the old mattress Uncle Rand had helped them drag over from the rectory. They huddled under a thick quilt, squished and cozy.
“The dogs shouldn’t be allowed on the bed,” complained Vivien. “Make them sleep on a blanket in the corner.”
“We want them here,” said Biddy calmly. They were used to Vivien now, and had discovered that if they ignored her commands, she usually gave up.
“Has your dad left yet?” Polly asked her.
“He’s going in a week,” said Vivien sadly. Vivien’s father had to leave the island for the whole summer to log on Vancouver Island so he could make some extra money.
“Never mind, the summer will go so fast he’ll be back before you notice,” said Biddy.
At least he’d be back, thought Polly with a pang. She liked both of her friends’ fathers. Biddy’s was easygoing and Vivien’s was tense and quiet, but kind.
If only they could meet
her
father! Polly’s friends had always liked his joking and his good ideas. One time, when Audrey and another friend had been over, Daddy had shown them how to make an orchestra by filling glasses with water and rubbing wet fingers along the edges. What a commotion they had made, and how they had laughed!
Polly turned over and buried her face in Tarka’s side. Why was she suddenly thinking of Daddy, instead of enjoying this overnight adventure?
“Let’s tell one another secrets!” said Vivien.
“Okay,” said Biddy. “What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a vet.”
“An artist,” said Polly.
“An actress,” said Vivien, “but we already know all that. I meant a secret we’ve never told one another.”
Biddy and Polly were silent.
“I’ll start,” said Vivien. “When I was born, I almost died!”
“You did?”
“Oh, Vivien, really?”
“Yup. I wasn’t breathing properly and it was touch and go for a few minutes, but then I took a deep breath and yelled, my mum said! Okay, Biddy, your turn.”
“I can’t think of anything.”
“Think harder.”
“I once …” Biddy’s voice became very small. “I once made Luke eat a slug.”
“That’s so tame! Can’t you think of something that’s more interesting?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s the only secret I have.”
“Oh, well. Polly?”
Polly could imagine how impressed the others would be if she told her secret. What if she just said casually, “My father didn’t drown. He’s alive!” They would be so shocked—and so glad for her. She longed to release what had throbbed inside her for so long.
But of course she couldn’t. What other secret could she tell them? Not about Chester’s kiss! They would tease her, and it was so long ago it seemed unreal. “My secret is pretty boring,” she said. “I wish I could stop eating meat because it seems so cruel to eat animals, but I don’t have the will power.”
“Oh, brother, you two are
both
boring!” said Vivien. She yawned. “Let’s go to sleep now.”
Biddy was already breathing heavily and the dogs had been still for ages. But Polly couldn’t sleep. She lay awake and listened to an owl. It was such a lonely sound. She missed Daddy more than she had for a long time.
September 22, 1934
Dear Daddy,
I haven’t written to you for so long! That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten you, but it’s so hard to write when I know you can’t answer.
Today is my twelfth birthday! That means Tarka is two, because I got him when I turned ten. He’s a much better behaved dog than he used to be, although he still barks too much and he steals food whenever he can.
It’s Saturday, so I don’t have to go to school. At breakfast Noni gave me this new fountain pen and some ink, so I’m trying them out for the first time.
This afternoon the whole family is going for a birthday picnic on the Boot. Biddy and Vivien are coming too. Some of us will go in the gasboat and some of us will row. I hope it’s warm enough to swim.
This will be my last year at school on the island. Next year I’ll have to go to St. Winifred’s. Oh, Daddy, I don’t want to go! Especially since Biddy and Vivien will be staying here. I’ve begged and begged Noni to let me stay too and have a governess, but she says I’ll get a better education at St. Winifred’s. She also told me not to worry about it but to just enjoy this year, so I’m trying to do that.
When we went back to school, we found out that Miss Hunter got married! Now she is Mrs. Oliver. None of us can remember to call her that, but she says we’ll gradually get used to it and that she keeps forgetting her new name herself!
I wish women didn’t have to change their last names when they get married—I never want to be anyone but Polly Brown. I told Noni that, and she said that if I became an artist and got married, I could still use my maiden name as my artist’s name.
Maud got her hair bobbed! Her face looks more relaxed without her tight braids pulling back her skin, but I told her she shouldn’t have cut her hair, because you liked it long. She could have just worn it loose like I do. She said Maudishly that she was seventeen and could do what she liked. I promise you I’ll never get my hair bobbed, Daddy! Noni trims it sometimes, but it’s still below my shoulders.
Maud doesn’t try to convert me any more. She says that when I get to St. Winifred’s, the Guppy will instead. That made me so mad! I yelled that of course she wouldn’t, but Maud just smiled with that dumb holy look on her face.
Maud is in the upper sixth form now (that’s what they call grade twelve at St. Winnie’s) and she’s head girl! Now she wears an ugly mustard-coloured blazer instead of an ugly maroon one. Noni said Maud was born to be a head girl. Gregor pretends to act scared and keeps asking her if she’ll give him an order mark.
Sadie’s parents let her stay with us almost all summer. Now she and Gregor are engaged! They will get married next summer, after Sadie graduates and after Gregor is finished theology school. Maud and I will be bridesmaids! Aunt Jean is over the moon because she likes Sadie so much. Noni worries that they are too young to get married, but Aunt Jean says that sometimes you find the right person early in life and that’s that. Aunt Jean spent a lot of time with Sadie showing her how to take care of the church—she says she’ll be a perfect minister’s wife.
Alec and Cynthia are still a couple, although they are not engaged yet (Aunt Jean gloats about that). The two of them and Gregor and Sadie spent a lot of time together, and Maud was left out. I asked her if she’d like to have a boyfriend too. She told me there are no boys on the island who interest her, and that if she had a boyfriend he’d have to be the kind of Christian she is. I told her she’d never find anyone if she was that fussy, and she got all Maudish and wouldn’t speak to me for the rest of the day.
Maud has changed so much, Daddy. Sometimes she doesn’t seem like my sister any more. She didn’t even come home for my birthday, because she was so busy at school.
There was a terrible accident this summer—it was so sad. Two men tried to row to Walker Island and got caught in the current and one of them drowned. They were summer guests and they didn’t know how to check the tides.
I know all about the tides and I can run the gasboat on my own and I can swim really well! I’m not afraid of the sea any more.
Have you heard of the Quintuplets? They are five little babies exactly alike who were born in Ontario in May. When Noni and Aunt Jean were talking about them, all I could think of was whether they were born near where you are.
Daddy, I miss you so much. I wish I didn’t have to wait until I was grown up to see you again.
Much love from your Polly Wolly Doodle
N
ow that she was twelve, thought Polly, perhaps it was time to admit that she no longer enjoyed writing to Daddy. She wiped her new pen on a rag and replaced its cap. Then she sealed the letter in an envelope, wrote “Mr. Daniel Brown” on the front, and placed the letter with the others in the chest.
Tarka was snoozing on her bed in the sunshine. He didn’t stir as Polly dragged his warm body into her lap. She leaned back against her pillow, stroking his wiry fur.