Amos and the Vampire by Gary Paulsen Page A

were all in the family room watching
Bowling for Groceries
when the phone rang. The second I heard it, I was up and moving. You know how Melissa likes for me to get it on that all-important first ring?”
    The logic of that statement always got away from Dunc, but he nodded anyway.
    “I jumped over Clod, who was on the floor with his face about three inches from the television. I guess he didn’t want to miss anything. Anyway, I cleared him and had my hand on the phone when it happened.”
    “What?”
    “Clod. Like I said, he’s a wrestler. When the phone rang and I jumped over him, his reflexes went berserk. When the sound of that ringing bell finally penetrated his brain, he grabbed me and tossed me across the room. Then he fell on me like a ton ofbricks and pinned me in a full Willie Nelson.”
    “It’s called a half nelson, Amos.”
    “Not the way he did it. I’d probably still be there except my mom bribed him with a platter of fried chicken she’d made for my dad’s company picnic.”
    “That’s too bad. I mean about the phone and everything.”
    “Yeah. But now that I know what she wanted, I better get busy and start working on a costume.” He turned his bike and started back down the street.
    Dunc thought about mentioning the fact that Amos hadn’t actually been invited to the party and that maybe he was jumping the gun a little.
    He didn’t. Instead he just shook his head, got on his bike, and followed Amos home.

Dunc pushed the doorbell a second time. Finally the door opened. Amy stood on the step chewing a huge wad of pink bubble gum. She blew a bubble and let it pop. “What are
you
doing over here at this time of night?”
    “Hi, Amy. Nice to see you too.” Dunc squeezed past her and started up the stairs. He was halfway up before he noticed somebody else standing in the hall. An older boy, tall and thin, with slick black hair and a pale complexion, stared at him with dark, smoldering eyes.
    “Hi.” Dunc smiled and waved.
    The boy turned without a sound, tookAmy’s arm, and led her into the next room.
    Dunc pushed open Amos’s door. “Your sister’s boyfriends are getting weirder every—” He stopped short and his mouth fell open. Amos was standing in the middle of his bed holding a sunflower and wearing a long brown wig, sunglasses, a wild Hawaiian shirt, and bell-bottom pants.
    “Peace, man. Can you dig it?”
    “You called me over here at this time of night to show me this?”
    Amos nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to get your opinion. I thought if I wore something from the seventies, Melissa would think that I was into that whole hippie love thing and be impressed with my sensitivity. What do you think?”
    “I think you better keep trying.” Dunc looked for a clean spot to sit down on. There wasn’t one, so he stood. “Who’s the jerk downstairs? I said hi and he didn’t answer me.”
    “He probably didn’t understand you. I don’t think he speaks much English. His family just moved here from somewhere inEurope. They bought the Van Helseg estate out on Hanover. Amy calls him C.D. I guess he likes music or something.” Amos rummaged through his closet. “What about a groom?”
    “What?”
    “You know, like on a wedding cake. Maybe Melissa would be motivated if I came as a groom.”
    “Too pushy.” Dunc kicked aside a pile of dirty clothes and plopped down on the floor. “That guy downstairs gives me the creeps. Do your parents know she’s seeing him?”
    “They don’t care. They were just happy she dumped the biker with the snake tattoo on his upper lip. Besides, they’re gone. They went to visit my uncle Alfred for the weekend. You remember him, the one who picks his toes through his smelly socks?”
    “Hmm.” Dunc rubbed his chin.
    “Stop that.” Amos jumped off the bed. “I know that sound. It’s dangerous. When you make it, it means you’re thinking up some way to get me into trouble. Besides, you’re supposed to be helping me with my costume so I can wow