By: MS Marilou Villeneuve-Last
In a few hours, Mom will be leaving us for a long time. She told me she’ll be back just before my birthday. School hasn’t started yet, and my birthday is during the Christmas holidays. That’s too long. It scares me that she’s leaving like that and going so far away. I don’t understand why. She told me it’s her work.
This is not the first time I’ve been left alone with my dad because my mom had to go away somewhere. Sometimes it’s for courses. Other times, it’s what they call exercises. I’m not sure what that means, exercises. Are they math exercises? Or maybe people run all day and play ball, like in my phys ed class? It’s a mystery. But every time she leaves, she comes back with her suitcases full of surprises.
This is the first time she’ll be leaving for such a long time. I look at the luggage she’s taking with her, and there’s a lot of it. There are big suitcases, bags, boxes on wheels. She gives me lots of hugs and kisses. I can tell that she’s sad about leaving too. A big van stops out front. Mom puts her luggage in it. All of that is really hard for me. She gives me one last big hug. I hug her really hard and I breathe in her smell. She gets into the van and I watch her leave. I feel sad.
During the day, Dad receives messages and even photos. Mom sent me photos taken from the plane in the air, way up above the clouds. It’s pretty. Dad makes dinner. I’m not that hungry. And soon, it’s time for bed. I miss Mom already.
Today was the first day of school. Mom called us this morning. She calls us often. When she calls us, it’s morning where she is. But for me, it’s the evening. That’s weird. It seems as if Mom found herself in the future. She explained to us that it’s because of something called a time zone. I didn’t really understand that, but when she calls us, she’s still in bed and I’m eating my dinner. I don’t know what to say to her when I’m in front of the screen, but it feels good to see her face and hear her voice. The days when she doesn’t call, she sends messages to Dad, but it’s not the same.
Dad takes a lot of photos of the two of us to send to Mom. She tells us that it makes her feel good and that she misses us. Mom often asks me how my day was, whether I made friends, do I play with my best friend a lot, and she tells me about the animals she’s seen or what her day was like. I do a lot of drawings for her. Dad does his best with the housework and homework. We have a routine now. I don’t miss Mom as much. Dad and I do activities together and I see my friends.
…
Soon it will be Hallowe’en. Dad found a costume for me. We’re also going to participate in the activities on the base. I would have liked it if Mom was there, because she often goes with me and we have a lot of fun. I hope to get lots of candy and send her a picture of it. Mom told me she’d bring back some candy from where she is.
It’s November now. Soon it will be Remembrance Day. I’m wearing a poppy, but this year I’m thinking about Mom. I understand a bit more about what the word “sacrifice” means. I think about the people who have fought for our country. And I realize that my mom is protecting Canada. That makes me very proud. She sends me lots of photos of the places she visits and the friends she’s made. I travel by looking at her photos, and I imagine being where she is.
December is here and I’m counting the days. Mom will be back soon. Dad is waiting until Mom is here before decorating the house, because he says he’s not very good at decorating. At school we’re doing a lot of projects for Christmas. Mom talks to me about the places we’re going to go when she’s back. She told me that we’ll go to my favourite arcade and eat at my favourite restaurant. I’m counting the days.
Finally! Mom arrived back in Canada this morning. I’m not sure if I’m going to see her before I go to bed tonight. Mom told me she was going to arrive very late because of the plane. I go to school feeling impatient. It’s going to be a long day.
It’s strange, I was the first to leave the school. I’m waiting for someone to call me. SURPRISE!!! Mom is waiting for me in the schoolyard. I’m not sure right away, because I don’t believe it. And then I feel my legs take off and I’m running toward her. Mom takes me in her arms and covers me with kisses. I laugh like crazy. At last, we’re together again!
