A Town Bewitched
Page 21
Anyway, later Mom made me play the violin, and it made my BM cry some more. She had always wanted Mai Ling to learn piano but couldn’t afford it. We exchanged e-mail and snail mail addresses so we can keep in touch, and Mom and Dad are going to send money for Mai Ling to study piano. She’s going to practice at a neighbour’s house.
Anyway, can you believe it? I have a twin sister! And the best part of it all is that now I know I wasn’t given up because I was a girl.
Charlotte
“Mom! Dylan! Come quick!” I shout.
Dylan is the first to clamber in, clutching his iPad. It seems he’s always on that thing nowadays, but anything’s better than being shot at with a Dead-Eye Dart Gun. I’m so glad he’s hung them up, hopefully for good.
Mom is up in a flash too. When I read them the e-mail, Dylan’s mouth drops open, and Mom keeps wiping her eyes over and over while giggling like a fool.
My ARCT is in two months. I’ve been practicing hard, but sometimes it’s difficult keeping my mind on my work. Ever since that day back in February when the hottest guy I’ve ever seen strolled into town with his dad. They were both carrying violin cases. His name’s Mark, and he’s got dark, curly hair. His dad took over Kate’s work playing in the tavern with Uncle Jack’s band, and like Kate, he teaches fiddling and step dancing too. It turns out Mark’s in grade ten so I see him a lot at school. And just the other day, he asked me if I’d play a fiddling duet with him. Of course, I said yes.
Dad still visits me in my dreams, although they’re not so intense anymore. In the last one, I was playing a difficult sonata when he walked into the room. He smiled at me and raised his hand, giving me a thumbs up.
His eyes were filled with love, and a small tear gleamed on his cheek. I laid down the Golden Fiddle, and he took me in his arms. He held me for a long time, and then looked into my eyes with that expression parents get when they’re so proud. And then he let me go.
I watched him turn to leave, and when he got to the door, I called out, “And Daddy? Thanks for keeping your promise about my violin.”
The End
(Winner of the Dante Rossetti Best Coming of Age Novel)
Suzanne de Montigny books published by Books We Love
The Legacy - Shadow of the Unicorn, Book 1
The Deception - Shadow of the Unicorn, Book 2
Suzanne de Montigny was impassioned by writing stories as a child, creating her first novella at the age of twelve. She has kept it on her shelf between her textbooks and novels all her life. As an adult she pursued a career in music education, teaching for twenty years. It was here she began storytelling in the classroom. Then when her father passed away in 2006, she developed an overpowering urge to begin writing again. She has received or been nominated for awards for her Shadow of the Unicorn series. A Town Bewitched won first prize in the Dante Rossetti competition for Best Coming of Age novel.
She lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog.
Please visit Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannedemontigny.com
You can also find her on Facebook at: https://facebook.com/unicorngirl52
And can follow her on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/sfierymountain
And last but not least, here is her blog: http://suzannesthoughtsfortheday.blogspot.ca