Free Diary of a Teenage Taxidermist by K. A. Merikan

the door, and two pairs of steps. Ethan’s parents’ voices resounded in the empty living room.
    “Hey, sweetie! Sorry we’re late, but we did bring dinner,” Ethan’s mom said. Rob got a glimpse of ginger as she passed the entrance to the kitchen, but then she immediately came back. “Robert! It’s so good to see you.”
    He raised his hand with a smile. “I thought I’d come by to see how Ethan’s adjusting. We don’t share many classes.”
    “Would you like to stay for dinner? We have lots of Chinese.” She smiled at him and gestured at Ethan, who instantly slid down from the counter. “Terry! Robert’s come round for dinner!” she yelled out into the corridor.
    “Ethan’s friend?” answered Ethan’s dad, still fumbling with something by the door.
    Ethan’s mom nodded at him and walked into the kitchen with hands full of packaged food. Robert felt his mouth water. As good as the sandwiches were, they were no proper dinner.
    “If it’s no trouble. We kinda stopped paying attention to time.”
    Ethan’s smile grew, and he started getting out the dishes, which made Rob’s blood pump a bit faster. He could already imagine all of them falling to the floor when Ethan miscalculated where the end of the table was.
    “Not at all,” Ethan’s mom said. “I can never give you enough dinners for what you’ve done.”
    Robert got to his feet and walked over to Ethan, ready to give him a hand. Every time he heard Ethan’s parents expressing their gratitude, he felt like the scum of the earth. He didn’t want them to know, yet on the other hand felt they deserved the truth. It was so fucked up. “It wasn’t anything special,” he muttered.
    “Someone else would have yanked out that branch, but you really knew what to do.” Ethan’s Mother walked up to Robert and gave him a hug, covering him in the sweet aroma of her perfume.
    “I wouldn’t have been there in the first place if you didn’t force me to socialize,” muttered Ethan, taking the plates to the living room.
    “Ethan, behave,” hissed his mother, untangling herself from Rob.
    Robert bit his lip and took another sip of coffee. “That’s just because my mom’s a doctor.” He peeked at Ethan, wondering if the guy was okay with him staying, but there was no answer.
    “That was so fortunate. It’s nice of you to still visit after Ethan’s been out of the hospital.” Ethan’s mother took the cutlery and the bags with food, and walked out into the living room. She was always so proper looking in an elegant suit straight from work, and her bone structure made her instantly recognizable as Ethan’s mother.
    “We’re friends,” uttered Rob.
    “Ethan could use a friend who is actually alive.” Ethan’s dad laughed and took off his suit jacket before sitting down at the big table.
    “Daaad…” Ethan moaned and rubbed his cheek under the eye patch.
    “Is that about your taxidermy thing?” Rob asked, turning his head to Ethan. It was a bit freaky, but it wasn’t like Ethan wanted to stuff him .
    Ethan’s mother filled everyone's plates with the efficiency of an army general as they talked. “Have you seen his little den of dread?” She laughed and poked Ethan with her elbow. He didn’t seem impressed.
    “Yes, it’s the taxidermy thing,” Ethan said, slouching over his plate. “I didn’t think Robert would be all that interested. It’s a bit morbid.”
    “A bit?” His father shook his head.
    Robert hardly kept a smile at bay. “A ‘den of dread’? That sounds promising.”
    Ethan’s dad shrugged and parted his disposable chopsticks. “It’s a harmless hobby.”
    Ethan’s mom nodded. “I even asked Ethan to make a rat ballerina for me, but he refuses. Maybe I’ll get one for Christmas.”
    “I don’t do ballerinas.” Ethan pinched the top of his nose.
    “It can have a black tutu, sweetie.”
    Ethan just chewed on his food, but Robert would not be discouraged. It sounded weird enough to be interesting.
    “A