The Traveling Vampire Show

She looked very pleased with herself.

I showed her my teeth and she laughed.

Over at Rusty’s house, someone picked up a phone. “Hello?”

I cringed. “Hello, Mrs. Simmons.” “Hello, young man.”

“Is Rusty there?”

“I’m afraid he’s incommunicado at the moment.”

“Oh. Yeah. I sort of thought so. I feel awful about what we did. You know, ditching Elizabeth.”

“You have no idea how much you hurt her feelings, Dwight. Frankly, I didn’t except such behavior from you.”

“I’m awfully sorry. Really. I just wasn’t thinking straight. I was so worried about Slim....”

“Well, yes. I can understand your concern, but it was no excuse. Elizabeth fully expected you to wait for her.”

“I know. I feel rotten about it. Anyway, I was thinking about doing something to cheer her up.”

Mrs. Simmons was silent.

“I thought maybe Slim and I might come over and take her with us to the movies.”

Mrs. Simmons remained silent.

“There’s a double-feature at the drive-in. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane’s playing with The House on Haunted Hill.”

“Haven’t you seen those movies?” she asked.

“The House on Haunted Hill. ”

“I thought so.”

“But that was a couple of years ago, and we missed our chance to see What Ever Happened to Baby Jane when it played at the Crown. Anyway, I’m pretty sure Elizabeth hasn’t seen either one of them, and Slim and I don’t mind seeing The House on Haunted Hill again. It was really good.”

“I’m not sure I want Elizabeth to see that sort of movie. They’re both supposed to be dreadful. I don’t want her coming home with nightmares.”

“Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are in Baby Jane,” I pointed out.

“I’m well aware of that.”

“They were really big stars in your generation.”

That got a laugh out of Mrs. Simmons. “My generation, huh?”

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of that, so I changed the subject slightly. “Anyway, I bet Elizabeth would get a kick out of going to the drive-in with us. We’ll pay for her ticket and buy her snacks and stuff.”

“And who, exactly, will be driving?”

“Slim. We’ll be going in her car.”

“I see.”

She trusted Slim. I figured we had it made.

Then she said, “I don’t know, Dwight.”

“I think Elizabeth might especially like spending some time with me after ... you know, feeling so abandoned this afternoon.”

“I suppose you’ll want Rusty to accompany you likewise?”

“Doesn’t matter to us. It’s fine either way.”

“He’s grounded, you know.”

“He doesn’t have to come. The thing is, this is really for Elizabeth.”

“I’ll have to ask her.”

I heard some clatter that meant she was setting down the phone. Pressing the mouthpiece of Slim’s phone against my belly, I said quietly, “I think we’re in business.”

Slim looked tickled. She also looked as if she’d known all along that her plan would succeed. Largely because her plans always succeeded.

Almost always.

After a while, Mrs. Simmons returned to the phone. “Dwight?” she asked.

“I’m here.”

“My husband and I have talked it over. We’ve also discussed the matter with Elizabeth, and she’s willing to forgive and forget.”

“Oh. Good.”

“So we’ll allow her to go with you.”