Shownotes
A raccoon and a skunk try to summon the moon, but the results aren’t what they want…but maybe they’re what they both need.
Today’s story is “The Whole Moon” by K.C. Shaw, who lives in Atlanta with her lucky black cats, Dracula and Belladonna. You can find more of her stories on her Patreon, or in the collection Catfish and Other Stories.
Read by the Author.
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https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-whole-moon-by-k-c-shaw
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “The
Speaker:Whole Moon”
Speaker:by
Speaker:K.C. Shaw,
Speaker:who
Speaker:lives
Speaker:in
Speaker:Atlanta
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:lucky
Speaker:black
Speaker:cats,
Speaker:Dracula
Speaker:and
Speaker:Belladonna.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:Patreon,
Speaker:or
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:collection
Speaker:Catfish
Speaker:and
Speaker:Other
Speaker:Stories.
Read
by
Speaker:the
Speaker:Author.
Please
enjoy
“The
Whole
Speaker:Moon”
Speaker:by
Speaker:K.C. Shaw
Charlotte
forgot
Speaker:her
Speaker:friend
Speaker:was
Speaker:coming
Speaker:over
Speaker:until
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:said,“Oh,
Speaker:great.
Speaker:Three’s
Speaker:company,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know.”
Charlotte
set
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:bowl
Speaker:of
Speaker:popcorn,
Speaker:which
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:just
Speaker:carried
Speaker:in
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:kitchen.
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:her.
The
door
Speaker:cam
Speaker:app
Speaker:showed
Speaker:a
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:retro-fifties
Speaker:glasses
Speaker:perched
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:a
Speaker:black
Speaker:thrift-shop
Speaker:dress
Speaker:with
Speaker:black
Speaker:plastic
Speaker:roses
Speaker:sewn
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:waist,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:purple
Speaker:ita
Speaker:bag
Speaker:over
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:The
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:put
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later
Speaker:the
Speaker:doorbell
Speaker:buzzed.
“I
forgot
Speaker:all
Speaker:about
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:her
Speaker:for
Speaker:coffee,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.
“Reschedule.”
Dan
Speaker:reached
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:remote.“Movie
Speaker:night,
Speaker:remember?
Speaker:Date
Speaker:night?”
Charlotte
hurried
Speaker:to
Speaker:open
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.“Hi,
Speaker:Lydia.”
Lydia’s
smile
Speaker:froze on
Speaker:her
Speaker:muzzle.“Oh
Speaker:my
Speaker:gods,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:going
Speaker:out
Speaker:dressed
Speaker:like
Speaker:that,
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?
Speaker:We
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:roam
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:streets like lost
Speaker:children
Speaker:of
Speaker:the night
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:pink
Speaker:Camden
Speaker:Comets
Speaker:t-shirt.”
“If
you’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:use
Speaker:we
Speaker:that
Speaker:way,
Speaker:technically
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:dressed
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:gown
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:when
Speaker:we
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:ghost.
Speaker:Also,
Speaker:we,
Speaker:meaning
Speaker:I
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:case,
Speaker:totally
Speaker:sewed
Speaker:those
Speaker:roses
Speaker:on
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.”
Lydia
laughed.“Okay,
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:but
Speaker:are
Speaker:you
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:change
Speaker:or
Speaker:not?”
Behind
them,
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:said,“She
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:come,
Speaker:Lydia.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:date
Speaker:night.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:MGM
Speaker:lion
Speaker:roared
Speaker:from
Speaker:Dan’s
Speaker:surround-sound
Speaker:speakers.
Charlotte
shrugged.“I’m
Speaker:sorry,
Speaker:Lydia.
Speaker:I
Speaker:honestly
Speaker:forgot.
Speaker:Dan’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:busy
Speaker:lately
Speaker:that
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:hardly
Speaker:had
Speaker:any
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:relax
Speaker:together.
Speaker:Can
Speaker:we
Speaker:reschedule?”
“Sure!”
Lydia’s
Speaker:usual
Speaker:chirpy
Speaker:voice
Speaker:hid
Speaker:an
Speaker:undercurrent
Speaker:of
Speaker:disappointment.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:no
Speaker:one
Speaker:else
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:noticed,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:bothered
Speaker:Charlotte.“Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:free
Speaker:tomorrow?”
“I
think
Speaker:so.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:check.”
Dan
called,“We’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:my
Speaker:mom
Speaker:tomorrow
Speaker:night.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:raise
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:blare
Speaker:of
Speaker:opening
Speaker:credit
Speaker:music.
“I’ll
text
Speaker:you,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:wave.
Dan
was
Speaker:glaring
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:screen
Speaker:and
Speaker:eating
Speaker:popcorn
Speaker:when
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:rejoined
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:picked
Speaker:the
Speaker:movie
Speaker:and
Speaker:of
Speaker:course
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:action
Speaker:film.
Speaker:A
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:in
Speaker:dark
Speaker:sunglasses
Speaker:was
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:sports
Speaker:car,
Speaker:fur
Speaker:rippling
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:wind
Speaker:as
Speaker:he drove.
“Want
me to run it back?”
Speaker:Dan asked.
“Did
I
Speaker:miss
Speaker:anything
Speaker:important?”
“Not
really.”
Charlotte
considered
Speaker:explaining
Speaker:that
Speaker:she
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:appreciate
Speaker:him
Speaker:butting
Speaker:into
Speaker:her
Speaker:conversations,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:like
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:check
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:plans
Speaker:for
Speaker:them
Speaker:both,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:end
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:argument.
Speaker:It
Speaker:would
Speaker:start
Speaker:with “you
Speaker:just
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:mom”
Speaker:and
Speaker:escalate
Speaker:from
Speaker:there.
Then
Dan
Speaker:gave
Speaker:her
Speaker:his
Speaker:most
Speaker:charming
Speaker:smile,
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:where
Speaker:his
Speaker:brown
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:sparkled
Speaker:with
Speaker:puppyish
Speaker:mischief
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:lolled
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:white
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:irritation
Speaker:melted
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Sometimes
Speaker:she
Speaker:marveled
Speaker:that
Speaker:a
Speaker:handsome,
Speaker:athletic
Speaker:coyote
Speaker:like
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:had
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:scruffy
Speaker:raccoon
Speaker:like
Speaker:her.
Speaker:She
Speaker:snuggled
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:around
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoulders.
They
didn’t
Speaker:argue
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:movie
Speaker:was
Speaker:over.
The
credits
Speaker:were
Speaker:still
Speaker:rolling,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:was
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:the
Speaker:big
Speaker:dumb
Speaker:explodey
Speaker:action
Speaker:movie
Speaker:had
Speaker:revved
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:up
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:frisky,
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,“I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:friends
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time,
Speaker:but
Speaker:can
Speaker:you
Speaker:just…not
Speaker:invite
Speaker:her
Speaker:over?
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:hang
Speaker:out
Speaker:with
Speaker:her.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:not
Speaker:here.”
Charlotte’s
fur
Speaker:prickled
Speaker:with
Speaker:anger.
Speaker:She
Speaker:said
Speaker:calmly,“You’re
Speaker:asking
Speaker:me
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:invite
Speaker:my
Speaker:best
Speaker:friend
Speaker:to
Speaker:visit
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:apartment?”
“It’s
my
Speaker:apartment,
Speaker:technically.”
“I
don’t
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:who
Speaker:to
Speaker:invite
Speaker:over,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.
“My
friends
Speaker:are
Speaker:normal.
Speaker:Lydia’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:weirdo.”
The
ensuing
Speaker:shouting
Speaker:match
Speaker:was
Speaker:worse
Speaker:than
Speaker:usual.
Speaker:It
Speaker:ended
Speaker:with
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:too-tight
Speaker:pink
Speaker:tee,
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:had
Speaker:given
Speaker:her
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:size
Speaker:too
Speaker:small
Speaker:because,
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:it
Speaker:showed
Speaker:off
Speaker:her
Speaker:figure,
Speaker:and
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:it
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.“You’re
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:control
Speaker:freak!”
She
slammed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:bedroom
Speaker:they
Speaker:shared,
Speaker:near
Speaker:tears
Speaker:of
Speaker:rage
Speaker:and
Speaker:despair.
Speaker:She
Speaker:hated
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:fought.
She
opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:drawer,
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:where
Speaker:she
Speaker:kept
Speaker:her
Speaker:clothes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:dug
Speaker:down
Speaker:until
Speaker:she
Speaker:found
Speaker:a
Speaker:black
Speaker:shirt.
Speaker:She’d
Speaker:bought
Speaker:it
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:very
Speaker:first
Speaker:concert.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course
Speaker:she
Speaker:and
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:had
Speaker:gone
Speaker:together,
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:chosen
Speaker:outfits,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:so
Speaker:hard
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:cool
Speaker:that
Speaker:everyone
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:club
Speaker:that
Speaker:night
Speaker:was
Speaker:probably
Speaker:still
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:their
Speaker:eyes.
She
shrugged
Speaker:the
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:on.
Speaker:It
Speaker:actually
Speaker:fit
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:making
Speaker:her
Speaker:feel
Speaker:strangled
Speaker:and
Speaker:bunchy
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:fur
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:down.
“Babe, I don’t know
why
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:over-reacting,”
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:said,
Speaker:opening
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Charlotte
clenched
Speaker:her
Speaker:jaw.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:tail
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:puffed
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:hard
Speaker:time
Speaker:not
Speaker:making
Speaker:ridiculous
Speaker:chittering
Speaker:sounds.
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:would
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:if
Speaker:she
Speaker:did.
Speaker:She
Speaker:said,“If
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:my
Speaker:friends
Speaker:over,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:either.”
“I
didn’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:you
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:any
Speaker:friends
Speaker:over.
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:Lydia.”
“I
don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:half
Speaker:your
Speaker:friends!
Speaker:Oh
Speaker:my
Speaker:god,
Speaker:can
Speaker:we
Speaker:just
Speaker:not?”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:her
Speaker:keys,
Speaker:realized
Speaker:her
Speaker:sweat pants
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:pockets,
Speaker:and
Speaker:snatched
Speaker:her
Speaker:purse
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:dresser.“I’m
Speaker:going
Speaker:out.”
“To
see
Speaker:Lydia?”
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:with
Speaker:sarcasm.
Speaker:He
Speaker:followed
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
“Yes.
I’ll
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:tomorrow.”
“Babe! Don’t
be
Speaker:dumb.
Speaker:You’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:that
Speaker:presentation
Speaker:first
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:How
Speaker:will
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:back
Speaker:here
Speaker:in
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:dressed
Speaker:before
Speaker:work?”
Charlotte
hated
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:right.
Speaker:She
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:answer,
Speaker:just
Speaker:shoved
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:open
Speaker:and
Speaker:strode
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:elevator.
Dan
called
Speaker:after
Speaker:her,“You’ve
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:she
Speaker:needs
Speaker:to
Speaker:grow
Speaker:up.”
The
elevator
Speaker:dinged.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:fumbled
Speaker:a
Speaker:tissue
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:purse
Speaker:and
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:blot
Speaker:the
Speaker:tears
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:sank
Speaker:into
Speaker:her
Speaker:fur
Speaker:and
Speaker:made
Speaker:tracks.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:she
Speaker:texted
Speaker:Lydia.“Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:still
Speaker:around?”
The
night
Speaker:air
Speaker:was
Speaker:clean
Speaker:and
Speaker:cold
Speaker:when
Speaker:she
Speaker:left
Speaker:the
Speaker:building.
Speaker:Winter
Speaker:was
Speaker:on
Speaker:its
Speaker:way.
Speaker:The
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:winter
Speaker:always
Speaker:excited
Speaker:her—not
Speaker:the
Speaker:holidays,
Speaker:just
Speaker:the
Speaker:weather.
Speaker:She
Speaker:loved
Speaker:how
Speaker:thick
Speaker:her
Speaker:fur got,
Speaker:the
Speaker:cozy
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:of
Speaker:being
Speaker:cold-proof
Speaker:right
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:tips
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:ears.
Speaker:She
Speaker:loved
Speaker:how
Speaker:long
Speaker:the
Speaker:winter
Speaker:nights
Speaker:were.
Lydia
texted,“I’m at
Speaker:the
Speaker:Coffee
Speaker:Stop
Speaker:on
Speaker:Oak
Speaker:Ave.”
That
wasn’t
Speaker:far.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:checked
Speaker:for
Speaker:traffic
Speaker:automatically,
Speaker:although
Speaker:this
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:Camden
Speaker:practically
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:up
Speaker:its
Speaker:sidewalks
Speaker:at
Speaker:ten
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:Thursday
Speaker:night.
Speaker:There
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:any
Speaker:cars
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:road
Speaker:as
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:hurried
Speaker:across.
Lydia
met
Speaker:her
Speaker:outside
Speaker:the
Speaker:café.“Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:fight?”
Speaker:she
Speaker:asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do
you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:in
Speaker:for a
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:or
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:walk
Speaker:it
Speaker:off?”
Charlotte
gave
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:a
Speaker:relieved
Speaker:smile.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:probably
Speaker:no
Speaker:one
Speaker:else
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:entire
Speaker:world
Speaker:who’d
Speaker:offer
Speaker:her
Speaker:that
Speaker:choice,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:knew
Speaker:all
Speaker:her
Speaker:moods.“Walk
Speaker:it
Speaker:off.”
“Good.
You
Speaker:vent,
Speaker:then
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:planned.
Speaker:Nice
Speaker:shirt,
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:way.”
The
venting
Speaker:took
Speaker:half
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:set
Speaker:a
Speaker:fast
Speaker:pace
Speaker:to
Speaker:match
Speaker:her
Speaker:agitated
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:complained
Speaker:about
Speaker:Dan,
Speaker:her
Speaker:job,
Speaker:money,
Speaker:and
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Dan
Speaker:again.
She
didn’t
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:run
Speaker:down
Speaker:as
Speaker:get
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:bored
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:own
Speaker:life.“Ugh,
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:Thanks
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening.
Speaker:Where
Speaker:are
Speaker:we?”
“Riverside,
which
Speaker:is
Speaker:perfect.”
“It’s
kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:dangerous
Speaker:down
Speaker:here.”
“Pfft.
No
Speaker:one’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:bother
Speaker:us.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:around,
Speaker:anyway.”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:grinned,
Speaker:showing
Speaker:her
Speaker:small,
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:teeth.“They
Speaker:keep
Speaker:doing
Speaker:studies
Speaker:about
Speaker:skunks
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:keep
Speaker:being
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:at
Speaker:how
Speaker:few
Speaker:people
Speaker:mess
Speaker:with
Speaker:us.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:why.”
They
both
Speaker:laughed.“That’s
Speaker:so
Speaker:gross,
Speaker:though,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.“I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:about
Speaker:having
Speaker:anal
Speaker:glands,
Speaker:much
Speaker:less…you
Speaker:know.”
“Remember
Bill
Speaker:Bradley
Speaker:in
Speaker:seventh
Speaker:grade?”
“He
never
Speaker:forgave
Speaker:you.”
“Well,
I
Speaker:never
Speaker:forgave
Speaker:him,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:angry
Speaker:satisfaction,“and
Speaker:I
Speaker:bet
Speaker:he
Speaker:never
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:grab
Speaker:another
Speaker:girl’s
Speaker:boobs.
Speaker:What
Speaker:a
Speaker:perv.”
Neither
of
Speaker:them
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:discuss
Speaker:the
Speaker:details.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:been
Speaker:there
Speaker:when
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:her
Speaker:skirt
Speaker:up,
Speaker:bent
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:Bill
Speaker:right
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:during
Speaker:P.E.,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:all
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:school
Speaker:actually
Speaker:closed
Speaker:the
Speaker:gym
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:week
Speaker:for
Speaker:special
Speaker:fumigation.
With
typical
Speaker:middle-school
Speaker:justice,
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:suspended
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:defending
Speaker:herself.
Speaker:And
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:being
Speaker:angry
Speaker:about
Speaker:Bill’s
Speaker:behavior,
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:girls
Speaker:in
Speaker:school,
Speaker:and
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:boys,
Speaker:were
Speaker:fixated
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:fact
Speaker:that
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:never
Speaker:wore
Speaker:underwear.
“Skunks
don’t,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:had
Speaker:told
Speaker:everyone,
Speaker:fiercely
Speaker:loyal.
Speaker:For
Speaker:weeks
Speaker:afterwards
Speaker:people
Speaker:would
Speaker:pinch
Speaker:their
Speaker:nostrils
Speaker:closed
Speaker:when
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:came
Speaker:near.
Speaker:She
Speaker:always
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:sarcastic
Speaker:comment
Speaker:to
Speaker:prove
Speaker:she
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:care,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:how
Speaker:often
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:cried
Speaker:after
Speaker:school.
“Anyway,”
Lydia
Speaker:said
Speaker:cheerfully,“if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:better,
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:next
Speaker:project.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:lair
Speaker:for
Speaker:rituals.”
“What
rituals?”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:asked
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:half-smile,
Speaker:still
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:about
Speaker:seventh
Speaker:grade.
Speaker:That
Speaker:was
Speaker:literally
Speaker:half
Speaker:her
Speaker:life
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:It
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:still
Speaker:make
Speaker:her
Speaker:angry.
“Rituals
we’ll
Speaker:make
Speaker:up
Speaker:eventually,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said,
Speaker:gesturing
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:waving
Speaker:away
Speaker:an
Speaker:unimportant
Speaker:detail.
“Okay,
sure.
Speaker:Where
Speaker:will
Speaker:this
Speaker:lair
Speaker:be?
Speaker:Your
Speaker:walk-in
Speaker:closet?”
“No.
We’re
Speaker:planning
Speaker:to
Speaker:rent
Speaker:that
Speaker:out.”
“Seriously?”
“I
voted
Speaker:against
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:fourth
Speaker:roommate
Speaker:it
Speaker:takes
Speaker:some
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pressure
Speaker:off
Speaker:us
Speaker:all.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:someone
Speaker:who
Speaker:needs
Speaker:an
Speaker:extremely
Speaker:small
Speaker:living
Speaker:space,
Speaker:send
Speaker:them
Speaker:my
Speaker:way.”
They’d
been
Speaker:walking
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:down
Speaker:Riverside
Speaker:Drive,
Speaker:which
Speaker:divided
Speaker:the
Speaker:town’s
Speaker:new
Speaker:warehouse
Speaker:district
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:old
Speaker:one.
Speaker:The
Speaker:new
Speaker:warehouses
Speaker:were
Speaker:squat,
Speaker:ugly
Speaker:buildings
Speaker:with
Speaker:concertina
Speaker:wire-topped
Speaker:fences
Speaker:while
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:ones
Speaker:were
Speaker:taller,
Speaker:if
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:broad,
Speaker:and
Speaker:made
Speaker:of
Speaker:softly
Speaker:weathered
Speaker:brick.
Speaker:A
Speaker:few
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:brick
Speaker:buildings
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:converted
Speaker:into
Speaker:expensive
Speaker:studio
Speaker:apartments
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:were
Speaker:abandoned.
Lydia
gestured
Speaker:again,
Speaker:this
Speaker:time
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:buildings.“One
Speaker:of
Speaker:these
Speaker:empty
Speaker:warehouses would be perfect
Speaker:for
Speaker:our
Speaker:lair.
Speaker:We
Speaker:just
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:sneak
Speaker:inside
Speaker:and
Speaker:explore.”
Charlotte
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:she
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:joking.“Lydia,
Speaker:we
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:break
Speaker:into
Speaker:these
Speaker:buildings.”
“Sure we
can.
Speaker:A
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:upper
Speaker:windows
Speaker:are
Speaker:already
Speaker:broken.
Speaker:We
Speaker:just
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:there.”
“If
we
Speaker:can
Speaker:get
Speaker:in,
Speaker:other
Speaker:people
Speaker:can
Speaker:too.
Speaker:There
Speaker:might
Speaker:be
Speaker:meth
Speaker:labs.”
“Trust
me,
Speaker:Char.
Speaker:Come
Speaker:on,
Speaker:let’s
Speaker:walk
Speaker:around
Speaker:one
Speaker:and
Speaker:see
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:work
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:in.”
Charlotte
trailed
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:strode
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:nearest
Speaker:brick
Speaker:building.
Speaker:Its
Speaker:doors
Speaker:and
Speaker:lower
Speaker:windows
Speaker:were
Speaker:barred.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sheer
Speaker:brick
Speaker:facing
Speaker:looked
Speaker:unclimbable.
Lydia
stopped
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:weedy
Speaker:alley
Speaker:between
Speaker:two
Speaker:buildings,
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:up
Speaker:more
Speaker:easily.“What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think?
Speaker:Could
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:that
Speaker:balcony?”
Charlotte
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:too.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:very
Speaker:good
Speaker:eyesight
Speaker:even
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:glasses,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:raccoon’s
Speaker:keen
Speaker:night
Speaker:vision.“That’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:balcony,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said.“It
Speaker:looks
Speaker:like
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:balcony
Speaker:ages
Speaker:ago
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:opens
Speaker:onto
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:now
Speaker:and
Speaker:no,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:climb
Speaker:up.”
“Can
you
Speaker:try?”
Charlotte
raked
Speaker:her
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:through
Speaker:her
Speaker:ruff.“No!
Speaker:Lydia,
Speaker:we
Speaker:cannot
Speaker:climb
Speaker:a
Speaker:brick
Speaker:wall,
Speaker:and
Speaker:even
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:could,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:idea.”
Lydia
peered
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:to
Speaker:nowhere.“My
Speaker:lair,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said
Speaker:sadly.
Charlotte
giggled
Speaker:despite
Speaker:her
Speaker:frustration.“We
Speaker:really
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:a
Speaker:lair.”
“I
want
Speaker:one.
Speaker:For
Speaker:rituals.”
Lydia
was
Speaker:definitely
Speaker:joking
Speaker:now,
Speaker:or
Speaker:half-joking,
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:tenacious “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:ridiculous
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:love
Speaker:the
Speaker:idea”
Speaker:gag
Speaker:that
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:probably
Speaker:be
Speaker:referring
Speaker:to
Speaker:years
Speaker:from
Speaker:now.
Speaker:At
Speaker:any
Speaker:minor
Speaker:disappointment,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:would
Speaker:say
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:small,
Speaker:sad
Speaker:voice,“My
Speaker:rituals”
Speaker:and
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:both
Speaker:crack
Speaker:up.
Until
then,
Speaker:though,
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:they
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:murdered
Speaker:by
Speaker:drug
Speaker:dealers.“We
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:a
Speaker:clubhouse.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:movie
Speaker:theater
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:corner;
Speaker:let’s
Speaker:walk
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:see
Speaker:what’s
Speaker:playing.”
“They
only
Speaker:do
Speaker:late
Speaker:showings
Speaker:on
Speaker:weekends,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said,
Speaker:but
Speaker:let
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:lead
Speaker:her
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:street.
To
distract
Speaker:her
Speaker:further,
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:asked,“How
Speaker:will
Speaker:you
Speaker:fix
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:lair?”
“I
have
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:posters
Speaker:that
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:fit
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:bedroom!”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said.“We’ll
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:paint
Speaker:strange
Speaker:symbols
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor
Speaker:too.”
“Black
paint
Speaker:or
Speaker:red?”
“Both,
of
Speaker:course.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:some
Speaker:purple
Speaker:too.
Speaker:But
Speaker:tasteful.”
Lydia
talked
Speaker:about
Speaker:her
Speaker:plans
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:movie
Speaker:theater,
Speaker:with
Speaker:frequent
Speaker:side
Speaker:trips
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:more
Speaker:closely
Speaker:at
Speaker:buildings.
Speaker:When
Speaker:a
Speaker:police
Speaker:car
Speaker:cruised
Speaker:past,
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:yanked
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:shadow
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:tree.
Charlotte
flattened
Speaker:herself
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:warehouse’s
Speaker:brick
Speaker:wall
Speaker:and
Speaker:tried
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:snort
Speaker:with
Speaker:laughter.
Speaker:They
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:doing
Speaker:anything
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:but
Speaker:of
Speaker:course
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:would
Speaker:act
Speaker:like
Speaker:someone
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:heist
Speaker:film.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:both
Speaker:exasperating
Speaker:and
Speaker:fun.
It
was
Speaker:past
Speaker:eleven
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:reached
Speaker:the
Speaker:movie
Speaker:theater.
Speaker:The
Speaker:box
Speaker:office
Speaker:was
Speaker:closed.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:old
Speaker:theater
Speaker:with
Speaker:only
Speaker:three
Speaker:screens,
Speaker:run-down
Speaker:but
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:still
Speaker:in
Speaker:business.
Speaker:As
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:friends
Speaker:stood
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:parking
Speaker:lot,
Speaker:a
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:or
Speaker:so
Speaker:patrons
Speaker:exited
Speaker:and
Speaker:headed
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:cars.
“I
bet
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:showing
Speaker:letting
Speaker:out,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said.
Speaker:She
Speaker:regarded
Speaker:the
Speaker:building
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:chin.“I
Speaker:wonder…
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:look
Speaker:around
Speaker:back.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:Charlotte’s
Speaker:paw.
“I
predict
Speaker:a
Speaker:stinky
Speaker:dumpster
Speaker:and
Speaker:an
Speaker:employees-only
Speaker:door
Speaker:surrounded
Speaker:by
Speaker:old
Speaker:cigarette
Speaker:butts,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.
She
was
Speaker:right,
Speaker:although
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:actually
Speaker:two
Speaker:dumpsters.
Speaker:A
Speaker:few
Speaker:cars
Speaker:were
Speaker:parked
Speaker:nearby.
Speaker:A
Speaker:row
Speaker:of
Speaker:pine
Speaker:trees
Speaker:half-hid
Speaker:the
Speaker:view
Speaker:of
Speaker:warehouses
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:street.
“I’d
better
Speaker:get
Speaker:home,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:sigh.“It’s
Speaker:getting
Speaker:late
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:an
Speaker:early
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:tomorrow.”
“Ditch
Dan
Speaker:and
Speaker:move
Speaker:in
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:walk-in
Speaker:closet
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:almost
Speaker:big
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:bed.”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:building.“What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:those
Speaker:windows
Speaker:are
Speaker:for?”
“It
doesn’t
Speaker:matter
Speaker:because
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:way
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:there.”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:checked
Speaker:her
Speaker:phone.“Dan
Speaker:texted
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:apology.
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:apology.”
“Is
that
Speaker:a
Speaker:ladder?
Speaker:It
Speaker:is!”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:hurried
Speaker:past
Speaker:the
Speaker:dumpsters
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:fire
Speaker:escape
Speaker:ladder.
It
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind that
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:eight
Speaker:feet
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:people
Speaker:from
Speaker:climbing
Speaker:up.“Give
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:boost,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said.
“No!”
“I
never
Speaker:told
Speaker:your
Speaker:mom
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:dating
Speaker:Geoff.
Speaker:She
Speaker:still
Speaker:thinks
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:helping
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:algebra.”
Charlotte
huffed.“Okay,
Speaker:fine.
Speaker:We’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:arrested
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:never
Speaker:forgive
Speaker:you.”
“Boost
me
Speaker:up.”
It
was
Speaker:surprisingly
Speaker:easy
Speaker:after
Speaker:all.
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:caught
Speaker:the
Speaker:bottom
Speaker:rung
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:ladder
Speaker:and
Speaker:climbed,
Speaker:her
Speaker:plume
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:tail
Speaker:whisking
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:forth
Speaker:for
Speaker:balance.
Speaker:The
Speaker:white
Speaker:stripes
Speaker:along
Speaker:its
Speaker:sides
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:glow
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:darkness.
Speaker:A
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later
Speaker:she
Speaker:vanished
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:top,
Speaker:although
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:light
Speaker:crunch
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoes
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof.
Charlotte
retreated
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:pine
Speaker:trees,
Speaker:both
Speaker:so
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:hide
Speaker:if
Speaker:necessary
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:what
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing.
Speaker:The
Speaker:building
Speaker:had
Speaker:two
Speaker:levels,
Speaker:the
Speaker:big
Speaker:main
Speaker:one
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:actual
Speaker:theaters
Speaker:were
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:second
Speaker:level
Speaker:with
Speaker:three
Speaker:small
Speaker:windows
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:row.
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:was
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:window,
Speaker:without
Speaker:luck.
Charlotte
watched
Speaker:her
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments.
Speaker:She’d
Speaker:need
Speaker:another
Speaker:boost
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:windows.
“I’m
stupid
Speaker:and
Speaker:probably
Speaker:nuts,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:whispered
Speaker:to
Speaker:herself.
Speaker:She
Speaker:zipped
Speaker:her
Speaker:phone
Speaker:securely
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:purse,
Speaker:slung
Speaker:the
Speaker:purse
Speaker:on
Speaker:cross-body
Speaker:so
Speaker:she
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:drop
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:ran
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:ladder.
She
jumped
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:moment
Speaker:and
Speaker:caught
Speaker:the
Speaker:bottom
Speaker:rung.
Speaker:Easy-peasy.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:halfway
Speaker:up
Speaker:when
Speaker:she
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:below
Speaker:her
Speaker:open.
Her
heart
Speaker:hammered
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:throat
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:froze,
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:keen
Speaker:and
Speaker:terrible
Speaker:memory
Speaker:of
Speaker:being
Speaker:caught
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:neighbor’s
Speaker:cherry
Speaker:tree
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:kid,
Speaker:eating
Speaker:cherries,
Speaker:when
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:come
Speaker:home
Speaker:unexpectedly.
Speaker:She
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:been
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:move
Speaker:then
Speaker:either,
Speaker:not
Speaker:until
Speaker:he
Speaker:jumped
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:car
Speaker:and
Speaker:yelled
Speaker:at
Speaker:her.
She
forced
Speaker:herself
Speaker:to
Speaker:climb
Speaker:another
Speaker:step.
Speaker:The
Speaker:roof
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:more
Speaker:rungs
Speaker:away.
Speaker:She
Speaker:heard
Speaker:voices
Speaker:below
Speaker:her,
Speaker:two
Speaker:guys
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound,
Speaker:talking
Speaker:about
Speaker:work.
Another
rung,
Speaker:another—and
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:at
Speaker:last.
Speaker:She
Speaker:slid
Speaker:over
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:belly
Speaker:and
Speaker:lay
Speaker:flat.
The
guys
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:idly.
Speaker:The
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:cigarette
Speaker:smoke
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:to
Speaker:Charlotte’s
Speaker:nose.
Speaker:The
Speaker:roof
Speaker:was
Speaker:covered
Speaker:with
Speaker:tar paper
Speaker:coated
Speaker:with
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:pebbles,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:old
Speaker:that
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pebbles
Speaker:had
Speaker:come
Speaker:loose.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:her
Speaker:cheek
Speaker:against
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:how
Speaker:long
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:take
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:comb
Speaker:them
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:ruff.
Dan
would
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:knew
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:trapped
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:roof.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:laugh at
Speaker:her
Speaker:when
Speaker:she
Speaker:got
Speaker:home
Speaker:if
Speaker:she
Speaker:looked
Speaker:even
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:disheveled,
Speaker:assuming
Speaker:he
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:already
Speaker:asleep.
She
resisted
Speaker:the
Speaker:urge
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:phone.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:texted
Speaker:her
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:apology.
The
minutes
Speaker:passed
Speaker:slowly.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:ached
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:up.
Speaker:She
Speaker:might
Speaker:even
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:inch
Speaker:her way
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:to
Speaker:join
Speaker:Lydia,
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:crouched
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:window.
Finally
she
Speaker:heard
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:guys
Speaker:say,“See
Speaker:you
Speaker:tomorrow.”
Speaker:Then
Speaker:the
Speaker:slam
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:car
Speaker:doors,
Speaker:the
Speaker:rumble
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:engines
Speaker:starting
Speaker:up.
She
didn’t
Speaker:move
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:both
Speaker:cars
Speaker:died
Speaker:away
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:distance.
Lydia
said,“Well,
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:fun.
Speaker:Boost
Speaker:me
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:window.”
Charlotte
dusted
Speaker:the
Speaker:little
Speaker:gray
Speaker:pebbles
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:clothes.“I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:believe
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:up
Speaker:here.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:dumbest
Speaker:thing
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:ever
Speaker:done.”
“Dumber
than
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:crop
Speaker:circle
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Pomfreys’
Speaker:back yard?”
Charlotte
smiled
Speaker:despite
Speaker:herself.“It
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:worked.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:grass
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:overgrown!”
She
made
Speaker:a
Speaker:cup
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:hands.
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:placed
Speaker:her boot
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:stirrup
Speaker:and
Speaker:bounced
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk’s
Speaker:claws
Speaker:scrabbling
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:frame.
“Damn!”
Lydia
Speaker:slid
Speaker:down
Speaker:again.“It’s sealed
Speaker:shut.”
“Let’s
go
Speaker:home,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.
Lydia
turned
Speaker:around,
Speaker:fists
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:hips.“Maybe
Speaker:we
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:lair,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:still
Speaker:practice
Speaker:rituals.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:almost
Speaker:midnight.”
Charlotte
checked
Speaker:her
Speaker:phone.“Twenty till.”
“Perfect.”
Lydia
Speaker:dug
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:bag,
Speaker:the
Speaker:pins
Speaker:on
Speaker:its
Speaker:front
Speaker:glinting
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:distant
Speaker:streetlight.“As
Speaker:you
Speaker:know,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:always
Speaker:prepared.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:can
Speaker:of
Speaker:spray
Speaker:paint
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:it
Speaker:vigorously.“Let’s
Speaker:get
Speaker:witchy.”
Charlotte
knew
Speaker:that
Speaker:protesting
Speaker:only
Speaker:made
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:more
Speaker:determined,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:it.“You
Speaker:can’t!
Speaker:We’ll
Speaker:get
Speaker:in
Speaker:trouble.”
“No
one’s
Speaker:around.”
“The
police!
Speaker:They’ll
Speaker:see
Speaker:us.”
“We’ll
see
Speaker:them
Speaker:first.”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:turned
Speaker:in
Speaker:place as
Speaker:she
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:a
Speaker:circle
Speaker:of
Speaker:black
Speaker:paint
Speaker:directly
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:rooftop,
Speaker:so
Speaker:swiftly
Speaker:that
Speaker:she
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:practiced.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:she
Speaker:followed
Speaker:up
Speaker:by
Speaker:spraying
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:circles
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:one’s
Speaker:perimeter,
Speaker:then
Speaker:a
Speaker:larger
Speaker:circle
Speaker:enclosing
Speaker:them
Speaker:all.“Pretend
Speaker:I
Speaker:brought
Speaker:red
Speaker:paint
Speaker:too.
Speaker:Pretend
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:writing
Speaker:sigils
Speaker:in
Speaker:red
Speaker:paint.”
“Sigils
or
Speaker:squiggles?”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:watch
Speaker:for
Speaker:approaching
Speaker:cars
Speaker:or
Speaker:people
Speaker:while
Speaker:still
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:what
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing.
“With
spray
Speaker:paint,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:more
Speaker:or
Speaker:less
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:thing.”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:painted
Speaker:a
Speaker:different
Speaker:design
Speaker:in
Speaker:each
Speaker:small
Speaker:circle.“Okay,
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:done.
Speaker:What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think?”
“I
think
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:lost
Speaker:your
Speaker:mind
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:encourage
Speaker:you.”
Lydia
capped
Speaker:the
Speaker:paint
Speaker:can
Speaker:and
Speaker:returned
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:bag.“Where
Speaker:would
Speaker:you
Speaker:rather
Speaker:be?
Speaker:Here
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:perform
Speaker:rituals
Speaker:or
Speaker:at
Speaker:home
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:your
Speaker:teeth?”
A
chilly
Speaker:breeze
Speaker:ruffled
Speaker:Charlotte’s
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:Between
Speaker:the
Speaker:dim
Speaker:shapes
Speaker:of
Speaker:clouds,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky
Speaker:was
Speaker:starry and
Speaker:infinitely
Speaker:deep.
Speaker:She
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:hum
Speaker:of
Speaker:cars
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:interstate
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:miles
Speaker:away,
Speaker:the
Speaker:faint
Speaker:buzz
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:streetlight.
Speaker:They
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:to
Speaker:themselves.
“Tell
me
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said.
Lydia
grinned.“Let’s
Speaker:do
Speaker:a
Speaker:ritual
Speaker:to
Speaker:summon...the
Speaker:moon!”
“The
whole
Speaker:moon?”
“The
moon!”
Charlotte
giggled.
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:began
Speaker:stepping
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:small
Speaker:circle
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:next,
Speaker:but
Speaker:within
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:strides
Speaker:her
Speaker:walk
Speaker:had
Speaker:turned
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:dance.“Hear us, O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Come
Speaker:to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Come
Speaker:on, Char.”
Charlotte fell in
step
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Lydia,
Speaker:copying
Speaker:her
Speaker:hopping
Speaker:dance.
Speaker:The
Speaker:circles
Speaker:were
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:too
Speaker:far
Speaker:apart
Speaker:to
Speaker:navigate
Speaker:easily.
“Hear
us, O
Speaker:moon!”
Speaker:they
Speaker:recited
Speaker:together.“Come
Speaker:to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!”
Lydia
added,“Love us, O
Speaker:moon!”
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:both
Speaker:snickered.
They
danced
Speaker:faster,
Speaker:moving
Speaker:from
Speaker:circle to circle.
Speaker:Lydia’s
Speaker:long
Speaker:skirt
Speaker:swayed
Speaker:and
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:wished
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:skirt
Speaker:too
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:sweat pants.“Hear us, O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Come
Speaker:to us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Love us, O
Speaker:moon!”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:added
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:skip
Speaker:between
Speaker:hops
Speaker:and
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:copied
Speaker:her.
Before
long
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:was
Speaker:panting.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:shoes
Speaker:scuffed
Speaker:and
Speaker:crunched
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:pebbles
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:danced,
Speaker:kicking
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:paint
Speaker:and
Speaker:old
Speaker:tar paper.
“Hear us, O
moon!
Speaker:Come
Speaker:to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!”
Light
swept
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:pair.“The
Speaker:moon!”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:shouted,
Speaker:waving
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms.“Love us, O
Speaker:moon!”
“It’s a
car,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:dance
Speaker:faltered.“Shit,
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:it
Speaker:turned
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:parking
Speaker:lot.”
“Keep
dancing!
Speaker:Only
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon
Speaker:can
Speaker:save
Speaker:us
Speaker:now!”
It
was
Speaker:ridiculous—it
Speaker:was
Speaker:childish
Speaker:and
Speaker:absurd.
Speaker:But
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:danced
Speaker:and
Speaker:chanted
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:will,
Speaker:faster
Speaker:and
Speaker:faster
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Lydia,
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon
Speaker:really
Speaker:could
Speaker:save
Speaker:them
Speaker:from
Speaker:being
Speaker:found
Speaker:out.
“Hear
us, O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Come to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!
Speaker:Love
Speaker:us,
Speaker:O
Speaker:moon!”
“What
are
Speaker:you two
Speaker:freaks—augh!”
At
the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:man’s
Speaker:voice,
Speaker:loud
Speaker:and
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:ladder,
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:squeaked
Speaker:in
Speaker:alarm,
Speaker:bent
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:sprayed.
The
smell
Speaker:made
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:gag
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:even
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:recognized
Speaker:the
Speaker:man’s
Speaker:voice.
“Oh
no,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said.“Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:okay?”
“I’m
fine,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:gasped,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:was
Speaker:looking
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof’s
Speaker:edge.
Charlotte
joined her.
Speaker:The
Speaker:man
Speaker:had
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:safely,
Speaker:at
Speaker:least,
Speaker:although
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:puking
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:nearest
Speaker:dumpster.
Speaker:Between
Speaker:heaves
Speaker:he
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:at
Speaker:them,
Speaker:his
Speaker:words
Speaker:so
Speaker:garbled
Speaker:that
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:could
Speaker:only
Speaker:make
Speaker:out
Speaker:occasional
Speaker:phrases.
Lydia gasped and
covered
Speaker:her
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:with
Speaker:both
Speaker:paws.“Charlotte.
Speaker:Charlotte,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:I
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:your
Speaker:boyfriend.”
“It’s
his
Speaker:fault
Speaker:for
Speaker:startling
Speaker:you.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:he
Speaker:found
Speaker:me.”
“We
summoned
Speaker:him!”
“We
summoned
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon
Speaker:and
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:stupid
Speaker:coyote.”
Lydia
lowered
Speaker:her
Speaker:paws
Speaker:and
Speaker:called,“Dan,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:I
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:you!”
From
below,
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:heard
Speaker:him
Speaker:croak,“You’re a
Speaker:goddamn
Speaker:freak.”
“Well,
of
Speaker:course,”
Speaker:Lydia
Speaker:said.
Speaker:She
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:her
Speaker:glasses
Speaker:and
Speaker:said
Speaker:to
Speaker:Charlotte,“I’ll
Speaker:give
Speaker:you
Speaker:my
Speaker:family
Speaker:recipe
Speaker:for
Speaker:getting
Speaker:it
Speaker:off
Speaker:but
Speaker:he’ll
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:burn
Speaker:his
Speaker:clothes.”
Dan
coughed,
Speaker:spat,
Speaker:and
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:briefly,
Speaker:then
Speaker:called,“Charlotte!
Speaker:Get
Speaker:down
Speaker:here
Speaker:before
Speaker:that
Speaker:idiot
Speaker:gets
Speaker:you
Speaker:arrested.”
“How’d
you
Speaker:find
Speaker:me?”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:asked.
“Your
phone
Speaker:said
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:here.”
Charlotte
exchanged
Speaker:a
Speaker:glance
Speaker:with
Speaker:Lydia.“I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:freak,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:said,“but
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:control
Speaker:freak.”
The
breeze
Speaker:gusted
Speaker:again.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:getting
Speaker:colder
Speaker:but
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:barely
Speaker:felt
Speaker:it.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:panting
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:frenzied
Speaker:dance.
“We
didn’t
Speaker:manage
Speaker:to
Speaker:summon
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said.
“It’s
probably
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:any
Speaker:red
Speaker:paint.
Speaker:We’ll
Speaker:do
Speaker:better
Speaker:next
Speaker:time.”
“Not
here,”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:said
Speaker:quickly.
“No,
of
Speaker:course
Speaker:not.
Speaker:We
Speaker:still
Speaker:need
Speaker:a
Speaker:lair.”
Dan
kept
Speaker:shouting
Speaker:at
Speaker:Charlotte,
Speaker:sounding
Speaker:more
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:angry
Speaker:that
Speaker:she
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:responding.
She
lifted
Speaker:her
Speaker:nose
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold
Speaker:wind.
Speaker:From
Speaker:a
Speaker:distance,
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:skunk
Speaker:spray
Speaker:was
Speaker:almost
Speaker:pleasant.
“How
big
Speaker:is
Speaker:that
Speaker:walk-in
Speaker:closet?”
Speaker:Charlotte
Speaker:asked.“Is
Speaker:it
Speaker:long
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:sleeping
Speaker:bag?”
This
was “The
Speaker:Whole
Speaker:Moon”
Speaker:by
Speaker:K.C.
Speaker:Shaw,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:Author.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.