Uncle Vampire Read Online Free PDF Page A

fall asleep?”
    â€œNo, thank you. I’m fine.”
    Sometimes I could strangle her baby voice.
    Then I noticed something I never had before. How could I have been so blind? There was no lock on our bedroom door. Anyone could walk in, anytime.
    â€œI want to put a lock on the door,” I said.
    â€œI wouldn’t if I were you,” he said. “It wouldn’t be safe, in case of a fire.”
    â€œWe haven’t had too many fires lately.”
    â€œIt only takes one,” my uncle replied.
    â€œI could jump out the window and climb down the tree.”
    â€œYeah, or maybe you could fly.” Uncle Toddy rubbed his face. “I’m not going to stand here and argue with you, Carolyn. It’s late. We’ll talk about it in the morning. Good night, Honey.”
    â€œGood night,” she said.
    He went out and closed the door behind him.
    I turned on the light and said, “We’ve got to talk.”
    â€œI’m not talking to you. You get us in trouble.”
    â€œYou’re the one who was screaming and sobbing!”
    â€œYes, because you scare me all the time! I can’t concentrate in school! Things are falling apart! If my grades don’t improve, I can’t be a cheerleader! Ms. Johnson called me into her office!”
    Ms. Johnson is the school counselor. I visited her office recently too. I didn’t tell Honey; she would have worried. There are so many things she can’t face.
    Ms. Johnson told me that my teachers are concerned. The quality of my work is deteriorating. If I don’t improve my grades, I’ll have trouble getting into college. Also, I’ll get kicked out of the play. You have to maintain a decent grade-point average in order to participate in extracurricular activities.
    This had never been a problem for me before. I’ve always gotten A’s. Ms. Johnson was talking D’s and incompletes. I was shocked to find myself in her office. I felt as if we were discussing someone else’s life.
    â€œIs anything wrong, Carolyn?” she’d asked. “Are you having problems at home?”
    â€œEverything’s fine,” I told her. “I’m just real busy. With school and the play and everything.”
    â€œDon’t tell Mama about my grades!” Honey plucked at her tangled hair. “There’s no sense getting her all upset. I’ll quit my job so I can study on Saturdays.” She’s been working at a flower shop, for spending money.
    â€œRelax,” I said. “Will you calm down? Just try a little harder.”
    â€œI’m trying as hard as I can!”
    â€œSo quit being a cheerleader. Who cares?”
    â€œI do! Why do you make fun of everything I like? I don’t make fun of you, or the play. Anyway, I don’t want to be like you, You’re never happy. You’re crazy.”
    â€œYou ought to know.”
    â€œI’m going to sleep. Don’t talk to me. Just leave me alone.”
    I heard muffled conversation downstairs. I turned off the light, opened my door, and crept to the top of the stairs where I could hear.
    â€œNo, I don’t think so,” my uncle was saying.
    Papa said something; I couldn’t make out the words.
    â€œNo, she’s fine. But Carolyn’s been under a strain.”
    Why am I always the bad guy, the villain? Sweet little Honey can do no wrong. That dimpled darling. That bloodless birdbrain. That blubbering, simpering, whimpering shit. Sometimes I wish Honey were dead. Sometimes I could kill her.
    Mama said something, but her voice was too soft.
    â€œIt’s this college thing,” Uncle Toddy explained. “She’s worried about her grades. You know what a hard worker she is. And she’s got all those after-school activities.”
    Mama murmured something. My father exploded. “What good do they do? They’re a bunch of quacks! And they cost an arm and a leg.”
    â€œI don’t think