The New Neighbor

'He has a busy schedule, does he? Does he pay any attention to you at all?'

Jen frowned, thinking it over. 'Sometimes. Well… once in a while. We fight over the TV. That kinda thing.'

“But in a nice way. Does he ever pay attention to you in a nice way?'

'Oh, yeah, sure, some… times.' But not that much, she thought.

They stopped in front of Jen's house and Miss Dupree smiled slowly. 'Would you like him to?'

Jen felt suddenly suspicious. 'What do you mean?'

'Well, I think I know how you feel. You admire your brother. Look up to him. You'd like him to… well, treat you with a little more respect, pay more attention to you, am I right?'

Jen relaxed her frown slowly as she nodded, but she didn't lose the frown inside where she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Miss Dupree looked like a perfectly nice person with pretty eyes and the straightest, whitest teeth Jen had ever seen. But in spite of that, Jen had a gnawing feeling of suspicion. She studied Miss Dupree's face, then -

'Yes,' Jen finally answered.

'Well, if you'd like, I think we can get him to do that.'

'How?'

Miss Dupree gave her a big smile and touched her cheek with a gentle stroke. 'I'll think of something.'

Chapter 11

A New Toy

“Look, Miss Weiss, I've gotta go to my next class,' Robby said, standing before her desk.

'I really don't care, Robby. We have to talk.'

Robby put a hand on her desk and hoped it didn't look obvious that he was leaning so he wouldn't sway. He felt so weak and shaky, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stand up much longer.

'Pull up a seat,' she said. Reluctantly, he turned to one of the small school desks and dragged it closer to her desk, then plopped into the chair as if his knees had given out.

'Okay, Robby. What's wrong?'

'Nothing's wrong, I just – “

'Please, Robby,' she interrupted. 'You weren't ready for the test on Friday, you're not ready for the make-up today. That's not like you. I know it's not like you.' She paused, then: 'You came up in a conversation today. With another teacher. It seems you have quite a reputation, Robby. Nearly straight A's. You're an outstanding student. So. What's wrong?'

'There's nothing wrong. I just… forgot.'

'You forgot.'

He nodded without looking at her.

'I don't believe you, Robby. I admit I don't know you well, but I know you're not the kind of student to forget a test.'

His jaw worked back and forth as he stared at the floor.

'Is it because you're sick?' she asked. 'You don't look well at all, you know. But if you're ill, why don't you stay home?'

He said nothing, hoping she would steer clear of the subject of home.

'Is something wrong at home? Is that it? Because if – “

Robby's head jerked back and forth suddenly.

'Are you sure?'

He looked at her and spoke quietly and slowly through his teeth. 'Nothing's wrong, okay?'

Miss Weiss leaned forward over her desk and softened her voice. 'If there is something wrong, Robby, it's okay. I mean, everybody has – “

'Look, I'll take it tomorrow,' he said, his voice wavering slightly. His eyes left her and darted around the room. 'The test. I'll take it tomorrow. Okay?'

She watched him a moment before saying, 'Listen to me, Robby. If there's anything I can do… or even if I can't do anything, maybe I can turn you to someone who – “

“Tomorrow? Please? I'll do it tomorrow, I promise.'

'Okay, okay. Tomorrow, I'll give you the same test you just took. I want all the questions answered, okay? All of them. I want you to try, which you didn't seem to do today, because almost three quarters of the questions haven't been touched. If you don't… well, I think I'll have to talk with your parents.'

Panic widened his eyes slightly and his neck stiffened as he turned to her to protest, but said nothing for a moment as his hands fluttered nervously with one another over his books on the small desktop.

'No,' Robby whispered. 'Don't do that.'

'Why?'

His mouth felt dry suddenly. 'I don't… want you to… well, they… wouldn't understand. That's all.' Then, after a long pause: 'Please?'

'Will you be ready tomorrow?'

He nodded quickly.

'Okay.'

Robby stood so suddenly that the desk scraped over the floor and he staggered toward the door, clutching his books beneath one arm.

'Robby?'

He stopped but looked at his feet instead of turning toward her.

'Are you… taking any drugs? Or – “

'No,' he whispered.

'You're not well. And I don't think it's just the flu. Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?'

'No,' he said on his way to the door. 'Everything's fine.'

He was out of the room before she could say anything else.

Robby trudged down the hall, out of the building, and tried not to drag his feet as he crossed the grass toward the next building, where his biology class was about to begin. He expected Dylan to be waiting for him in the hall, but remembered he'd stayed home sick that day. Robby had been tempted to stay home, too, but there was really nothing wrong with him, except for the weakness that made him nearly unable to get out of a chair or carry his books, and he hated to miss school unless he really had to.

Unfortunately, he'd completely forgotten about the test. Staying home had been a better idea than he'd thought.

He heard whispering footsteps in the damp grass behind him, but ignored them, until -

– a hand touched his arm and a familiar voice said, 'Your sister is in danger.'

When Robby turned to him, the stranger's mangled face seemed to wither, as if he were looking at someone more hideous than himself.

'My God,' he whispered, squeezing Robby's arm.

'Get away from me,' Robby said, pulling away. He knew he didn't sound very convincing, but he went on anyway. 'I'll have you thrown off campus. You know, you can get into a lot of trouble for coming to the – “

'No, no, please, wait.' The man simply stared at Robby for a moment, then whispered, 'She's already started. She's not wasting any time.'

'Who?' Robby snapped.

'You're sick. You look awful.'

'So I've got the flu. It's none of your goddamned busin – “

'Is anyone else in your family sick?'

'Why? What're you – “