Chapter 60
Harvey
When the door to the suite opens, Harvey is assaulted by the familiar musky smell. It’s a Saturday and Maggie has brought him for a visit.
But they’re not alone.
“Margaret! Austin! Bertie! And Harvey!” At his name, Harvey takes a step closer and is rewarded with a pat on the head. Bertie scampers into the room with excited puppy hops. Austin follows, trying to keep up.
“I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Fradette,” Maggie says. Harvey heard all about the surprise on the way to Brayside. Maggie has talked of nothing else since her teacher gave her the good news yesterday. Harvey looks on as she hands the old lady a sheet of paper. “My history essay won second place!”
Mrs. Fradette opens her arms and hugs Maggie. “You clever girl! I knew you could do it!”
“Do you want to read it?” Maggie asks.
“You read it to me,” Mrs. Fradette says, sitting down in her chair.
Maggie sits on the couch and Harvey jumps up to join her. Austin is not far away, holding Bertie on his lap. Harvey lies down and rests his head on his front paws, a lesson in good behavior for Bertie.
Maggie clears her throat. “‘Oil and Water: The Story of Josephine Fradette’ by Margaret O’Neil.” Maggie sneaks a peek at Mrs. Fradette and grins. “‘Mrs. Fradette was a pioneer for women in the field of auto mechanics. And it all started because of the Red River flood of 1950.’”
As Maggie reads her essay, Harvey sighs. This couch fits just right. He’s surrounded by his people: his Maggie and his Austin, and little Bertie, who has a lot to learn. Harvey closes his eyes, content, and drifts off to the sound of Maggie’s voice telling a story of perseverance and courage. Two things that Harvey knows a lot about.
Acknowledgments
My first thanks is to Wayne Pickering. As our family historian, he willingly shares his research with me and provided the seeds that blossomed into the characters in Mrs. Fradette’s stories. Harvey Holds His Own is very loosely based on my maternal grandma’s family history. I’ve borrowed real names and locations. I thought of my grandma, Marie Pickering, a lot as I wrote this story. I’m so grateful for the time I had with her as a child.
A very special thank you to Arlene Nelson, who passed away before this book was finished. Her stories about ‘Bambi,’ the deer she found and cared for, were the inspiration for Mrs. Fradette and Peggy.
My next round of thanks goes to the Pajama Press team: To Ann Featherstone for being a superb editor. To Erin Alladin, Lorena Gonzalez Guillen, and Laura Bowman who edit, design, promote, and ensure the book reaches its full potential. Special thanks to Erin who came up with the title! Thank you to Rebecca Bender for another brilliant cover and to Chandra Wohleber for her finely tuned copyediting skills.
There are others who have helped me with this book: Cindy Kochanski who read and commented on an early draft; Jeanne Brault who unknowingly inspired the character of Mrs. Fradette (she was Canada’s first certified female mechanic); and Richard Jones of the website Old Classic Car for helping me with research.
It might come as a surprise to you that Harvey’s illustrator Tara Anderson and I have never met. It amazes me that she is able to bring the Harvey in my head to life in her drawings. The book is so much better because of your talent, Tara!
Finally, thank you to Gail Winskill who is a champion to Harvey and to me. I am so lucky to have you in my corner.
About the Author
Colleen and Rosie
An author and junior high school teacher, Colleen Nelson earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in her hometown of Winnipeg. Her previous novels include the critically acclaimed Harvey Comes Home; Sadia, winner of the 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award; and Blood Brothers, selected as the 2018 McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People. Colleen writes daily in between appearances at hockey rinks and soccer fields in support of her two sports-loving sons. Recently the family has welcomed a new member: Rosie the Westie, who has inspired many of Harvey’s antics, including chasing squirrels and chewing shoes.
About the Illustrator
Tara with her childhood dog Buffy
A folk artist and award-winning illustrator who trained at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Tara Anderson is known for her lively and humorous illustrations of animals. Her books include the illustrated novels Harvey Comes Home and Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life, the Halloween picture book Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round, and the award-winning Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That, among others. Tara shares a farmhouse in Tweed, Ontario, with her husband, her young daughter, and several cats.
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