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you said that like it’s the only store in town,” Jeannie said. “Where else do people shop?”
    â€œWell, Jeannie, the Northern Store’s pretty much it for groceries and clothing of any variety. Quite a few people drive over to Whitehorse from time to time to get stuff you can’t pick up here, but the Northern Store has pretty much all the necessities.”
    Mike’s mother sat back to ponder this information.
    â€œOne main store,” she murmured. “My, my, my.”
    Ben half turned and smiled at his wife. “Look on the bright side, Jeannie. We live less than a minute from the store. We can skip over, shop for what we need, and be home in a flash. Pretty great, eh?”
    Jeannie shook her head. “You’re such a man !”
    Fitz chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. I bet every husband and wife who moves here have had this conversation. It just makes trips to Yellowknife, Edmonton, and Whitehorse all the more special. Quite a few of the wives do a tonne of mail order, too. Get out those catalogues.”
    Ben groaned. “I don’t think you’re helping, Fitz.”
    Mike’s head fell back heavier into the corner of the window and seat, his mind fogging over with sleep. His face felt warmer and warmer. He was barely aware of the droning voices around him, and the movement of the vehicle lulled him deeper into slumber.
    The next thing he knew he was blinking. Not sure of his surroundings, he opened his eyes wide. His mother had her hand on his shoulder and was pointing out the window on his side of the Explorer.
    â€œLook, Mike, our new house,” she said.
    He shifted his gaze out the window and followed the direction of her finger.
    â€œIt’s so cute,” she added.
    It might have been cute, but it was small. It looked like an A-frame and had a very steeply pitched roof.
    â€œThey’re not big, but they’re cozy,” Fitz said. “Great location and close to work and to Mike’s school. Pretty much close to everything in town.”
    â€œWe were close to everything even when we were at the airport,” Mike said groggily.
    â€œWell, it’s home, Mike,” Ben said. “When you were taking your nap, Fitz had some exciting news, too. The moving truck actually got here yesterday. Our stuff’s inside the house. We’ll stay at the hotel tonight, but we can move in tomorrow. Everything will seem a little better when you get into your own bedroom and unpack your own things.”
    â€œMy bedroom’s in St. Albert,” Mike muttered, turning back to the window.
    He slid down in the seat and closed his eyes. What would the kids be like in Inuvik? He was good-natured and made friends easily. His mother was of South African descent, and the mixture of features she had passed on to him often made it difficult for people to place him. With his large, expressive, dark brown eyes, caramel skin, and loosely curled black hair, he usually fitted in no matter where he went. People guessed he was everything from Dene and East Asian to East Indian and African Canadian.
    Although short for his age at fourteen, he was built like a muscular bowling ball: wide shoulders, thick chest, and massive legs and butt. Whether it was for hockey, lacrosse, or any other contact sport, he always surprised his opposition. If they hadn’t played against him before and saw him in equipment for the first time, they had no idea that he likely outweighed them by a good ten kilograms and was one of the fastest, most competitive players they would face.
    But what if none of that mattered to anyone in Inuvik? What would he do?

CHAPTER 5
    F itz was wrong. Inuvik didn’t look that much different the next day. After an early breakfast at the hotel, Fitz had picked them up and taken them to the house. Mike recognized Mackenzie Road from the previous night: hospital, stop at the light, post office, turn left, police station, house. The