After Dakota Part 36

Too many freckles.

They blossom out from the sides of Claire's nose, covering her cheeks. Some strays rise onto her forehead like bubbles from her carbonated eyebrows. She puts on her Albuquerque Zoo T-s.h.i.+rt, pulls her freshly washed dark hair into a short ponytail. The judge offered Claire a choice of where to work her community service hours this summer. It wasn't hard why go to a hospital or senior citizens' center when you can work at a zoo? Her job mostly involves sweeping the walking paths or patrolling the prairie dog mound, telling bratty kids not to throw food to the little brown heads that pop up from holes.

The nails of her right hand are painted white, not because of Meredith but because she tried doing both hands and it simply looked wrong. Meredith's new routine is painting all her nails fingers and toes purple, so obsessed is she with the new Prince alb.u.m.

Next to the doll case hangs the framed certificate for winning third place in the city photo contest, youth division. She and Meredith (her subject and guest of honor) got dressed up for the exhibit hall ceremony, then stood by Claire's picture all evening, consuming sparkling cider. When the photos got printed in the newspaper, her mom bought every copy from the machine at the grocery store in order to send to all their relatives.

Claire walks down the driveway on her way to the bus stop, seeing the world through her big sungla.s.ses that Bryce says make her look like an insect. To her right, the Vanzants' house FOR SALE. When the sign first went up, Claire asked her parents about it and got speculation on different reasons, concluding with her mom's comment: "Who knows why people do what they do."

Nine in the morning and the sun just getting going. How hot it must be up in the mountains at church camp, which Bryce vigorously insisted on attending this year. Every time their parents express surprise at his strong interest in youth group events (which all happen to include a certain girl) Claire smirks to herself that they can't see through that phony.

But then again, they can't see through the face she puts on at service every Sunday either.

She takes Bryce's old Walkman from her backpack, puts the headphones on. A push of the b.u.t.ton later and Bruce Springsteen sings to her and only her about dancing in the dark.

After work today, she'll ride two other buses from the zoo to Dr. Crumpler's office. After that, she and Meredith and this girl Kelly from Sandia are going to see Gremlins, Claire's first night out since the grounding ended. Let her parents hold on to the idea she learned some lesson during all the time in her room.

Today's Cancer horoscope in the newspaper: There are many aspects to your personality. The gentle you accepts and supports the you who has to be somewhat fearsome to make things happen.

Claire smiles under a turquoise bowl of sky.

The world is still here on this July morning, at least so far.

THE END.

If you enjoyed this book and want to further immerse yourself in the world of the characters, or if you just want a good playlist, here is the "soundtrack" to accompany the story.

"Message in a Bottle" & "Wrapped Around Your Finger" The Police.

"h.e.l.ls Bells" AC/DC.

"Street Ha.s.sle" Lou Reed.

"Sister Christian" Night Ranger.

"Abracadabra" Steve Miller Band "Red Skies" The Fixx "The Prisoner" Iron Maiden.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" The Buggles "Heat of the Moment" Asia "Down Under" & "Overkill" Men At Work.

"Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield "Babe" Styx "99 Luftballoons" Nena.

"Cruel Summer" Bananarama "Karma Chameleon" Culture Club.

"Take the Long Way Home" & "It's Raining Again" Supertramp "Comfortably Numb" Pink Floyd "Poor Pitiful Me" Warren Zevon "Centerfold" J Geils Band.

"Africa" Toto "Give it Up" KC & The Suns.h.i.+ne Band "Photograph" Def Leppard.

"Fields of Fire" Big Country "Common Ground" Goanna "I'm Not There" Bob Dylan.

"Holy Diver" Dio "Jump" & "Panama" Van Halen "Taking It All Too Hard" Genesis.

"Dancing in the Dark" Bruce Springsteen.

...and, of course, "Wild Horses".

About The Author.

Kevin Sharp is a New Mexico native who currently lives in Northern California, where he teaches high school English. He is the author of numerous screenplays and two award-winning short stories. While he has technically grown up, Kevin has yet to outgrow Looney Tunes, The Price is Right, fantasy novels, or comic books. Deep down, he still thinks that working with apes would be the best job in the world.

www.kevin-sharp.com.

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