Sharon Jennings - Unravel

Copyright 2021 Sharon Jennings

Published in Canada by Red Deer Press, 195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8

Published in the United States by Red Deer Press, 311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews and articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Red Deer Press,

195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8

Red Deer Press acknowledges with thanks the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for their support of our publishing program. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Unravel / Sharon Jennings.

Names: Jennings, Sharon, 1954- author.

Identifiers: Canadiana 20200362119 | ISBN 9780889956193 (softcover) | ISBN 9780889956575 (ePUB) | ISBN 9780889956568 (PDF)

Classification: LCC PS8569.E563 U57 2021 | DDC jC813/.54dc23

Publisher Cataloging-in-Publication Data (U.S.)

Names: Jennings, Sharon, 1954-, author.

Title: Unravel / Sharon Jennings.

Description: Markham, Ontario : Red Deer Press, 2021. | Summary: As Rebecca is about to turn twelve years old, she begins to realize that Joe, her father, seems to want to turn her away from anyone who might intrude on their two lives. Life changes for Rebecca the day that she spots a new neighbor, Phoebe, a woman who has an aura of elegance about her and who also takes an immediate interest in the girl. As Rebecca gets to know Phoebe better, she also is able to look at Joe with different eyes and she realizes that her father is not at all who he has presented himself to be -- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: ISBN 978-0-88995-619-3 (paperback) | ISBN 9780889956575 (ePUB) | ISBN 9780889956568 (PDF)

Subjects: LCSH: Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction. | Emotional maturity -- Juvenile fiction. | Intergenerational relations -- Juvenile fiction. | BISAC: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / General.

Classification: LCC PZ7.J466Unr | DDC 813.6 dc23

Edited for the Press by Peter Carver

Text and cover design by Tanya Montini

Printed in Canada by Houghton Boston

www.reddeerpress.com

To Allison Blum,

who is always eager to be my first reader.

And to my late mother-in-law, Maria DiLena,

the inspiration for Mrs. Martino.

There were plenty of signs my life didnt make sense, and I guess adults should have paid more attention. They noticed when I had dirty fingernails or egg yolk on my sweatshirt, and they always asked why I wasnt in school. Joe said to tell any nosy parker I was homeschooled. If they asked too often, well... Joe said it was time to move.

I am writing this because Phoebe said I should. Phoebe is a partial recluse and my friend. A recluse, in case you dont know, is someone who doesnt want to be bothered with the world and people asking questions, and so goes into seclusion (which is a sort of hiding). I think it usually only applies to someone famous. Phoebe didnt want to be alone all the time, but she said she liked to keep a low profile. Phoebes full name is Phoebe St. Claire and she has a movie star name, which, cross my heart, Ive vowed never to reveal.

Phoebe said writing about what happened to me would help. She even said it would be fun! And itll show all the silly people that youre not messed up. Phoebe said that because my first therapist said I was damaged, like I was a car in an accident.

The White King in Alice in Wonderland said if you want to write a good story, you begin at the beginning, go on to the end, and then stop. This poses a predicament. I didnt know my beginning for a long time. So Im going to begin with the day, the awful day, that was really the beginning of the end.

He took me to a book festival for my twelfth birthday. September 26th, 2004. We used to go to lots of book things for adults, like readings and author signings in stores. This one was outside at a pioneer village, with folding chairs set out in groups, all along the Main Street, so people could sit and hear famous writers read their work. And this time it was mostly authors who wrote for kids.

We sat at the back at each reading. I wanted to move up close because sometimes the writers didnt have microphones.

If I cant hear them, whats the point?

Sitting at the back is fine.

But...

I said... Joe didnt finish his sentence. Just expected me to agree, as I almost always did. I folded my arms across my chest and slumped in my seat.

Before the reading began, someone said something like this. Hey, folks. Lets make like pioneers and turn off our cell phones. They also said a newspaper photographer was hanging about, and I wanted to ask if the pioneers minded cameras, but I knew it would be rude.

I hoped the photographer would take my picture. If it got in the paper, maybe all the people Ive met would see it and remember me. And I did want to be famous one day. Maybe this would be the start.

I listened to the authors and watched for the photographer. At one reading, he was moving toward the back rows, snapping constantly, and then Joe said he saw a better seat and hustled me so far away, we were practically sitting in the back row of another reading, listening to another author!

Near the end of the day, he wanted to hear an adult book author. I did NOT want to listen to an adult writer. Joe had read lots of adult books to me ever since I could remember. He let me interrupt him and ask questions when I didnt know a word or when I could not figure out what on earth the author was talking about. Once he read a play called Waiting for Godot . Its got only four characters in it, and Joe did all the voices so Id know who was talking. Im glad he did because the play is hard to understand. He said its about how bleak and dreary life is for some people.

Well, of course life is bleak and dreary! I pointed out. These two tramps just wait around on an empty road for some guy to show up. And he doesnt. Show up, I mean.

After that he read another play called Death of a Salesman , and I became heartily sick of adults being bleak and dreary. Then came The Importance of Being Earnest , which sounded like another serious problem, but it turned out to be very silly.

Anyway, I absolutely refused to listen to this adult author and began my campaign. Jean Littles over there. You know I love her books. There is no logical reason why you cant stay here and I go listen to her.