Somewhere In-Between by Donna Milner Page A

at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” displaying a talent that surprised Julie, she had to blink back tears of motherly pride. As the room darkened at the end of the scene and the audience exploded in applause, Julie was filled with a sadness that Ian was not there to share this with her.
Damn him
, she thought as intermission arrived and he did not,
Darla will be so disappointed.
    She remained seated while others around her rose to file out for the break. The young man sitting in the seat in front of her stood up slowly. Things hadn’t changed much from the ’50s, Julie thought, noting the familiar red-and-white lettered school jacket. As the boy turned to join the line-up in the aisle, Julie recognized the thick black hair worn just a little too long and the handsome young profile already set in the serious countenance of a First Nations Elder.
    â€œHello, Levi,” Julie said, surprised to see it was her daughter’s friend. But then why should she be, he was the one who had picked up Darla and Kajul earlier to drive them to the school to get ready for the play. Before they went out the door she had watched him transfer the carved crow pendant from around his neck to Darla’s for ‘luck.’
    Now he turned to Julie, his dark depthless eyes meeting hers, and he smiled. The change never failed to amaze her. The solemn mask was replaced momentarily with a flashing white-toothed smile punctuated by cavernous dimples. As quickly as the expression appeared it was gone, the muscles of his square jaw returning his face to the chiselled lines of seriousness.
    â€œHey, Mrs O.D.” His voice was barely audible under the din of surrounding chatter. “That play’s pretty good, eh?”
    â€œIt certainly is,” she said, then asked, “So when is your next game?”
    â€œSaturday, up in Prince George.”
    â€œWell, good luck.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Watching him retreat up the aisle Julie smiled. That was probably the longest conversation she’d ever had with Levi Johnny. Still, she liked this shy young man and was glad to see that he had stayed to watch Darla’s play. Levi had been part of her circle of friends ever since he moved into the high-school dorms years ago. His mother lived out on the NaNeetza Valley Reserve; the boy stayed in town for the school year. Hockey practice and games took up most of his free time. According to local rumours, and to Darla’s proud declarations, he was NHL material and being scouted by a number of universities. From the beginning Julie’s instincts told her that Levi was a good boy. She believed that he was the settling influence during Darla’s attempted rebellion, which she had thought was over—until early this month.
    Seeing Levi reminded Julie how deeply disappointed she still was with her daughter’s shocking deception. The boy had unknowingly played a part in it. And perhaps she had herself when she so blindly accepted Darla’s plans that Friday evening. It never occurred to Julie to question her daughter when she said that she was meeting her best friend, Kajul, at the arena to watch Levi’s hockey game and so would be home late. In fact Julie had driven her downtown and dropped her off in front of the arena doors. Only later, when she thought back, would she recognize that the parking lot of the sportsplex was not nearly full enough for a hometown game. She and Ian learned the truth watching the late-night news. The visiting team,
Levi’s team
, had defeated Cranbrook on their home ice that evening six to one, Levi scoring a hat trick. A hurried phone call to Kajul’s home made it worse. Darla wasn’t there. Kajul had not been out all night. Frantic, Julie and Ian drove around for hours checking every possible spot that teenagers were known to haunt. It was Ian who decided to drive down to the ‘Hollow.’
    The sandy patch of beach along the Fraser River was a local hangout,