Chapter 23 - Canada
Ione eventually asked:
“What was Canada place?”
At nine.
I told her.
“Grandma’s cousin has a farm near Québec City.”
“Bad?”
“No.”
“Kids work?”
“Some chores.”
“Sleep laundry?”
“No.”
“Does cousin know?”
“Yes.”
“Was she mad?”
“Very.”
Ione thought.
“Can we go?”
I stared.
“You want to?”
“Maybe.”
We contacted Antoinette.
She cried when she heard.
She invited all of us.
Me.
Ione.
Vaughn if wanted.
Not Marjorie on first trip.
Ione decided:
“Dad only.”
We went for four days.
Proper consent unnecessary because I traveled as parent.
Passport.
Hotel? We stayed guest cottage.
Chickens.
Maple syrup.
Ione collected eggs.
Complained smell.
Swept porch voluntarily once because Antoinette paid all children two Canadian dollars.
Capitalism succeeded where discipline failed.
At night Ione slept in a bedroom with flowered quilt.
Not utility hall.
On day three she said:
“Grandma wanted me here.”
“Yes.”
“I like.”
“That doesn’t make what she did okay.”
“I know.”
Good.
May you like
Place reclaimed without sanitizing history.
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