Last Summer in Louisbourg by Clare Mowat Read Free Book Online Page B

you.”
    â€œHe is cute, isn’t he?”
    â€œI think he’s kind of old for you.”
    â€œHow old is he?”
    â€œAsk him.”
    â€œI can’t.”
    â€œI wouldn’t worry about it. He might never call anyhow.”
    â€œI don’t care,” Andrea lied.
    â€œLet’s go for some pop,” suggested Justine a few minutes later as they trudged up the main road of the real-life town of Louisbourg.
    â€œRight now?”
    â€œSure. They’re gonna die up at the store when they see us made up like this.”
    â€Uh oh. The make-up. Maybe we should go home first and wash it off,” suggested Andrea, suddenly aware of how unnatural they must look.
    â€œWho cares?” shrugged Justine. “I just want to see the look on that guy’s face when we walk in there like this.”
    â€œWhat guy?” asked Andrea.
    â€œYou know.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œHe works there sometimes.”
    â€œOh, that guy. Curly hair. Wears those round glasses. Never smiles. Right?”
    â€œCory is his name.”
    â€œYou like him, don’t you?”
    â€œI never said that.”
    â€œYou do so like him.”
    â€œI never said…all I said was I wanted to…oh, never mind. I just want a Coke, okay?”
    â€œLet’s go.”
    When they reached the store, it was to discover that Cory was not working that day. Vivian, the woman who owned the store, was behind the counter instead. She greeted them cheerfully and asked them where they were going that evening, seeing that their faces were so lavishly made up. That only added to Justine’s disappointment. They weren’t going anywhere. By then Andrea merely felt self·conscious. Theatrical make-up simply didn’t look right when you were wearing a sweatshirt that said BEAVER CANOE.
    Disheartened that Cory was not around, Justine downed her Coke in a hurry. Andrea gulped a 7-Up and bought a chocolate bar, and they left. Justine was silent as they walked back. It wasn’t until they were in the bathroom washing away the final traces of their brief acting career that her downcast mood began to improve.
    â€œSo, ah yew goin’ to go ay-out with him…Calvin Jeff-ah-son Lee?” she asked, mocking his accent.
    â€œDon’t bug me. I dunno.”
    â€œI just thought of something. When he sees you without your make-up and your fortress costume, he might think you’re…too young or something.”
    â€œI’m not too young,” Andrea almost shouted.
    â€œJust kidding.”
    â€œBesides, I can always make myself look older.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI’ll get a grey wig, and a walking cane, Aunt Roberta’s orthopaedic shoes, and my mom’s reading glasses and…”
    â€œAnd he’ll think he’s going out on a date with his grandmother,” giggled Justine.
    â€œRight.”
    â€œI dare you.”
    â€œWell, he has to ask first.”

Chapter Seven
    There was a knock on the bedroom door. “Phone call for Andrea,” announced Roberta, who then clumped heavily back down the stairs. Andrea opened her eyes and looked at her alarm clock. It was 7:20 A.M. Why would he call her at this unromantic hour of the day? She got up, yanked her bathrobe over her pyjamas, dashed into the hall, and picked up the phone.
    â€œHi,” she said, hoping she sounded as if she had been awake for ages.
    â€œHi, sweetie,” came the voice of her mother.
    â€œMom!” she exclaimed. “It’s awfully early.”
    â€œIt is. And it’s even an hour earlier in Ontario, but I just felt like calling you before the day got started. I miss you, you know. Sometimes I worry about you. I know that’s silly but…”
    â€œI’m fine, Mom. Honestly. I’ve been meaning to write to you. It’s just that I’ve been busy, very busy,” Andrea yawned. It was an effort to think of anything