INFECtIOUS by Elizabeth Forkey Page A

that out for yourselves."

 
    What an idiot.
How can they all miss it when it's staring them in the face. Literally, every time they look in a mirror! I'm about to start debating and
ask what he thinks the disappearances were when Aunty noisily pushes her chair
back and stands up from her seat.

 
    Finally! She's
going to let this jerk have it. Lay it on him good.

 
    To my deep
disappointment she smiles and says, "Dessert?"

Chapter Ten
    The Undead Ate My
Pudding

 
 
    Aunty serves
homemade chocolate pudding that she must have made for him as soon as we got
home because there are three glass bowls full in the refrigerator. It's the
last straw for me. My hand comes down in a hard slap of frustration on the
table. He smirks almost triumphantly. Was it his goal to make me angry? Oh I
can't stand him. He just sits calmly, his arms crossed, leveling his cold,
green stare at me.

 
    When she puts a
bowl of pudding in front of me, I stand up quickly—avoiding her eyes. "I'm
full. Thanks anyway."  

 
    I stomp out of
the kitchen and head for my room. I'll just go to bed. It's early, but the
sooner I go to sleep the sooner he'll be gone. The meeting with the Elders is
in the morning, then someone will oversee Thomas's
reunion with his brother in the afternoon. When he sees that Thomas is one of
the Living, he'll be on his way back to wherever he came from. By tomorrow at
dinner time, life will be back to what I call normal. It can't come soon enough.

 
    I should've
helped with the clean-up and I feel guilty for the umpteenth time today. I hope
Aunty is right and we aren't in danger with this kid in our house. She seems to
feel safe about him for some reason and is already trying to save him. Which irritates me instead of inspiring me. I hate feeling
like they are out there talking without me. And worse,
probably about me. Aunty is probably apologizing to a zombie for my bad
manners and explaining what a hard day I've had and what a great girl I am. Next
thing I know she'll be trying to set me up with him. Look out Tim Markowitz.

 
    Oh my gosh , I hate my life. I am trapped in this house in this
town with gross boys and no future. There is one boy I like who is super good
looking and totally wonderful. If you look in my Bible, you'll find his name
doodled on scraps of paper tucked between the precious fragile pages of Truth. and yes—I'll admit it—I've doodled my name with his last
name a few hundred times. Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Crest. Mrs. Ivy Crest. It just sounds right doesn't it? We would be so perfect
together, but he is oblivious of my existence—even though I'm one of only 13
girls in town in his age group. He probably wants a blond. More reasons to be
depressed.  

 
    With my bedroom
door locked, I try on my comfy new yoga pants. Sitting on the side of my bed, I
reach for my coat hanging next to the door. The picture from the zombie is
still in my pocket. I pull it out with shaky hands to stare at it again. What
could it mean? How was it taken without me knowing? As I think over all the
kind people in our community, I can't think of a single soul who would betray
me. Their faith and love is obvious and they all feel like family to me, even
the ones I don't know as well. This picture is going to drive me crazy with it's unsolvable mysteries. I stuff
it back in the pocket of my coat.

 
    I'm ready for
this awful day to be over. I climb under my chilly covers and pull the old pink
comforter over my head. But sleep won't come. I am assaulted with so many
different worries that the barrage leaves me breathless. Fears
about what could've happened today, hatred for Matt and his kind, guilt for
both of those feelings. Thoughts of Matt lead to thoughts of Thomas.
He's such a good kid. Will he be leaving us tomorrow with his brother? I have
given up on the hope that Matt isn't Thomas's brother. Even though he's awful,
somehow you can tell he cares for Thomas.

 
    Thomas is easy
to love and I'd be