sound of the girls’ chatter seemed to echo off the high ceiling, doubling its intensity. As the other girls moved out of the changeroom, the sudden silence seemed rather eerie.
Terra stuffed her gym clothes into her bag.
“Hey, there,” said a friendly voice.
Terra looked up, pleased. “Hi, Winter.”
“How’s it going?”
“I’m a bit worn out from running around the track.”
Winter sighed dramatically. “Yeah, that’s what I’ve got to look forward to.” She discarded her bright purple top for the standard gym jersey. “Too bad we’re not in the same class.”
“Ms. Brown is kind of tough, isn’t she?”
Winter pursed her lips. “Ah, I don’t know, she’s not so bad.” She grinned. “Maybe she likes you. Do you have . . .” Winter stressed the word, “potential”?
Terra laughed self-consciously and shook her head. “I’m not very good at sports.”
“Practice makes perfect. Well, sorta.” Winter smiled, wiggled into her purple running shoes. “I’d better get going. See ya around, Terra.” She waved and headed into the gym.
“Yeah, see you,” Terra echoed.
As Terra heaved her books into the bottom of her locker, she was surprised to see Blaine plop down on the floor beside her. “Heya.”
“Hi.” The other girl seemed to have warmed to her a bit, but Terra wasn’t quite sure what to make of her.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Um, just getting ready for home.”
“You gotta go there right away?”
“No-o,” Terra answered slowly. “Not really. Why?”
Blaine shrugged. “I like to hang out in the park.”
“Oh,” said Terra uncertainly. A park sounded nice, didn’t it?
“Well, uh, can I come?”
“Whatever. I don’t care.” And Blaine started off down the hall.
What? Terra stared, perplexed. But she quickly grabbed her homework, shut the locker and ran after Blaine.
“Hey look!” Terra pointed to a small brown animal, standing on its back legs, its head tilted curiously. It watched as the girls approached, then suddenly dashed into a hole.
Blaine gave her an odd look. “Uh . . . yeah? You’ve never seen a gopher before?”
“Oh, is that what it is? Yeah, I’ve seen a few of them since we got to Alberta. They’re really cute.”
“Heh. A lot of people here don’t like them very much.”
“Really? Why not?”
She shrugged. “They make holes and wreck lawns and gardens . . . I don’t know. I don’t care. Didn’t you have gophers in—where did you say you were from?”
“Ottawa. I don’t think so . . . we had a lot of groundhogs, though. I haven’t seen any here . . . do you have them?”
Blaine shrugged. “What do they look like?”
“Well, they’re bigger and fatter. Sort of rabbit-sized. They get hit by cars a lot, on the highway.”
“Oh yeah? Cool,” grinned Blaine.
“Blaine!” exclaimed Terra, indignant.
“Oh. Uh . . . yeah, that’s too bad, I mean.”
“I think your rabbits are bigger, though.”
“Huh?”
“I mean I’ve seen some big . . . well, what we’d call jackrabbits, but not bunnies. Don’t you have bunnies here?”
Blaine chuckled. “Heh, bunnies.”
The two girls tramped through the grass then curled up under a big tree.
Blaine pulled out a bottle of polish and went to work on her nails. She didn’t seem to want to talk much, although Terra tried to start up a conversation.
“Have you lived in Inglewood long?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.”
Terra tried again. “So . . . do you like it?”
“Uh . . . whatever.”
Terra nodded. “Oh. Um . . . I just moved here.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
Blaine blew on her nails to dry them.
Terra leaned back against the tree, looking around the big park.
A lot of kids hung out in groups under the trees or sat on the benches. A few were reading—schoolbooks or magazines, but most just lounged around talking.
“Hey, Blaine,” greeted one tall lanky fellow. “Ya got a light?”
To Terra’s surprise, Blaine reached into her jean jacket and flipped a small object in his direction.
“Cool,” he said, catching it. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, puffing rapidly. He eyed Terra curiously.
“Hey. Who are you?”
Before Terra could respond, Blaine interjected: “That’s Terra, Pete.”
Terra nodded to him. She felt a bit uncomfortable. She wasn’t really used to being around smokers, and her parents wouldn’t be happy about it. Still, hanging out with these strange kids in the park seemed like a bit of an adventure.
Pete held the cigarette out to Terra. “Wanna smoke?”
Terra felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly shook her head.
Pete shrugged and took a long drag on the cigarette. He blew out the smoke then leaned over and kissed Blaine on the mouth.
Terra blinked in surprise, especially when Blaine reached over for the cigarette, inhaling deeply.
Another girl ran up and took the cigarette. “Who’s that?” She tilted her head at Terra.
“Terra,” answered Pete. “Gimme that smoke, Paula.”
Paula tossed her short blonde hair and took another puff on the cigarette before handing it back to Pete. “Hey, Blaine.”
