Part 2 (2/2)
”Is there anyone else you want to talk to? It's all right.”
”No.”
”I just want to help.”
”I'm not mad at you,” he said, gently.
”I know.”
”I just got scared.”
”I know you did. But it's over.”
”No it's not,” Matt said. ”It's just starting.”
She tried to crack a grin, hoping that somewhere behind his eyes he was teasing her a little. ”What is?”
”Julie,” he said, seeming wise beyond his years with a voice that was utterly serious. ”It's a test. She told me. In my dream. Her name is Gina. They gave it to her. That's all it is. But you only get three days to pa.s.s.”
Chapter Three.
1.
After picking Livy up over at Laura Reynen's, Julie drove them both home, listening to Livy describe her afternoon with the babysitter and her family. Now and then Julie glanced over at Matt, but he'd already gotten his camcorder out and was taping the blur of woods and strip malls and suburban houses.
As she turned the corner onto their street, which would take them first up and then down a hill to the house, Livy began singing a funny song about ”After you gone, and left me cryin'. After you gone there's no denyin'.”
Matt howled with laughter and told his little sister she was certifiable. ”You made that stupid song up.”
”That's an old song,” Julie said. ”Gramma might even be too old for it. Was Laura playing it on the piano?”
Livy shook her head. ”I heard it in my brain radio,” she said. Then, she continued singing, ”You feel blue, you feel sad, you miss the bestest pal you ever had.”
”It's called After You're Gone, After You're Gone,” Julie said. ”I bet your father taught it to you.”
2.
By eleven that night, he still hadn't called, and she didn't want to call him because sometimes he went into a tirade when she did it. And she didn't need that-not tonight.
Sometimes he had to stay in the city late. It wasn't that unusual, but she expected at least a call or a message.
Julie tried paging him, but got no response. She thought she heard him come in, and went down to the front door, opened it. Just a car turning around in the driveway. It seemed misty outside-not quite rain. She stood on the front porch, feeling the chill and enjoying it a bit.
She heard some noises from downstairs, and went to the finished bas.e.m.e.nt.
Matt, watching television.
”Matt? It's a school night. Let's. .h.i.t the sack.”
He ignored her.
”What are you watching?”
”Some guy,” Matt finally said.
On the TV, it was Jerry Springer. A man with a ponytail who looked a little too old for a ponytail shouted at another man, who was fat, had his s.h.i.+rt off, and was covered with tattoos of naked women. A middle-aged woman with short blond-red hair wiped tears from her eyes. The audience screamed.
”Let's turn it off, okay?”
”I can't sleep,” Matt said.
She watched the back of his head. ”All right. But get to bed soon. Okay?”
No response.
”Matt?”
”Okay,” he said.
”Don't forget. You promised you'd walk Livy to the bus stop tomorrow.”
”I do it every Thursday, don't I?” Then, he turned around to look at her. In his hand, his camcorder. ”Smile for the camera, Julie.”
”Aw, you're catching me at my best,” she laughed. ”Are you videoing the Springer show?”
”Nope. Just doc.u.menting my life,” he said.
”To bed,” she said. ”Another half-hour, okay?”
”Watch the birdie,” he said, following her movements with the camera as she left the room and went back upstairs.
<script>