Demon Dicks and Jumping Jesus

66

Sneaky and Shizuaka were fourth generation Asian American. Everyone that they ran into thought they spoke Chinese, Japanese, or some kind of foreign language, but they didn't. Their mother and father never taught them. Shizuoka always thought that it was because their parents hated the language. Whenever the sisters heard Cantonese spoken, it was always in anger, sounding ugly to their ears, and always towards their grandparents.

But that was back in New York. Now they lived in Acoma, New Mexico. The house was huge and yards away from other houses on the road. No one argued, or at least not like they used to.

Sneaky and Shizuoka's father gained a promotion at Cotel Corporation where he was regional manager of the software division. The job required him to move to New Mexico. That was fine with their mom and dad. They were getting tired of New York and especially of their parents. Sneaky and Shizuoka were indifferent. They had no real friends in New York to lose and they didn't like their condescending teachers that much.

That was three months ago.

The sisters quickly realized that New Mexico wasn't that much different from New York. They had the same feelings of alienation and the people of New Mexico had the same assumptions about the sisters.

SHIZUOKA, 12, HAD TO baby-sit her younger sister Sneaky, 10, one Saturday night. It wasn't a big deal. They got along. Mom and dad had to go to a company party. They left the number where they could be reached as well as the number of the Van Heckes who lived on the farm down the street. The Van Heckes were always home since they were old and were too busy filling orders for their jelly roll business.

Sneaky sat on the floor in the living room and watched The Toxic Avenger, one of four videos that the girls rented for the night. Her eyes were focused on the screen and her little round face revealed little expression to the gory parts.

Did you see that? Sneaky asked when the car ran over the boy's head on the screen. Sneaky then shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

Shizuoka sat on the couch and read an article from her mom's Cosmo about better orgasms. She wasn't too interested in The Toxic Avenger. Instead, she anxiously awaited the next movie: Restless with Richard Gere.

Uh, huh, Shizuoka said.

The doorbell rang.

Sneaky quickly pressed pause on the remote and with a frightened look on her face turned to her older sister.

Shizuoka flinched at Sneaky.

It was just the doorbell, Shizuoka said.

Yeah, but who is it?

I'll go find out, Shizuoka said, getting off the couch and sticking out her tongue.

Shizuoka walked through the kitchen, the family room, and to the front door. She looked through the narrow, stained-glass window next to the door and turned on the light outside.

No one was there.

Who is it? Sneaky asked. She stood in the kitchen, hiding behind the threshold.

No one, Shizuoka said. They're gone.

It was the Purifier, Sneaky said.

You mean a Protestant?

No, the Purifier. Sandy Pogue told me that her father said that the Purifier was gonna take care of the new chinks in town. He meant us. The Purifier was made by the white God and it goes around the desert and eats the Mexicans, the chinks, and the kykes. He keeps the country pure. Sandy Pogue's father is a police man so he has to be right.

That's stupid, Shizuoka laughed. There's no such thing. Besides, does a killer ring the doorbell? A monster for that matter?

If he wants to know if someone is home, he does.

Shizuoka looked out the window again and saw no one around. She doubted that there was a killer monster out there. Her mother told her that they left all the crazies back in New York.

Probably someone who realized they got the wrong house, Shizuoka said. C'mon, back to the movie.

They walked to the living room.

What's a kyke? Sneaky asked Shizuoka.

SHIZUOKA FELL ASLEEP during the last ten minutes of Restless, but she didn't mind. All the good parts (the sex scenes) were in the first 45 minutes. Sneaky, who was bored during the movie, was glad it was over.

Now, onto the next movie: The Wraith with Charlie Sheen. Sneaky took the Restless tape out of the VCR, placed it in the clamshell box, and walked to the coffee table where the videos were piled. She quietly placed the tape down and picked up The Wraith.

As she turned back to the VCR, Sneaky's eyes glanced at the back glass door that looked out to the backyard and the desert behind them. In between the parted curtains, a humanoid monster looked at her. He was 6 feet tall, wearing shredded clothes, coated red with blood, and its mouth was wide open in pain.

Sneaky dropped the video and screamed.

Shizuoka woke up, looked at Sneaky, and then turned to the window.

The monster looked with frightened green eyes at Shizuoka. It banged its hands on the glass, smearing blood and screaming.

Shizuoka screamed.

She got off the couch and moved her little sister to the kitchen. Sneaky couldn't stop screaming or take her eyes off the monster. Shizuoka moved them to the phone. She picked it up and was about to dial 911 when...

The deranged monster broke the glass door and stumbled into the house. The monster lost its balance and landed on its hands and knees on the glass-covered carpet. It bellowed in fresh pain.

Screaming, Shizuoka grabbed Sneaky's hand, also screaming, and pulled her to the stairs. The older sister dragged the younger sister up the stairs, down the hall, and into their parent's room. Shizuoka twisted the small lock on the doorknob and then her screaming sister to the closet. Shizuoka pushed Sneaky inside the dark closet and closed the door. They crouched close to the wall, behind the hanging clothes.

Sneaky kept screaming.

Shizuoka placed her hand on Sneaky's mouth and said, Shh.

Sneaky stopped screaming. Shizuoka left her hand on Sneaky's mouth. Sneaky's nostrils flared, trying to get more air.

No more screaming, okay, Shizuoka said.

Sneaky nodded.

Shizuoka took her hand away.

It was the Purifier, Sneaky whispered. God sent him to kill us.

Shizuoka ignored her, concentrating on listening.

The monster in question continued to bellow in pain. There was a lot of banging and clashing, as if it was searching for something in the kitchen. What, food?

He's searching for a knife, I think, Sneaky said. Easier to cut us up into pieces and eat us.

Shut up. He is not, Shizuoka said, but didn't really believe.

Sneaky started to cry. Shizuoka held her sister and told her that they were going to be all right.

SHIZUOKA WASN'T SURE how long they were in the closet, but she guessed it was over an hour. The house was quiet.

Maybe we should go see if he's out there, Shizuoka suggested to Sneaky.

Sneaky clung to Shizuoka and said, Fuck that.

Hey, Shizuoka said, the mouth.

We're about to die and you want me to watch my mouth?

Yes.

Sneaky sighed, then said, Anyway. It could be out there waiting for us.

But it could be gone.

What about Mom and Dad? Sneaky asked.

What about them?

They could come home and the Purifier could kill them.

Shizuoka didn't think of that.

A frantic banging from outside the bedroom.

He's at the bedroom door, Sneaky whispered, moving closer to Shizuoka.

Shizuoka's heart raced as she reached around the dark closet for a weapon. The best she found was one of her mom's high heels. Then she remembered the movie Halloween. Shizuoka reached for one of her mom's dresses and pulled it down, taking the wire hanger with it.

The bedroom door broke open.

Shizuoka untwisted the head of the hanger and made a point. She held the point out in front of her.

The monster moved around the bedroom, panting. The steps stopped in front of the closet door.

Shizuoka held the hanger out in front of her, ready to stab. Sneaky closed her eyes and hid her face in her sister's shoulder.

The closet door swung open.

Light shined inside.

Shizuoka screamed.

Sneaky screamed.

Their mom screamed.

When the girls realized who was in front of them, they stopped screaming and ran to their mother's arms. She held the girls, so relieved, dripping tears onto their shoulders.

I found them, Mom called out.

Thank God, Dad said from downstairs. The police are on their way.

THE KITCHEN WAS A MESS. Bloody footprints stained the floor while bloody hand prints covered the cabinets and refrigerator. All the drawers were pulled out and the contents inside them were on the floor. Bloody kitchen towels were piled in one spot by the chair.

Two police officers arrived. Sneaky and Shizuoka sat at the kitchen table and told their story of how the Purifier came for them. The officers listened and looked at each other with side-glances. When the girls finished, the cops took mom and dad to the side and loudly explained what they thought happened:

About a mile down the road, a man possibly strung out on drugs hit a dog and swerved their truck into a gully. The truck twisted over a few times and landed on its roof. They believed that the driver, a man, got out and searched for help. He saw the house and went to it. He rang the bell, no one answered, then he went to the back of the house. In a fit of pain, the driver must have freaked out and broken into the house to take care of his wounds.

So, where is this wounded guy? Shizuoka asked.

One of the officers turned to the sisters and said, We have yet to find him.

But we will, the second officer said.

Shizuoka noticed the name tag on the first officer's shirt: D. Pogue.

You're Sandy's father? Sneaky asked.

Pogue looked at the girls, a bit nervous. Yes, yes I am. You go to school with my daughter?

And there is no Purifier out there, huh? Shizuoka asked.

No. There is no such thing, Pogue assured.

Sneaky and Shizuoka, with serious doubt, looked at Officer Pogue.

Pogue smiled.

Silverfish

Sneaky sat in the wide -open field where The Acoma School placed their playground. She wore a bright new dress her mother bought her last weekend. Sneaky made sure that when she knelt down in the grass her dress didn't get trapped under her knees.

Sneaky's Chinese eyes looked over at the schoolyard to see the other kids on the jungle, swings, and seesaw. They were loud, but not loud enough to grab the conversing teachers' attention standing at the side of the school.

Sneaky started the 5th grade five months ago in September. She and her family (her mother, father, and older sister Shizuoka) moved to Acoma, New Mexico from New York City. He father gained a promotion at Cotel that required him to move.

Sandy Pogue walked out from a crowd of kids in Sneaky's class. She stopped in front of her, keeping a safe distance. Sneaky looked at Sandy, her hands pulling out clumps of grass and scattering them in the air.

Why are you out here, Sneaky? Sandy asked.

Sneaky tilted her head. The question didn't sound right to her.

My mom will get mad at me if I got dirty, Sneaky said.

Yeah, right, Sandy said. You just have no friends.

Sneaky wanted to smile, but she bit the sides of her mouth instead.

Go away, Sandy.

But she didn't.

You're not natural, Sandy stated. They're afraid if you get near them their eyes will slant shut and their skin will turn into that weird yellow color.

Uh, huh.

What kind of name is Sneaky?

Sneaky looked at the ground and ignored her.

Sandy, upset that Sneaky wasn't crying, scrunched her face up.

My daddy says God has plans for people like you, Sandy declared. They're gonna drop a bomb on you like they did in that war.

Sneaky then looked up at Sandy and pulled some spit up from the back of her throat.

What are you doing? Sandy asked, nervous.

Sneaky took a handful of dirt and grass, and spat in it, packing it together with her hands.

This is a ball of my germs, Sneaky declared. She pulled her arm back, ready to throw the spit/dirt ball at Sandy.

Sandy Pogue, fearing the plague ball, ran away screaming.

Sneaky smiled wide, then threw the ball over her shoulder.

SNEAKY WAITED FOR HER sister, Shizuoka, at the front of the school. The seventh grade classes were at the back of the school so it took Shizuoka a few more minutes to get out through the front.

Shizuoka walked out with the other kids and she wasn't alone. A boy her age walked with her, carrying Shizuoka's books. He was a few inches taller, his hair was short and blond, and his eyes were blue and his skin a tanned Caucasian. As they moved closer to Sneaky, she noticed that they were holding hands. Sneaky felt sour in her stomach.

Hi, Sneaky, Shizuoka said.

Sneaky looked at the boy.

Hi, Shizuoka, Sneaky said.

The boy smiled at Sneaky and waved at her.

This is Craig. I'm gonna hang out with him for a few hours at his house, Shizuoka said. Tell mom I'll be home by five.

Aren't we gonna walk home? Sneaky asked.

Not today, okay?

It wasn't, but she said, Oh, okay.

Shizuoka looked at Craig, and they exchanged smiles. The smiles angered Sneaky. She turned and walked away from them, silent.

Sneaky, Shizuoka called out, worried.

Sneaky kept walking, heading for home.

SNEAKY TURNED ONTO Hatfield Road. Her pink plastic backpack weighed her down, aching her back. To get her mind off it, she sung the Growing Pains theme song and stared at her feet. She walked past a few houses on the empty road, most of which were abandoned.

Sneakyyyyyyyyyyyy!

A boy's scream pulled her attention up from her shoes. Two seventh graders, Lewis Spector and Danny Bantam, rode their bikes towards Sneaky, their asses off the seat and their legs pumping the petals.

Sneakyyyyyyyy Chinkyyyyyyyy! the boys screamed and laughed.

Her heart pounded and her mouth hung open in worry. Lewis and Danny were her most dangerous tormentors; they were seventh graders for Christ's sake. She ran to one of the abandoned houses. It was one level high with planked up windows and a front door hanging on one hinge. Sneaky opened the door and entered the house.

The boys burned out on their bikes and dropped them on the ground.

Sneaky Chinky Winky! Lewis called out. Come out and play!

Sneaky ran to the back of the musty house and entered the kitchen. She heard the boys open the front door and storm inside it. Sneaky headed for the back door.

Lewis and Danny laughed and pounded the wall as they slowly headed for the kitchen.

Sing Sah Soooo, Lewis screamed out, making Danny laugh.

Sneaky opened the back door and then got an idea. She left the door open and moved to the counter by the sink where there were four doors. Sneaky picked one, took her backpack off, and crawled inside. She closed the door behind her and placed her backpack on her lap, sitting in the dark.

Danny and Lewis jumped into the kitchen and made defensive stances.

Wahhhh!

But the room was empty.

Danny placed his hands on his hips and looked around.

Where she go?

Lewis went to the back door and put it all together. Ah, man. She's probably out on the street by now. C'mon.

Lewis with Danny close behind left through the back door.

Sneaky smiled at her plan's success. She sat in the dark space a few more minutes, making sure the boys were good and gone. As she waited, she realized how creepy her hiding spot was.

Something shifted in the dark in front of her.

Sneaky remained still, too scared to move. Her heart pounded. She hoped that whatever animal was there with her would...

Something wet touched her cheek.

Sneaky screamed and shot out from the counter, leaving her pink backpack behind. She stopped at the other side of the room and turned to the counter door.

From out of the darkness, a boy about her age peeked his head out. His skin was mostly African brown with patches of newborn pink-white. His three blue eyes under scared brows stared at Sneaky. He knelt down with his dirty hands pressing onto the floor, holding his upper body up.

Sneaky stared back at the three-eyed boy. He looked like a monster, but...he wasn't ferocious like one. She calmed down a bit.

Sneaky stepped closer to the boy. He shivered back.

Oh, sorry, Sneaky said.

The boy tilted his head to the side, confused.

Sorry? Sneaky repeated. You know English?

The boy stared and blinked his three eyes.

Can I have my bag? Sneaky asked, pointing at it. Bag. Bag. Mine.

The boy looked at the bag, then smiled at it. He picked it up and moved out of the counter. He wore blue jeans a few sizes too big and a yellow Hawaiian shirt buttoned to the top. He stood in front of Sneaky and held the bag.

Sneaky reached out for it. The boy extended his arms. She took the bag and stepped back, swinging it slightly at her side.

Thank you, Sneaky said.

Welcome, the boy said.

You speak English?

Si.

That's Spanish, isn't it?

The boy shrugged.

I'm Sneaky. Sneeee-keeee.

Sneaky.

That's right, Sneaky said, smiling, proud. What's your name?

Name.

Yeah. You.

The boy rolled his eyes in thought, taking his time. Finally, he shrugged.

Oh, Sneaky said. You, uh, live here? She pointed at the walls.

The nameless boy shook his head.

Where are you from? Where is your home?

He stared.

Home. Where is home? Sneaky said again, louder, clearer.

Sun, the boy said.

Sun? Sneaky said. The sun can't be your home. It's too hot. Everybody knows that.

Sun.

Sneaky sighed and then walked to the back door. She pointed outside at the sun hanging over the desert mountains in the distance.

That's the sun, Sneaky said. Sun. You don't live there.

The boy stood next to Sneaky and followed her finger to the ball of fire floating in the sky. He glanced at her and shook his head.

Sun, he insisted.

Before Sneaky knew it, the three-eyed boy grabbed the sides of her head. Her bag dropped to the floor, her vision went black, then...

...she was deep underwater, no vegetation, no rocks, just the familiar, brightly colored fish making their way around her, ignoring her, then the light above her head that she sped towards and finally broke out into the air where the water was bellow her, the sky was above, and the island was in front where structures made of clear crystal were positioned around the land, no bigger than one level, straight, rippled sides and subtle curves for corners and the distorted people...

Sneaky opened her eyes and saw the boy place his hands back at his sides. She felt a bit dizzy and rushed. But she didn't fall down, instead she just smiled.

That was Sun? Sneaky asked.

The boy nodded.

Where is it?

He shrugged, frowning.

Oh, Sneaky said. You can't find your way home.

Si.

Well, you can't stay here. This place is a dump. You have to go back out there and keep looking.

He shook his head.

Why?

He raised his arms and growled like a monster, then pointed out the door.

Yeah, I know, Sneaky said. It is scary, but you can't let them stop you. That's what my sister says. Don't repeat this out loud, but Shizuoka told me that people are mostly filled with shit and shit can't hurt you, it just smells.

Shit.

Yeah.

Sneaky looked at her Winnie the Pooh watch.

I have to get home, she said reluctantly.

He nodded his head, sad.

I'll come tomorrow. I'll try to get you some food, too. Good food.

He liked that.

Bye, Sneaky said, loading her backpack on her back.

Silverfish, the boy said, patting his chest. Silverfish.

She scrunched her face. Yeah, okay. If you say so. Bye, Silverfish.

Sneaky walked home.

THE NEXT DAY, SNEAKY stole some bread and peanut butter from the kitchen before she left for school, then from school she snatched a few granola bars. She hid the food in her bag, trying not to crush them with her books.

At the end of the day, Sneaky walked away from the school, heading for Hatfield Road.

Sneaky.

She turned to see Shizuoka catching up to her.

Wait up.

What are you doing? Sneaky asked, perplexed.

Walking home with you?

Why?

I'm your sister, Dingle Berry. I always walk with you.

What about Craig?

Craig's a dork. Juliana told me that she heard from Lewis that Craig was only trying to grab my tits.

Sneaky frowned.

Why? she asked.

Shizuoka smiled.

I don't know.

The sisters walked down Hatfield Road. When they got to Silverfish's house, Sneaky went up to the front door.

Sneaky, what are you doing? Shizuoka asked.

Seeing a friend.

Shizuoka followed her sister into the house and to the kitchen at the back. Shizuoka stood by the threshold and held her books close to her body, shivering.

You met someone here, she asked. What did I tell you about talking to strangers and homeless people?

Sneaky shot her sister an angry look.

He's not strange.

Sneaky looked in the cabinets. They were empty.

Silverfish, Sneaky called out.

They waited. No one responded.

Sneaky shrugged her shoulders and took out the food out of her bag. She placed it on the counter.

Just in case, Sneaky said.

Just in case of what? Shizuoka asked.

Just in case he doesn't make it to Sun and has to come back, Sneaky said. He might be hungry.

Shizuoka watched her sister close the backpack. Sneaky then led her out of the house and back onto the road. They walked side by side.

Tell me about this Silverfish, Shizuoka asked.

Sneaky did.

Violaine

Sneaky ate her bowl of Krunch-Munch while her Mom and Dad sat at either side of the table. Mom was dressed for her job at the Felt Belt, which was located at a strip mall just outside Acoma, New Mexico. Dad wore a dark gray suit and red tie, dressed for his office job. He read the morning paper while his dish held the remnants of a grapefruit. They were quiet at the kitchen table except for Sneaky's crunching and Dad's page turning. It was the calm before the storm that Sneaky knew was coming.

The storm arrived.

Good morning.

They turned to Sneaky's older sister, Shizuoka. She had recently turned 13 (2 years older than Sneaky). She wore worn jeans and a Nirvana T-shirt; that was normal for Shizuoka. What wasn't normal, what made Mom and Dad's eyes open wide in horror was the bright pink hair on Shizuoka's head.

The older sister stood by the threshold, loving the attention, but shifting from foot to foot. She looked at Sneaky who smiled and nodded at her.

What did you do? Mom said, getting out of the chair and inspecting Shizuoka's hair.

Isn't it great? Shizuoka said, raking her hand through it.

Dad slammed the paper down.

No. No. No, he demanded. He then yelled in a language the sisters were never taught and hadn't heard since their parents argued with their grandparents back in New York.

Mom shot Dad an angry look and shouted back in the same language.

Sneaky flinched, lost in the action.

Shizuoka sighed; this was not going how she planned.

English, please, she shouted.

Dad and Mom stopped arguing in their native tongue, slightly embarrassed.

This will not do, Dad informed Shizuoka. Why of all days would you do this?

Why not? You said it was okay the other day.

Have you forgotten where you are going today?

No, Shizuoka said. I'm going with you to Take Your Child To Work Day.

And here you are, looking like you stuck your head in a cotton candy machine.

Dad!

I'll go with you, Sneaky offered.

No, you have school, honey, Mom told her, sitting down, exhausted.

So do I, Shizuoka said.

Sneaky is too young to miss a day of school, Mom said, weakly.

The girls flinched.

Are you embarrassed of me? Shizuoka asked.

Yes. I am, Dad said.

You are not, Mom rushed in. Your father did not mean that.

Dad leaned back in his chair, exhausted as Mom.

No. This is definitely not good, he said.

Dad, you are making a big deal about nothing, Shizuoka said. No one is going to care or notice.

Oh, sure. You are saying that in ignorance, Dad said. You haven't met the people I work with.

Shizuoka looked at Mom who nodded her head in agreement.

Do you have a wig? Dad asked Mom.

A wig, Mom shouted. Why would I need a wig?

Sneaky stood up and peeked at the top of Mom's head.

You don't need a wig, Mom.

Mom pointed Sneaky out to Dad, raising her brows.

Well, I can't shave it off, he mused.

Dad! Shizuoka shouted.

This is not good, Dad said again, spacing out.

You know, no one has told me if they like it or not, Shizuoka said, disappointed.

I love it, Sneaky offered. I wish I had pink hair.

Shizuoka smiled.

It looks very nice, Shizuoka, Mom said, very serious and kind. Very pretty.

Dad, aghast, glanced at Mom. Mom looked back at him, smiled, then laughed. The two girls joined her, then finally Dad.

DAD WAS THE REGIONAL manger of software development at the Telex Corporation. Telex was not the original company that brought him down to Acoma, New Mexico. Previously he worked for the Cotel Company and they exclusively made software as apposed to Telex that focused on computer hardware. Telex bought out Cotel at the end of last year. Dad was worried that he would lose his job to cutbacks or company re-facing, but Telex kept all the Cotel employees and business went as usual.

The ride to the office building was quiet. Shizuoka sat in the front passenger seat. Between her legs, she had a book bag packed with her Walkman, tapes, and Kathe Koja's The Cipher.  When they stopped at the front gate, the guard checked Dad's pass, which she thought was weird; didn't he go to work everyday?

When the guard finished with Dad, he looked over at Shizuoka and flinched.

Um, this is my daughter, Shizuoka, Dad said, nervous.

Yes, sir, the guard said. Let me get her a pass.

When the guard entered the booth, Dad shot Shizuoka an I-Told-You-So expression.

She scoffed, Oh, please. He looks like a hick and you care what he thinks.

He scrunched his face at her.

They entered the office building where a guard sat behind a security desk in the lobby. On either side of the desk were sets of elevators where masses of employees waited to board. Shizuoka and Dad flashed their passes and entered one of the packed elevators. Dad smiled and said hello to a few people, introducing his daughter.

Oh, that's right, exclaimed Mr. Guthrie, a middle-aged man who hogged all the space with his weight. That's today. I completely forgot.

Shizuoka looked around the cramped elevator. She caught a few of the suited employees quickly adverting their curious stares. Shizuoka kept a poker face and continued to stare at them, giving them a dose of their own medicine.

To be honest with you, Guthrie said to Dad, I don't think too many people brought in their kids.

Dad frowned.

Why not?

I guess because we're bad parents, Guthrie joked, looking around the elevator to see if anyone shared his smile.

A few did.

Shizuoka turned to her father. He faked a smile for Guthrie. She felt bad for him. Take Your Kid To Work Day was only a big deal for him.

They walked down the hallway and passed busy offices, saying hello. Entering Dad's office, he showed Shizuoka to the couch placed against the wall by the door. She dropped her bag and butt down on the cushion. Dad went to his large oak desk and emptied his briefcase.

It was big, bigger than the ones they passed down the hallway. There was a coffee table covered with computer discs, magazines, and manuals. The walls had pictures of Manhattan city-scapes. Behind the desk was a large open window that displayed the desert and mountains. Below the window was a black, shiny shelf that held framed pictures of Shizuoka, Sneaky, and Mom. She didn't notice any of her grandparents; she was not surprised. Oddly, she spotted a few of her baby toys that she thought were lost for good, not that she still needed them, but she guessed that Dad did.

He eventually settled down in his chair behind the desk.

Well, this day is not going as planned, Dad said. Would you like me to drop you off at school?

Uh, no, Shizuoka said, looking own at her sneakers. But...

Dad smiled.

Well, you can't go home. Do you mind staying here with me all day?

She shrugged, not sure what to say.

You have enough to do? he asked.

I got my book, she offered.

Okay. If you get bored, let me know.

For the rest of the morning, Shizuoka stretched out on the couch and read The Cipher or watched Dad's co-workers move in and out of the office, all coming to get his approval or ask questions about a project. When they found out who Shizuoka was, each employee completely forgot about the special day for kids, even Dad's own boss forgot.

Dad, in Shizuoka's eyes, did nothing interesting. He talked about programs and computer hardware that Shizuoka knew nothing about. Sneaky was the one interested in science and technology, often helping Shizuoka when she used the computer at home. After a while, the tech talk distracted Shizuoka from her reading. She took out her headset and listened to music while she read.

Noon rolled around.

Looks like lunch, Dad said, stretching out in his chair.

Shizuoka took her blaring earphones off and said, What?

Dad laughed slightly, then said, Lunch. Are you hungry?

Starved.

How about some Italian?

Okay. Sure.

Guthrie knocked on the door and stepped into the office. He had the look of a condemned man.

You are not going to like this, Guthrie moped. Poulhan called an emergency meeting.

What? No? Dad said.

Something bad happened with the Cocteau Project. The bastard is going nuts.

Fuck, Dad spat, then blushed when he saw Shizuoka smiling at him. Okay, I'll be there in a minute.

Guthrie left.

Dad walked over to Shizuoka sitting on the couch and took out his wallet. He handed her some cash.

This could take a few hours and I don't want you to wait, Dad said.

Shizuoka took the cash and stood.

The Italian place is across the street at the strip mall, Dad said.

Yeah, I remember seeing it.

Don't lose your pass, okay?

Dad.

I know.

He kissed the top of her head.

Hmm. Doesn't taste like cotton candy.

Ha ha ha, Shizuoka said, walking out of the office.

I want you back here by one, even if I'm not here, Dad called out.

She waved her hand as she headed for the elevator. Okay, she yelled.

Shizuoka went across the street to Farina's Restaurant. She ate a few slices of Sicilian pizza and drank a large diet Coke. She took her time eating, listening to her Walkman and watching people eat.

She finished at a quarter to one and then walked back to the Telex office building. The guard recognized her and waved her by with a smile. Shizuoka flashed her pass anyway, keeping it legal, scowling. She then entered and walked to the elevator. A large crowd of employees waited for all four of the elevators. Shizuoka stood at the back. From the complaints, she heard that the elevators were broken; the problem was small and it should be fixed in a few minutes. A few employees couldn't wait; they took the stairs. Shizuoka considered taking them, but Dad's office was on the 6th floor.

Shizuoka wandered around the lobby, glancing out the windows. She then noticed another elevator at the back corner on the right side of the lobby. Why wasn't anyone using it? Was it broken as well? She thought of asking the security guard if she could use it but he was arguing with an employee.

She stepped up to the secret elevator and pressed the button on the panel. The door opened and Shizuoka entered. She turned around and looked for the panel of buttons. There wasn’t one. Getting a bad feeling, Shizuoka moved to leave, but the doors closed on her.

Shit, she said, taking her headset off her ears.

DING!

The doors opened. The lobby was gone and a long concrete hallway took over. Bulbs with wire mesh covering them hung from the ceiling. Shizuoka stepped out, figuring she was in the basement. Although, it was clean, as if it was just build. Maybe it wasn't the basement.

The doors closed behind her.

Shizuoka grabbed the doors before they connected and tried to hold them open, but unlike regular elevator doors, these kept closing. She pulled her fingers out, fearing they would be crushed. The doors sealed.

She looked for a button on the side of the door and found a slot. Was it for the pass? She took her card out and saw a magnetic strip on the back length of it. Shizuoka ran the strip down the slot, trying both sides. Nothing happened, not even a beep.

Shit, Shizuoka said.

There had to be stairs, right?

She turned and walked down the hall. Every six feet or so, there was a door on either side of the hall. The doors were locked. There was no keyhole on the knob or locks on the door. Odd.

At the end of the hall, Shizuoka had the option of going left or right down identical hallways. She picked right.

She kept trying the doors until one opened for her. A door halfway down the hall on her right opened. Shizuoka pushed it and peeked inside. The room was dark; a large beam of light shined in from one side and hit the wall on her right. Shizuoka stepped inside, hiding behind