Reading the Bones. Gina McMurchy-Barber

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СКАЧАТЬ and tidy bedrooms? And just because digging around in the dirt wasn’t her kind of thing, it didn’t mean she should stop me from having fun. Besides, they were just old bones; it wasn’t like a real person.

      “Maybe we should call Peggy’s mom and see what she thinks,” Uncle Stuart said. He flashed me a secret wink before Aunt Margaret shot him a piercing glare.

      We all followed Eddy and Officer Pratt out front where the neighbours were still gawking from across the road. Aunt Margaret mumbled something to Uncle Stuart, but I only caught the last word — embarrassing.

      “Okay, folks, there’s nothing to be worried about,” Officer Pratt said. “The Randalls have accidentally uncovered a prehistoric burial in their backyard and we’ve just finished securing the area. You should all go on home now.”

      After the officer’s announcement, most people drifted away. By the expressions on their faces, it wasn’t the kind of exciting news they were hoping to hear. Then I noticed this old guy leaning on the police car.

      “Hey, Pratt, got any idea what phase it’s from?” The man’s voice was as gruff and gnarly as an old tree.

      “Can’t tell much yet, Walter,” the officer replied. “We won’t know anything until Dr. McKay finishes excavating.”

      The man turned to Eddy and growled, “McKay.”

      Eddy nodded back but didn’t smile. “Mr. Grimbal.”

      Officer Pratt turned to Aunt Margaret and Uncle Stuart. “I’m surprised your new neighbour didn’t tell you that Crescent Beach was a prehistoric village and burial ground.”

      “It’s because we haven’t met yet,” Aunt Margaret said, holding out her hand. “I’m Margaret Randall and this is my husband, Stuart, and our niece, Peggy. We intended to get out and meet our neighbours, just not like this.”

      “Sure, I know how it is. I’m Walter Grimbal. I live around the corner on Agar.” When he smiled, he revealed yellowed teeth. “I run the Real Treasures and Gifts store over on Beecher Street.” Then he glanced at me. “I’ll bet all this seems pretty exciting to a young lady like you.”

      I’d seen Mr. Grimbal’s store but had the impression it was actually a junk shop. I smiled weakly as he put his cigarette-stained fingers on my shoulder. He smelled stale, like my room when it was filled with dirty old socks. Then I noticed a small hand-carved totem pole hanging around his neck.

      “Walter here considers himself Crescent Beach’s local expert on prehistoric Native people,” Officer Pratt said.

      “That’s right,” Mr. Grimbal said. “If there’s anything you want to know about the ancient folks, just ask me.” He raised his bushy eyebrows and gave another rotten smile.

      “Well, I’ve got to get busy and write my report,” Officer Pratt said. “I’m afraid you’ll have to put your plans for a pond on hold for now, Mr. and Mrs. Randall.”

      “I hope it’s not going to be too long. It’s not our fault that our property’s on top of an old burial.” Aunt Margaret’s voice cut to the point sharp as an X-ACTO Knife.

      “We’ll do what we can, Mrs. Randall,” Eddy said politely. “In the meantime I’d better run along, too. I have a lot to prepare for our excavation.” She shook my aunt’s and uncle’s hands and nodded cautiously at Mr. Grimbal. “I’ll see you soon, Peggy.”

      After they left, Mr. Grimbal turned to Aunt Margaret. “Ah, too bad you got those sons of guns from the Archaeology Branch involved. You’ll have old snooty-pants there prodding around for days, then someone from the band will want to come by ... You’ll be lucky if things are back to normal by the end of the summer. No pond, no backyard, no privacy!”

      “Well, it would be safe to say I do have regrets — mostly that I ever got the idea of putting in a pond in the first place,” Aunt Margaret said. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Grimbal, I’m feeling a bit weary right now. I’m going to have a rest. Nice meeting you and I hope to see you again.”

      “Oh, you’ll see me again,” Mr. Grimbal growled in his raspy voice.

      Uncle Stuart followed my aunt into the house, and I wandered into the backyard. I was glad to get away from Mr. Grimbal’s awkward stare. I knelt by the gaping pond hole with its dark earth and partially exposed skull. Officer Pratt had said it could be as much as five thousand years old — and right here in our yard!

      Gently, I rubbed my fingers over the smooth, sun-warmed skull. It reminded me of the time when my class was studying water mammals at the aquarium. We were each given a box of seal and otter bones that smelled rancid and felt gritty and greasy. But this skull was different. It felt more like the weathered driftwood scattered along the beach and smelled earthy.

      I was scanning the yard for more signs of prehistoric treasures hidden under the thin blanket of earth when a sudden blustering wind caused the branches and leaves to wave and rustle frantically. For some reason I suddenly felt self-conscious, as if someone were watching me. I glanced around the yard and up to the windows, but there was no one. Gingerly, I walked up the stairs and resisted the urge to look back over my shoulder.

      That night my mom called. Before I could talk to her, Aunt Margaret said she wanted some private time on the phone and then closed the door to her bedroom. I waited out in the hall, trying not to listen, but now and then my aunt’s voice would go all shrill.

      “Really, Liz, it’s bad enough having this creepy thing in our backyard. I really don’t think Peggy should ...” Then there was silence. I was dying to know what Mom was saying. I went into my room and quietly pushed the talk button on my telephone.

      “And if anyone’s the type to enjoy getting into a dirt hole to excavate ancient bones, it would be Peggy,” came Mom’s voice from the other end. “She loves that kind of stuff. I know it’s not your kind of thing, Margie, but it would really be good for Peggy. It’s been tough for her this last while, and this is the kind of distraction she really needs.”

      I felt a flood of affection for my mom at that moment.

      Aunt Margaret sighed. “Okay, Liz, I’ll try it your way. I’ll get Peggy now. I’m sure she’ll want to hear what you have to say.”

      “Ah, I have the feeling she already has. Hello, Peggy, sweetheart, is that you on the other line?”

      Moms — they know everything!

      After I talked with my mother for a while, it was impossible to go to sleep. I was excited about helping Eddy with the excavation. The only thing I wasn’t happy about was that Mom wouldn’t be around to share the experience.

      Moving to Crescent Beach with my aunt and uncle at the beginning of summer was part of my mom’s plan to get me back to nature. She’d just finished reading Unplugging Our Children from the Electronic Magicians when Aunt Margaret and Uncle Stuart announced they’d bought a house near the beach.

      “All the jobs are out east, Peggy,” Mom had told me. “Given our circumstances, I think the best thing for you would be to stay here and live with Margie and Stu for a while. It will be the perfect opportunity for you to learn to appreciate the outdoors.”

      The part about learning to appreciate the outdoors was fine, because I really enjoyed nature. In the city, СКАЧАТЬ