style="font-size:15px;"> “Good afternoon, sir. What an interesting shop you have. Now you must tell me about these objects — are they all made by First Nations?” I could tell Mr. Grimbal was already sizing up Aunt Beatrix’s wallet and wondering if he should start with the expensive stuff.
“What a fascinating man Mr. Grimbal is,” Aunt Beatrix gushed as we walked back home. “Such a pity he doesn’t have a wife to help him. He’s just the kind of man I can relate to — educated, polite, and a successful businessman too. I do hope we’ll come visit him again, Peggy.” Gross! It sounded like Aunt Beatrix had something in mind besides shopping for souvenirs at Mr. Grimbal’s store.
All through dinner Aunt Beatrix chatted on happily about Mr. Grimbal, his store, and the ancient Coast Salish — she didn’t even mention that I was late picking her up. I was actually impressed with how much she’d learned and remembered. And I could tell Mom and Aunt Margaret were pleased with her chipper mood. That meant serious brownie points for me.
“Aunt Beatrix seemed thrilled with her outing today, Peggy,” said Mom at bedtime. Maybe this was all going to work in my favour after all. When she was finished gushing her appreciation I’d bring up the topic of scuba diving lessons. “It might well be the highlight of her trip. And it was a big help to Aunt Margaret too, as she had some important errands to get done.”
“It was my pleasure,” I lied. Then with a soft tone and as little eye contact as possible I added, “Mom, ah, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” Mom didn’t have a lot of extra cash and we were always on a tight budget — one that I’m sure didn’t include diving lessons. “TB was thinking since he lives right on one of the world’s most beautiful coasts it would be a cool thing if he learned to scuba dive. His mom really likes the idea and thought if I took lessons with him it would give him more confidence — you know, because he’s not as good a swimmer as I am. I told her that you probably couldn’t afford it, but that I’d ask you anyways.”
I twisted the details of my story as though I was tying a back hitch knot. I knew Mom was proud and didn’t like others to think she couldn’t afford to give me all the same advantages in life that kids with two parents got. So in a way I was doing her a favour.
“I wish you wouldn’t tell people that I can’t afford things. It gives a wrong impression.” Then she gazed up to the ceiling like she was calculating something in her mind. After a few minutes of silence she looked at me. “How important is this to you, Peggy? It has to be something you want to do for yourself and not just because TB is taking scuba lessons.” I jumped up and down on the sofa excitedly and held out my arms wide.
“I really want to learn to scuba dive, Mom.” Then I settled myself back down on the sofa and put on my pious face again. “But not if we can’t afford it.” Nailed it.
“Well, I have been saving some money for a new computer, but I guess I can get along with the old one for a while longer. I don’t mind as long as you’re sure this is something you’d really benefit from.” I leapt off the sofa.
“It will be the best thing in the world,” I blurted. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Just don’t forget that you promised you’d do things with your great aunt.”
“You bet — even if it kills me.”
The next morning I told TB all about my plan and the little lie I’d told. “So what about it, why don’t you see if you can take diving lessons too?” He stared at me for a few moments with a blank look and then his face suddenly lit up.
“That’s a brilliant idea. I always imagined myself a Jacques Cousteau kind of guy.”
“You know about him?”
“What, Cousteau? Well, duh. He’s only like the father of scuba diving and underwater exploration.”
“Yup, good old Jack.”
“Jacques, you mean.”
“Right. So anyway, are you sure your mom will let you?”
“Peggy, one of the few benefits of having divorced parents is when one says no, you can almost always count on the other saying yes.”
“Great. I’m going to sign up after school at the Reef Dive Shop.”
“I thought you were doing something with your Great Aunt Beatrix today.” Shoot, I’d forgotten about that.
“Hey, TB. Help me out here. Phone my house and tell my aunt that you need me to come over so we can get started on that important school project that’s due next Friday.”
“What important school project?” he said with panic in his eyes.
“There is no project dough-head. I just want you to say that so when I walk in the house and Aunt Beatrix gives me your message she won’t think anything when I tell her I can’t spend time with her today.”
“Sorry, Peggy. I don’t like lying — especially to adults. From my experience I always get caught or end up making matters worse. You’ll have to get out of this one on your own.” If he hadn’t been my best friend I’d have given him a raspberry somewhere embarrassing.
When I got home, there she was — Queen Bee-atrix — in her hat and waiting to go out. “Peggy, you’re slouching, stand up straight, dear.” I did everything to keep myself from groaning out loud. “So, where shall we wander today, dear? Mr. Grimbal suggested we take a stroll through Heron Park and have a look at the stone carvings — petroglyphs, I think he called them. It sounds delightfully primitive.” I sighed dramatically. “What? Doesn’t that sound like a good plan to you?”
“Oh, it’s not that, Aunt Beatrix. I definitely want to go see the petroglyphs with you. I’m just trying to figure out how I can do that and get my assignment done for school.”
“Assignment for school?”
“Yah, my friend TB and I have to make a diorama by tomorrow of Captain Vancouver’s voyage along the Pacific Coast.” There it was again, the perfect lie rolling effortlessly off my tongue. “Oh well, never mind, I’ll just call TB and tell him I can’t do it …”
“You’ll do no such thing. Getting homework assignments completed is absolutely paramount, Peggy. If there is anything I can teach you, it’s to take your work seriously and live up to your commitments. Now you get to it right now, do you hear young lady?” I nodded as though I was completely disappointed and about to object.
It didn’t take me long to scoot out the door, hop on my bike, and make my way towards the dive shop. I had mom sign the permission sheet that morning and write out a cheque to pay for the lessons. I pedalled as fast I could up the steep hill towards Ocean Park. I was hot when I got there but the moment I walked inside the dive shop I got goose bumps. Dangling from hooks were wet suits, masks, snorkels, and other gear. There was a guy there trying on flippers too.
“Man, these are perfect. I’m going to whiz around like a dolphin in these,” he said to the clerk. Just then she caught sight of me.
“Here to sign up for lessons?”
I nodded and held out the form and cheque.
“Great, I’ll just add your name to our list. We have a new set of lessons starting next
