Kady of Quid

By K. Hutson Warrington

"Don't tell me faeries, elves and dragons don't exist," Five-year old Kady insists again and again to her parents, Rachel and Richard Dowd. And Kady's parents know she is right. As the years pass, they see the small creature darting beneath the dryer. They also see the giant's shadow outside the windows. 

It's a mystery th

• Language: English
• Publisher: TUP Wordsmiths
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578954950

Book preview

Dedication

Thanks first to my kids, Shawn, Sami, Emily and Jake. The most brilliant people I know and my greatest gifts. 

To my brother Billy, whose faith in me is what keeps me going

everyday. Priceless. And a big thank you to Sharon Free. What a wonderful job in getting all this done!

Prologue

The woman found herself repeatedly reaching into her pocket, fidgeting with the folded piece of yellow paper.  She puffed her cheeks releasing a slow breath of air that parted her chapped lips, as she tried to compose herself. Moist hand prints disappeared from the steering wheel each time she unclenched them, as she sped along the rolling country roads of Waldo County, Maine.

You realize this is the third time this week I’ve been called to a teacher’s conference because of your fighting, and no less on your sister’s birthday.  She’s eight today, or did you forget?  She didn’t expect a reply.  The ten year-old boy seated next to her ignored his mother and continued to stare out the window.

I don’t know what’s going on with you these days hun, but we’ve got to try and figure something out.  Your father’s going to be furious, you know.   The boy’s eyes shifted sideways, toward his mother.  She felt him watch her as she wound a fawn colored strand of hair, over and over, around her finger.

Like a stone skipped across still water, her thoughts touched upon all she had discovered yesterday.  She hadn’t meant to pry.  She knocked and the door eased open.  He had to be home, having finished their yard work yesterday, she reasoned, maybe he was asleep.  However no one answered when she entered the cabin.  After all, it was her property.  Palmer rented the cabin from her and Richard in exchange for yard work, and made a meager living doing the same for others in the area.  She was never sure why she had agreed to let him live in the old cabin.  Maybe it was his gentle green eyes or the fact that when he appeared on their front porch, he looked as though he had just been in the fight of his life.  There was a handsome face beneath the cuts and bruises, and something strangely familiar about him.  Her husband felt it too, even though he tried to deny it.

It was not like her to intrude, but recent events had left her no choice, and that strange book was just sitting there, open on the narrow table.  There was a painting, on the first page.  The book almost dropped from her hands when she recognized Kady’s picture.  She flipped through the pages, but it was written in some strange language.  She would just have to explain to him later why she took it, but then when she closed the book, the yellow piece of paper had floated out.  That she could read.  It was in Palmer’s writing.  She stuffed it in her coat pocket, needing to get home before Kady finished her school work.  She had left her plenty to do, but Kady always did everything fast.

Kady had always been different from other children.  And even though Richard had a hard time accepting him, she became fond of the gentle giant that appeared one day outside their home when Kady turned two. She dragged that giant all over the yard, clasping his huge finger in her tiny hands.  The silly pig-faced creature scurrying after them scooped Kady up every time she fell.  And then there was the small man dressed in brown.  He had just recently taken up residence beneath the dryer.  Kady left saucers of milk each night for him.  In return, her bedroom remained immaculate.

Richard thought it a great idea to home-school Kady and Lukus.  Especially since Kady learned so quickly, reading and writing by the time she was two.  And Lukus adored Kady, always taking care of her.  It had all been so wonderful, she loved having them with her until...

She glanced over at the sullen dark-haired boy. His forehead was pressed tightly against the passenger window. Fog surrounded his face from his heavy breathing. It was two years ago today that he had tried to kill Kady. Even though she was only six years old at the time, she defended herself taking away the hammer, leaving Lukus with a broken nose. Kady swore it was an accident. She and Lukus had been so close before then, back when Lukus was a normal, caring, little boy, quick to smile. That all suddenly changed, when he turned eight years old.  Sending him to public school hadn’t helped. Now he was uncontrollable.

If all that she had learned from endless research, and if those drawings in the leather bound book were true, then was that letter, written by Palmer, a prophecy of some kind?   If so, how could she and Richard protect Kady?   How were they to protect her from creatures that were supposed to exist only in fairy tales?   Yet didn’t those very creatures now lurk in the shadows that surrounded her home?  Beneath the dryer in the laundry room?   Had she been wrong in trusting the giant and the others?

Her hands trembled as she caught sight of her son, staring at her.  For, if all that she had learned were indeed true, this child beside her might not be her son.

So  lost in thought,  she hadn’t noticed the darkness stealing away the day.   She pulled her headlights on.   They were only a few miles from home.   Boy I hate how early it gets dark this time of year, don’t you?   The only reply she received was the boy’s dark eyes shifting in her direction.

She heard a loud thump on the roof of the car.  A dark form slid in front of her, over the windshield.  Crimson eyes blazed in at her.  She slammed her foot to the floor. The sound of squealing brakes echoed across the desolate woods as something smashed through her side window.  The steering wheel jerked sharply to the right, and she fought to pry the boy’s hands from the wheel.  Terror filled her eyes as she realized, too late, that all she had learned was true.

The car careened off the road, flying over a large drainage ditch.  It slammed into a telephone pole, snapping it cleanly in half, several feet above the ground.  The boy pulled the piece of yellow paper from his mother’s coat pocket, as she lay crumpled behind the bent steering wheel.  Blood ran from a deep gash in her temple; her once gentle brown eyes, closed.   He climbed free of the car.

A band of spriggans surrounded the boy.  Their skin resembled dried leather, craggy and flattened.   They wore oversized, filthy trench coats.  Sharp, black clawed hands hung from beneath their sleeves.  Partially entangled in the spriggans’ matted manes of dark hair were squirrel-sized creatures with bat faces, and slitted eyes of blood red.

She forgot to wear her seatbelt this time,  said  the  boy  dully.    He disappeared with the creatures.     The car burst into flames several minutes later.

Rachel Dowd was pronounced dead.

Chapter~1~

It was today she died. Kady whispered, lying deep in the over-stuffed feather bed, her hands locked beneath her head, her fingers tangled in the long copper and gold strands of her hair. It was a most acceptable position for those journeying far along the pathways of disquieting memories. The large silver and black German shepherd’s ears flicked forward at the sound her voice. Yeah, I know, that was seven years ago, still, it feels like today. Only this time it’s now my fifteenth birthday and mom’s missed another one, Barlow. You’d have loved her. The  dog  crept  closer  to  the tiny  girl  he  adored,  burying  his  broad head  into  her  face  and  wiping  away  the  tears  trickling  down  the young  girl’s  cheek.

There was a soft knock on her door. Richard Dowd quietly poked his head into his daughter’s room, Kady? You still awake?

She swiped at her face with the flannel sleeve of her pajamas. Yep, hi Dad.

Richard sat down on the edge of Kady’s bed. You know, there would be nothing wrong with us celebrating your birthday. I mean, you could invite some friends over, or... maybe we could go out to dinner. Bring Terry if you’d like. Richard gazed at his daughter, his soft, hazel eyes holding Kady’s own. He waited for her reply, running his fingers through curly, chestnut hair that always seemed to fly in the opposite direction of his intentions.

It’s okay Dad, really, I like just staying home, with just us, well— I could do without Lokust. I mean really, do you think it would be fair to subject Terry to a whole dinner with him? You know how Lokust feels about Terry. But here’s a thought for next year, Kady narrowed her eyes, Maybe you could trade my wonderful brother in for, oh…let’s say…a horse? Her grin was infectious, and Richard shook his head, smiling. She grabbed his hand.  But  want  to  know  what  I  really wish...,  she  stopped  as  an  ache  throbbed  in  her  throat  and  her  eyes  began  to  sting.

Richard lifted her delicate hand, pulling it close to his chest. I know hun, he paused for a moment before continuing, But unfortunately accidents happen in just about everyone’s lifetime somewhere along the line. Suffering has no discrimination. He drew a deep breath. It happens to all of us. A tear escaped him splashing softly onto Kady’s wrist and Richard abruptly changed the subject, reaching for a new silver object added to a delicate chain hanging around Kady’s neck. Where did you get this? he asked, brushing away a tear onto his shoulder.

Terry gave it to me yesterday, for my birthday. He knows how much I like dragons.

Richard grinned. Last year it was that silver hand. It’s becoming a tradition with him to give you lucky charms every year. He really seems to know what you like.

Kady saw her father’s eyes drop. But I really like the things you gave me too. The perfume smells... great!

Richard rolled his eyes and smiled. Well, maybe you’ll at least wear the sweaters and jeans?

Of course! I’ll bet not many girls have a dad that can pick out stuff for them like you can. Kady locked her arms around her father’s neck inhaling the light scent of Old Spice—she loved it. It had been her mom’s favorite too, recalling her dad’s playful refusals every time his wife cajoled him into wearing it before his Sunday sermons.

I love you, Kady, said Richard, hugging his daughter.

I love you, too, Dad, always. But you can’t protect me from everything all the time. Kady spoke into her father’s warm shoulder, and felt him draw a deep breath. I promise not to do anything crazy, but you know how us teenagers can be. She pulled back from her father, locking her brilliant, cinnamon eyes onto his, Although, next to Lokust, you and I both know that I’m the good child.

Richard chuckled. I wouldn’t go that far, at least he’s home on time.

Yeah, Kady answered, Because he doesn’t have anywhere else to be. Her father’s face took on that serious look; the one where he furrowed his forehead and drew his lips tight together. She knew he was going to try and impress some rule upon her, probably about coming home on time. School started a month ago, and she had managed to be home on time...so far. She bit her lip, suppressing a smile, for her father failed miserably as a disciplinarian. Richard’s round cheeks and soft eyes that wrinkled at the corners were far from menacing, even when he was truly angry.

Kady figured  she  would  spare  him  the  effort.    I’ll try to be home on time, I promise.    If I go to Palmer’s,  I’ll be home before dark although I really don’t know why you worry so much, you know he always walks me...

Richard held up a hand, I understand Kady, but I still want you home before dark, or I will pick you up myself—every day.

Now it was Kady’s turn to furrow her forehead, Okay, alright, anything but having the town’s pastor picking up his wayward daughter. It wouldn’t look too good, ya know.

Richard planted a kiss on top of his daughter’s head and stood to leave, No it wouldn’t now, would it? So, I take it you’ll not be late then? She was glad he didn’t wait for a reply.

Kady lay back against her pillows and sighed, blowing away an errant strand of hair from her face. As she closed her eyes, her mind skipped down a dozen different things she wanted to learn this year, not in school but from Palmer. Fencing, archery and self-defense lessons, all these things churned within her, always with this unrelenting desire to be used. She knew, no, felt, that there was so much more she could do if he’d just let her try…

Hey! Something soft slapped into the side of her face and bounced off. What the heck? Kady sprang upward. There, on the corner of her bed, stood a man, no larger than a rabbit. His ragged brown clothes matched his knotted plot of hair, resembling a chewed-up walnut stuck to the top of his head. With a flip of his tiny hand, he saluted her, then jumped down and marched towards the laundry room just around the corner from Kady’s room.

Barlow, that brownie’s got more than a few issues, Kady said. The brownie, however, was nothing new. In her fifteen years, she had seen many creatures skulking around the shadows outside of her home; one of them, the brownie in particular, lived inside. Kady’s parents urged her to keep the fairy creatures a secret at school. After all, her father reasoned, no one would believe her anyway. He explained that most people felt more comfortable keeping such things in books, or secretly in their imagination. Or, if Kady felt the need to share stories about the fairy people, imaginary friends were more an acceptable term, because lots of kids had them, her dad reasoned. But Kady didn’t have to share her stories in school, she had someone she could talk to about the faeries, (they had informed her at an early age that the correct spelling was faerie not that storybook version). Terry believed her because he saw them too, even though the creatures scared him. Especially Jack.

Eww! What’s this?   Kady scooped up a golf-ball sized clump of black-matted hair from beside her pillow.  Now he’s throwing lint balls at me? Gross!   She got ready to drop it into the garbage can, when the hairball squealed and bounced out of her hand.   Barlow snapped at it as it rolled past him, dropped to the floor and disappeared beneath the bed.   Kady’s deer-like eyes met Barlow’s, who whined and jumped off after it.

Kady snapped on her lamp, and fell to her stomach on the thick, pea-green carpet then lifted the edge of the comforter. She wrinkled her nose. I really need to clean under here, that brownie’s been slacking. I think he’s been kind of lazy lately. Barlow was on the other side, snuffling and blowing. Neither of them found anything. Kady finally gave up; not wanting her father to hear her rummaging around in all the junk beneath her bed. She flipped herself across the mattress and dislodged Barlow, who was wedged halfway under the bed frame. She slipped back under the warm quilts and patted the bed, calling for Barlow. They both sighed in unison. School should be kinda interesting this year. Kady grinned, tapping a finger against her lips. I can’t wait till Terry sees that thing. Barlow moaned lazily in agreement as they both drifted off to sleep.

Trapped in the web of a nightmare, blurry images sped by until Kady focused, finding the ghost…again. He stood in darkness where light had never existed except for the pale moonlight stolen from the moon that illuminated his face. Black pits, where eyes should have been, stared right through her. She tried to scream and back away but her feet kept slipping out from beneath her. Perfect white teeth lined his mouth as the ghost grinned.

Kady’s eyes flew open. Teeth? she said aloud, gasping, sweat beaded across her brow. The dog lifted his broad head, ears pitching forward at her voice. Do ghosts even have teeth? Barlow whined and Kady rubbed his head, curling her fingers back and forth, stroking into his fur. She studied the ceiling, half expecting to find something or someone watching her from between the cracks. Soon, however, her eyes began to sting, and became heavy once more. She rolled over and threw her arm across Barlow’s shoulders. Unable to think any longer she again started to drift back to sleep. Several minutes passed when a low rumble, vibrating in Barlow’s chest, startled her. The dog snarled, glaring over her hip, towards the window. Barlow, she whispered, It’s okay buddy. Nothing could be outside but some birds. The bedrooms were on the second floor of the old farmhouse and Kady knew it would be impossible for anyone to be outside her window…or so she thought. She hugged the big dog’s neck gently, before dropping this time into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~~~

Barlow’s lips continued curling upwards as yellow, snake-like, eyes rose over the window’s edge. The phooka smiled malevolently. He would be well rewarded for this find. They had searched a long time for her. He remained but a moment. He did not wish to anger the nasty creature protecting her, although the silver and black beast would be less than a match for the phooka. The girl however was a different story. He cocked his hairless head and, feeling his master beckon, disappeared.

~~~

Upon his return, the phooka found himself held tightly by his throat. Gremig slowly slid his cold, bony thumb up and down the gray flesh of the phooka’s neck. Indeed my pet. His voice was strong and even, Chaos will prevail, just as it always has throughout all eternity. It is the one thing we all can count on, do you not agree?

The shape-shifting phooka trembled.   Gremig’s piercing black eyes bore into his own.   He knew he was disposable.   Ye…yes…bu...bu...but master, the phooka managed a strangled whisper,  what about the Guardian?    Her time draws near.    He  squirmed under Gremig’s powerful grasp.

Guardian? Gremig tilted his head, as though misunderstanding the goblin. He walked slowly from the cave, squinting as the morning sun stung his eyes. He walked to the cliff’s edge then dangled his prisoner high into the air. Below the immense trees looked like miniatures belonging to train set. See the smoke rising from the forest? He pointed off into the distance at thin tendrils of smoke rising into the clearness of the blue morning; it was but a faint image. It is Quid, where they go about their lives with nothing! Nothing but a false hope in a false faith. His voice grew stronger. Where? Where is their Guardian? She has ignored them all this time. No one is even sure she exists.

Th...th...the scrolls they tell, stammered the phooka.

Gremig’s thin pale arm shook the creature’s body, terror silenced it. They tell nothing, he snapped. She is a myth, just as their faith is a myth. Gremig laughed softly, Even the foolish elves have turned away from Quid. They are all lost. Their time runs short.

Hoping to distract Gremig, the phooka shrieked, But we have seen her! The goblin squeezed its eyes shut, expecting the torture that only Gremig wielded.

You what? Gremig drew the goblin within inches of his face. Where? He growled. Again he shook the phooka, repeating through clenched teeth, Where?

Terror rattled through the phooka’s bones: it began speaking in its native tongue, its shape-shifting power rendered useless by Gremig.

The unyielding wind swept Gremig’s long white hair back from his finely sculpted face, revealing dark, blue veins pulsing with anger. He held the phooka out over the edge of the cliff once again. Gradually, he lifted each finger, one by one, from around the phooka’s neck until it was suspended by only a forefinger and thumb. His lifeless ebony eyes narrowed. Where? repeated Gremig.

In Tire Nam Beo, the phooka replied.

The land of the living? Gremig was taken aback.

Yes master, are you pleased?

Gremig opened his last two fingers. Oh yes, my pet, Gremig said, smiling. He listened to the phooka’s screams fade away before toward the village of Quid. I will destroy them all. She will be last, he laughed. Flinging his arms open wide, he defied the wind, as he shouted, It is what I live for. Gremig turned, sliding slowly back into the darkness and whispered, Time is up.

Chapter~2~

Miles away, beyond the shadow of the great mountains and the ancient trees that reached to possess the sky, lay the quaint village of Quid. Graves, the dwarf, searched for many hours, and at long last, he came upon the entrance. The smell of damp earth filled his nostrils. It felt good to the dwarf to be back in the tunnels and the familiarity of the darkness comforted him. His heavy boots padded softly through the earthen hallways and the single candle he carried dripped wax down his battle-scarred hand.

He hiked for nearly an hour, winding through the maze. Often the tunnels tightened, rubbing his barreled frame against the packed earth. He turned left, again and again then changed direction, going the opposite way and always, always descending.

Finally, deep beneath the surface, where only those such as dwarves dare go, a door stood before him, barely visible at the edge of the flickering candle light. Solid granite, it stood four feet high and no wider. Graves stepped forward, and ran his calloused, gnarled fingers across the cold stone, muttering the inscription carved upon it. Noo adhas gat lahvar. The words inscribed there felt uncomfortable on his tongue, and he had to repeat them several times.

Leave it to a werm to write such nonsense. His voice was as calloused as his hands. Suddenly the door began to quiver, then boil, resembling liquid silver. He took a deep breath, and stepped through. The cave was cramped, huddling in a chilled silence around him. Water shimmered across the stone walls as it crept down in translucent vines. A crude stone table, carved from the wall itself, stood before him.

Well, best get this over with, said Graves. He crossed the several feet to the table. Kneeling beside it, he lowered his face until it was level with the stone surface. He placed his mouth at its edge, and blew. Long, undisturbed dust settled on the surface, swirled and bubbled like water, the top of the table hissed and turned into a thick vapor. Through the dim glow of the single candle, an aged parchment appeared. Bah, he snorted, waving his stubby arms to clear away the steam. He removed the thin piece of leather that bound the fragile parchment and carefully unrolled it. The page was blank. Horcano, uttered Graves. Words appeared, changing into the language of the deep-burrowing dwarves and covered scroll. He squinted as his eyes quickly scanned the words that emerged. Thick deep lines etched across his forehead. He drew a slow breath before a heavy, troubled sigh escaped him. He swiped his hand over his mouth and down the long black beard that fell to his rounded stomach. There is no more time, he murmured. He replaced the scroll, and again held his breath. If he did not move quickly enough, he would be sealed inside the cave. The candle burned low, so he threw it down. He knew the way. Shadowed light told him he was near the entrance, but not where he would come out. He would search for weeks before finding it again. The entrance changed places once someone passed through. It was a necessary precaution. Graves would not have the parchment stolen again. Racing out, he was blinded by the morning sun. Instinct alone told him to stop. When his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he stood at the edge of a cliff, several hundred feet above Quid, his home. Miles away to the south loomed a great mountain, its peak covered in clouds. Graves felt a sense of foreboding as he looked toward it.

I hope that daft leprechaun knows what e’s doin’. We won’t be able to fool Gremig much longer, he sighed. An’ the girl must be ready.

~~~

Kady raced down the long corridor of Waldo County High School. Fluorescent lights from overhead reflected off her golden hair.

The sound of a bell pierced the empty halls. Shoot, she groaned, the late bell again, and darting around a corner, she spied the door of the classroom still open. Kady crouched low and slunk in. Of the twenty-seven students, only one, a large, dark-skinned boy, noticed her enter. She almost made it to her desk at the rear of the room—almost.

Hey, cried Amy,  a  lanky  girl  whose  ability  to  annoy  Kady rivaled that of a swarm of hungry mosquitoes, as Kady accidentally knocked into the other girl’s well-ordered stack of books.   They flew from her desk, hitting the floor with a series of loud slaps as if applauding Kady’s arrival.

Sorry, whispered Kady, I’ll get them for ya, Amy. Her nose wrinkled and long hair hid her tongue poking in Amy’s direction.

Yah really should pay more attention to  what  you  are doin’ there Kady, dear.  Amy tossed back her bobbed, auburn hair from her pointed face.

Aaaahem!    Mr.  Dormer,  the  tenth  grade  History  teacher, cleared his throat.

Kady bolted upright, clutching the mound of books. A sick, gurgling sound rose from somewhere inside the ancient man, sounding as if he might, at any moment, throw up. Again, Dormer cleared his throat. He stood behind his tan metal desk. His name, which he wrote every day on the blackboard in yellow chalk, sat above his head, like a distorted crown. He planted his hands firmly on his saggy hips exposing the dark circles of sweat beneath his arms, staining his light blue shirt. Kady heaved a sigh, grateful that she didn’t sit in the front row.

Amy raised her hand, I do apologize, Mr. Dormer. She’s is a bit clumsy. It’s unfortunate, but some of us still haven’t quite matured, even at fifteen. She patted Kady’s shoulder. Ain’t that right?

A ripple of laughter filtered across the room. Kady deliberately dropped the books in a heap onto Amy’s desk. She blinked, and for just a moment considered the other girl’s uncanny ability to be unceasingly annoying. Well, I suppose that’s true, she answered, but tell me Amy, did that southern accent just develop with maturity? Or is it something you’ve worked on with all the time you spend in front of a mirror? Because I didn’t realized that people from south…Jersey spoke that way.

Amy’s  hand  flew  into  her  hair.   Why  how  dare  you,  Kady  Dowd!  shrieked  Amy. My grandmother’s the fifth generation born in Georgia!

Big flippin’ deal Amy, countered Kady, you weren’t...and by the way, accents aren’t hereditary either!

The classroom erupted into laughter. The boy who noticed Kady enter earlier, leaned from his desk, and whispered, You don’t ever wonder why you don’t have any friends, do you?

Nope  Terry,  you’re  the  only  one  I  need,  Kady  whispered  back,  smiling.

AAAAAHEM. More zealous gurgling brought the class back to order. Mr. Dormer’s watery, gray eyes, set behind thick rimmed glasses, skimmed over the room, landing on Kady, like a spider spotting a trapped fly. He shook his head, releasing a greasy, yellow-gray strand of hair to wedge behind his glasses. How does one little girl continually cause such disruption? And it isn’t just this class; you do it to all the other teachers as well I hear, Miss Dowd, Dormer slid his glasses back up his hawkish nose, I’m afraid you’ve left me no choice but...

Kady squeezed her eyes closed as she thought of a thousand horrible punishments Dormer could inflict. ‘Not detention, anything but that. I won’t go,’ she determined silently. ‘I’ll get expelled. Dad’ll have a fit, nothing new there, but I just can’t stay in school that long…’ She exhaled, and chewed on her bottom lip, blaming it all on some stupid books, stupid Amy, and being just slightly late. Again.

She heard Dormer’s voice saying, ...but to move you to the front of the class and assign you extra homework for the next two weeks. Kady nodded and resumed breathing. Mr. Dormer began droning on about Aztecs or maybe it was Incas, she wasn’t sure because she was busy thinking about what the brownie had tossed at her last week and what was now hidden in her locker.

Chapter~3~

The lunch bell rang, and Kady, as usual was first out of the classroom. She hurried into the cafeteria, dropped her brown paper bag on the table and waited for Terry. ‘How does anyone eat in this place? She wondered. Pale yellow walls matched the chipped Formica tables. Years of dirt and spilled food left the floor a sludge gray color. It wouldn’t have surprised Kady to see people losing their shoes from sticking to cafeteria ‘quicksand.’ There also was the delectable, lingering smell of singed hair and Kady reasoned that was why the kitchen staff all wore those fashionable baggies on their heads.

Hi Ter! Kady called, waving him over. He dropped his backpack onto the chair next to hers, and tossed her his usual look of disapproval before disappearing into the line of students that waited for a substance rumored to be food. Terry returned several minutes later carrying a tray with a dried out hamburger, some wrinkled worm-like things Kady guessed were fries and two cups of some tan substance. She raised her eyebrows as she scanned the tray then looked quizzically at Terry.

It’s supposed to be chocolate pudding, he said in response to Kady’s crinkled nose while he attempted to peel away the paper plate from the bun, and the bun from the charred meat.

You can’t keep doing this kind of stuff, we’re in high school now, Terry said as he wrestled with the piece of wannabe meat. You gotta try to be on time, at least to most of your classes. Finally wrenching the bun free, he added, And stop making a scene when you do! And what about college?

College! gasped Kady, clutching her throat and falling back against her chair.

Yeah, college, but at the rate you’re going, the only college that’ll take you will be Butthead U!

Real funny, Ter, but I’m a straight ‘A’ student. She leaned across the table, studying his cherub face, ever since I started this whole school thing back in fourth grade.

Yeah, well, your mom did a good job home schooling you, but you don’t have her anymore. Terry’s gaze fell, Sorry, I didn’t mean...

Kady hunched over, catching his rich brown eyes in her own, It’s okay, I know.

Terry smiled, and resumed reconstruction of his food, scraping some green stuff from the hamburger. What’s this? he shoved the green goo under Kady’s nose.

Ew, I don’t know, but it smells awful, Kady shoved his hand away.

Terry tossed it under the table where it stuck. Anyway, it’s your behavior, he concluded.

Oh, okay Dad, Kady said, I know I’ve been messing up lately, but wait until you see... She paused, watching Terry shove the entire hamburger into his mouth. The image of a hamster crossed her mind.

You drive me crazy, and not only me, your Dad too, He said after the large lump of food disappeared. He rummaged through her brown paper bag and held up some plastic wrapped chocolate chip cookies Kady’s father made. For me?

I figured you’d like them. Your mom’s diet not working?

Nope, he answered through a mouthful of cookie. Not unless she locks me in a closet or worse…makes me eat her cooking. She needs another kid so she’s not always on me, but I guess she’d have to get married again to do that. But every time she has a prospect over, what’s she do? Cooks them dinner! Then, that’s always the last she sees of them. Ya know, I was thinking that I should call the government and give them a few of her recipes. They could use them as some sort of secret weapon, like a human repellant. He waved