The Traveling Vampire Show

“He missed a dog and hit a tree?”

I smiled. It must’ve looked strange, because it brought a frown to Slim’s face. “He was out on Route 3,” I explained, “and a dog ran out in front of his car.”

Slim made a face as if she were smelling something horrible but amusing. “A one- eyed dog?” she asked.

“I didn’t ask.”

“Woo.”

“Yeah.”

“When did this happen?”

“I don’t think it was that long ago.”

“Our dog’s been dead since about noon.”

“Yeah.” I shook my head. “Had to be a different dog.”

“Maybe the one that chewed up my Dracula.”

“The very same,” I said.

She grimaced.

I grimaced.

“Maybe we’ve got ghost dogs,” she said.

“Or someone wants us to think so,” I said, which got her laughing. “Anyway,” I continued, “it wasn’t a ghost or a dog that chewed up your Dracula.”

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure. For one thing, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

“Are you sure?”

She was seeming very playful.

“Pretty sure.”

“Don’t be.”

“Anyway, if there are ghosts, they can’t bite stuff. They don’t have any ...”

“Teeth?” she asked.

Grinning, I shook my head. “That’s not what ... I mean, they’re just ... like spirits. They don’t have substance.”

“A matter of opinion.”

“Anyway, ghost or not, a dog would’ve had to paw the Dracula off your bookshelf. Or bite it out. Either way, it would’ve messed up your other books. But they were all in a neat row. That could only be done by a human.”

“Or a vampire,” she added, “speaking on behalf of our absent Russell.”

I laughed. “Daylight,” I reminded her.

Her smile evaporated. “Which leaves us with humans. I’m glad we’re out of my house.”

“My mom isn’t coming home till tomorrow morning, so I guess there’s no reason you can’t stay here.”

“No reason you can’t go to the vampire show tonight, either.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t want to miss that.”

“I might.”

“Oh? You’d rather stay home and watch television?”

“Maybe. If you’ll be here.”

“I’ll be here unless you throw me out, I guess.”

“I wouldn’t throw you out.”

“What about Rusty?” she asked.

“What about him?”

“He really wants to see that show.”

“He’s probably grounded.”

“He’ll find a way to get out.”

“Maybe.”

“He will. And then he’ll show up here, all rarin’ to go.”