Eighth Grade Bites

The Hidden Attic

Vlad rolled out of bed and rubbed his eyes. Careful not to step on henry, who was still snoring in his sleeping bag on the floor, he crossed the room and shut the door behind him, then stepped into the library. From the nearest recessed bookcase, he grabbed a copy of the theory and practice of telepathy and went downstairs.

Aunt Nelly was at the stove and turned just as he took a seat at the long plank table. "Morning sunshine".

Vlad blinked at her. "Morning, sulfuric acid.'

"Pardon me?"

"Well isn't it just kinda wrong to call a vampire 'sunshine'?"

"Oh. Sorry." She set a juicy glass full of cool, deep red liquid in front of him, which he downed while she tapped the book. "Something interesting going on?"

"Kinda. I read someone's thoughts last night. Somebody I didn't even know."

Nelly took a seat across from him and sipped her coffee. "I thought you could only read Henrys mind."

"I thought so too." He scratched his chin and flipped open the boom the a page covered with yellow sticky notes.

Nelly looked pensive. "Vladimir.....you didn't....."

Vlad scanned the page, only half listening to Nelly. When he realized what she was implying. His jaw dropped. "No! I wouldn't taste somebody's blood on purpose."

"Except for Henrys, you mean." Nelly sipped her coffee, eying him over her glasses.

Vlad rolled his eyes and slid the boom closer to him. "Aunt Nelly, I was eight years old. Can we let that one go already?"

"Well you said before that you were only able to read Henrys thoughts after you'd ingested some of his blood. So if you didn't taste this persons blood, how do you suppose you could read his mind?" He tone was very even, but careful.

"No idea. But then, its not like I have an Encyclopedia Vampirica to consult, so far, a I have are theories."

Nelly chewed a bit of bacon, watching him with great interest. "So what happened at midnight?"

"No clue. We left early." Vlad shrugged. Then, thinking about his overnight guest, he asked, "is it cool if Henry states another night? His parents aren't going to be back till Monday afternoon."

"So long as you boys can manage to find you way to school in the morning."

As if awakened by the mere mention of his name. Henry came bounding down the stairs and burst into the kitchen with a bad case of bed head.

"Hey Nelly, we've got this family tree project in history. I was wondering if you could help me out."

She ruffled Henrys hair on her way to the door. "Have you checked the attic? I know your parents had some photo albums up there. They'd be more help than I would." Vlad stared after her, dumbfounded. Nelly sighed. "Honestly. Vladimir, you've lived here for three years and still don't know about the hidden attic? The door to it is a foot from your bed, for goodness sake! I thought vampires were supposed to have ultra sensitive powers of intuition."

Vlad shrugged and picked up another sticky bun. "Don't you think if I had powers of intuition. I'd be doing better in math?"

Nelly groaned. "Let's hope you develop that next".

With the click of the front door, Vlad and Henry were left alone for the day.