“You were only gone a few hours. I noticed you gone and then we started a search team to find you. Actually Jimmy
Stewart was a big part of the search team. For a moment I guess he felt bad,” Jake says.
“What? I was only gone a few hours? It seemed like days,” I say.
“Yep, it was only a few hours. I would say probably about six before we found you. By the way, I forgot to tell you I would be going to your school this semester: I am transferring over. So you see, Jimmy Stewart will leave you alone because I will be there to have your back. Man, those bite marks look big on your neck: they don’t hurt?” Jake asks.
“No, they don’t hurt,” I reply.
“Boys, come and get your food to eat. Max is already eating and drinking water. She has had like two bowls of water now,” my mom says.
We then get up and I hobble into the kitchen and we eat. After that I go back to my room and Jake goes home. It is now night-time and I am very tired. I get ready for bed and lie down and Max lies by me. My mom walks in and kisses me on the forehead.
“I am glad my baby is okay. You have had a long day. You need to get a good night’s sleep tonight. I will shut the door. Holler if you need anything. I love you, my baby,” Mom says.
“I love you also,” I say. Then my mom shuts the door and I turn out the lights and fall asleep.
“Hollis, Hollis, I will get you again. Remember those bite marks are from me,” Danny says as he is laughing and looking at me. I jump up.
* * *
EPILOGUE
* * *
“H ollis, it’s the first day of high school, get up. Rise and shine, the fun is about to begin,” Mom says. I look around my room and I have forgotten we moved into a new house next door to Jake’s house. I made some money off my first video game I built. The video was about a kid who goes to summer camp and fights vampires. So far it is the number one video on the market. People are always asking me how I know how to fight vampires and I would tell them that it just comes to me. I hear a horn beep and it’s Jake outside to pick me up. No more riding the bike to school. Jake drives us and eventually I will get a car. For now I am focusing on high school and making more video games. We arrive at the high school and I forget how big it is and all those big kids at it. Man, I am getting nervous again. I am starting to sweat.
“Hey, calm down, it’s just high school and it’s only the first day. You will be fine. Hey, it’s my first day here also. We will take high school together. By the way, they have already picked the cheerleading squad for this year and the drama club singers. You see, Gwendolyn is the leader of the group,” Jake says.
He parks us in a parking spot. “What, already before school even starts?” I ask.
“Yep, remember it’s high school: everything is faster here. Look, there are all the cheerleaders. There is Susie D, Mindy K, Lisa G, Lisa L, Angie J, Bonnie P, Veronica S, Mary B, Megan G, Elaine W, Michelle Y, Anita T, Theresa S, Mary Ann W, Angel H, Debbie K, Holly H, Caroline C, Alicia C, and head captain Amy H. They only put their first initial on their uniforms,” Jake says. They all look over and at the same time say, “Hey, Jake.”
“Man, you have these girls already liking you,” I say.
“You know I only have eyes for Lou Lou, and this year you are going out with Katherine,” Jake says.
“Yep, I can’t believe I had enough courage to ask her out and she said yes. She looks like someone I have dreamed about before,” I say.
“Not that crazy vampire dream again, Hollis, not again,” Jake says.
HOLLIS MCCALISTER SUMMER CAMP Page 27
