Dance For The Devil by S. Kodejs Page A

to solve a problem. Speaking of problems, I think I heard your sister come in.”
    “Yeah, sounds like her slam.”
    “I need to talk to her for a bit – alone. Could you ask Amy to come in here? Thanks, oh... and here, take the cookies with you.”
    “Sure, Dad.”
    “Thanks, Skeet, for the advice, you’ve been a big help.”
    Skeeter turned around and smiled broadly. “No problem. If it doesn’t work, then try punching him in the nose.” Jake smiled as he watched Skeeter stuff another cookie in his mouth.
    “Uh, Dad? Skeeter said you wanted to see me.”
    She had the grace to look bashful, Jake noticed. Definitely guilty-looking. Yet, undeniably pale. Maybe she really was sick.
    “How come you’re home this early? You’re never home this early.”
    Trust Amy to put the blame on him right off the bat. That’s his girl – come out shooting. He tapped his fingers against his desk, studying her. “Let’s talk about you. Where were you this afternoon?”
    “Ummm... I had cramps so I skipped gym class. I got permission from the teacher.”
    “I see. Anything else?”
    “No. Not really. I feel better now.”
    Several derisive quips sprung to mind, but he bit them down. “You also told your gym teacher you were coming home. Which you didn’t. Mind telling me where you spent your afternoon?”
    “Ummm. The library? I have a big geography report due on Friday, so I thought I’d get some work done.”
    “I see. Care to show me?”
    Her face fell. “No.”
    Jake uttered an explosive sigh. “Don’t lie to me, Amy. I’m not stupid, and I can easily phone the library to verify your story. We’ve established you weren’t at school, you weren’t at the library, and you obviously weren’t home, so where the hell were you?”
    She began to cry. “With some friends, okay?”
    “Who?”
    She remained tight-lipped, silent.
    He reached forward and grabbed her arm, intending to shake her, but stopped when he saw the flash of pain across her face. She pulled away, holding her hand protectively over her forearm. “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
    “No, it’s nothing.”
    “Let me see.”
    “No, I’m okay, really , Daddy.”
    He reached over quickly and grabbed her hand, pushing up her sleeve. “My God, Amy! What is this? Who did this to you?”
    “It’s nothing. We were just joking around. All the kids are doing it. It’s a fad right now.”
    He looked at her incredulously. “It’s a fad to carve your arm with a razor blade?”
    She nodded, her face blanching.
    “That’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard! It’s dangerous, Amy. Haven’t you heard of hepatitis or AIDS? You shouldn’t let people monkey around with your blood! Did you use a clean blade, at least? Christ, Amy! Tell me you used a clean blade.”
    She was sobbing freely now, tears falling with amazing speed. Jake was too incensed to care. He continued to grip her wrist firmly. “What is it? A star? No, a pentagram? My God, Amy, it’s a pentagram! That’s the symbol of the Devil. What kind of people are you hanging out with?”
    “I...w-w-want Mommm!”
    “Gee,” he said sarcastically. “How unusual. Every time you get in trouble, you start crying and asking for her. Well it’s not going to work this time, Amy. This time it’s just me and you, and this time I’m not caving in because I feel guilty about your Mom running off. She’s gone. She’s not coming back. It was her decision, not yours and not mine. The sooner we deal with it, the sooner we start being a family again. Okay?”
    No response, but then, he didn’t expect one. Jake took a deep breath, striving for calmness. “You’re grounded, Amy, for three weeks. One week for skipping school, another for lying about it, the third for carving that hideous thing into your arm. No leaving this house except for school and family events. No television, no video games, no telephone calls. Three weeks, got it?”
    She turned away haughtily, and Jake struggled to