Read Online Zippered Flesh 2: More Tales of Body Enhancements Gone Bad by Kealan Patrick Burke, Charles Colyott, Bryan Hall, Shaun Jeffrey, Michael Bailey, Lisa Mannetti, Shaun Meeks, L.L. Soares, Christian A. Larsen - Free Book Online
Authors: Kealan Patrick Burke, Charles Colyott, Bryan Hall, Shaun Jeffrey, Michael Bailey, Lisa Mannetti, Shaun Meeks, L.L. Soares, Christian A. Larsen
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keep trying to tell you that—and it’s all because of this ... this ... whatever it is on my face!”
“But why Charlie?”
“He’s too young to care about how I look. He just cares that I like him and treat him nice. He’s the only real friend I have. We were walking home from school the other day and one of the football players called me ‘the Wicked Witch of the West.’ Well, Charlie ran right up to him and started punching his leg.” Lucinda smiled, tears welling up at the memory. “It was as high as he could reach, Mom, but he did it without a second thought. He did it for me. That linebacker could have made him into a stain on the sidewalk, but Charlie didn’t care. So, yes, Mom, I’m going to the movies with Charlie Foley, my little knight in shining armor and red Velcro sneakers. Are you driving us, or is Dad?” Before her mother could reply, Lucinda dried her eyes and left the room.
Mrs. Parker was floored. “I had no idea things were as bad as that,” she murmured before joining everyone in the living room.
Mr. Parker looked up, an expression of wonder on his face. “Eleanor, this little guy knows more about the Yankees than I ever did—every stat on every player! A fine young man ... just fine.” He reached over to tousle Charlie’s hair, thought better of it, and settled for a manly pat on the back.
“I brought all my saved ‘lowance, Lu, and I’m gonna buy you a humongous bagga popcorn—all by myself!” Charlie was really good at saving his money—even at age six. He had big plans, that one; but he understood the importance of gratitude, as well, and it didn’t take a chain saw to get him to part with some cash when it was appropriate.
Lucinda kissed Charlie on the cheek. She knew how hard he worked for that fifty cents a week—it wasn’t just handed to him. “You are the sweetest man in the world, Charlie Foley, but my mom’s paying tonight. Save your money, kiddo. Someday I’ll want a car ... or maybe an elephant.”
“Or a giraffe?” Charlie giggled.
“Nope, no giraffe. Costs too much when they get a sore throat.”
“What are you two going to see tonight?” Mr. Parker asked.
“Oh! ‘The Incredibles’! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease, Lu?”
“Absolutely.”
Mr. Parker stood. “I’ll drive. Let’s get going. Coming, dear?”
“No ... no. I think I’ll stay here, thanks.”
Twenty minutes later, Mr. Parker stepped back through the door, chuckling. “We had to stop next door so Charlie could put his bag of quarters away. He’s such a nice little kid—no wonder Lu likes to baby-sit for him. Smart, too, that one, and ... what’s the matter, El?”
“I thought she was going out with Charlie to defy us or to make some obscure pre-teenage point, but she wasn’t.” She recapped the kitchen confrontation for him and when she was done, Mr. Parker sat back in his chair looking thoughtful; but when at last he opened his mouth to speak, it was his wife who voiced his thoughts.
Mr. Parker just smiled and nodded.
It was a glum Lucinda who sat at the table with her parents two weeks later. An angel food cake with thirteen candles blazed before her. Her loot this year consisted of an iPod and a gift certificate to download music onto it. She’d wanted just that, but nothing much seemed to make her happy anymore, and though she did her best to appear ecstatic, she knew from her parents’ reaction that her attempt had fallen flat. She also knew that money was tight in the house these days and that they really didn’t have cash to spare on such expensive gifts, so that added guilt to guest list of her pity party. Depression had already arrived.
She was really starting to hate birthdays.
“Now, make a wish, Lu. Make it a really good one, and I bet it comes true. Thirteen is the most magical birthday of all, or so I’ve heard,” Mr. Parker said.
“Dad, I’m thirteen, not three. Wishing doesn’t work.”
“Humor me. Close your eyes and
“But why Charlie?”
“He’s too young to care about how I look. He just cares that I like him and treat him nice. He’s the only real friend I have. We were walking home from school the other day and one of the football players called me ‘the Wicked Witch of the West.’ Well, Charlie ran right up to him and started punching his leg.” Lucinda smiled, tears welling up at the memory. “It was as high as he could reach, Mom, but he did it without a second thought. He did it for me. That linebacker could have made him into a stain on the sidewalk, but Charlie didn’t care. So, yes, Mom, I’m going to the movies with Charlie Foley, my little knight in shining armor and red Velcro sneakers. Are you driving us, or is Dad?” Before her mother could reply, Lucinda dried her eyes and left the room.
Mrs. Parker was floored. “I had no idea things were as bad as that,” she murmured before joining everyone in the living room.
Mr. Parker looked up, an expression of wonder on his face. “Eleanor, this little guy knows more about the Yankees than I ever did—every stat on every player! A fine young man ... just fine.” He reached over to tousle Charlie’s hair, thought better of it, and settled for a manly pat on the back.
“I brought all my saved ‘lowance, Lu, and I’m gonna buy you a humongous bagga popcorn—all by myself!” Charlie was really good at saving his money—even at age six. He had big plans, that one; but he understood the importance of gratitude, as well, and it didn’t take a chain saw to get him to part with some cash when it was appropriate.
Lucinda kissed Charlie on the cheek. She knew how hard he worked for that fifty cents a week—it wasn’t just handed to him. “You are the sweetest man in the world, Charlie Foley, but my mom’s paying tonight. Save your money, kiddo. Someday I’ll want a car ... or maybe an elephant.”
“Or a giraffe?” Charlie giggled.
“Nope, no giraffe. Costs too much when they get a sore throat.”
“What are you two going to see tonight?” Mr. Parker asked.
“Oh! ‘The Incredibles’! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease, Lu?”
“Absolutely.”
Mr. Parker stood. “I’ll drive. Let’s get going. Coming, dear?”
“No ... no. I think I’ll stay here, thanks.”
Twenty minutes later, Mr. Parker stepped back through the door, chuckling. “We had to stop next door so Charlie could put his bag of quarters away. He’s such a nice little kid—no wonder Lu likes to baby-sit for him. Smart, too, that one, and ... what’s the matter, El?”
“I thought she was going out with Charlie to defy us or to make some obscure pre-teenage point, but she wasn’t.” She recapped the kitchen confrontation for him and when she was done, Mr. Parker sat back in his chair looking thoughtful; but when at last he opened his mouth to speak, it was his wife who voiced his thoughts.
Mr. Parker just smiled and nodded.
It was a glum Lucinda who sat at the table with her parents two weeks later. An angel food cake with thirteen candles blazed before her. Her loot this year consisted of an iPod and a gift certificate to download music onto it. She’d wanted just that, but nothing much seemed to make her happy anymore, and though she did her best to appear ecstatic, she knew from her parents’ reaction that her attempt had fallen flat. She also knew that money was tight in the house these days and that they really didn’t have cash to spare on such expensive gifts, so that added guilt to guest list of her pity party. Depression had already arrived.
She was really starting to hate birthdays.
“Now, make a wish, Lu. Make it a really good one, and I bet it comes true. Thirteen is the most magical birthday of all, or so I’ve heard,” Mr. Parker said.
“Dad, I’m thirteen, not three. Wishing doesn’t work.”
“Humor me. Close your eyes and
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