The Suburban Strange Excerpt

7/30/2019 The Suburban Strange Excerpt

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Near fatal accidents are plaguing

Suburban Highs female students

on the eve of their sixteenth birthday.

And Celias sixteenth birthday is

fast approaching . . .

suburban s t rangethe

nathan kotecki


2/39

For Amanda

(If you have a sister who you suspect has secret

supernatural powers, you understand.)

Copyght 2012 by A Op Ca, Ic.

All ghts sv. Publsh th Ut Stats by Houghto M Boos o Chl,

a pt o Houghto M Hacout Publshg Copay, 2012.

Fo oato about psso to pouc slctos o ths boo, wt to

Pssos, Houghto M Hacout Publshg Copay, 215 Pa Avu South,

Nw Yo, Nw Yo 10003.

ww w.hhboos.co

Musc cts appa o pag 357.

T Lbay o Cogss Catalogg--Publcato-Data cotol ub 2011048209

ISBN: 978-0-547-72996-1


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1

At the quiet beginning o a cla ay, a blac s-

a oll slowly ow th pty stt a ca to a

stop ot o Clas hous. Sh ha ow t woul

b cog, but t was a ty shoc to s t th, v so. Sh

op th ot oo a too log, slow sts ow th

wal to t t.

h cas tal a glass glt th og su. I

th passg sat wow Clas cto loo bac at

h: a tall, th gl wag a lttl blac caga ov a gay

ss. H s was pal a h log, staght bow ha s-

appa bh h shouls. Sh loo past th gla o

th glass a ou a sco gl sttg bh th stgwhl, who was ot uch ol tha sh. h vs azo-

shap blac bob sht a th ll bac to plac as h

glov ha low h suglasss a sh loo out at Cla.

Aou th th houss s to slub o th laws.

h og sll o w a gass. Soo t woul b all.

Cla op th oo a too h plac th pass-g sat. h a th ca hl tacs o a pu that -

h o osts a spc cabts a Chstas. A

you ay? th v as wh Cla ha clos th oo.

through the looking glass


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Nathan Kotecki

2

I th so.

h v put th ca ga a as away o th

cub. hy gl out o Clas ghbohoo at a statly pac,a th ab lght sh lt as thy w vg though

hoy. A glooy sog play o th sto, wth gg gu-

tas a cashg us, a a a sgg:

One cold damp evening the world stood still

I watched as I held my breathA silhouette I thought I knew came through

And someone spoke to me

Whispered in my ear

This fantasys for you

Fantasies are in this year . . .

Who s ths?

h Chalos, th v sa. You l t?

Ys.

h wa lght c though th ts as thy o.

Cla t to ag what sh ght hav b og, wh

sh ght hav b sta, sh hat . . . Sh wo

whch thg sh ght hav o tly, whch csowoul hav st h a t cto. It was ha to

guss. At ths ot sh lt as though sh ha v ha

a choc, ally. h w so ay qustos sh coult

asw, but t all s so vtabl, galss. Sh tu

aou a loo at th bac sat. A gay cash blat

lay th o th ta lath, atly ol, watg o th fstcol sap o th all.

hy ov to a ghbohoo Cla t ow, wh


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3

The Suburban Strange

th houss loo xpsv a th laws w w. h ca

stopp ot o o o th, a soo th ot oo o th

hous las a haso boy wag a a sht a tou-ss a a boca vst. Hs blo ha was shot o th ss

a swpt to a fts-sp pa o top. hats B,

th v sa. B wav th cto bo h got

to aoth xpsv-loog blac ca pa th v-

way.

H st g wth us? Cla as.hats ot how t wos. Youll s.

Bs ca pull out ot o th at th sa slow

pac, a thy ollow h to aoth ghbohoo.

My whole life passed before my eyes

I thought what they say is true

I shed my skin and my disguise

And cold, numb, and naked

I emerged from my cocoon

And a half-remembered tune played softly in my

head . . .

hy av at th cub ot o aoth hous. Ocaga a boy g: olv-s wth loos a culs,

h wo a sl gay sut jact ov a atchg pa o -

lgth shots, a blac loas wthout socs. hats Maco.

h boy wav to th; th h clb to th oth ca.

hough ts a wow Cla coul s th two boys gt

ach oth wth a ss.You ot atg ayo, a you? th v as Cla.

M? No! Iv v at ayo.


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Nathan Kotecki

4

Why s that? h v sou sups, a Cla

wsh sh ha aag to sou ochalat sta o

ala.Sh shugg, tyg to play t ow. I tall tha v-

yo. Sh loo ow at h log lgs shou a

tghts, a h t bucl shos wth hgh hls tha

sh v wo bo, a sh thought that ow v w

boys woul b abl to loo h th y.

You just to at soo ol, th v aswsply as thy ollow th oth blac ca ow th stt,

soug copltay a slghtly btt at th sa t.

It was such a obvous soluto, ow Cla thought about t,

but sh v ha t to solv th pobl. llg hsl sh

was too tall was o o th ways sh a ss o ot gttg

o attto o boys, but that coult obscu th p

tuth: Cla woult hav ow what to o wth a boy v

h ha b lv to h a shppg cat wth bathg

hols cut to th top.

I realize a miracle is due

I dedicate this melody to you

But is this the stuff dreams are made of?

No wonder I feel like Im floating on air

It feels like Im everywhere . . .

Last stop. Were late. I hope theyre ready. The two black

cars pulled up in ront o an imposing modern house with

a huge bed o ivy in place o a lawn. This time two peopleemerged through the ront door. Thats Liz, the driver said

o a shorter girl with a wavy bob, black with deep blue high-

lights, wearing skinny black pants and a button-down shirt


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5


with long tails. A rosary hung rom her neck. And thats Ivo.

Celias guides voice grew warmer as Ivo walked with Liz to

yet another black car. He was tall and thin with his black hairseverely parted and combed, wearing a black shirt and suit.

Theyre raternal twins. Theyre the whole reason the Rosary

exists.

h Rosay?

I t tll you? hats th a o ou goup. h v

tu to loo at Cla.A you . . . lgous? Cla as.

No. W a st o sall blac shy bas who stg

aou togth, fg bauty th st o th wol has ov-

loo. Cla thought ths was a scpto sh shoul -

b, but sh coult a ss o t. h v cot-

u, h Rosay s just th a wv gv ouslvs. But to

scb us, I say w a th cogosct.

I ot ow what that as, Cla sa.

h cogosct a th os who ow. h gl b-

h th whl gav h a appopatly owg loo, but

Cla stll ha o a how to spo.

Ivo a Lz w pullg out o th vway a th

blac ca, a suly th ag o shy blac thgs stugtogth wast just a tapho. Cla lt as sh w g

a ual pocsso, a a ala pa a up h.

Oly ctly ha h hat gow clos aou what lt l

th shas o a bullt that ha log th wh h ath

. h pa wast shap vy ay ow, but th shas w

always th. hy woul always b th.

Like when you fail to make the connection you

know how vital it is


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Nathan Kotecki

6

When something slips through your fingers you

know how precious it is

And you reach the point where you know its onlyyour second skin

Someones banging on my door . . .

What a you thg? th v as.

I . . . wll, t ls l w gog to a ual.

Goo, h gu sa. I suppos w a lttl loa-atc. You ow,In the midst o lie we are in death, a all that.

But thats what as t tstg ost popl oly th

about a thgs wh thy oc to, v though a

thgs ca b vy bautul. You usta?

I th so. It all sou ath p to Cla. Fo th

ot sh was lv that th pa that ha c h

s to b passg. hs a th os t vo

wt cuttg to h th way sh ha a. oay th

woul b o cast awatg h wh thy ach th st-

ato. Stll, sh hop th t woul co wh sh u-

stoo t all.

h pocsso cpt alog a tu oto a oa that

appoach a spawlg bulg achg to th sy l thao o a stgosauus, halls a wgs pog out all -

ctos. It stoo by tsl, wth op fls o th s a

acoss th stt. But at ts t, cas o oth colos a popl

covtoal cloths ov qucly vy cto, a

th sta sty o th v bga to vapoat. h Rosays

th blac cas fl soothly to th st o t all a fal-ly stopp s by s th pag lot. Cla op h oo

a th al lg o th jouy was go statly,


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7


l a hubcap clattg to th pavt. Sh put h t bac

ow o th gou a stoo up, loog aou, vously

watg to b touc to th oths.Hllo, Rg, Maco sa to Clas v. A fally

w gt to t Cla. H loo at h wth cuous, ys.

H sh s. Rg pst Cla by touchg h l-

bow, a Cla wo sh shoul stp owa. Maco,

B, Lz, Ivo, ths s Cla. hy all o at h. Sh

t ow what sh was suppos to o. But th xt o-t thy bga to spa to ach oth, a sh lt as sh

ha a away l a ghost.

You saw th w wg? Ivo pot alog o s o th

hug bulg. As ths plac wt lag ough alay.

You wot b swg th w pool, th? B

sa to h, a Ivo g hoo.

h covsato was ott wth as a topcs that

w og to Cla. Sh oc hsl ot to fgt.

Do you hav a x o us? Lz as B.

O cous I o. B op hs bag a pull out a

sl stac o jwl cass. Evythg s btt wth th ght

soutac.

Ev sothg as pssg as th fst ay o school?Espcally sothg as pssg as th fst ay o

school. B pass th CDs aou.

W hav to a th ost o t ts ou last ya to-

gth, Ivo sa, stuyg hs copy. You put h Haast

Rtual o h! hats pct!

B tu to Cla, o CD lt hs ha. Ithought you ght l o, too, h sa, slg.

ha you! Cla accpt t a stu th tac lst


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Nathan Kotecki

8

alog wth th oths. Fw o th atsts w ala to h,

a thos oly bcaus Rg ha bgu h tato to

th goups uscal tasts a w oths al.I hav a goo lg about ths ya, Maco sa. Its go-

g to b gat.

Celia looked around. Other kids who had parked nearby

were staring curiously at her group. It was obvious, though,

these fve dark riends didnt care. When the Rosary started

toward the building, they walked purposeully and slowly, justas they had driven, carrying themselves with a careul indi-

erence. They didnt look at the other kids, and they spoke

quietly so no one else could hear. Celia did her best to mimic

them. She was surprised to note the intrigued, even mystifed

respect rom the others or the Rosary. Beore she had met

Regine, whenever she was in public, Celia had wished to be

invisible, but there was no point in holding on to that desire

now. I this morning was any indication the procession o

cars, the austere clothes, the deliberate manner the Rosary

cultivated mystique deliberately. And i it werent or a chain

o unlikely events, Celia would have been on the other side,

the outside, staring at this group, unsure and alone. By some

strange chance, here she was in their midst, and she hoped shelooked at least a little as i she belonged, even though she elt

like an imposter. It was completely new, and a little thrilling,

but she was scared she would drop something, or all down

and be exposed as a ake. Then they would just walk smoothly

away rom her . . .

Suly, aha o th a gl bo away o h twos, zgzaggg acoss th pavt wth h ha uc

a h as alg aou h ac. No, o, o! sh


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9


sh. Collctvly th Rosay stopp walg, a Cla

stopp wth th.

What a you og? th atc gls s call,laughg a cous.

A! h tot gl jup, h whol a tsg.

h sh ca ow, s bt, a tu aou slowly to

loo at h s wth w ys. Sh ha lt th bh,

a thy stay put, usu whth thy wat to b assoc-

at wth such spastc bhavo o th fst ay o school.h gl ha stopp a a joc a oag -sht. Hy,

Els, whats wog?

A b stug ! Els hl o ha to th s o h

c. I allgc!

Whoa w hav to gt you to th us! h boy too

h a, but sh sa to th asphalt. H ha wav aou

h ac aga as sh gasp o a.

Cla glac at h goup. Each o th stoo cally,

uact by th gls plght. Wh sh was spawl, th

stug gl bloc th path to th school, a th Rosay oly

s to b watg o th way to b cla bo thy co-

tu. Ev o twty t away, Cla coul s that Elss

ac was swllg otcably. h gls two s ha ushov, a th joc ha opp to hs s xt to h, hs

has hovg uslssly aou h as h sca th pag

lot. H call out, Hlp! Soboy gt th us! Sval

s too o ug to th school.

Stll th Rosay t ov. Cla coult ault th o

ot gttg volv. h wast aythg to o that wastalay bg o, a th was o pot cowg th

poo gl. But Cla was both by h lg o hlplssss


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Nathan Kotecki

10

a h s sg c to Elss plght. Evy-

o ls th pag lot ha stopp th tacs, too,

but thy sca a pot, tllg ach oth what was ot o th.

Whats gog o? A youg tach ca ug towa

th havg gl.

Shs allgc to b stgs! th boy th oag sht

tol h as th tach couch xt to h. But th tach

t s to ow what to o, th. H sta at Els,a at aoth ot th joc ug h, W hav

to gt h that shot, whats t call? H loo aou

aga a shout, Dos ayo hav that shot o allgc

actos?

I hav a EpP! Aoth boy ca ug out o a

ow o cas, ggg hs satchl. H pull out a sall plastc

cas a ha t to th tach o th gou by Els.

But th tach sta at h, sayg, Iv v . . . h

boy too th cas bac, popp th cap a push Elss st

up h lg, th jabb th syg to h thgh a hl t

th. H spo a low voc to th gl, who o a

gasp. h boy t to p h ha out o h ys.

h tso bga to a o th a. h spctatosbga to ov aga, a Elss boy stat to lax. h

us lub to th pag lot a loo lv to f

that th ctcal hlp alay ha b ast. I aoth

ut th us a th tach hlp Els to h t, o

o ach s, a scot h to th bulg. H s

collct h thgs a tal bh h.h joc stoo up, hs bght oag -sht th last bt o

css lt th pag lot. H sa sothg to th boy who


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11


ha pov th EpP, a thy o sously at ach

oth. h boy wt o towa school, but th joc loo ov

th cto o th Rosay. Hy, Lz, h sa. hat was o ts.

Lz op h outh a spo a w syllabls that t

a up to wos. As o cu, th Rosay bga to wal aga.

Lz stugg to ata th sat pac as thy stal past

th joc, who loo sappot, but ot sups. Cla

coult c what was stagst: that such a alagthg ha happ ght ot o h o th fst ay o

school, that ths glooy clqu ha b so aloo thoughout

t, o that a joc woul l as though h coul gag Lz a

covsato.

hy ach th school lobby wthout uth ct,

a Cla lst o th to cot about what ha hap-

p outs. What you say about t bg a goo ya?

Ivo sa to Maco. I that was ay cato, ths ya s

cus alay. hy ta wy sls, but th xt o-

t ths goup to whch Cla was both a stag a a wa

ha ov o to o uala as a thgs sh t

usta. Sh gav up tyg to ollow th covsato a

loo aou.Sububa Hgh School wast aly as a a glao-

ous as sh suspct th Rosay woul hav p. h tl

walls a txtu plast clg loo atquat, a th

colos w too ab to hav as. Wh th goup pat

ways a Rg wal h upstas, Cla ou that th

sophoo hall ha all th sophstcato o a stp all o ajal. Agast ths bacop Rg loo v o xotc

tha sh ha th blac sa v o xotc tha sh


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Nathan Kotecki

12

ha th su awg class wh th two o th ha

t two shot oths ago. Cla glac ow a

hsl sh loo xotc ow, too.So you s how w a, ght? Rg sa to Cla. So

s ght gv you a ha t, a so s a gog to

wat to b s wth you just bcaus you s wth us,

a all Ill say s you shoul us you bst jugt. You c

thy sat ough, a thy loo goo ough. You

c who s woth you t. Cla ha v thought aboutt that way. Sh always ha b o th cvg o thos

valuatos. Sh ha a huch that ayo ls at Sububa

t th staas Rg ha la out, th Rosay woul hav

b th alay.

Do you ow that gl? sh as Rg, who loo at

h ucophgly. h o who got stug?

Not ally, Rg sa.

Clas cocs sht away o sypathy a bac to-

wa hsl. I a ot Rg was gog to lav h, a

th pospct o cotug alo oat up th sa as Cla

ha oc ow sval ts alay that og.

Sh sa gooby to Rg a tu to h hooo

oo. h oo was ull o s jas a sas abghtly colo shts who all ll slt wh sh wal ,

loog h ov. h a s to chag, bcog

a hott. No log coul Cla pt to b xotc sh

was sply out o plac. Sh cos ug bac out th

oo, but sh was su Rg woul sappov o such a s-

play o wass. hs w ot ha all th substac o aghta, a th xt ot woul b v wos. What

are they going to say?sh thought, alzg sh ha stopp col

a w t to th oo.


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Cla w h outft was a lttl oos, a h a y

shaow t hlp. Sh w sh wast ag hsl ay

o appoachabl tha h sloppy jas, a -shts, ahuch shouls ha a h at h ol school last ya. Sh

ha spt all o th ga all o l school, v ty-

g to sappa but v qut succg, a that puls

stll lu just u th suac. Dug th su, wth o

oth s aou, Cla ha b abl to go th s sh

was tag by ag ths bol chags to h appaac.Now sh lt th s l a blast o a ha y ow h

bac. It was th sa hot gust sh ha lt whv o tha

o o h ol classats ha loo at h at th sa t.

It was th pcuso to sothg ba. I thy w cul,

t was oly cul: Sh was too tall. Sh wast savvy ough

to coo. Sh wast stog-wll ough to hsl.

H bst was a stchboo.

Cla ha hop a w hgh school woul sohow b -

t, but ow sh thought o cous t wast at last, ot

th ways sh t to b. Ha sh a a atal scalcula-

to wth th w statgy sh ha chos? hs a cloths?

H a staght ha, caully blow v staght, whch

ow ach way ow h bac? h hous spt oto th o lag to a h ys loo soy sta

o blac? Sh ght atch th blacboa ow, but sh

coult xpct to a to t.

h sgvgs sh ha tta at ho lss tha a

hou ago w othg copa to th pac a spa sh

lt ow. hs was ot at all l walg to th stuo atth at sttut. Sh was alo a cow o s who loo

xactly l th os sh ha at th o last ya. Stork,

sh thought;pencil-girl. Ghoul th woul b w as o


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Nathan Kotecki

14

th to call h ow:goth reak, vampire. h pthts ca

aou s h ha, a sh wat to ha th.

No o sa aythg to h. Sh saw a sat o to th sa wll hsl to wal as lbatly as possbl ov to

t. H al wobbl a lttl, but sh pt vythg

was f. Sh sat ow a ha th covsatos aou h

stat bac up. h sh pull h stchboo out o h bag,

op t to th fst bla pag, a wot, What is going to

happen?Sh loo at th qusto o a ot, th cosst out a wot aoth.

What is happening to me?

Cla suo bac th cofc sh was tyg to

la o Rg, a os o th ct ts sh suc-

c lg ystous a xotc, qualts sh v ha

possss bo. Sh push h shouls bac a lttl ath,

hag Rgs voc h ha aosh h o slouchg.

Sh thought bac to th su awg class wh sh ha

t Rg.

The art institute had been th fst a was stll th

oly og plac Cla v ha wal to wthout s-

g to sappa. Sh was o o th yougst stuts thclass, a whl sh wast about to go up to stags a stat

talg, ths was a plac wh a batt stchboo was a

bag o hoo a h lcty wth a pcl woul wo

h avo. h awg class ha b h oths suggsto.

Cla ha ustoo t atly as a taspat attpt

to f sothg sh woul o that clu oth popl th oo. Sh ha ag, th way soo who s ut

Fch coscs to ta a covsato class. Fo oc sh

blv sh was o sol gou, a sh t that stuo


17/39

15


ull o stags owg that so o th ght aw as wll

as sh but that t was ully ay o th w btt. O

th fst ay o class Cla joy a a tast o cofc,l th spatt o caboato o h togu that wt to h

ha a a h a lttl gy, though o o woul hav

b abl to tll o loog at h.

h stucto ha bult a towg stll l o a ou ta-

bl th l o th oo, a at a cusoy toucto

h tol th class to choos aythg to stch so h coul assssth vual sll lvls. Cla cos th pssg pl

o pops, but othg sp h. Sh always w thgs that

w alv, a th tabl ha th loo o a wa, sohow. Lss

tha fv uts a sh pac was sh gog to all

at ths plac wh sh ha a to ag sh woul y?

h oths w statg to aw. Sh sta at th, a th

at th stll l, a th at h pty pa. Sh loo aou

aga, a h attto was aw to a stg gl o th a

s o th ccl who ha pull o a pa o ov gay vg

glovs a was ggg h cas o a pcl. Bo Cla

a a coscous cso, h ha captu o h pa th

gls shy blac ha, whch hug a sv bob, ag h

Lat ys a hat-shap ac. Cla us a w csp lsto scb th gls wht colla, whch lay atop h blac ca-

ga, a a w o o th shot-slv cus that p

out o oll swat slvs. Sh ough th plywoo

box o whch th gl sat, a h blac jas, whch tap to

oxbloo py loas. Cla sot th gls pos, ovg

th tso h a as sh labo ov h ow awg.A th sh was, alv o th pap: th tgug gl at

wo o a awg, h ac sous a sohow tatv,

th stuo lght slatg acoss h boy.


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Nathan Kotecki

16

Cla was plas wth h wo, but upo cto sh

a sh ha soby th tachs stuctos, a h

bloo ac wh t was t o th class to p th awgsup o th wall o th ctqu. Woul h jct h, o at-

t how goo h awg was, bcaus sh hat aw th

plastc ut o th plast colu? Cla was tpt ot to

ca, bcaus sh ha ou th joy awg gav h th joy

o captug a pso o pap. But sh coult b su. What

th tach ha wat sothg ls? Sh t to th osothg sh ght sta h s.

hy spt a w uts loog at ach oths wo b-

o th tach bga th ctqu. Evyo ls ha aw

sothg o th stll l. Most o th stchs w aa-

tush, clug th o Clas subjct ha p up, a t-

catoo o th vas ap wth abc. h gl wth th

blac bob ha otc hsl o th wall a was stuyg

Clas potat. h th tach too ov a wo hs

way ow th wall. Hs ots w b, but Cla coul tll

h was goo at hs job. H tal about usg o l sta

o ay, a about wh t was ght to show sothg wth

spac sta o ls. Wh h ach Clas awg, h

sa, hs s lovly. Soo s ot gog to la vy ucho . Whos s ths?

Cla lt th ha-y blast o pac wh sh hal as

h ha a vyo ocus o h. But th stucto gav

h a ly loo. o Cla t was th sa as h ha up

t pous o cott o h. h h ov o. H puls

slowly tu to oal. Sh ha suvv.h subjct o h awg a a bl o h at th

class. I Rg, sh sa. You a ally talt.


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17


ha you! I Cla. Usually Cla aythg to

avo spag wth stags, but ths was th bst possbl

scao whch to attpt t. Sh lt hsl a posto ostgth, a sh wat to assu ths gl, Rg, th way

Cla woul hav wat to b assu th covsato

ha b about aythg ls. You pc th hast thgs

to aw.

You just tyg to a l btt. Rg sl.

I o ot hav th atual gt o ths that you obvously o.Iv b awg o a log t, Cla o.

How ol a you, sxt?

Ft. Cla w Rg was plyg sh was too

youg to hav b og aythg o a log t, but ths

cas that was l oubtg th sa lgs o a chl who ha

gow up o a boat. Evy ay o vy su Cla coul

b, h oth ha bgg h to lav h stchboo

bh o th g oo tabl a go outs o just a lttl

whl, plas. Oc, yas ago, Clas ath ha cajol h

to a gls capg goup, but at a w ch ws

h ha att h was as sabl as sh was, a h ays

at th g oo tabl w sto. Sh spt th copy-

g th acs o ols out o avtsts h othsagazs. Fo Cla awg wast a scap. Sh t

populat altat uvss wth acul chaacts. Daw-

g was h way o owg th wol. Sh stu th popl

aou h, ag how thy lt, what thy thought, what

thy at, a th sh t to captu ths phal

thgs a potat. I a way, popl wt al o h utlsh ha aw th a w ts, o t agls. hy

w sa o pap, too o su ovts, o btayals.


20/39

Nathan Kotecki

18

Rg coult ow t, but by g h o pap, Cla

ha wlco Rg to h l h ow t way that

fst ay o awg class.Wh o you go to school? Rg was copos a

ot tat v at sh ha coc h lac o talt.

Cla a h o t.

Sububa. Ill b a sophoo.

I go to Sububa! Wat, w you th last ya?

No, w ov acoss tow a oth ago.Ill b a juo. W a gog to hav to b s ths

class. Ill tll you all about Sububa, a you ty to show

how to aw sothg aythg.

Cla ha ag, a lttl sups by how asly t was

happg. Fo th xt class o sh ha sat wth Rg.

Rgs awg slls woul ot pov uch ov th su-

, but sh t hol t agast Cla.

My fst lov s ag collags, Rg xpla as thy

sttl xt to o aoth th ollowg w. Sh ach

o h bag a pull out a lttl albu sg to hol a

sgl photogaph ach o ts pag slvs, wth a oval w-

ow o th ot to lt th fst ag show though. Ista

o photogaphs, Rg ha fll th boo wth a ss otwty-ou ty collags that tol a a stoy o uqut

lov, assbl o agts o txt a ags clpp out

o agazs. A bautul woa sat xt to a bautul a

wth sooth wht has as h ov a luxuous ca. Sh stoo

th bacgou, watchg h o a ut glass.

Sh p out o u a cuv stacas whl h looup at a sta-glass sylght, a ta o hs ch. A clust o

satch wos cut o t avtsts a, He

caught me staring but soon his eyes moved on.


21/39

19


Its bautul, Cla sa, tug bac to stuy ach pag

aga.

ha you. But I coult hav aw ay o t to sav ysoul. Its all oth popls thgs that Iv stol.

Stll, ts so catv, so lcat. A collag Cla was

gog to say collag was cult. Sh ha t t o a w oc-

casos a always a a ss wth th glu. But Rg cut

h o.

I ow Schwtts, Coll, Pcasso vyboy ost, Rg sa sssvly. I stll wsh I coul aw.

Cla t cogz th fst two as, a sh ha

thought Pcasso was a pat. Sh ha both p a s-

cuty Rgs voc, a sh t ow what to a o

t. Sh lt t go a a Rgs latst outft. hs w t

was a slvlss blac swat a a plat gay st. Rg

ha ott a gay a ca sl sca at h thoat, tucg

th s to th cl o th swat, a Cla thought ths

gl ha such a a o wag blac a gay, sh ust hav

b ssg that way sc sh bgu to wal. o Cla,

Rg was a coss btw a slt-ov sta a a catu

o a og asho agaz. Rg bought a a to class

wth h o hott ays, wavg t a shot ac blow h acug ctqus, a Cla wo how soo coul o

sothg l that a ot b cul. But Rg a t

loo so atual, so glaoous; o o possbly coul oc h

o t.

Cla lt l a t o og h ow baly

cos cloths copa wth Rg, sh ght as wllhav av o a boxca o a ght ta, usg a al sht

tchagably as a hobos bl. Cla glac ow at h

loos -sht a cuto jas a hop Rg was loog


22/39

Nathan Kotecki

20

oly at h awgs. I that ot Cla scov a w

s to ss l Rg, but sh ha o a how to go about

t. Clas zzy ha scap o bh h shoul a shpush t bac, wog t coul b as sooth as ths cool

gls.

A you xct about a w school? Rg as h.

Cuous, I guss. I hop ts btt tha y last o, Cla

sa.

Its all ght. So pats a btt tha oths, but thatstu o ay plac, st t? Havg goo s ca a ay

plac baabl. What s o thgs o you l?

I ot ow, Cla sa, wog how o was sup-

pos to asw such a qusto.

Wll, what o usc o you l?

Cla v ha cos h uscal tasts. I ot ow

. . . I just lst to whatvs o th ao.

Rg sco, hats ot goo usc. h s so uch

aazg usc that st o th ao. No o y avot

bas gt play o th ao.

h how o you ow about th?

My s tol about th, a gav thgs to ls-

t to, Rg sa, a th sh sl cospatoally. LI gog to o o you.

It was a thllg thg o Cla to ha, ot so uch b-

caus sothg h woul b val to h, but bcaus

Rg ha just pl sh wat to b Clas .

hat ay at class Rg ha tv a copact sc

o th glov copatt o h sl blac ca to l toCla. Clas oth pull up as th tasacto was tag

plac, a wh Cla got to th ca sh as h who th

gl was. Rg. Shs y class, Cla sa, usu what


23/39

21


o sh coul xpla to h oth, sc Rg stll was

a ysty to h, too. Cla tu h attto bac to th

CD a stu th ol blac-a-wht photo o a toao oth cov. Sh ha o a what to a o th ttl Tinder-

box o th a o th ba Souxs a th Bashs.

h toao th photo was ot th thatcal typ that ca-

Doothy away a oly ll wtchs. It wth agast

th sy l a posoous sa, a th wath-bat ba

ts path woul ot b gog aywh pcs lag thasplts. I Clas has th CD s l a atact o

a couty wols away o Oz oous, yt oly baut-

ul. It lt l a pc o Rg, whch sh ha st ho wth

Cla.

Cla coul b as t w ystay th aculous

atoo wh sh ha la o h b a lst to Tin-

derboxo th fst t. Sh wsh to v ogt that l-

g. Hag that usc ha b l sg a colo sh v

ha s bo, o fg a w oo th hous wh

sh ha lv o yas. Cla hat alz pop usc coul

sou l that: pcly a oous but passoat a sat

at th sa t. Sh po ov th photogaph o th ba

a wou up poucg th ag h stchboo whlsh po ths svly bautul popl, who wot sogs

about th tpatu wh th ost us a cott

a th stucto o Pop by volcac xploso. Sh ls-

t to Souxss thoaty voc sgg about ag soo

but callg hs a, a sh wo what that lt l a

how soo coul f hsl that stuato. hs sogswt sothg to stact h o th uts, l th

sogs o th ao. hs albu challg h. It a h

th about thgs sh hat cos bo. A t was


24/39

Nathan Kotecki

22

bautul ways Cla hat ow thgs coul b baut-

ul.

It up h w. sh woul hav spt labogov a pag h stchboo was spt spawl acoss h

b, h a clos to th spas o h CD play. By th t

sh tu Tinderbox to Rg th xt w, Cla ha

a a copy o hsl a aly oz all th sogs.

Rg was xubat wh sh ha Clas acto.

I w you l t! Rg clapp h glov has.h a so ay thgs I wat to show you!

Rg at what sh sa. Each w sh lt Cla a

w CD a agly ha h acto to th pvous o.

You ot hav to l t all. I just tyg to fgu out what

you tasts a, sh xpla. Cla t usta qut

what Rg at by that, bcaus vy w sog was a v-

lato to h. As h collcto o a uscal tasus gw,

so h apptt o th. Sh play so o h w avo-

t sogs o h oth a joy h ystf spos.

At a oth, h oth sa, Iv v ha you tal

about ayo as uch as you tal about Rg. Why ot

you vt h ov? It too two o ws o Cla to wo

up th v, a th sh was otf wh Rg alyaccpt. Cla lt as though sh was gog to cv a s-

tgush abassao, a sh jug h ow hous wat-

g. Sh ha plty o coct lgs about th hous. H

aly ha stat bulg t shotly bo h ath ha

two spgs ago, lavg Cla a h oth to ov to

t alo. I thy ha stay th ol hous, os o hath woul hav cow vy oo, but th w hous t

lt sots as though sh ha lt h bh. Eth way,

th wht sg a g shutts a vg ts t


25/39

23


l pssv ough o Rg. Wos, sh thought Rg

ght actually gt a ash sh t Clas p boo,

whch was oat by a u p qu-sz b. ButRg ha co, a sh pass jugt sh was too ga-

cous to lt t show.

Pch o th g o Clas b, sg vy bt

th og gtay a vtag-loog a pla jup,

Rg sa coyly, Ill show you you show yous.

Sh ha Cla th stchboo sh ha bought. Claach o h ow a tu t ov to h. Bo sh v

op Rgs volu Cla coul tll t was o a t

spcs tha hs. h outs was cov copltly wth

all a o stcs, ost wth as o bas o gaphc

sgs. O stc avts a Hog Kog copay that

spcalz obscu oc -shts. Cla blv wthout a

oubt Rg o -shts o Hog Kog, a sh was

su -shts loo vy t o Rg tha thy o

h.

O th s o Rgs volu, pag at pag was cov-

wth hus o thgs sh ha collag tcatly to-

gth, o spac lt bla. h batt bg ha sttch

alost oubl to accooat all th pap. I o pctu austc woa sat at a ahous tabl pl hgh wth hus

o csply ol s wht ss shts. h was a blac-

a-wht ag that loo l a fl stll o a w-y

Scaava woa a ab oo. Aoth pctu show

a woa pofl, h blo ha cut a sv bob halway

ow th bac o h ha a shav to th s uath.h w potats o a Olv hyss a

Huss Chalaya, a photogaphs o aatcally lt oos

a oggy t-l coutyas. Sh saw a copy o a po by


26/39

Nathan Kotecki

24

Ely Dcso alogs a pctu o a acg woa wth

h wst pss to h oha as sh bt ov, cg h

log wht st up bh h. h was a pag o whch allth ags cota spals: cochs a stacass a a

sto gas. O aoth pag vythg was a sha o blu.

Cla thought Rg ust hav spt yas coplg ths

boo. Sh wsh sh coul loo out h wow a s th

wol Rg ha pss to ths pags. hs s aazg.

Pt Ba s y ol, Rg sa pouly. I youvs hs boos, youll ow I a aatu copa wth

h. Mawhl, sh was pagg though Clas stch-

boo as though t w a lluat auscpt. Cla w

what Rg was sg: potats o Clas oth a a-

th, stchs o popl sh cop o photogaphs, a w

attpts at lascaps a stll ls, a so sl-potats

o th o. h w stus o has, tosos, acs

oto, but Cla spt ost o h t awg acs. H

gatst talt was captug th l soos ys, th

subtlts o a acal xpsso.

hs a bllat. Rg loo up at h. Sh spo

caully, as though sh ha has what sh sa xt. You

ow, wh I loo at ths a th I loo at you, ts ha toag th cog o you. You ta such ca wth th,

a you attto to tal s so pct. Do you v th o

og th sa thg o yousl?

hat ha b Rgs co vtato to a Cla h

pojct, a Cla ha cph t asly a accpt t gat-

ully. Sh was copltly thall wth Rg, who oasws to qustos Cla hat b qut abl to atculat.

Rg a t cla sh wast out to clo hsl. Sh gav

Cla all sots o optos a lt Cla choos. Ha Cla v


27/39

25


thought about bags, o wag a bbo as a haba? Ha

sh v cos wag p colos agast h a s?

Ha sh v wo jwly? I th ws bo school statCla ou a w ss o hsl by vstg o h

appaac. Sh thought sh was vlopg a w styl, th

att that phaps sh was vlopg a style o th fst

t. It was a a styl, pobably vtabl wth Rg as h

to. It lt sophstcat. A, Cla alz wth plasat

sups, t was sowhat bol. Cloths stopp bg so-thg whch to h. Now thy w sothg whch to

b s.

I tol y s about you, Rg sa as sh wo

systatcally though Clas clost a aws, jctg al-

ost all o Clas cloths as too bg, too wo, too bght, o

too bog. I th thyll l you, too, a ayb you ca b

a pat o ou goup.

What o goup? Cla watch h vagabo wa-

ob pl up o th b. Sh was ot soy to s ay o t go

a oly wo what sh was gog to wa oc t was all

go. Alay sh was lvg alost xclusvly a blac -

sht a th o pa o jas Rg ha accptabl.

Cla lt pactcally a th lttl cap-slv t sh hawo oly as a usht bo th. But o o th fst

thgs Rg a cla was that o att what Cla wo,

t ha to ft h poply, ot vlop h l a cocoo. Slowly

Cla was bcog o cootabl valg th shap o

h log, sl boy.

h a fv o us who l a lot o th sa usc a thsa styl. Dug school w o alost vythg togth.

hs s c. Rg xa a blac pcl st sh pull

o th clost. Cla t cogz t. Sh guss t was


28/39

Nathan Kotecki

26

h oths, put th by acct. h ot Rg lt,

sh woul ty t o. A ths Rg st as a oag

oal ss Cla ha wo to a paty u uss o hoth ths wll p o a spcal occaso. Cla coult

guss why such a gash ss ha a t though Rgs

hash tag. W a ftly gog to hav to go shoppg,

a Ill l you so thgs utl w gt you waob

o. Rg sl at h. W all juos o sos, but I

th wll joy havg a potg.Cla hat to ha ay o. Sh just hop

Rgs s woul b as c to h. It was a s sh was

wllg to ta, galss. No o v ha a such a o-

to Cla, a o all sh w, such a o ght v

co aga. h su class ha , a Clas staast

awg habt lax ts gp o h l just a lttl as th

school ya appoach. H tato to Rgs usc a

a ss o styl was th w ocus o h ays a h w

a at ght.

The homeroom teacher arrived, blls ag, a th

oo bca a ocus hv o actvty. h was o o

t o Cla to sc, avog th alty o th stag-s aou h. h thy w lauch out to th og,

scablg to avgat a ushg cut o tachs a boos

a fst assgts. Sh hut h way though Sububas

tbutas to f ach w stato. By lucht th top

shl th loc that ha b assg to h was ull o

boos.Cla baly ha spo all og. It stll ca atually

to h to b slt a uposg o o th thgs Rg


29/39

27


hat as h to chag. It was asy to p to hsl wh

vyo ls alay w ach oth, a h classats

s to xpct t o h bas o h sob outft. Claou hsl o th cvg o a w as ybows, but

that was all. Sh w sh coul lv wth that. I act, sh ha

to at t was o gatyg.

Wh t was t o luch sh was swpt o to th ca-

ta a v o chattg stuts, but sh stopp shot at

th sght o a sa o cow tabls. Sh alt whl stutsbush by h, wog wh sh coul f a plac to b

vsbl a at, but th sh saw Maco stag a wavg

at h o a tabl th l o th oo. B sat by

hs s. Maco o log wo th sut jact sh ha s h

bo school, a o th ot o hs -sht lag bo-

ltts spll drink me laboat typ.

H, h sa wh sh a t to th. You loo l a

halghts ov th.

I lt l o, Cla sa. How you guys gt a tabl

to youslvs?

Macos xpsso suggst h hat v cos th

qusto. Lav you stu a go gt luch. Wll b h. I

ot ow you l soup, but thy a ally goo soup.H sat ow a Cla gatully wt to gt oo.

So, Rg tol us you a talt atst, B sa

wh sh tu.

I ot ow . . . I l to aw. Cla wo why sh

was bg ost. Out o th cos o h ys sh lt aby

stuts loog at th th o th cuously, but Ba Maco w oblvous. h at th tabl wth th sh lt

sulat o th st o th stuts th athltc cloths


30/39

Nathan Kotecki

28

a cago pats, a sh joy th lg o bg spaat

o thos oths. What os you -sht a? sh as

Maco.Wll, Eat me woul b vulga, Maco sa, laughg.

hs s o ystous.

I lov to s you awgs, B sa to Cla.

What styl o you wo ?

Rals, I guss? As alstc as I ca gt. Cla tu

ov h stchboo a watch th two o th hal tlcatly, just as Rg ha.

What atsts o you l?

I I ot ally ow that ay, Cla sa.

Its goo to hav hos, B sa. Ag so-

o as you wat to b btt you ow way. You shoul

chc out a Vcs awgs, o ayb Albcht Ds -

gavgs. Cla wsh sh ha thought to say a Vc. Sh

too out h otboo a scbbl ow th sco a;

sh wast su sh was spllg t coctly, but sh t wat

to as.

Rgs ally happy sh ou you, Maco sa.

Sh s?

Su ow sh has soo to wth h. A I owsh wat aoth gl th goup. Sh a Lz at all that

clos.

hats ot tu, B sa to h. hy xchag

a loa glac a Maco pt slt. Cla wo sh

woul co to usta th thgs thy wt sayg out

lou.ha you aga o th x, Cla sa.

You wlco! I hop you l t you ow ay o

th sogs?


31/39

29


No, Cla att. Rgs gv a lot o usc, but

I ally ot ow vy uch. Sh says you wt a blog.

I o. You shoul chc t out. B scbbl a wbstass o a pc o pap a ha t to h. Actually, b-

o you got h Maco a I w havg o o ou ogog

scussos about usc. Youll gt to ha qut a bt o thos

you hag out wth us. oays topc: bst opg ls to

sogs.

My vot s: Love is a stranger in an open car, to tempt you inand drive you ar away, Maco sa.

A s: Come closer and see, see into the trees; fnd the

girl while you can, B sa. W ust hav b th-

g about you, h a, slg.

Cla blush. I ot ow th o thos.

hats oay. Whats yous? Maco as.

Cla thought o a ot, tyg to co up wth so-

thg pssv. Sh lt t was a tst, whth thy t t

as o o ot. How about: Every fnger in the room is pointing

at me?

Maco o aato a B sa, hat s a

goo o. I woult hav thought o that. hy at slc

o a ot a Cla bath a wa sgh o l.So, what o you th o Sububa so a? Maco as.

Its a lot bgg tha y ol school. A th tachs a

gog ally ast. But I th I l t.

W all ta school vy sously, a w gt goo gas,

B sa. You shoul gt volv a lot o thgs, but

classs always a th ost potat.W all o oth thgs, too, o cous, Maco a.

Bs o th stut coucl, a I woul sp all y

t ag cloths I coul. But school always cos fst.


32/39

Nathan Kotecki

30

I you havg toubl wth ay subjct, w ca hlp you.

A lot o s co ow h o th pos a

wast t. W go to th lbay a gt ou howo o,Maco sa. Lt s you schul. Cla tu t ov to

h a Maco stu t. W hav so pos togth-

. H w a lttl sta so o th boxs o h schul.

Loo o us th lbay.

Cla otc a goup o blac-cla stuts o at a co-

tabl. Most o th ha ha o ultpl colos algths, a so ay tal accssos; though th s

w sttg stll, Cla thought sh coul ha th cla-

g. Ev at a tabl a school cata thy loo l thy

w lotg. But th ass a th svty o th styl

a Cla wo thy ght sha so tsts wth

th Rosay. Do you ow th? sh as B a

Maco.

Not ally, B sa. W ot hav that uch

coo.

Evy ay s ot Hallow, Maco sa. But thy show

up th costus othlss.

Mo tha that, thy ot ta school vy sously,

a thy s a lttl lost, B sa. Bss, all youstagss s o th outs, ost that a you o

ull o th s? Whats that quot Lz says all th t? h

as Maco.

h o by R Cha? A new mystery sings in your bones.

Develop your legitimate strangeness.

Cla pat t to hsl, tyg to tas out th a-g. Sh coul tll B a Maco subscb to t, but sh

wo how o wt about og such a thg. I s what


33/39

31


you a, sh sa, bcaus sh coul usta at last how

thos oth s wt polsh o abtous ough to hav

a plac th Rosay.Whats you last a? B as. Rg tol

a I thought t was bautul, but I cat b.

Balaust, Cla sa. It as ow o th po-

gaat.

Rally? hats atastc. It s o y avot sog,

h Spagl Ma by th Coctau ws. Do you owth?

No, Cla att.

I wot a blog post about th sog. You ca a t you

l. B pot at th pc o pap h ha gv h

wth th wbst ass. Its o possbl to u-

sta h lycs, a th chous I ptty su sh sgs, Its

pogaat, but who ows what shs ally sayg.

Ill ftly chc t out. Cla tuc th pap s

h stchboo. How log hav you guys b togth?

h fv o us, o th two o us? B sl. Ivo a

Lz a Rg a I hav b s sc w w sopho-

os a Rg was a fst ya. Maco tas h last

ya, a wv b atg sc last all. Itll b a ya Oc-tob. H g at Maco, who w at h.

Do you ot say sha? Cla sa.

W you a a last ya? Maco as.

No, o cous ot, Cla sa.

h wast ay oubt y , Maco sa. You

gogous. You hav such a lgat c.ha you, Cla sa, blushg aga. Sh coult -

b a boy sayg aythg l that to h bo. It t


34/39

Nathan Kotecki

32

v att that ths o was gay. Sh push h ha bac o

h shoul, lv t was sooth a shy ow that Rg

ha st h to so poucts a a goo bush.Rgs gog to b ally potctv o you. Just a

su shs ot og t bcaus you gttg o attto

tha sh s, Maco sa.

Hy! B sa. Whats wth th s cots

about Rg? H tu bac to Cla. I ot th sh

cas how uch attto you gt.But shs atg Ivo, ght? Cla as. Sh tol al-

ost othg about all o you, but sh ust hav tol sh

was gog to hocog wth Ivo a oz ts.

hy are gog to hocog, Maco sa caully,

a B a I a gog wth th, but I th t as

sothg vy t to Rg tha t os to Ivo.

Oh, Cla sa. Sh wat to ow o, but sh t

l cootabl asg.

Later Celia searched out th chsty lab a scov-

that th a who ha t to hlp Els th pag

lot that og woul b h chsty tach. H wast

o t stbutg boos a a psso slp o a fl tpto th wat pufcato plat. h h as th to choos

lab pats. h was a uy o ovt, a as th class

sot tsl o oxyg atos to oxyg olculs Clas

tty a up, a sh was oot plac. Acoss o

h a gl was loog at h wth a xpsso sh coult

tpt. Sh t th ayo v ha loo at h thsway bo as though Cla ght b th asw to soo

lss qusto. h oth gl ha a o attpt to f a


35/39

33


pat, th, a by th thy w th oly two lt. Cla

coss h fgs a wt ov to h.

H! You w, ght? I Matt! th gl sa bghtly.Matt A, but I just go by Matt. Lots o popl th

y as May A, but ts Matt.

Cla touc hsl a thy loo ach oth ov.

Matt was th o gl Cla woul hav b Rg

hat tv. Sh ha o oscpt cloths that t

qut go togth. H culy stawby blo ha a auuly halo aou h ac. Cla thought wth a lttl att-

to t ght b vy ptty; th sh sl o a ot,

aus to ot sh baly ha g o h ow a-

ov a alay sh ha as to a ov soo ls. So-

cally, howv, Matt was h oppost. Rath tha bg

tat by Cla, who was aly a oot tall tha sh,

Matt chatt asly as thy wt ov to a op lab tabl,

a Cla wo sh was l that all th t o t was

just vs.

What school you go to last ya? Sububas ptty

cool. I wt to Mout Ros o l school, but ot a lot

o s o th co h. h tach loos so youg!

H pobably just got out o collg. Hs suppos to b -ally tough, though. Is h sous wth thos cocol loas?

h tachs shy, wavy ha lay clos to hs ha, -

g Cla o totosshll. H ha wttMr. Sumeletso o th

boa, a sh wo what couty th a ca o.

Hs chos w a lttl too bg, a hs t t loo l h

ha b wag t sc hs ow hgh school ays. H sla lttl tly as h gl wth th stuts.

Cla t h ha at ag covsato. So gl


36/39

Nathan Kotecki

34

got stug by a b th pag lot bo school a ha a

allgc acto. Soo ha a EpP o h, though. M.

Sultso was th, a h hlp h to th bulg wht was ov. hat spa Matts tst, a thy stu

th tach o aoth ot.

I guss h loos c ough. h Matt ov

o. Hav you v go oc clbg? I wat to la.

Loo ths a hugb! Cla ollow Matts f-

g a saw th blu o a b just outs th ast wow.hy watch t o a w scos bo Matts attto

tt away aga. What bus o you ta?

I gt a wth a , Cla sa, but sh alz that

uch o what Matt sa t qu a spos, lagly

bcaus sh t paus log ough to cv o. At least

there wont be any awkward silences, Cla thought. No th

cotay stop wh M. Sultso bga talg. Matt

scbbl thgs th ag o h otboo o Cla to

s. He cant be more than 24 he looks like hes 17! Cla t

to coctat. owa th o th class M. Sultso a-

ouc h woul b coachg th w sw tas, ow that

Sububa ha a swg pool, a h hop thy woul co-

s tyg out. Matt scbblI cant swim!wth a scayac, a Cla wot Me neitherxt to t. hy g at

ach oth. Cla wo Rg woul hav wat h

to a aloo, but sh t wll o t.

At the end of the ay, tyg to put h loc so

o o bo sh lt, Cla thought sh ha o ptty wll.h oly l-thatg thg that ha happ ha b to

soo ls. Sh ha a t though uscath, a a w

ots v ha b plasat. Sh wast copltly su


37/39

35


how sh woul ft to th Sububa cosos, but sh ha a

a. It ca lagly u th auspcs o th Rosay, who ha

co th at o ystous a sophstcat at Sub-uba. houghout th ay Cla ha watch th fst ya

stuts, as w to Sububa as sh was. hy alt a

sha bac, stll loog o th alls. Suly sh woul hav

sbl th t wt o Rg a th Rosay.

Matt was th oly o so a who challg Clas b-

l that vyo alls. hs gl claly avgat hay wth a oc o wll that qu o assstac. Matt

t s to a ta, a sh t ca to wa th u-

o o o, th. hat a h ascatg to Cla. Sh -

b h pac hooo that og, a w sh

possss owh a Matts lvl o cofc. Cla

wo sh ght la thgs o Matt, t

thgs tha sh xpct to la o th Rosay.

Bu wth h bag o boos, Cla wt ow to th

lobby to t Rg, but wh sh got th sh saw oly Lz

by hsl o th a wall. Fo acoss th lobby, Cla ollow

Lzs gaz to a athltc guy a oag -sht, a Cla

cogz h as th joc who ha ust Lz th pa-

g lot that og. H ha o a h was bg watch.h Rg av a Cla wal wth h to t Lz

a wat o th oths.

I l l Iv b h a w alay, Lz sa waly.

I ag out I got M. Sultso o Ch wo.

Rg tu to Cla to xpla. H just got h last ya,

a I ha Ms. Mo o Ch O, but vyo who haM. Sultso last ya pactcally al hs class. I ac Ch

O last ya, but M. Sultsos fst class toay I lt l

I ha ogott allo t.


38/39

Nathan Kotecki

36

I hav h, too, o chsty, Cla sa, watchg

Rgs coc xpa to clu h. H s c.

Gt ay. Its gog to b ha, Rg wa.I gla I got though chsty bo h show up,

Lz sa. How was th st o you ay? sh as Cla.

Goo. Dftly a lot o howo.

Wh you gt ho, oc yousl to stat ght away.

Dot wat utl at . Its th bst habt you ca o,

Rg avs h. Lz o abstly, but h ys wacoss th lobby aga.

Wh th boys av, thy all pat th sooth,

puposul wal out to th cas, a th goup chatt o a

ot bo splttg up to vhcls. B a Ma-

co as Cla about h ay, but Ivo loo aou ly, a

Cla thought aga h t s vy tst owg

h. At oly o ay sh spatly wat appoval o

all o th, but sh tol hsl ot to as o too uch too

soo.

You ow, w hav to gt you a job, Rg sa as sh

pull slowly out o th pag lot, l bh th oth

two cas.

A job?Su. W all hav jobs. I wo at a a sto. Maco

hlps wth hs os talog busss. B wos at a

usc sto. Lz wos at th lbay, a Ivo wos at a t-

o sg f. You to stat ag oy o collg.

A to pay o cloths a usc, a Dabolqus.

Dabolqus?Its th club w go to o Fays. Youll lov t.

A you pats gog to hlp you pay o collg?


39/39


Su, but ts gog to b xpsv, Rg xpla. I

you wat sothg you hav to o th wo to gt t, ght? Iv

sav fv thousa ollas ov th last two yas o school.Wow. Cla was pss. I wo wh I ca f a

job.

W ca go loo ths w. No tacy clothg stos,

a o oo svc, Rg sa fly. Mayb you coul

wo at a at supply sto?

Cla av ho lg as sh w bac o a log-stac tp. Sh wo th oths tuly w gttg

staght to wo o th assgts bo , but sh

c to ollow Rgs stuctos, bcaus t t s

l a ba a. As sh ug to h pl o boos, h thoughts

w v a o th Rosay a how thy ha taso

h hgh school xpc a sgl ay.

Wh sh wt owstas o , Cla aga saw th

loo that ha b h oths ys v sc sh ha stat-

h tasoato. It was a loo that sa, Im glad youve

fnally started to pay attention to your appearance, and maybe what

youve chosen isnt terrible, but it isnt what I had in mind, either.

But t wast lost o Cla that h oth v ha as h

to justy h csos.How was you fst ay? h oth as. ll all

about t.

I ot v ow wh to bg. Cla xhal. O

thg I ow o su: I was a t pso ystay.

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The Suburban Strange Excerpt