Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg Page A

to you that I’m in a rock band?   Anyway even though Ben can be wicked I
went home and downloaded it and liked.   Even if they did go to Georgetown.
    3. Son--
    “Hey.”
    Casey’s
hand slipped.   She gulped and looked
up.   It was her library period and
Alex Deal was, suddenly, standing in front of her.   “I’m sorry but there will be no autographs
today,” she said.   “If you’re
desperate you can try going through the label or management.”
    “You guys
still trying out for talent show?”
    She folded
her arms over her chest.   “Is the
pope Catholic?”
    “You didn’t
seem so sure about the whole deal a couple of days ago.”
    “My poker
face is the stuff of legend.   We’re
auditioning alright.   And once we
do, this school will never be the same.”
    “Is that
so?”
    “Sure as
thunder.”
    He paused
and she sensed he was trying to make his mind up about something.   “Can I stop by your band practice
today?” he asked.
    “Um.”  
    His green
eyes were soft and imploring.   Clearly pretending to be interested in her band was his way of trying to
get her back.  
    “Meet us by
the front door after classes,” she said.

 
    At lunch
Yull made the rare move of not going out with the most popular kids in the
school but, rather, finding his kid sister in the cafeteria, where she had been
eating alone up until five minutes prior, at which point Ben had joined her.
    Yull
sat.   “Hi,” he said to Ben.  
    “What’s
up--?” Ben began to respond.  
    Before he
could finish Yull turned back to Casey.   “Question.”  
    “Yes, dear
brother?”  
    “Why was
Leigh sleeping in the basement bedroom when I went down this morning to get my
blue sweater?”
    Yull’s
class schedule began an hour earlier than Casey so they never saw each other in
the morning.  
    Casey
tapped her finger to her temple.   “That’s an interesting question.   But are you sure you saw her and not the dog?”  
    “The dog died
three years ago.”  
    “That’s
true.   But perhaps you were
sleepwalking and got confused because you thought you saw the dog.”
    Yull
frowned.   “What the hell are you
talking about, Casey?”  
    “That’s a
maroon sweater you’re wearing, bro.”
    “The blue
one had a hole in it.”  
    “See what
I mean?”
    “Casey!”  
    Ben’s
head, which had been moving back and forth between Barneses as they spoke,
started.
    “Why did
Leigh sleep in the basement?” Yull snapped.  
    She
sighed.   “Because she’s seeking
refuge in our good home, and any attempt to turn her into parental authority
will get you blacklisted to Amnesty International watchdogs faster than you can
say Pol Pot.”  
    “Refuge?”  
    “She ran
away from home.   Her parents are
going to send her to a boarding school in Massachusetts where capital
punishment is permissible.”  
    “Are you
serious?”  
    “About the
boarding school bit?   Yessirree
Bob.   I’m not one hundred percent
sure about capital punishment but if I had to lay bucks down on that one I
would.”  
    “They’re
sending her to boarding school because of the roach clip?”
    “Affirmative.”
    Yull shook
his head.   “That’s lame.   But she can’t just stay in the
basement.   They’re going to come
looking for her.”
    “Evidently
that thought hadn’t occurred to the fearless front woman,” Ben said.  
    “Don’t
speak unless spoken to,” Casey said to Ben.   He held up his middle finger and tapped
it to his temple.  
    “You think
Mom’s not gonna know there’s another person living under her own roof?” Yull
asked.
    Casey
waved a hand in the air.   “Please.   Keeping a secret
from that over-programmed workaholic’s as easy as drinking water.”  
    “This is
not going to end well,” Yull said.  
    “What am I
supposed to do?   Stand by and let my
best friend get shipped off to hell?”  
    “Has she
attempted swaying the ruling of her elders with freshly baked pies and
cookies?”