Sophie Sea to Sea: A Sophie Alias Star Girl adventure

Sophie Sea to Sea Star Girl’s Cross-Canada Adventures

Sophie Sea to Sea Star Girl’s Cross-Canada Adventures

a nowel by Norma charles

Copyright © 1999 Norma Charles

First Edition

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage, retrieval and transmission systems now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

This book is published by Beach Holme Publishing, #226—2040 West 12th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V6J 2G2. This is a Sandcastle Book. Teacher’s guide available from Beach Holme Publishing, call toll-free 1-888-551-6655.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) and the assistance of the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council for our publishing activities and program.

Editor: Joy Gugeler

Cover Illustration: Shaheed Khan

Production and Cover Design: Teresa Bubela

Text Design: Jen Hamilton

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Charles, Norma M.

   Sophie sea to sea

   A Sandcastle Book.

   ISBN 0-88878-404-X

   I. Title.

PS8555.H4224S66 1999      jC813’.54      C99-910881-6

PZ7.C3782SO 1999

QUEBEC QUICK FACTS

Motto: Je Me Souviens (I remember)

Quebec means narrow passage in Algonquin.

Population: 7,357,200 (1999)

Size: 1,540,680 sq. km

Capital: Quebec City

Main Industries: farming, manufacturing, electric power, mining, forestry

Flower: White Garden Lily, chosen because it resembles France’s emblem, the fleur-de-lis

Bird: Snowy Owl

Tree: American Elm, used for making furniture

History:

Early First Nation settlers were Iroquois who grew corn around their villages along the St. Lawrence. In 1534, Jacques Cartier landed at Gaspé and claimed the land for France. He was followed by Champlain who built a colony of habitants (farmers). Soon French voyageurs travelled up the rivers and traded with the First Nation people for furs. Quebec City was captured by the British in 1759 during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Quebec then belonged to Britain, but it remained chiefly French speaking, although most businesses and government affairs were run by British, English-speaking merchants. Quebec was one of the four original provinces which formed Canada in 1867.

1

Wednesday after school, Sophie LaGrange saw it in the window of Tussaud’s Epicerie.

Look at that! she said, grabbing Marcie’s sleeve and pointing to the cluttered display.

A new Star Girl comic! squealed Marcie. "A special Star Girl Reviewl Look how thick it is!"

It’s thick, all right, Sophie said. "The Best of Star Girl’s Dazzling Adventures for 1948 plus two brand new issues free!" she read, her heart beating fast.

The cover featured Star Girl swinging from a rope toward two shifty-eyed crooks trying to sneak off with bulging packs of jewels. Star Girl, outstretched in an action pose, was wearing her red suit, a wide black belt with a bright yellow star buckle, a headband also emblazoned with a yellow star, and her swirling star-studded cape.

I’ve just got to have that comic for my Star Girl collection, said Sophie. But twenty cents! And I don’t get my allowance until Saturday.

Me either. But aren’t you leaving on Saturday?

The window fogged up with Sophie’s sigh and she couldn’t see the comic any more.

Not until Monday now, she muttered, trying to wipe the window with the elbow of her raincoat. We’ll be packing up Papa’s new car and the trailer on the weekend. We’ll leave first thing Monday morning.

Sophie nudged a rock with her toe. She wished Monday would never ever come. They’d be leaving Montreal for good, all her friends, their neighbours, everyone. Why did they have to move all the way across Canada to Maillardville? That was almost as far west as you could go and still be on land. Who wanted to live on the edge of the Pacific Ocean anyway?

I just thought of something! blurted Marcie. What if Roberta Smith sees it?

You’re right! She’s always boasting she has every single Star Girl comic. She’ll grab that one before Saturday if we don’t buy it first.

We could always make sure she doesn’t see it, Marcie said, with a gleam in her eye.

The bell over the door jangled as they rushed into the Epicerie.

"Bonjour, mesdamoiselles, said Madame Tussaud, putting down her newspaper. What can I do for you?"

Bonjour, Madame, said Sophie. Could we look at your comics please?

Are you going to actually buy one this time? asked Madame Tussaud, staring at them over her glasses.

Um, yes Madame. Sure we are, said Sophie.

Well, see that you don’t drip rain on them, said Madame Tussaud grumpily.

Marcie buried the special Star Girl Review under a stack of Little Lulus and Sophie helped her rearrange the comics into a neat display.

The bell over the door jangled again. While Madame Tussaud was busy talking to Madame Plante and her little boy, Sophie and Marcie slipped out of the store.

Let’s make sure no one can see it.

They stared into the front window again. The Star Girl Review was out of sight.

You’d need Star Girl X-ray vision to see it now, said Sophie.

Her brother Arthur came riding his bike up on the sidewalk, the badges on his Jughead hat shiny with rain. Hey, Sophie, he said, his tires splashing through the puddles. Martian’s waiting for you. It’s your turn to look after Zephram while she’s at work, remember?

I’m coming. I’m coming. Sophie took one last look at the pile of comics then turned to follow her brother home.

You know, I’ve never realized it before, but Arthur looks just like you! said Marcie.

Yeah, right. If I was six inches taller and wore thick glasses and a stupid Jughead hat all the time, maybe.

No, I mean it. You’ve got the same curly hair, same dark brown eyes, same round chin. And besides you’re both so skinny.…

I’m not that skinny, said Sophie, standing straight and tall. Anyway, I’ve got to get home. See you at school tomorrow. She pulled the hood of her hair which got frizzy when it got wet. Marcie turned down Saint Michel Road and Sophie walked straight up past Our Lady’s church.

She peeked between some boards in the fence around the vacant lot beside the church. Her secret hideout would have to wait; it was too wet today to check it out. Besides, she had to hurry home.

As she splashed through the puddles, she thought about what Marcie had said and decided she definitely was not anything like her brother. Arthur was twelve, two years older than Sophie, and he and her two other older brothers, Joseph and Henri, got to do all the interesting things she was never allowed to do—riding their bikes to school, playing street hockey or baseball in the alleys.… She knew it wasn’t just because they were older. It was because they were boys. Boys got to do more interesting things than girls, and that’s all there was to it. It just wasn’t fair. But if she had Star Girl’s powers.… Maybe if she got every single Star Girl comic and studied them for clues, she’d discover Star Girl’s secret.

It had been raining all day and there were puddles to splash in everywhere. Her winter boots leaked, so by the time she got to their apartment above Plouff’s Shoe Store, her socks were soaked right through.

She sloshed up the back stairs and burst into the apartment. It smelled of Maman’s delicious cabbage soup simmering on the stove.

Maman! I’ve got to have my allowance today, she announced as she entered the kitchen.

Her mother was packing her good dishes into a big cardboard box, wrapping each cup separately in newspaper. The kitchen light made her curly hair look like a fluffy blond cloud.

"But today’s only Wednesday, Chérie, she said, shaking her head at Sophie. You know you have to wait until Saturday for your allowance."

Oh, please, please, please, Maman! begged Sophie. I really, really need it. Just this one time.

It seems to me that every week, you say you really need your allowance early. You must learn to be patient, Sophie, and wait for things. It’s all part of growing up. How will you ever become a proper young lady.

Sophie knew her mother was going to say no. She always said no, but Sophie had to try anyway. She kicked off her boots and yanked off her wet socks.

There’s another postcard on the piano for you from your cousin, Danielle.

Finally!

The postcard showed a fishing boat plowing through high ocean waves. Danielle, who was a year older than Sophie, and her best friend besides Marcie, had moved to Newfoundland last September. Her mother had found a good job teaching French in the high school in St. John’s.

It’s so cold here there are real icebergs in the harbour although it’s supposed to be spring. Most of the time it’s so foggy we can’t even see them. I can’t believe you’re moving to the west coast! You’ll be so far away. Will I ever see you again?

Ton amie toujours, Danielle xxxx

Sophie