My Life as a Stuntboy (16 page)

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Authors: Janet Tashjian

BOOK: My Life as a Stuntboy
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When I get home from school, I'm greeted by not only Bodi and Frank but my parents' copy of our contract, lying on the kitchen table.
My dad points to the contract and then points to Frank. After a moment, I realize what he wants.
“Frank's probably fine,” I say. “Mom changed him this morning.”
“His diaper's not fine,” Dad says. “And I've been saving it for you.”
heinous
As soon as I protest, Dad directs my attention again to the contract. I carry Frank to an empty examination room in Mom's office and begin the heinous task of changing my monkey's diaper. Just as I'm about to tell one of Mom's interns that I forgot how to do it and ask if she can help, Mom appears. Her right eyebrow is raised as she leans inside the door frame to ensure I finish the job.
“Very good.” She hands me a plastic bag for the dirty diaper, which I can't get rid of fast enough.
“The woman from the capuchin organization called to check on Frank,” Mom says.
“You didn't tell her about the horse, did you?”
“I had to. He's had major surgery.
She wasn't too happy and wants to reevaluate his placement with us.”
“I don't want to give him up,” I say. “What do we have to do to keep him?”
reevaluate
“You're going to call her,” Mom answers. “And ask her that very question.”
Out of all the teaching moments my parents throw at me, the worst is talking to grown-ups about my mistakes. Whether it's apologizing to Mr. Parker for using his faucet to fill up water balloons or telling Mrs. Donaldson that I didn't really mean to dig up part of her yard when I built my skateboard ramp, Mom's insistence on “personal responsibility” has never been anything but embarrassing. And now she wants me to call someone three thousand miles away and beg her to let me keep my monkey?
insistence
appointment
Just when I think things can't get worse, I walk next door to find Ronnie waiting on our porch.
“Did you forget about our appointment?” he asks.
I hate that my house is no longer a safe place from schoolwork.
“Well,
I
didn't forget. Let's start by reading out loud where we left off last time.”
“Oh, no!” If I tell him about the YouTube video, my parents will definitely find out, and now that things are okay with Matt, it hardly seems worth putting them through that.
“Okay, then, how about doing some of your drawings?” Ronnie says. “You can illustrate the story as we read.”
I've been so busy with the movie these past few weeks that I almost forgot about my sketchbook. I get it from my room and flip through the pictures of my recent vocabulary words. Then I get an idea.
I tell Ronnie I'll be right back and find the movie script in my dad's office. I still haven't read it but scan through the ninety pages until I find scene 31. Sure enough, there are the words Tanya was trying to remember yesterday.
“You want to illustrate a screenplay?” Ronnie asks. “Shouldn't we be working on your book from school?”
I slowly read through the scene, then turn my sketchbook sideways. I draw several panels like a comic strip and follow that with figures acting out the story. Ronnie suggests a few ideas but mostly lets me be. When I'm done, I rummage through my pack to find the shooting schedule for the rest of the week, then illustrate those scenes too.
sarcastic
“You did good work today,” Ronnie says.
I look up from my drawings to see if he's being sarcastic, but he appears to be serious. He says good-bye to Frank before he leaves and tells me he'll see me on Monday.
When Dad comes in to start dinner, I ask him if he'll do me a favor.
I hold up my drawings and the script. “Are you going to be near Culver City tomorrow? Can you drop these off at the set?”
My father puts down the eggplant and looks over my work. “Sure. I'm happy to.”
I put the drawings in an envelope and address it to Tanya Billings. Then I add a note.
Tanya,
Here are some drawings of your upcoming scenes. Maybe you can use them, maybe not.
Good luck!
Derek (a.k.a. Doc)
Then I put the envelope on the front seat of my father's car so he won't forget.
 
 
Matt meets me at my locker as if nothing bad ever happened between us. “What did the lady say about Frank?”
“She's in town for some big presentation, so she's coming over Friday night before she flies back to Boston. Mom told me we should have Frank's things ready in case the woman decides to take Frank
back with her. I can't imagine never seeing him again.”
Swifty and Joe wrestle their way down the corridor toward us. Matt and I exchange looks; neither of us wants any trouble.
One thing I know I won't be when I grow up is a psychiatrist because I can never figure out what makes people tick. For some reason, Swifty has the crazy idea that I stole Matt away from him, so he spent this week trying to slam my locker door on my hand or swipe my skateboard as I pack my bag with books. I got my board back, but all the drama just seemed like a giant waste of time.
“How are you ladies doing today?” Swifty asks.
Joe tries to shake his bangs off his forehead, but he's so sweaty, they don't budge.
drama
Neanderthal
When Matt and I don't answer, Swifty hits Joe on the arm and they head down the hall.
“They scare me sometimes. I don't know how you ever hung out with them.”
“If you pretend you're a Neanderthal, they're kind of fun.” Matt leans against his locker. “Which brings us to the subject of your particular primate. How about if Frank isn't there when the woman comes to your house? Then she
couldn't
take him.”
“Where else would he be? My mom's office is right next door— …she'd definitely find him.”
“Maybe he's not at your mom's office. Maybe he's somewhere else.” Matt shoots me his most evil grin.
“What if you leave the back door open tomorrow and I sneak in and take him? In his cage, I mean. To keep him safe.”
“Are you kidding? My mom would flip.
Frank
would flip.”
“You said the woman has to catch a plane, right? All we have to do is hide him until she has to leave for the airport. She's not going to miss her flight back home. Then you call her the next day and say you and Frank were visiting Pedro and you're sorry you missed her.”
Listening to Matt's plan, I realize how much better life is when he's on my side. As I close my locker, I discover Swifty and Joe lurking around the corner.
“Are you guys spying on us?” I ask. “Get a life.”
lurking
Joe makes a move toward me, but Matt tells him to get lost.
“I think you should really consider Operation Hide Frank,” Matt continues after they leave. “I'll take good care of him, I swear.”
I don't have to think about it twice. “There's no way I'm putting Frank through that kind of trauma. Even if it means losing him.”
Matt stops walking and looks me in the eye. “Is it because you don't trust me and think I'll take him for real?”
“No! It's not that … .” I try to finish the rest of the sentence but can't. After a moment, I try again. “You really hurt my feelings before, but that's not why. I just want to do the right thing for Frank.”
Matt smiles as he heads into
class. “We'll figure out another way. You're not going to lose that monkey.”
And because Matt's my best friend, I believe him.

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