The Brain Invaders

Chapter 11

Cassie and I sat in the very back of the bus. I felt a little better after more people boarded. Didn’t want to be alone on the bus with one of those things driving. There were a half dozen stops on our way home. We lived in a small town about ten miles from the mall. We had the normal places found in a small town, like a pizza shop and couple of mini marts and a hamburger joint or two. But when we wanted to shop for clothes or go to a place that pretty much had everything we wanted in one place, we took the bus to the mall. It was nice not having to bug our parents for rides.

When we got to Cassie’s house, her uncle Daryl and her dad were looking at a map of the United States sprawled out on the kitchen table. A red and white striped box of chocolates from Connie’s Candy Box sat next to it.

“Where’s Mom?” asked Cassie as we walked in.

“In bed,” Cassie’s dad said.

“Already?” Cassie asked. “Isn’t it a little early?”

“She’s tired,” her dad said. “Something she ate didn’t agree with her.”

 “Can I spend the night at Alex’s house?” Cassie asked.

“Why doesn’t Alex sleep here?” said Cassie’s dad, looking at her uncle.

“I have to go to church tomorrow,” I said. “My mom doesn’t let me get out of that – ever!”

Cassie gave her dad her little pout.

“Want a chocolate girls?” said Cassie’s dad, picking up the box.

“No,” I said. “Too full.”

I waited to see what Cassie would say. If she said yes, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

“Maybe later,” Cassie said. “I’m too full, too. So, can I Dad?”

“I don’t know, Cassie,” her dad said. “Wasn’t Alex sick? She probably needs her rest. If you stay at her house, you’ll be up all night.”

“Please. I won’t ask for another thing all week.”

“Please, Mr. Smith,” I said. “We have some school work to do together after church anyway.”

“Oh. All right,” he said. “Provided one thing.”

“Anything,” Cassie said.

“Provided you both play bingo at the fire hall on Friday night.”

“But Dad,” Cassie said.

“No buts about it. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

Cassie looked at me. I nodded yes.

“If I go to bingo Friday night with you, can I go to the school dance on Saturday?” Cassie asked.

“Always pushing, Cassie,” her dad said. “OK. But bingo on Friday, right?”

“Right.”

I had no intention of playing bingo Friday night, but I couldn’t let Cassie stay in her house. If I did, she might be one of them by morning.

We started to walk away when Cassie turned around. “Oh, and Dad. You did say I could get a new outfit for the dance, right?”

 “Now you’re pushing just a little too hard. Tell you what. You bring two other kids to bingo on Friday night, I’ll buy you the new outfit.”

“But why?” Cassie asked.

“Why what?”
          “Why do you want kids to play bingo?”

“Kids keep us young,” he said. “They add a youthful element to the bingo experience.”

“Oh. Well, OK, then. I’ll see if I can find anyone else. But if I can’t, and I try, maybe you’ll buy me the outfit anyway.”

Cassie didn’t wait around for her dad’s answer. She bolted for her bedroom to grab her stuff and I followed on her heels. There was no one I was going to stay in the kitchen with her dad and uncle.

“See what I mean?” Cassie said when we got to her room. “Dad is obsessed with bingo. He’s totally nuts. He’s lost it.”

 “Yeah. I see what you mean. Let’s just get out of here.”

We slipped out the front door and yelled goodbye. I needed to text the others. I needed to tell them about Cassie’s mom.  There had to be a way to save our family and friends from these hideous creatures. They seemed to be multiplying and my stomach needed some serious relief.

I wondered if Zach learned anything more. I knew he was trying to hack into some secret government files. He had a hunch about something but he didn’t want to say too much until he knew for sure. 

“What’s wrong with you now?” Cassie asked as we left the house.

I grasped my stomach. “Stomach again.”

“You’ve been getting a lot of stomachaches lately. Maybe you’re lactose intolerant.”

“Lactose what?”

“Lactose intolerant,” Cassie repeated. “My aunt is. She can’t eat any dairy products, like drink milk or eat cheese, without taking a pill. If she doesn’t take a pill and eats those things, her stomach feels like crap.”

“Maybe that’s it,” I said.

I wanted to tell Cassie the truth. But I couldn’t. She’d freak if I told her that her mom, dad and uncle were controlled by sea slugs squeezed inside their heads.

By the time we reached my house, my stomach felt better.

“Hi girls,” Mom said as we walked into the kitchen. “Was the movie good?”

“Awesome,” Cassie said.

Suddenly, my gut started hurting again and my arm got hot. But why? There was no invader here. Just me, Mom and Cassie.