Mount Everest and then reaching the top only to discover a second Mount Everest waiting for you.
Most private members’ bills are put on the order paper in the hopes of getting immediate attention but typically fade into nothing.
“We have to get the justice minister on board,” Joy said. “He says yes, we’re off to the races.”
“He’s our best shot,” Karen said.
“He’s not going to do it,” Joel interjected.
“Sure he will. He just has to be encouraged with facts,” Joy replied.
“He may want to do to but might not be able to do it. It doesn’t fit into the government’s agenda,” Joel said.
Joy leaned back in her chair and thought. “I don’t see how he could say no.”
“The best chance is for him to be given a good reason,” Karen said. “We have the research. We have evidence that traffickers are being convicted and given light sentences. But even if—”
Joy stood. “I’m going to have a private meeting with the minister of justice,” she said. “Time to find out our chances with this bill.”
chapter four
It was time to make a decision.
Ever since she had received the message Do you want to meet? Abby had been a nervous wreck. Her mind and heart flipped back and forth about what to do, what this meant and how, when or (gasp) if to respond.
Her English teacher talked about Victorian writers. That interested her. She looked forward to reading a new book. But during most of the class her mind was on Jake. What would he be like? Would she measure up? Would he still have interest in her after they met? Would she have staying power? The little bit she did catch of class included an assignment on choosing two books, each from a different author during the reign of Queen Victoria in England. So many to choose from. So many she had already read. The last class of the day proved to be the longest.
Finally, the bell rang.
She left class and immediately looked at her phone. Had he re-sent the request? Had he given up on her for taking so long to respond? Why was this so hard to decide?
What’s the big deal? Get together and go for a fun time. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. No problem.
But what if I go and I do like him but he turns me down? What if I don’t make the right first impression? What if I’m myself and he doesn’t like me? Do I pretend to be someone else at first and be the person I think he wants me to be? Or do I just go as myself? If I go just as I am, will that be enough?
Will he love me for who I am?
Maybe I should talk this through. Maybe I should give this a second thought. Who to talk with? Mom? Mom would be all right, I guess, but this is teenage stuff. She wouldn’t get it. Dad? Forget it. He’s not around, and besides, it’s still teenage stuff. Then again, he is a guy. He would have advice, wouldn’t he? Forget it. He won’t be home until late, and I would need him to respond now. Kedisha? Yeah. Kedisha would be cool. She would promise to not say anything. She would be able to help me out with what to do.
Glancing down the hallway through a maze of students, Abby saw Kedisha at her locker. She was about to call out to her friend when she noticed Kedisha’s boyfriend approaching her. The two of them talked for a brief moment, Kedisha laughed at something he said; then the two of them walked down the hall in the opposite direction from Abby.
No matter. I can make up my own mind.
Abby pulled out her phone. But just as soon as she had done so a battle began inside her mind.
You can do this.
But what if he doesn’t end up liking me?
What’s not to like? Stop being so pessimistic. You’re a great girl. And he’s a great guy.
A guy I hardly know.
A guy you’ve gotten to know in cyberworld, and now it’s time for real life.
I don’t know.
Message him back and say yes.
We don’t have anyone in common. I might not be who he thinks I am.
Three letters. Y-e-s.
No. No. O-k-a-y.
Okay? That’s way too casual.
She typed in “It would be great to meet!”
Did that sound too excited? She erased the exclamation point and replaced it with a period. Was that too serious now?
Arrgh. Just send it.
Abby reread her last message. People passed in front of and behind her, like an endless stream of traffic on the 401. Now or never. She pressed send before she could change her mind.
She put the phone in her pocket. Walked down the hallway towards the nearest exit. Pushing the panic hardware on the door, she released the catch and let herself out into the afternoon. Her phone beeped. She recognized the tone. She looked at the message. Jake.
“Great. 7:00 tonight?”
That was fast. What she busy tonight? Did it matter?
“Sounds great!”
He texted the name of the restaurant. She sent a thumbs-up. Looking up, she thought the sky had never looked so blue before. But if she had looked farther in the distance, she would have seen rain clouds approaching.
Abby had changed her clothes four times and was now further away from making a decision than when she started. She sat on her bed. Glanced at the clock. Just make up your mind. But so much was riding on this first impression. What if I don’t meet his expectations? What if I gave a certain impression online and now he meets me in person and he doesn’t like me? What if …
She settled on a dark pair of jeans and a long-sleeve grey shirt. She searched through the mess on her closet floor and dug out a light jacket despite the heat. She put it on. Kedisha had commented the other day that the blue brought out her eyes. She checked and rechecked her makeup. Hair down. Poker straight. Here goes nothing.
The subway ride to the Yorkdale Mall station seemed shorter than normal. She was both excited and terrified to meet him. She hoped the excited part would win out.
She knew the restaurant. It was at the mall. She had never been to it before. Too expensive for her bank account.
What am I doing?
I’ll be fine. It’s just a get-together.
Wait a minute. Who else knows I’m here?
It’s a restaurant. It’s public. But whatever you do, don’t go back with him. Don’t accept a ride. No matter how nice you find him. You don’t know him that well. If he offers, just politely decline. Now go and have some fun.
She arrived at
