Free Uncle Vampire by Cynthia D. Grant Page A

they’re people you don’t like. It’s odd.
    No one bugs us because we’re so popular. We’re pretty and smart. We’ve got a nice big house, a wonderful family, and our father drives a shiny new car. We’re invited to parties, we sing in the choir, and Honey cheers our teams on to victory.
    She’s still cheering. I’m out of the play. My grades were too bad. “You’ve got to cut back,” the school counselor said. “You’re not taking care of business. What’s the problem, Carolyn?”
    There is no problem. I didn’t mind getting kicked out of the play. The world is a stage. I’m always performing.
    Scene: In the fast-food place across from the high school. A large group of attractive teens has commandeered the tables at the back of the restaurant. The boys are big, and most wear jackets that indicate they’re jocks. Several of the girls wear cheerleading outfits: blue-and-gold sweaters and short swirly skirts that brush their thighs.
    Everyone is talking and laughing loudly. Honey is particularly animated because Bradley Curtis has given her a ring that she wears on a chain around her throat. It’s his class ring, studded with a big red stone. It’s getting all tangled up with her gold cross.
    I guess that means they’re going together. Whatever that means. He likes her a lot. She’s sitting on his lap and ruffling his hair, talking about him as if they were married. She’d like that. Curtis Bradley is solid and strong. His family always makes her feel welcome. She’s happy at his house; she never wants to come home.
    I miss her, but I don’t blame her.
    I lean across the table to say something to Nancy, but it feels like I’m watching myself in a play. Maybe those are the stage directions: I lean across the table to say something to Nancy . We’re making too much noise and the jukebox is playing and Nancy cups her ear and shouts: “What?”
    The music is so loud I can feel it in my heart, the bass thumping boom boom boom . It’s too noisy to talk. I say, “Ya ya ya ya ya!” Nancy laughs and says, “You’re crazy!”
    The door swings open; Annie Brown comes in with Janis Simms, the official school fat girl. They flinch when they see us and veer toward a table in the opposite direction. They’re afraid that the boys will make jokes about them. Glen Bond makes a typically unwitty remark, and we all feel obliged to snicker.
    Honey says, “Shut up,” and gets off Bradley’s lap and crosses the room to Annie and Janis.
    She makes small talk with them. Soon, they’re laughing. Curtis watches her as if she’s grown golden wings to match her hair. If only he and Honey could fly away and start a new life together. She would never run away. Mama and Papa would be so hurt. She wants to please people, kissing their hands, rolling onto her back like a puppy. Don’t kick me.
    Honey leaves the girls smiling and comes back to our table.
    â€œYou’re so nice,” Curtis tells her sincerely.
    â€œShe’s a saint,” I say.
    Honey rolls her eyes and everybody laughs.
    Scene: In the counselor’s office. I stare intently at the freckles on Ms. Johnson’s face. If you connected all the dots, what would they say?
    â€œâ€¦ talked to you about this before.” She’s shuffling papers on her cluttered desk. I highlight the word clutter in my mind. It sounds like the object it describes. What’s the word? Onomono something.
    â€œâ€¦ hasn’t had much effect. Carolyn, I need your cooperation. I can’t do it by myself.”
    She’s been talking for some time, I’m not sure how long. I forgot to pay attention. Like when you ride in a car and look out the window but your mind is somewhere else. So when you get where you’re going, you can’t remember the trip. Where does your mind go when it’s not in your