Chapter 10

           Itwasstillprettyearly. I’mnotsurewhattimeitwas,butitwasn’ttoolate. TheonethingIhatetodoisgotobedwhenI’mnoteventired. SoIopenedmysuitcasesandtookoutacleanshirt,andthenIwentinthebathroomandwashedandchangedmyshirt. WhatIthoughtI’ddo,IthoughtI’dgodownstairsandseewhatthehellwasgoingonintheLavenderRoom. Theyhadthisnightclub,theLavenderRoom,inthehotel. 

           WhileIwaschangingmyshirt,IdamnneargavemykidsisterPhoebeabuzz,though. Icertainlyfeltliketalkingtoheronthephone. Somebodywithsenseandall. ButIcouldn’ttakeachanceongivingherabuzz,becauseshewasonlyalittlekidandshewouldn’thavebeenup,letaloneanywherenearthephone. Ithoughtofmaybehangingupifmyparentsanswered,butthatwouldn’t’veworked,either. They’dknowitwasme. Mymotheralwaysknowsit’sme. She’spsychic. ButIcertainlywouldn’thavemindedshootingthecrapwitholdPhoebeforawhile. 

           Youshouldseeher. Youneversawalittlekidsoprettyandsmartinyourwholelife. She’sreallysmart. Imeanshe’shadallA’seversinceshestartedschool. Asamatteroffact,I’mtheonlydumboneinthefamily. MybrotherD.B.’sawriterandall,andmybrotherAllie,theonethatdied,thatItoldyouabout,wasawizard. I’mtheonlyreallydumbone. ButyououghttoseeoldPhoebe. Shehasthissortofredhair,alittlebitlikeAllie’swas,that’sveryshortinthesummertime. Inthesummertime,shesticksitbehindherears. Shehasnice,prettylittleears. Inthewintertime,it’sprettylong,though. Sometimesmymotherbraidsitandsometimesshedoesn’t.It’sreallynice,though. She’sonlyten. She’squiteskinny,likeme,butniceskinny. Roller-skateskinny.