The Traveling Vampire Show

“You look very nice tonight,” I said. What was I supposed to say?

“Thank you, Dwight.”

“You’re a life-saver,” Rusty told me.

“No sweat.”

He hurried ahead. I’d left the passenger door open. He climbed in.

Smiling at me, he said, “Maybe you two lovebirds should sit together in the back.”

“That was the plan,” I said.

Sure it was.

I opened the back door and held it for Bitsy. Then I got in and shut the door.

“Hey, Slim,” Rusty said.

“Hey, Rusty.” Looking over her shoulder, she said, “How you doing, Bitsy?”

“Oh, just fine, thank you. Thank you for asking me to come with.”

“Our pleasure,” Slim told her. Facing forward again, she took off.

Bitsy smiled at me from her side of the back seat, but didn’t try to come any closer. “I’m sorry to hear about your father’s accident,” she said.

Thanks for reminding me, I thought.

“Thanks.” I said.

“Is he going to be all right?”

“I guess so. They’re just keeping him overnight in the hospital to be on the safe side.”

“I’m sure that’s a good idea.”

“Hey, Bitsy?” Slim said.

“Yes?”

“We’re stopping by Lee Thompson’s house before we head over to the drive-in.”

“Really? What fort’

“Don’t be such a nosy pain in the ass,” Rusty said.

I said, “Leave her alone” at about the same moment Slim said, “Cut it out, Rusty.”

Even though there wasn’t much light in the back seat, enough came in through the windows for me to see Bitsy turn her head toward Rusty and cast a self-satisfied smile in his direction. I saw the smile, but he didn’t. He was looking straight ahead.

To Bitsy, I explained, “My brother’s out of town for the weekend. We just want to drop in on Lee and make sure she’s okay.”

“Is something wrong?”

“A lot of weird stuff’s been going on today,” Slim said.

“Like what?”

“Come on, guys,” Rusty said, a pleading whine in his voice. “She tells. I don’t want my mom and dad knowing all my business.”

“I won’t tell,” Bitsy said.

“Bullshit,” Rusty said.

Slim stopped the car. Looking out the window, I saw that we were at the curb in front of Lee’s house. Her pickup truck was parked in the driveway.

The windows of her house were dark.

“Doesn’t look like she’s home,” Rusty said.

“I’ll go see.” I opened my door.

“I’m coming with you,” Rusty said, opening his.

“Me too,” said Bitsy.

Slim shrugged, shut off the engine and killed the headlights. Moments later, all four of us were walking toward the front door of Lee’s house.

“Did Lee go somewhere?” Rusty asked in a hushed voice.

“We don’t know,” Slim said.

“It’s funny the lights are off,” I muttered.

“Maybe she’s taking a nap,” Rusty said.

“We tried to call a couple of times,” I told him. “I don’t think she slept through the ringing.”

“Might’ve,” Slim said. “But not likely.”