The Grin in the Dark

The Grin in the Dark — page 3 — They are paying me right he says toward the driver’s seat turning away from the window It’s not the first time he’s asked Mom this question This isn’t going to be considered a favor I’m doing is it Hamid Mom says He can hear the smile in her voice This isn’t going to be good old Hamid helping out he continues like when I spent three hours weeding with Uncle Mo and then he made me pay for my own milk shake Mom laughs That’s my brother she says But don’t worry about that I talked to Julie and you’re definitely getting paid Good says Hamid Julie says it’s going to be a late night They’re going to a benefit for the charity she works for Dinner drinks music Mom says as the car climbs up Sycamore Hill Road The news announcer clears her throat I’ve just received an important alert she says Especially for our in Washington and Lincoln counties north of the city of New Brighton listeners Mom wrinkles her forehead and turns up the radio What’s this she says concerned

The Grin in the Dark — page 4 — Washington County authorities said moments ago that Josiah Pryce has escaped from the state prison in Fish Falls the newscaster says Josiah Pryce is unstable and violent Oh my Mom says What Hamid asks looking at his mom Should we be worried He knows Washington County is way up north Oh of course not Mom says She smiles and flicks off the radio My guess is that the police will have him back in his cell within the hour Hamid watches the dull yellowish shine of the headlights slide across his aunt and uncle’s house It’s huge and white with giant windows that reflect the headlights and streetlights so they look like huge wet eyes Anyway Julie said that she and Mo probably won’t be back till midnight or later Mom says as she guides the car up the sloping smooth driveway Hamid’s always been jealous of that driveway He can imagine starting at the top on his bike and gliding down the perfectly smooth blacktop toward the street Then again as Mom always reminds him he’d have to pedal back up eventually Still compared to the bumpy cracked alley that cuts between the apartment buildings and duplexes

The Grin in the Dark — page 5 — on his block this driveway is bicycling heaven Mom parks the car and swivels in her seat Mo will drive you home tonight she says There’s no way I’m staying up past midnight I have to work in the morning Okay Mom Hamid says pulling on the door handle to get out And I have to be up at six Mom calls after him So come in quietly okay Hamid Okay okay Hamid says as he slams the car door He looks up at the stark front of his aunt and uncle’s house and beyond it into the night sky The moon is full tonight and very bright It’ll be blocked by thick gray clouds soon if the storm is as bad as the meteorologist is saying it will be As Hamid walks toward the front door Aunt Julie comes outside and stands on the gray stone stoop waving at Mom in the car Hi Hamid she says chipper and smiling her teeth as big and white as a sledding hill before the first run She’s wearing a gown that is long and shimmery and off-white and it makes Hamid think of wintertime Hi Aunt Julie he says slipping past her and into the house As he steps inside Julie peers up at the sky Not raining yet she says They’re saying we’ll get a

The Grin in the Dark — page 6 — big storm tonight I hope it can hold off till after we’re home I wouldn’t mind a storm Hamid says I like them I don’t usually mind them Aunt Julie says closing the door behind them but I don’t think Mo wants to drive for two hours in a thunderstorm tonight Julie and Mo’s house is huge and fancy just as stark and impressive inside as out except for one odd thing Julie is obsessed with clowns And usually clowns are everywhere But tonight as Hamid walks into the entryway he realizes that there is something different about the house Tonight all the clown stuff is missing Normally there are photos of clowns on every shelf and framed drawings and paintings of clowns decorating the walls There are usually countless porcelain miniature clowns that sit on the mantel above the fireplace in the family room Hamid peers around the corner to his left down the short hallway that leads to the living room There are usually stuffed clown dolls sitting in armchairs and clown music boxes and snow globes perched on every available tabletop No clowns Hamid turns to his right The mirror that hangs

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