Mitochondrial Curiosities of Marcels 1 to 19 Read online

  ‘So, guess who loves you,’ I say.

  ‘Do you want something?’ Paige says. ‘Because, inappropriate?’

  ‘God, you’re cynical,’ I say. Really, my whole mood is busted, especially when Joan says, ‘I know he was your dad, but I cannot believe you were wandering around down here in a parkade.’

  ‘Joan,’ I say. ‘Let it go.’

  Joan tells us, Lovely, but she’s got to run to Winners before it closes at six. ‘I’ve got to pick up those slippers for Mom,’ she says and we have yet another awkward pause. Grandma Giles isn’t coming for Christmas this year. She hates me. That’s the truth. Joan says no, oh not at all, but then why Grandma doesn’t call me back? I’ve left her a million voice mails. And why didn’t she call when she got the excellent recipe roadmap and star-of-the-west I sent last week? I ask Joan for the phone and she leaves us her whole purse because it weighs a ton and she’s got her credit card. The term credit card is still delicate in our household. I automatically look down and take the purse.

  Paige comes back to the Second Cup with me, and the coffee people look at us in that can-I-help-you way so I look through my wallet like I’m deciding what to get. And I’m all magic again because how did I forget about the free coupon, still folded and tucked behind my school id. Way to go, Dad. Extra-large hot chocolate with whipped cream on the side for Paige and me. Your M-less dream. The phone rings when I’m in the line-up and Paige turns away when she says, ‘Oh hi.’

  They’re coming across the square, the girl in front, pulling her mother, Colm beside them, two craft girls, Thermos woman and Colm’s friends zig-zagging between the others. Everyone’s moving in the same direction, one big messy animal with a lot of puffy limbs. Maybe the clues in the copper-pipe sculpture were taken. Maybe they got too cold. They look happy but maybe that’s some weird reflection from the heinous Christmas lights.

  They’re coming across the square and I run to meet them.

  Acknowledgements

  This book was helped along by many people. Thank you to Norm Sacuta, Glen Huser and Doug Schmidt for critiquing the first draft; to the students at Victoria School for the Arts for their thoughtful input; to Faith Wiley, Maureen Brown and Claire Theaker-Brown for their ongoing insights and general brilliance; to Alana Wilcox for astute editing and kindness; and to my generous friends for everything.

  Thank you to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for financial support.

  About the Author

  Jocelyn Brown is the author of One Good Outfit and several short stories, including ‘Miss Canada,’ which won the Journey Prize. She lives in Edmonton.

  Typeset in Charlotte and Charlotte Sans

  Printed and bound at the Coach House on bpNichol Lane, May 2009

  Edited and designed by Alana Wilcox

  Cover art and design by Jason Logan

  Cover sock puppet photos by Andrew Tolson

  Coach House Books

  401 Huron St. on bpNichol Lane

  Toronto, ON M5S 2G5

  416 979 2217

  800 367 6360

  [email protected]

  www.chbooks.com