by Bob Bannon
“Cool. Maybe you can give me some pointers,” Eric chuckled.
“Did she ask about my dad?” Jonah asked.
“She asked how he felt about you spending all of your time over here. I told him we asked when we were at your house and he said as long as it was okay with her. Then I told her we were going to sleep over at your place tomorrow. That’s when she lowered the boom and said that wasn’t going to happen for a while.”
“So she still doesn’t suspect that I’m a homeless bum?”
“No way,” Eric chuckled. “And you’re not a homeless bum anymore. You’re like…uh,” he searched for the words. “You’re like a tree-house bum now.”
“Thanks.” Jonah mumbled. “That’s better.”
“Speaking of,” Eric said as he got up and stuck his head out the door to make sure his mother was still downstairs. “You should hear what Devlin said.”
Eric closed the door part way in an effort to block some of their conversation if his mother should come up, but at least they’d see her if she did.
Eric told the whole story quietly, but in vivid detail. Jonah remembered seeing his hand turn red, but that was about it. Since his hand was red, he just assumed it was Devlin. He added that his hand did hurt when the changed started, but not nearly as much as his headaches; more like it had been pinched in a drawer. Eric passed along Devlin’s suggestion that he should practice more.
They spent a lot of time on the change itself. Eric thought it was totally gross, but left out the part that he was also scared to death while it was happening. Jonah threw too many questions at Eric before he could get most of the description of the change out. Yes, he looked like a pile of wet sand with something going on underneath it. No, it wasn’t a little ball of sand, which meant some part of Jonah was still making the sand, or maybe he was all sand and his body was just mimicking being human. Jonah didn’t like that option.
“We can find out,” Eric said.
“How do we do that?” Jonah asked.
Eric went over to his desk and moved a pile of papers and books out of the way and found his microscope box. He took the microscope out of the box and plugged it into the wall and then connected it to the computer with another cord. He reached back in the box and pulled out a glass slide with a slide cover and put both on the desk. The last thing he pulled out was a sewing needle.
“And what exactly do you think you’re going to do with that?” Jonah asked.
“Don’t be a baby, it’s a needle.” Eric retorted.
“Uh-uh. No way,” Jonah said. “Is that thing even clean?”
“I can wash it if you’re going to be a baby about it,” Eric said, heading for the door. Jonah followed him to the bathroom. “Besides, it’s kind of a cool experiment. I mean, you want to know, don’t you?”
“I guess,” Jonah said, half-heartedly.
Eric pumped a large amount of soap from the dispenser at the bathroom sink onto the needle and washed it almost too thoroughly, like he might be doing surgery with it later. “Satisfied?” he asked on the way back to the room. Jonah shrugged.
“Gimme your finger,” Eric said, once they were back at the microscope.
Jonah cautiously extended his index finger and then turned his head away as he scrunched up his face.
Eric giggled. “It’s not even going to hurt, dork.” And then he jabbed Jonah’s finger with the needle. There was a small prick, but that was it. It couldn’t possibly be described as pain.
Jonah looked back at his finger which now had a small bubble of blood at the tip.
Eric picked up the glass slide. “Pinch your finger a little bit.”
Jonah did and the small drop of blood fell onto the slide. Eric placed the slide cover over it and put it under the microscope. He sat down at the computer and opened up a program from his desktop. When it came up, there was already a picture there.
“See, those are my blood cells.” He said. They were perfectly round, red cells with small indentions in the center in a sea of red.
Eric stood up and looked through the microscope lens. He adjusted the dials and then readjusted them. Jonah had seen his father use the microscope in his lab, but he had never been allowed to touch it or look through it. Now Jonah wondered if he wasn’t allowed to look through it because he’d see that he was different.
Eric pushed a button on the side of the microscope and sat back down at the computer. “There,” he said.
An image started to form. It was blurry at first, but defined and redefined itself again and again, becoming clearer each time. At first it looked exactly like the pictures of Eric’s blood cells. There were definitely cells on a bed of red. But after a few minutes, it was clear that not all of them were like Eric’s.
Some looked perfectly normal, but the majority of what they saw had the same rounded cells, but the indentions in them had very thin strands crisscrossing the interior, making an intricate weave of different patterns. Other cells looked like they were in the process of becoming something in between. Some of the thin stands had broken and there was less of a pattern inside them.
They’d been staring at the picture, both of them silent. Neither one could tell how long it had been. Eric finally looked up at Jonah. “You okay?”
“Well, we already knew I was a freak. Now I guess I’m just officially a freak.” Jonah said, as he fell into a sitting position on the bed.
Just as soon as he did, Mrs. MacIntyre appeared in the doorway. So it appeared that Jonah bounced right back into a standing position, blocking the computer screen. Eric stood straight up as well, further blocking her view.
“What are you two doing?” She asked.
“Nothing,” Eric said. “Playing with the microscope.” He pointed at it.
“I’m going to make some popcorn and maybe watch a movie, if you guys would like to join.” She said.
“Chick flick,” Eric said under the guise of a sneeze in Jonah’s direction.
“What?” She asked, having fully heard him.
“Nothing.” Eric said quickly.
“You know, we can go for four days, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.”
Eric pulled his face into an overly-large smile and raised his eyebrows. “I simply said that I would love to join my favorite mother for popcorn and a movie because she’s one of my favorite people in the world.” He said through his smiling teeth. “Mean it, love you.” He added.
“Now that’s the baby boy I know and love.” She said right back to him.
He still had the same goofy smirk on his face as he crossed the room to the door. “Not a baby. Be down in five. Thank you. Love you, mother.” He said in rapid succession as he closed the door on her.
Jonah fell back on the bed again and breathed a sigh of relief.
Eric closed the program without saving the picture.
“That was close,” Jonah said.
“She wouldn’t even know what we were looking at,” Eric said.
“You can’t know that for sure. I mean, mom’s go to school too.”
“Yeah, but, like, a really long time ago.”
“Still, I don’t think we should chance that again.”
“Don’t worry,” Eric said. “I didn’t save the picture or anything.”
“You should have. Maybe you could sell it to the newspaper and make some money. Super alien freak headline.”
“Dude, you’re not an alien freak,” Eric said. “Okay, so you are kind of an alien,” he corrected himself as he turned off the microscope and unplugged it. “But you’re not the freaky kind. I mean, you don’t have two heads or anything.” He crossed back to the door and opened it.
“So what am I?” Jonah said quietly.
“I don’t know…space dork?” Eric said, with one foot out the door.
That seemed to snap Jonah back to reality. He slowly raised his head and looked at Eric who was grinning from ear to ear. He was off the bed and after him in a flash, but Eric was already on the stairs.
/> Jonah caught Eric at the last stair by the collar of his t-shirt, the forward momentum sent them flying into the door jamb of the entrance to the living room. Jonah grabbed Eric’s arm and twisted it behind his back, holding him against the wall.
“Mom, Jonah’s rough housing,” Eric called while trying not to laugh.
“Jonah, no rough housing,” Mrs. MacIntyre called from the kitchen.
Jonah immediately let go of Eric, stunned that he would put him in an even worse position in front of his mother. “Seriously?” He asked is a loud whisper.
“Relax, you’re fine,” Eric said, waving it off and heading into the kitchen.
Mrs. MacIntyre had separated the bag of microwave popcorn into three bowls and there was a can of soda next to each. She picked up her bowl and soda and started toward the family room.
“Thank you, mom!” “Eric said, in an overt attempt to be nice.
“Thanks, Missus MacIntyre,” Jonah followed suit.
“You’re welcome boys,” She said with a smile and went into the family room.
The boys picked up their bowls and sodas and followed her.
When his mother took the opportunity to choose a movie at night, Eric knew it was going to have people singing and dancing or girls falling all over themselves about boys. Sometimes it was both. It was a rare thing when Eric would sit through the whole thing and he’d find an excuse to go to his room about halfway through.
The ones he did like were old black and white movies about private detectives or spies. Fortunately, this was one of those times. It was about an American guy in London who gets framed for murder by enemy spies because they think he’s a spy; guys with hats, trench-coats and guns running around an old foggy town.
Mrs. MacIntyre had taken the over-stuffed chair by the window under the reading lamp. Eric dropped onto the identical chair and put his popcorn and soda on the end table that separated the two chairs. Jonah sat on the sofa along the wall and put his popcorn and soda on the long coffee table in front of it.
Almost half-way through, the popcorn was done, Mrs. MacIntyre was wrapped up in a blanket and Eric was still on the edge of his seat watching the movie. Jonah had slid into a prone position on the couch and was having trouble keeping his eyes open. He was always way too comfortable here. He hadn’t realized he had drifted off to sleep until Eric kicked the sofa twice.
“Dude, time to go upstairs,” he said.
The television was already off and at some point Mrs. MacIntyre had put her blanket over him. He could hear her in the kitchen, probably washing the bowls from the popcorn.
Jonah stood up and folded the blanket and put it on the sofa.
“You really passed out,” Eric said. “Mom was going to leave you there, but I think you should hear what Devlin said today.”
The three of them met in the foyer on the way upstairs. Mrs. MacIntyre said good night, kissed Eric on the head and closed her door.
When the boys went into Eric’s room, Eric opened the closet door and started rummaging. He brought out the sweats that Jonah was becoming all too familiar sleeping in. Jonah was still half asleep when he turned and went to change in the guest bathroom.
When he came back, Eric was changed and sitting on his bed and had rolled out the sleeping bag at the foot of the bed.
“Get the door,” Eric said. And Jonah closed it behind him.
Eric slapped the light switch that was near his bed and the overhead lamp went dark. The only illumination in the room was a small reading lamp on the end-table next to the bed. Jonah got into the sleeping bag and sat up, leaning against the baseboard of the bed.
Eric began the story where he left off before the boys got sidetracked with the blood test. He told Jonah that it looked like he was just going to change gradually, like the red skin was just going to continue across his body, but then the transformation stopped and he melted like a snowman. Eric offered the idea that Jonah should use the video camera and record himself changing so he could see it for himself.
He left out the parts where he was scared senseless, but he included everything after that. He told Jonah that the others knew about each other and knew kind of what Jonah was thinking and feeling most of the time. He listed off all the facts he could get from Devlin, including the fact that he was a wisecracker. He also noted how interesting it was that they all knew their names like they had them forever, even though Eric and Jonah had just named them minutes before.
“I felt that though,” Jonah said.
“Felt what?” Eric asked.
“I kind of felt like each time we picked a name, that it kind of fit. Like it was the right name,” Jonah said. “Does that make sense?”
“I don’t know,” Eric replied. “I guess if they know what you’re up to there’s gotta be some small way you can know them. It kind of makes sense.”
Jonah’s eyes were heavy with sleep. He wouldn’t stay awake much longer, even though his mind was spinning with more things to talk about.
“Good night, Hell Kat,” Eric said, as he threw a pillow at Jonah’s head and buried then himself in blankets.
“’Night, Danger Man,” Jonah replied, and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Jonah woke up early. He stretched in the sleeping bag and sat up. Eric’s alarm clock said that it was seven in the morning. The sun was just coming up. Jonah knew Eric wouldn’t wake up until eight. He stretched again and wondered if he should go back to sleep, but knew he was wide awake. But then he thought maybe he should bail before Mrs. MacIntyre woke up.
He slid out of the sleeping bag and went and changed in the guest bathroom. When he came back, he gently put his pillow on Eric’s bed and tried quietly to roll the sleeping bag up. Then it occurred to him that he wouldn’t be able to walk all the way back to the tree-house. Besides taking hours, it was also too cold outside to think about.
“Hey Eric,” Jonah said, just above a whisper. “Eric?” He shook Eric’s leg, to no response. “Eric?” He said, just a little louder. Then he picked up his pillow and threw it at Eric’s head.
“What?” Came the muffled response from under the pillow. Eric hadn’t moved.
“Can I borrow your bike?” Jonah asked.
“Take my mom’s,” Eric said from under the pillow.
“Thanks,” Jonah said. “See you in a couple of days?”
Eric rolled just enough so he could raise his arm and give a thumbs up and then dropped it back down.
Jonah walked softly out of the room and closed the door, then walked just as softly down the stairs and to the front door. He opened it as quietly as he could and walked outside.
There was an icy cold breeze this morning and the dew on the lawn had frozen over. Jonah hiked up the hood of his coat and zipped the coat as far as it could go. He kept his head down until he got to the bike. Fortunately, it seemed the breeze was blowing down the hill, which kept his hood from blowing down while he rode and kept the wind off his face.
He took a far more leisurely pace than they did last night. He drove down the hill and took a left towards Main Street. It was still quiet while the sun was coming up, but there were a few cars going to and fro. He was riding down the sidewalk, which was still empty at this hour, when he had to come to a stop when the door of Red’s Diner swung open.
Emma Wong was just coming out of the diner holding a steaming cup. She was dressed in her fur-lined coat with the hood up. She had on black jeans and the fur-lined boots that matched her coat. She was followed by a tall Chinese man with black hair dressed in a gray overcoat over a white shirt with a red tie and black slacks. He was holding a large Styrofoam cup as well. Jonah assumed this was Emma’s father.
“Jonah?” Emma asked.
“Hi, Emma,” he replied.
“You’re out early.”
“I was at Eric’s last night.” He said, with a point towards the hill. “Headed for school?”
“Yeah,” She answered. “I’m on the decorating committee for the dance. We h
ave meetings every day before school, so my dad drives me on his way to work. Oh, dad, this is Jonah.”
“So you’re Jonah, huh?” Doctor Wong asked. “You’re the Jonah who’s taking Emma to the dance at the end of the week?” He extended his hand.
Oh crap, Jonah thought. The dance is this week. He’d completely forgotten about it.
“Yes, sir,” Jonah said, a little unsteady. “Nice to meet you sir.”
“Thank you, Jonah.” Doctor Wong said. “You know, you’re not supposed to ride on the sidewalk, don’t you?”
“I, um…” Jonah stumbled. “Just dodging traffic,” Jonah said, even though there weren’t that many cars on the road.
“Don’t worry, Jonah. I won’t turn you in… This time.” Doctor Wong said conspiratorially. “I don’t believe I know your family, Jonah. Emma’s told me you’re not in school?”
“Dad, I told you Jonah goes to school at home,” Emma said, as if the question thoroughly embarrassed her.
“Ah, that’s right,” Doctor Wong said. “And what’s your last name Jonah?”
“Havensby, sir.” Jonah answered.
Doctor Wong looked as though he was scanning an internal rolodex. “I don’t remember your family ever coming into the clinic,” he said.
“My father works at the college. I see a doctor over there,” Jonah said. The lies about Colton were certainly piling up, Jonah hoped he’d be able to keep track.
“Oh, I’m over at the hospital a lot actually. Who do you see over there?” Doctor Wong asked.
“Um…” Jonah had no answer and didn’t think it was a good idea to make one up.
“Enough networking, dad. I’m going to be late.” Emma chimed in as she walked towards the car.
Doctor Wong looked at his watch. “Oh,” he said. “So am I.” And he followed her.
Doctor Wong walked to his car and put his coffee on the roof as he searched his pockets for the keys. “Jonah, you should have your parents give me a call at the clinic. We can always use more chaperones for the dance.” He said as he pushed the button on the key chain to open the car doors.
“I’ll try,” Jonah said.
“Dad, he doesn’t even go to my school, his parents aren’t going to chaperone a dance there,” Emma said from the passenger’s side and rolled her eyes as she opened the door. “Bye, Jonah,” She said with a captivating smile.