The Demon Conspiracy

  ***

  I walked into Tony’s Pizza with Angie, Jon, Travis, and our new grandmother, too. I’ll admit it felt weird calling this total stranger “Granny,” but that came easier for me than calling her Matilda. Angie was a little ticked off about it, but like Travis said, we had a grandparent. We should just enjoy her while we could.

  Maria waited on a table by the window. She waved when she saw us and hurried over to hug Jon, who was totally unresponsive to her. She hugged Angie and me, too, before rubbing Travis’ hair again. Maybe the hair rub was a ritual, or something, because she did it every time she saw him. She also offered him another piece of gum, which he took, of course. That kid just loves gum.

  “Maria,” I said. “This is our foster grandmother. You can call her Granny Price.”

  “Glad to meet you, Ms. Price.” Maria smiled pleasantly at Granny. Granny nodded politely, though I think she felt a little out of place.

  A balding Hispanic man behind the counter got Maria’s attention and pointed to a table. Maria nodded. “I gotta work. Brandon’s in the kitchen. It’s good to meet you.” She went off to her customers.

  “She’s spunk,” said Granny. “Looks like a model and seems nice, too.”

  “Nicest person I know,” I said. I looked at Jon, wondering why he didn’t react in some way to the girl he wanted to marry. “Jon said her parents are nice, too. Her dad’s a good boss. That’s back when Jon remembered things.”

  “Were Jon and Chris in an accident?” asked Granny.

  “You could say that.” Angie gave their order to Tony, who took it all down and thanked her. He nodded to Jon.

  “Sure you don’t wanna work tonight, Jon?” he asked. “We’re busy as hell.”

  “I must work hard and fast. I will be the greatest magician in the world.” Jon stepped away from the counter and instantly became distracted by a nickel-sized spot on the floor.

  Angie introduced Matilda to Jon’s boss, Tony Sanchez, who was Maria’s dad. She told him Matilda was looking for a job.

  “I can get you an application,” said Tony. “But I just hired Brandon. I don’t really need more help now, unless Jon isn’t coming back. Has he given you any idea what his plans are?”

  Angie looked at Jon, who still studied the spot on the floor. “I wish I could help you with that, but Jon is having…problems.” She and Tony nodded in agreement. He lowered his voice. “He’s really bad, isn’t he? Maria said he wasn’t the same. Has he seen a doctor?”

  “Yes,” whispered Angie. “Physically he’s fine, but we’re scheduled to see a psychiatrist, too.”

  I listened to them, but I watched Jon because something was happening on the floor. The spot, probably made of grease, began to lift away from the surface. It drifted up to Jon’s hand where he caught it midair and held it tightly in his fist. He gave me a sly, sidelong glance and opened his hand. The spot was gone. I looked at Granny and Angie and even Tony, but they hadn’t noticed the trick at all. Travis missed it too. Jon winked at me and became distracted again. I tried to wink back, but as usual, I only blinked.

  “I saw a help-wanted sign in the window next door,” said Granny. “Do you know if the job’s still open?”

  “At Mike’s? Yeah, it’s open, but Mike’s kind of particular who works for him.”

  “Thanks, mate. I’ll be back.” Granny adjusted her hair and left the restaurant.

  Tony looked at Angie. “Is she serious? Mike’s looking for a bouncer. Hey, Jon, your paycheck’s in my office. Let me know when you’re coming back okay?”

  Jon gave Tony the deer-in-the-headlights look. “What is your office?”

  Tony looked at me. “Kelly, you know the way, don’t you?” I nodded. “You can all go back, Brandon’s there. Maybe you can give him some pointers on washing dishes.”

  “Kelly, I’ll be in the car,” said Angie, taking out her cell phone. “I need to find a good doctor for Jon to see as soon as possible.” Angie and Tony nodded at each other and she left through the front door. I tapped Jon on the arm.

  “This way.”

  In the kitchen we talked with Jon’s best friend, Brandon Cole. Brandon was a lanky black kid who was about an inch taller than Jon. Where Jon used to have quiet ambitions of being a stuntman and a movie producer, Brandon wanted to write and direct. He had loaned Jon his expensive camcorder to record our caving trip, but unfortunately, it was still in the cave some place.

  As usual Brandon whistled when he saw me. “Kelly, you get hotter every day. I can’t believe you’re just thirteen. Look me up in five years, I’ll put you in a movie.”

  “Are you really going to make movies?” I asked.

  “You bet. Jon and I are gonna take over Hollywood. But right now I gotta take out the trash. First things first, you know.”

  Brandon hauled two overloaded trash cans out the back door. I took Jon to the tiny office space and pointed. “Your paycheck’s in here.”

  Jon stared at the office, utterly confused. “Where? What does it look like?”

  I went into the office and found an envelope with Jon’s name on it taped to the wall. The check was inside. I took it off the wall and gave it to Jon.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  “Your paycheck,” I said. “You sign your name on the back and take it to the bank where they give you money.”

  Jon lit up. “Money? I can use money. I need to buy more magic supplies!” He stuffed the envelope into his back pocket.

  I wanted to talk to Brandon or Maria again about Jon, so the three of us took a seat on a wooden bench near the rear entrance of the kitchen and waited. Jon had only been back to school for one day and I was curious how it had gone. When Maria hugged him a few minutes ago, he didn’t flinch, and that wasn’t right. He used to get all flushed just talking about her.

  Brandon never came back. That dumpster must have been a mile away.