The side bedroom had a great little coobie hole that in later years was great for stashing pirated Playboys. It jutted out from the steep slope of the main roof and sported its own gabled roof.
After unpacking, Dad and I picked up a pizza. "Why the change of heart?" he asked. "I don't know," I mumbled. "I bet I do," he teased.
"Well I was thinking that maybe I was acting too much like a little kid about the cemetery thing."
"Oh really? It wouldn't have anything to do with your visitor?"
"No Way," I said. "It's just that I was thinking about the boneyard and everything - I think I watched too many horror movies. Like Granddad said, it's the live ones you have to worry about."
"Exactly," Dad said.
When we got home my parents had another surprise for me, as if moving across country wasn't enough excitement. "You're going to have a little brother or sister," my mother said.
I almost choked on the strand of cheese I was sucking off my pizza. "Really, that's great," I lied.
"It'll be here just in time for Christmas," she chirped.
"There goes my Nintendo," I said.
"JAMES, I don't believe you," she screeched.
"I know you don't, nobody does, why would you now?" I licked the grease from my fingers.
"Don't get wise with me young man. And stop licking your fingers. Any normal kid would be delighted to have a little brother or sister."
"May I be excused?" I interrupted "Don't interrupt your mother!," my father barked.
"All you ever think about is James, James, James! It's all about James! Nobody else matters!"
"I didn't ask for another baby."
"Joe, you've created a monster!" Her face turned red as blood.
"I've created a monster? What about you? Don't go pointing your finger at me?"
"You Son of a Bitch," my mother started. Without a word I took another slice of pizza and slipped into the relative quite of my bedroom.
A present rested on my bed. I ripped off the wrapping. Inside was a wooden cross. "In case we're wrong about the cemetery." The writing was my grandfather's. Holding the cross against my chest I flopped onto the bed. I already missed him. I closed my eyes and wished he moved with us.
As my parent's yelling waned I looked into the night. Light from Shannie's house beckoned like a lighthouse.