The Brain Invaders

Chapter 18

Getting through the day was almost impossible. It seemed like the number of turned humans had increased exponentially since Friday. Exponentially – I had just had that vocab word last week and never thought I’d be using it so soon – or ever! 

 I hate going to the dentist, especially when I have a cavity, and I actually couldn’t wait for my appointment after school just to get away from all of this. Plus, there was something in the dental office I needed to get for Friday night.

I sat in the dentist’s chair, head back, legs up. Relax, I told myself. Imagine being at the beach. Hot sand. Pounding surf. Cool water. She’s just going to drill a tooth.

“Open wide,” the dentist said.

I opened my mouth wide and watched the long needle inch toward me. Suddenly, the needle looked like a sea slug and I imagined her stuffing it in my mouth.

“No! I shouted, sitting up.

“Alex,” Dr. Jones said. “What’s wrong? I just want to give you some Novocain so you won’t be in any pain.”

I focused on what was in her hand. Breathe. Breathe, I told myself. Stop acting crazy.

“I’m all right. Just give me a minute. This is my first cavity. I guess I’m a little scared.”

“Don’t be,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ll be gentle. Let’s try again.”

Once again, I opened my mouth. It’s not a slug. It’s not a slug, I told

myself over and over. She grabbed my lip and wiggled it as she injected the

medicine into my gum.

“That should do it,” she said. “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes. Your lip and right side of your face will be numb for awhile.”

“Dr. Jones,” I said as she was walking out the door. “Could I have some of your plastic gloves? I need them for a school project.”

“Sure, Alex,” she said. “Take what you need from the wall dispenser.”

I jumped off my seat and stuffed a bunch of plastic gloves into my pocket.

When Dr. Jones returned, my mouth felt like it must be as big as Mr. Potter’s belly. He’s my math teacher, and his gut sticks out about as far as his wife’s pregnant belly. I know because I saw them stand next to each other the other day in the caféteria. She’s a teacher, too. I remembered thinking that she would lose her belly, but he was stuck with his fat blob. Unless, of course, he’d diet. Which he should do.    

Anyway, Dr. Jones was right. The drilling didn’t hurt. And I kept my eyes closed so I didn’t imagine the drill was a sea slug as she worked on my tooth. 

On the way home from the dentist, Mom went through the drive-through at Pappy’s Burgers.

“What do you want, Alex?” she asked.

“Burger and fries.”

“What’s wrong with you, Alex?” Mom asked. “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“I haven’t been feeling well this week,” I said. “I think I have that stomach bug that’s been going around.”

The truth was, I was tired of feeling lousy, of always having stomachaches.  I was tired of worrying about someone seeing the red mark on my arm.

I wasn’t doing well in school either. I couldn’t concentrate. I was too preoccupied with what I had to do Friday night. I never prayed so much in my life.

I called Cassie before I went to bed to tell her I got the plastic gloves. She told me she went to the drug store and got the other stuff we needed.

“And, Alex, I found something else that might work better than the plastic gloves,” she said. “I’m worried that they’ll notice the gloves or feel them if we have to shake their hands. Anyhow, I picked up this stuff called Invisible Glove. My mom used it when she stained the woodwork in our kitchen. I had forgotten all about it until I saw it in the store. You rub it on like hand cream and it becomes an

invisible barrier. It might work better than the gloves. What do you think?”

I hadn’t thought much about the gloves. I was just trying to think of something that would protect our hands.

“If you think it’ll work better, I’m all for it,” I said. “Hey, did Zach text you at all?”

“Yeah. Told me he thinks he’s being followed. Something about a man on a red motorcycle. Think it’s the same guy we saw after church?”

“Yeah. I think so. Wonder what he wants.”

 “Zach needs to be extra careful,” Cassie said. “I’m worried about him.”

“Me, too. We all have to be careful. Even you. You might not be able to tell who’s human and who’s not, but you’re in danger just by hanging with us.”