by Heidi Peaster

Created on: June 09, 2010

Excerpt from the novel, “Windfall”.  Foreword: Sky’s father has been killed in World War II and she has found secret solace in two invisible comrades.  Now, at their urging, she is going on an adventure; hiding from her mother, grandmother and her uncle, Dakota, who are searching for her.

1946, Dooley, GA.

Sky knew that if she was going to do this, she had to do it now.  She had heard them all over the floors below, her grandma and Ginny and then even Comfort and Uncle Coda, all banging doors and calling her.  She knew she could stay quiet in the secret room and wait it out, but she was too eager to fly.

May-may wouldn’t tell her just what to do or to say, she said the little one would tell her at the proper time.  When they were out there.  When they were on the roof.  You have to do these things in order, May-may insisted.  And not rush.  Don’t rush when you’re out there, or it won’t work.  It won’t work and you’ll drop like a stone.  You ought to wait till they’re done searching.

“They’re about done,” Sky said very quietly so no one else would hear.  “I don’t hear them in the west wing any more.  I’m going now.”

Let’s go, the little one said, bouncing.

The little one climbed up the ladder first.  She was eager to go, just like Sky.  The sky-light stuck a little, the sun was grainy and foggy through the glass, but with May-may helping, Sky got it open.  Then the sunshine was clearly bright and the wind flowed down and over them through the open place and May-may went quickly back to do her writing.

The little one was already out on the slate shingles.  She stuck her head in to say Come on.  It’s so fun.  And the wind lifted her fair, long hair hovering.

“Where the everliving hell can she be?” Dakota said as the others gathered out on the back yard.  “Comfort, you sure you checked the barns good?”

“Dell’s doin’ it agin,” Comfort said, taking off his hat and wiping his head.

They’d been searching for nearly an hour.  Cathy clutched Tallie, so white-faced, Talie was afraid she would faint.  Schuyler looked not much better.

“She can’t be far,” Schuyler was saying.  “She was up in her room just now.”

Dakota felt an unpleasant thudding in his ears. 

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