the suburban strange excerpt
TRANSCRIPT
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Near fatal accidents are plaguing
Suburban Highs female students
on the eve of their sixteenth birthday.
And Celias sixteenth birthday is
fast approaching . . .
suburban s t rangethe
nathan kotecki
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For Amanda
(If you have a sister who you suspect has secret
supernatural powers, you understand.)
Copyght 2012 by A Op Ca, Ic.
All ghts sv. Publsh th Ut Stats by Houghto M Boos o Chl,
a pt o Houghto M Hacout Publshg Copay, 2012.
Fo oato about psso to pouc slctos o ths boo, wt to
Pssos, Houghto M Hacout Publshg Copay, 215 Pa Avu South,
Nw Yo, Nw Yo 10003.
ww w.hhboos.co
Musc cts appa o pag 357.
T Lbay o Cogss Catalogg--Publcato-Data cotol ub 2011048209
ISBN: 978-0-547-72996-1
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1
At the quiet beginning o a cla ay, a blac s-
a oll slowly ow th pty stt a ca to a
stop ot o Clas hous. Sh ha ow t woul
b cog, but t was a ty shoc to s t th, v so. Sh
op th ot oo a too log, slow sts ow th
wal to t t.
h cas tal a glass glt th og su. I
th passg sat wow Clas cto loo bac at
h: a tall, th gl wag a lttl blac caga ov a gay
ss. H s was pal a h log, staght bow ha s-
appa bh h shouls. Sh loo past th gla o
th glass a ou a sco gl sttg bh th stgwhl, who was ot uch ol tha sh. h vs azo-
shap blac bob sht a th ll bac to plac as h
glov ha low h suglasss a sh loo out at Cla.
Aou th th houss s to slub o th laws.
h og sll o w a gass. Soo t woul b all.
Cla op th oo a too h plac th pass-g sat. h a th ca hl tacs o a pu that -
h o osts a spc cabts a Chstas. A
you ay? th v as wh Cla ha clos th oo.
through the looking glass
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Nathan Kotecki
2
I th so.
h v put th ca ga a as away o th
cub. hy gl out o Clas ghbohoo at a statly pac,a th ab lght sh lt as thy w vg though
hoy. A glooy sog play o th sto, wth gg gu-
tas a cashg us, a a a sgg:
One cold damp evening the world stood still
I watched as I held my breathA silhouette I thought I knew came through
And someone spoke to me
Whispered in my ear
This fantasys for you
Fantasies are in this year . . .
Who s ths?
h Chalos, th v sa. You l t?
Ys.
h wa lght c though th ts as thy o.
Cla t to ag what sh ght hav b og, wh
sh ght hav b sta, sh hat . . . Sh wo
whch thg sh ght hav o tly, whch csowoul hav st h a t cto. It was ha to
guss. At ths ot sh lt as though sh ha v ha
a choc, ally. h w so ay qustos sh coult
asw, but t all s so vtabl, galss. Sh tu
aou a loo at th bac sat. A gay cash blat
lay th o th ta lath, atly ol, watg o th fstcol sap o th all.
hy ov to a ghbohoo Cla t ow, wh
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th houss loo xpsv a th laws w w. h ca
stopp ot o o o th, a soo th ot oo o th
hous las a haso boy wag a a sht a tou-ss a a boca vst. Hs blo ha was shot o th ss
a swpt to a fts-sp pa o top. hats B,
th v sa. B wav th cto bo h got
to aoth xpsv-loog blac ca pa th v-
way.
H st g wth us? Cla as.hats ot how t wos. Youll s.
Bs ca pull out ot o th at th sa slow
pac, a thy ollow h to aoth ghbohoo.
My whole life passed before my eyes
I thought what they say is true
I shed my skin and my disguise
And cold, numb, and naked
I emerged from my cocoon
And a half-remembered tune played softly in my
head . . .
hy av at th cub ot o aoth hous. Ocaga a boy g: olv-s wth loos a culs,
h wo a sl gay sut jact ov a atchg pa o -
lgth shots, a blac loas wthout socs. hats Maco.
h boy wav to th; th h clb to th oth ca.
hough ts a wow Cla coul s th two boys gt
ach oth wth a ss.You ot atg ayo, a you? th v as Cla.
M? No! Iv v at ayo.
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Why s that? h v sou sups, a Cla
wsh sh ha aag to sou ochalat sta o
ala.Sh shugg, tyg to play t ow. I tall tha v-
yo. Sh loo ow at h log lgs shou a
tghts, a h t bucl shos wth hgh hls tha
sh v wo bo, a sh thought that ow v w
boys woul b abl to loo h th y.
You just to at soo ol, th v aswsply as thy ollow th oth blac ca ow th stt,
soug copltay a slghtly btt at th sa t.
It was such a obvous soluto, ow Cla thought about t,
but sh v ha t to solv th pobl. llg hsl sh
was too tall was o o th ways sh a ss o ot gttg
o attto o boys, but that coult obscu th p
tuth: Cla woult hav ow what to o wth a boy v
h ha b lv to h a shppg cat wth bathg
hols cut to th top.
I realize a miracle is due
I dedicate this melody to you
But is this the stuff dreams are made of?
No wonder I feel like Im floating on air
It feels like Im everywhere . . .
Last stop. Were late. I hope theyre ready. The two black
cars pulled up in ront o an imposing modern house with
a huge bed o ivy in place o a lawn. This time two peopleemerged through the ront door. Thats Liz, the driver said
o a shorter girl with a wavy bob, black with deep blue high-
lights, wearing skinny black pants and a button-down shirt
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with long tails. A rosary hung rom her neck. And thats Ivo.
Celias guides voice grew warmer as Ivo walked with Liz to
yet another black car. He was tall and thin with his black hairseverely parted and combed, wearing a black shirt and suit.
Theyre raternal twins. Theyre the whole reason the Rosary
exists.
h Rosay?
I t tll you? hats th a o ou goup. h v
tu to loo at Cla.A you . . . lgous? Cla as.
No. W a st o sall blac shy bas who stg
aou togth, fg bauty th st o th wol has ov-
loo. Cla thought ths was a scpto sh shoul -
b, but sh coult a ss o t. h v cot-
u, h Rosay s just th a wv gv ouslvs. But to
scb us, I say w a th cogosct.
I ot ow what that as, Cla sa.
h cogosct a th os who ow. h gl b-
h th whl gav h a appopatly owg loo, but
Cla stll ha o a how to spo.
Ivo a Lz w pullg out o th vway a th
blac ca, a suly th ag o shy blac thgs stugtogth wast just a tapho. Cla lt as sh w g
a ual pocsso, a a ala pa a up h.
Oly ctly ha h hat gow clos aou what lt l
th shas o a bullt that ha log th wh h ath
. h pa wast shap vy ay ow, but th shas w
always th. hy woul always b th.
Like when you fail to make the connection you
know how vital it is
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When something slips through your fingers you
know how precious it is
And you reach the point where you know its onlyyour second skin
Someones banging on my door . . .
What a you thg? th v as.
I . . . wll, t ls l w gog to a ual.
Goo, h gu sa. I suppos w a lttl loa-atc. You ow,In the midst o lie we are in death, a all that.
But thats what as t tstg ost popl oly th
about a thgs wh thy oc to, v though a
thgs ca b vy bautul. You usta?
I th so. It all sou ath p to Cla. Fo th
ot sh was lv that th pa that ha c h
s to b passg. hs a th os t vo
wt cuttg to h th way sh ha a. oay th
woul b o cast awatg h wh thy ach th st-
ato. Stll, sh hop th t woul co wh sh u-
stoo t all.
h pocsso cpt alog a tu oto a oa that
appoach a spawlg bulg achg to th sy l thao o a stgosauus, halls a wgs pog out all -
ctos. It stoo by tsl, wth op fls o th s a
acoss th stt. But at ts t, cas o oth colos a popl
covtoal cloths ov qucly vy cto, a
th sta sty o th v bga to vapoat. h Rosays
th blac cas fl soothly to th st o t all a fal-ly stopp s by s th pag lot. Cla op h oo
a th al lg o th jouy was go statly,
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l a hubcap clattg to th pavt. Sh put h t bac
ow o th gou a stoo up, loog aou, vously
watg to b touc to th oths.Hllo, Rg, Maco sa to Clas v. A fally
w gt to t Cla. H loo at h wth cuous, ys.
H sh s. Rg pst Cla by touchg h l-
bow, a Cla wo sh shoul stp owa. Maco,
B, Lz, Ivo, ths s Cla. hy all o at h. Sh
t ow what sh was suppos to o. But th xt o-t thy bga to spa to ach oth, a sh lt as sh
ha a away l a ghost.
You saw th w wg? Ivo pot alog o s o th
hug bulg. As ths plac wt lag ough alay.
You wot b swg th w pool, th? B
sa to h, a Ivo g hoo.
h covsato was ott wth as a topcs that
w og to Cla. Sh oc hsl ot to fgt.
Do you hav a x o us? Lz as B.
O cous I o. B op hs bag a pull out a
sl stac o jwl cass. Evythg s btt wth th ght
soutac.
Ev sothg as pssg as th fst ay o school?Espcally sothg as pssg as th fst ay o
school. B pass th CDs aou.
W hav to a th ost o t ts ou last ya to-
gth, Ivo sa, stuyg hs copy. You put h Haast
Rtual o h! hats pct!
B tu to Cla, o CD lt hs ha. Ithought you ght l o, too, h sa, slg.
ha you! Cla accpt t a stu th tac lst
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alog wth th oths. Fw o th atsts w ala to h,
a thos oly bcaus Rg ha bgu h tato to
th goups uscal tasts a w oths al.I hav a goo lg about ths ya, Maco sa. Its go-
g to b gat.
Celia looked around. Other kids who had parked nearby
were staring curiously at her group. It was obvious, though,
these fve dark riends didnt care. When the Rosary started
toward the building, they walked purposeully and slowly, justas they had driven, carrying themselves with a careul indi-
erence. They didnt look at the other kids, and they spoke
quietly so no one else could hear. Celia did her best to mimic
them. She was surprised to note the intrigued, even mystifed
respect rom the others or the Rosary. Beore she had met
Regine, whenever she was in public, Celia had wished to be
invisible, but there was no point in holding on to that desire
now. I this morning was any indication the procession o
cars, the austere clothes, the deliberate manner the Rosary
cultivated mystique deliberately. And i it werent or a chain
o unlikely events, Celia would have been on the other side,
the outside, staring at this group, unsure and alone. By some
strange chance, here she was in their midst, and she hoped shelooked at least a little as i she belonged, even though she elt
like an imposter. It was completely new, and a little thrilling,
but she was scared she would drop something, or all down
and be exposed as a ake. Then they would just walk smoothly
away rom her . . .
Suly, aha o th a gl bo away o h twos, zgzaggg acoss th pavt wth h ha uc
a h as alg aou h ac. No, o, o! sh
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sh. Collctvly th Rosay stopp walg, a Cla
stopp wth th.
What a you og? th atc gls s call,laughg a cous.
A! h tot gl jup, h whol a tsg.
h sh ca ow, s bt, a tu aou slowly to
loo at h s wth w ys. Sh ha lt th bh,
a thy stay put, usu whth thy wat to b assoc-
at wth such spastc bhavo o th fst ay o school.h gl ha stopp a a joc a oag -sht. Hy,
Els, whats wog?
A b stug ! Els hl o ha to th s o h
c. I allgc!
Whoa w hav to gt you to th us! h boy too
h a, but sh sa to th asphalt. H ha wav aou
h ac aga as sh gasp o a.
Cla glac at h goup. Each o th stoo cally,
uact by th gls plght. Wh sh was spawl, th
stug gl bloc th path to th school, a th Rosay oly
s to b watg o th way to b cla bo thy co-
tu. Ev o twty t away, Cla coul s that Elss
ac was swllg otcably. h gls two s ha ushov, a th joc ha opp to hs s xt to h, hs
has hovg uslssly aou h as h sca th pag
lot. H call out, Hlp! Soboy gt th us! Sval
s too o ug to th school.
Stll th Rosay t ov. Cla coult ault th o
ot gttg volv. h wast aythg to o that wastalay bg o, a th was o pot cowg th
poo gl. But Cla was both by h lg o hlplssss
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a h s sg c to Elss plght. Evy-
o ls th pag lot ha stopp th tacs, too,
but thy sca a pot, tllg ach oth what was ot o th.
Whats gog o? A youg tach ca ug towa
th havg gl.
Shs allgc to b stgs! th boy th oag sht
tol h as th tach couch xt to h. But th tach
t s to ow what to o, th. H sta at Els,a at aoth ot th joc ug h, W hav
to gt h that shot, whats t call? H loo aou
aga a shout, Dos ayo hav that shot o allgc
actos?
I hav a EpP! Aoth boy ca ug out o a
ow o cas, ggg hs satchl. H pull out a sall plastc
cas a ha t to th tach o th gou by Els.
But th tach sta at h, sayg, Iv v . . . h
boy too th cas bac, popp th cap a push Elss st
up h lg, th jabb th syg to h thgh a hl t
th. H spo a low voc to th gl, who o a
gasp. h boy t to p h ha out o h ys.
h tso bga to a o th a. h spctatosbga to ov aga, a Elss boy stat to lax. h
us lub to th pag lot a loo lv to f
that th ctcal hlp alay ha b ast. I aoth
ut th us a th tach hlp Els to h t, o
o ach s, a scot h to th bulg. H s
collct h thgs a tal bh h.h joc stoo up, hs bght oag -sht th last bt o
css lt th pag lot. H sa sothg to th boy who
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ha pov th EpP, a thy o sously at ach
oth. h boy wt o towa school, but th joc loo ov
th cto o th Rosay. Hy, Lz, h sa. hat was o ts.
Lz op h outh a spo a w syllabls that t
a up to wos. As o cu, th Rosay bga to wal aga.
Lz stugg to ata th sat pac as thy stal past
th joc, who loo sappot, but ot sups. Cla
coult c what was stagst: that such a alagthg ha happ ght ot o h o th fst ay o
school, that ths glooy clqu ha b so aloo thoughout
t, o that a joc woul l as though h coul gag Lz a
covsato.
hy ach th school lobby wthout uth ct,
a Cla lst o th to cot about what ha hap-
p outs. What you say about t bg a goo ya?
Ivo sa to Maco. I that was ay cato, ths ya s
cus alay. hy ta wy sls, but th xt o-
t ths goup to whch Cla was both a stag a a wa
ha ov o to o uala as a thgs sh t
usta. Sh gav up tyg to ollow th covsato a
loo aou.Sububa Hgh School wast aly as a a glao-
ous as sh suspct th Rosay woul hav p. h tl
walls a txtu plast clg loo atquat, a th
colos w too ab to hav as. Wh th goup pat
ways a Rg wal h upstas, Cla ou that th
sophoo hall ha all th sophstcato o a stp all o ajal. Agast ths bacop Rg loo v o xotc
tha sh ha th blac sa v o xotc tha sh
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ha th su awg class wh th two o th ha
t two shot oths ago. Cla glac ow a
hsl sh loo xotc ow, too.So you s how w a, ght? Rg sa to Cla. So
s ght gv you a ha t, a so s a gog to
wat to b s wth you just bcaus you s wth us,
a all Ill say s you shoul us you bst jugt. You c
thy sat ough, a thy loo goo ough. You
c who s woth you t. Cla ha v thought aboutt that way. Sh always ha b o th cvg o thos
valuatos. Sh ha a huch that ayo ls at Sububa
t th staas Rg ha la out, th Rosay woul hav
b th alay.
Do you ow that gl? sh as Rg, who loo at
h ucophgly. h o who got stug?
Not ally, Rg sa.
Clas cocs sht away o sypathy a bac to-
wa hsl. I a ot Rg was gog to lav h, a
th pospct o cotug alo oat up th sa as Cla
ha oc ow sval ts alay that og.
Sh sa gooby to Rg a tu to h hooo
oo. h oo was ull o s jas a sas abghtly colo shts who all ll slt wh sh wal ,
loog h ov. h a s to chag, bcog
a hott. No log coul Cla pt to b xotc sh
was sply out o plac. Sh cos ug bac out th
oo, but sh was su Rg woul sappov o such a s-
play o wass. hs w ot ha all th substac o aghta, a th xt ot woul b v wos. What
are they going to say?sh thought, alzg sh ha stopp col
a w t to th oo.
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Cla w h outft was a lttl oos, a h a y
shaow t hlp. Sh w sh wast ag hsl ay
o appoachabl tha h sloppy jas, a -shts, ahuch shouls ha a h at h ol school last ya. Sh
ha spt all o th ga all o l school, v ty-
g to sappa but v qut succg, a that puls
stll lu just u th suac. Dug th su, wth o
oth s aou, Cla ha b abl to go th s sh
was tag by ag ths bol chags to h appaac.Now sh lt th s l a blast o a ha y ow h
bac. It was th sa hot gust sh ha lt whv o tha
o o h ol classats ha loo at h at th sa t.
It was th pcuso to sothg ba. I thy w cul,
t was oly cul: Sh was too tall. Sh wast savvy ough
to coo. Sh wast stog-wll ough to hsl.
H bst was a stchboo.
Cla ha hop a w hgh school woul sohow b -
t, but ow sh thought o cous t wast at last, ot
th ways sh t to b. Ha sh a a atal scalcula-
to wth th w statgy sh ha chos? hs a cloths?
H a staght ha, caully blow v staght, whch
ow ach way ow h bac? h hous spt oto th o lag to a h ys loo soy sta
o blac? Sh ght atch th blacboa ow, but sh
coult xpct to a to t.
h sgvgs sh ha tta at ho lss tha a
hou ago w othg copa to th pac a spa sh
lt ow. hs was ot at all l walg to th stuo atth at sttut. Sh was alo a cow o s who loo
xactly l th os sh ha at th o last ya. Stork,
sh thought;pencil-girl. Ghoul th woul b w as o
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th to call h ow:goth reak, vampire. h pthts ca
aou s h ha, a sh wat to ha th.
No o sa aythg to h. Sh saw a sat o to th sa wll hsl to wal as lbatly as possbl ov to
t. H al wobbl a lttl, but sh pt vythg
was f. Sh sat ow a ha th covsatos aou h
stat bac up. h sh pull h stchboo out o h bag,
op t to th fst bla pag, a wot, What is going to
happen?Sh loo at th qusto o a ot, th cosst out a wot aoth.
What is happening to me?
Cla suo bac th cofc sh was tyg to
la o Rg, a os o th ct ts sh suc-
c lg ystous a xotc, qualts sh v ha
possss bo. Sh push h shouls bac a lttl ath,
hag Rgs voc h ha aosh h o slouchg.
Sh thought bac to th su awg class wh sh ha
t Rg.
The art institute had been th fst a was stll th
oly og plac Cla v ha wal to wthout s-
g to sappa. Sh was o o th yougst stuts thclass, a whl sh wast about to go up to stags a stat
talg, ths was a plac wh a batt stchboo was a
bag o hoo a h lcty wth a pcl woul wo
h avo. h awg class ha b h oths suggsto.
Cla ha ustoo t atly as a taspat attpt
to f sothg sh woul o that clu oth popl th oo. Sh ha ag, th way soo who s ut
Fch coscs to ta a covsato class. Fo oc sh
blv sh was o sol gou, a sh t that stuo
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ull o stags owg that so o th ght aw as wll
as sh but that t was ully ay o th w btt. O
th fst ay o class Cla joy a a tast o cofc,l th spatt o caboato o h togu that wt to h
ha a a h a lttl gy, though o o woul hav
b abl to tll o loog at h.
h stucto ha bult a towg stll l o a ou ta-
bl th l o th oo, a at a cusoy toucto
h tol th class to choos aythg to stch so h coul assssth vual sll lvls. Cla cos th pssg pl
o pops, but othg sp h. Sh always w thgs that
w alv, a th tabl ha th loo o a wa, sohow. Lss
tha fv uts a sh pac was sh gog to all
at ths plac wh sh ha a to ag sh woul y?
h oths w statg to aw. Sh sta at th, a th
at th stll l, a th at h pty pa. Sh loo aou
aga, a h attto was aw to a stg gl o th a
s o th ccl who ha pull o a pa o ov gay vg
glovs a was ggg h cas o a pcl. Bo Cla
a a coscous cso, h ha captu o h pa th
gls shy blac ha, whch hug a sv bob, ag h
Lat ys a hat-shap ac. Cla us a w csp lsto scb th gls wht colla, whch lay atop h blac ca-
ga, a a w o o th shot-slv cus that p
out o oll swat slvs. Sh ough th plywoo
box o whch th gl sat, a h blac jas, whch tap to
oxbloo py loas. Cla sot th gls pos, ovg
th tso h a as sh labo ov h ow awg.A th sh was, alv o th pap: th tgug gl at
wo o a awg, h ac sous a sohow tatv,
th stuo lght slatg acoss h boy.
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Cla was plas wth h wo, but upo cto sh
a sh ha soby th tachs stuctos, a h
bloo ac wh t was t o th class to p th awgsup o th wall o th ctqu. Woul h jct h, o at-
t how goo h awg was, bcaus sh hat aw th
plastc ut o th plast colu? Cla was tpt ot to
ca, bcaus sh ha ou th joy awg gav h th joy
o captug a pso o pap. But sh coult b su. What
th tach ha wat sothg ls? Sh t to th osothg sh ght sta h s.
hy spt a w uts loog at ach oths wo b-
o th tach bga th ctqu. Evyo ls ha aw
sothg o th stll l. Most o th stchs w aa-
tush, clug th o Clas subjct ha p up, a t-
catoo o th vas ap wth abc. h gl wth th
blac bob ha otc hsl o th wall a was stuyg
Clas potat. h th tach too ov a wo hs
way ow th wall. Hs ots w b, but Cla coul tll
h was goo at hs job. H tal about usg o l sta
o ay, a about wh t was ght to show sothg wth
spac sta o ls. Wh h ach Clas awg, h
sa, hs s lovly. Soo s ot gog to la vy ucho . Whos s ths?
Cla lt th ha-y blast o pac wh sh hal as
h ha a vyo ocus o h. But th stucto gav
h a ly loo. o Cla t was th sa as h ha up
t pous o cott o h. h h ov o. H puls
slowly tu to oal. Sh ha suvv.h subjct o h awg a a bl o h at th
class. I Rg, sh sa. You a ally talt.
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17
The Suburban Strange
ha you! I Cla. Usually Cla aythg to
avo spag wth stags, but ths was th bst possbl
scao whch to attpt t. Sh lt hsl a posto ostgth, a sh wat to assu ths gl, Rg, th way
Cla woul hav wat to b assu th covsato
ha b about aythg ls. You pc th hast thgs
to aw.
You just tyg to a l btt. Rg sl.
I o ot hav th atual gt o ths that you obvously o.Iv b awg o a log t, Cla o.
How ol a you, sxt?
Ft. Cla w Rg was plyg sh was too
youg to hav b og aythg o a log t, but ths
cas that was l oubtg th sa lgs o a chl who ha
gow up o a boat. Evy ay o vy su Cla coul
b, h oth ha bgg h to lav h stchboo
bh o th g oo tabl a go outs o just a lttl
whl, plas. Oc, yas ago, Clas ath ha cajol h
to a gls capg goup, but at a w ch ws
h ha att h was as sabl as sh was, a h ays
at th g oo tabl w sto. Sh spt th copy-
g th acs o ols out o avtsts h othsagazs. Fo Cla awg wast a scap. Sh t
populat altat uvss wth acul chaacts. Daw-
g was h way o owg th wol. Sh stu th popl
aou h, ag how thy lt, what thy thought, what
thy at, a th sh t to captu ths phal
thgs a potat. I a way, popl wt al o h utlsh ha aw th a w ts, o t agls. hy
w sa o pap, too o su ovts, o btayals.
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Nathan Kotecki
18
Rg coult ow t, but by g h o pap, Cla
ha wlco Rg to h l h ow t way that
fst ay o awg class.Wh o you go to school? Rg was copos a
ot tat v at sh ha coc h lac o talt.
Cla a h o t.
Sububa. Ill b a sophoo.
I go to Sububa! Wat, w you th last ya?
No, w ov acoss tow a oth ago.Ill b a juo. W a gog to hav to b s ths
class. Ill tll you all about Sububa, a you ty to show
how to aw sothg aythg.
Cla ha ag, a lttl sups by how asly t was
happg. Fo th xt class o sh ha sat wth Rg.
Rgs awg slls woul ot pov uch ov th su-
, but sh t hol t agast Cla.
My fst lov s ag collags, Rg xpla as thy
sttl xt to o aoth th ollowg w. Sh ach
o h bag a pull out a lttl albu sg to hol a
sgl photogaph ach o ts pag slvs, wth a oval w-
ow o th ot to lt th fst ag show though. Ista
o photogaphs, Rg ha fll th boo wth a ss otwty-ou ty collags that tol a a stoy o uqut
lov, assbl o agts o txt a ags clpp out
o agazs. A bautul woa sat xt to a bautul a
wth sooth wht has as h ov a luxuous ca. Sh stoo
th bacgou, watchg h o a ut glass.
Sh p out o u a cuv stacas whl h looup at a sta-glass sylght, a ta o hs ch. A clust o
satch wos cut o t avtsts a, He
caught me staring but soon his eyes moved on.
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19
The Suburban Strange
Its bautul, Cla sa, tug bac to stuy ach pag
aga.
ha you. But I coult hav aw ay o t to sav ysoul. Its all oth popls thgs that Iv stol.
Stll, ts so catv, so lcat. A collag Cla was
gog to say collag was cult. Sh ha t t o a w oc-
casos a always a a ss wth th glu. But Rg cut
h o.
I ow Schwtts, Coll, Pcasso vyboy ost, Rg sa sssvly. I stll wsh I coul aw.
Cla t cogz th fst two as, a sh ha
thought Pcasso was a pat. Sh ha both p a s-
cuty Rgs voc, a sh t ow what to a o
t. Sh lt t go a a Rgs latst outft. hs w t
was a slvlss blac swat a a plat gay st. Rg
ha ott a gay a ca sl sca at h thoat, tucg
th s to th cl o th swat, a Cla thought ths
gl ha such a a o wag blac a gay, sh ust hav
b ssg that way sc sh bgu to wal. o Cla,
Rg was a coss btw a slt-ov sta a a catu
o a og asho agaz. Rg bought a a to class
wth h o hott ays, wavg t a shot ac blow h acug ctqus, a Cla wo how soo coul o
sothg l that a ot b cul. But Rg a t
loo so atual, so glaoous; o o possbly coul oc h
o t.
Cla lt l a t o og h ow baly
cos cloths copa wth Rg, sh ght as wllhav av o a boxca o a ght ta, usg a al sht
tchagably as a hobos bl. Cla glac ow at h
loos -sht a cuto jas a hop Rg was loog
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Nathan Kotecki
20
oly at h awgs. I that ot Cla scov a w
s to ss l Rg, but sh ha o a how to go about
t. Clas zzy ha scap o bh h shoul a shpush t bac, wog t coul b as sooth as ths cool
gls.
A you xct about a w school? Rg as h.
Cuous, I guss. I hop ts btt tha y last o, Cla
sa.
Its all ght. So pats a btt tha oths, but thatstu o ay plac, st t? Havg goo s ca a ay
plac baabl. What s o thgs o you l?
I ot ow, Cla sa, wog how o was sup-
pos to asw such a qusto.
Wll, what o usc o you l?
Cla v ha cos h uscal tasts. I ot ow
. . . I just lst to whatvs o th ao.
Rg sco, hats ot goo usc. h s so uch
aazg usc that st o th ao. No o y avot
bas gt play o th ao.
h how o you ow about th?
My s tol about th, a gav thgs to ls-
t to, Rg sa, a th sh sl cospatoally. LI gog to o o you.
It was a thllg thg o Cla to ha, ot so uch b-
caus sothg h woul b val to h, but bcaus
Rg ha just pl sh wat to b Clas .
hat ay at class Rg ha tv a copact sc
o th glov copatt o h sl blac ca to l toCla. Clas oth pull up as th tasacto was tag
plac, a wh Cla got to th ca sh as h who th
gl was. Rg. Shs y class, Cla sa, usu what
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21
The Suburban Strange
o sh coul xpla to h oth, sc Rg stll was
a ysty to h, too. Cla tu h attto bac to th
CD a stu th ol blac-a-wht photo o a toao oth cov. Sh ha o a what to a o th ttl Tinder-
box o th a o th ba Souxs a th Bashs.
h toao th photo was ot th thatcal typ that ca-
Doothy away a oly ll wtchs. It wth agast
th sy l a posoous sa, a th wath-bat ba
ts path woul ot b gog aywh pcs lag thasplts. I Clas has th CD s l a atact o
a couty wols away o Oz oous, yt oly baut-
ul. It lt l a pc o Rg, whch sh ha st ho wth
Cla.
Cla coul b as t w ystay th aculous
atoo wh sh ha la o h b a lst to Tin-
derboxo th fst t. Sh wsh to v ogt that l-
g. Hag that usc ha b l sg a colo sh v
ha s bo, o fg a w oo th hous wh
sh ha lv o yas. Cla hat alz pop usc coul
sou l that: pcly a oous but passoat a sat
at th sa t. Sh po ov th photogaph o th ba
a wou up poucg th ag h stchboo whlsh po ths svly bautul popl, who wot sogs
about th tpatu wh th ost us a cott
a th stucto o Pop by volcac xploso. Sh ls-
t to Souxss thoaty voc sgg about ag soo
but callg hs a, a sh wo what that lt l a
how soo coul f hsl that stuato. hs sogswt sothg to stact h o th uts, l th
sogs o th ao. hs albu challg h. It a h
th about thgs sh hat cos bo. A t was
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Nathan Kotecki
22
bautul ways Cla hat ow thgs coul b baut-
ul.
It up h w. sh woul hav spt labogov a pag h stchboo was spt spawl acoss h
b, h a clos to th spas o h CD play. By th t
sh tu Tinderbox to Rg th xt w, Cla ha
a a copy o hsl a aly oz all th sogs.
Rg was xubat wh sh ha Clas acto.
I w you l t! Rg clapp h glov has.h a so ay thgs I wat to show you!
Rg at what sh sa. Each w sh lt Cla a
w CD a agly ha h acto to th pvous o.
You ot hav to l t all. I just tyg to fgu out what
you tasts a, sh xpla. Cla t usta qut
what Rg at by that, bcaus vy w sog was a v-
lato to h. As h collcto o a uscal tasus gw,
so h apptt o th. Sh play so o h w avo-
t sogs o h oth a joy h ystf spos.
At a oth, h oth sa, Iv v ha you tal
about ayo as uch as you tal about Rg. Why ot
you vt h ov? It too two o ws o Cla to wo
up th v, a th sh was otf wh Rg alyaccpt. Cla lt as though sh was gog to cv a s-
tgush abassao, a sh jug h ow hous wat-
g. Sh ha plty o coct lgs about th hous. H
aly ha stat bulg t shotly bo h ath ha
two spgs ago, lavg Cla a h oth to ov to
t alo. I thy ha stay th ol hous, os o hath woul hav cow vy oo, but th w hous t
lt sots as though sh ha lt h bh. Eth way,
th wht sg a g shutts a vg ts t
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23
The Suburban Strange
l pssv ough o Rg. Wos, sh thought Rg
ght actually gt a ash sh t Clas p boo,
whch was oat by a u p qu-sz b. ButRg ha co, a sh pass jugt sh was too ga-
cous to lt t show.
Pch o th g o Clas b, sg vy bt
th og gtay a vtag-loog a pla jup,
Rg sa coyly, Ill show you you show yous.
Sh ha Cla th stchboo sh ha bought. Claach o h ow a tu t ov to h. Bo sh v
op Rgs volu Cla coul tll t was o a t
spcs tha hs. h outs was cov copltly wth
all a o stcs, ost wth as o bas o gaphc
sgs. O stc avts a Hog Kog copay that
spcalz obscu oc -shts. Cla blv wthout a
oubt Rg o -shts o Hog Kog, a sh was
su -shts loo vy t o Rg tha thy o
h.
O th s o Rgs volu, pag at pag was cov-
wth hus o thgs sh ha collag tcatly to-
gth, o spac lt bla. h batt bg ha sttch
alost oubl to accooat all th pap. I o pctu austc woa sat at a ahous tabl pl hgh wth hus
o csply ol s wht ss shts. h was a blac-
a-wht ag that loo l a fl stll o a w-y
Scaava woa a ab oo. Aoth pctu show
a woa pofl, h blo ha cut a sv bob halway
ow th bac o h ha a shav to th s uath.h w potats o a Olv hyss a
Huss Chalaya, a photogaphs o aatcally lt oos
a oggy t-l coutyas. Sh saw a copy o a po by
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Nathan Kotecki
24
Ely Dcso alogs a pctu o a acg woa wth
h wst pss to h oha as sh bt ov, cg h
log wht st up bh h. h was a pag o whch allth ags cota spals: cochs a stacass a a
sto gas. O aoth pag vythg was a sha o blu.
Cla thought Rg ust hav spt yas coplg ths
boo. Sh wsh sh coul loo out h wow a s th
wol Rg ha pss to ths pags. hs s aazg.
Pt Ba s y ol, Rg sa pouly. I youvs hs boos, youll ow I a aatu copa wth
h. Mawhl, sh was pagg though Clas stch-
boo as though t w a lluat auscpt. Cla w
what Rg was sg: potats o Clas oth a a-
th, stchs o popl sh cop o photogaphs, a w
attpts at lascaps a stll ls, a so sl-potats
o th o. h w stus o has, tosos, acs
oto, but Cla spt ost o h t awg acs. H
gatst talt was captug th l soos ys, th
subtlts o a acal xpsso.
hs a bllat. Rg loo up at h. Sh spo
caully, as though sh ha has what sh sa xt. You
ow, wh I loo at ths a th I loo at you, ts ha toag th cog o you. You ta such ca wth th,
a you attto to tal s so pct. Do you v th o
og th sa thg o yousl?
hat ha b Rgs co vtato to a Cla h
pojct, a Cla ha cph t asly a accpt t gat-
ully. Sh was copltly thall wth Rg, who oasws to qustos Cla hat b qut abl to atculat.
Rg a t cla sh wast out to clo hsl. Sh gav
Cla all sots o optos a lt Cla choos. Ha Cla v
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25
The Suburban Strange
thought about bags, o wag a bbo as a haba? Ha
sh v cos wag p colos agast h a s?
Ha sh v wo jwly? I th ws bo school statCla ou a w ss o hsl by vstg o h
appaac. Sh thought sh was vlopg a w styl, th
att that phaps sh was vlopg a style o th fst
t. It was a a styl, pobably vtabl wth Rg as h
to. It lt sophstcat. A, Cla alz wth plasat
sups, t was sowhat bol. Cloths stopp bg so-thg whch to h. Now thy w sothg whch to
b s.
I tol y s about you, Rg sa as sh wo
systatcally though Clas clost a aws, jctg al-
ost all o Clas cloths as too bg, too wo, too bght, o
too bog. I th thyll l you, too, a ayb you ca b
a pat o ou goup.
What o goup? Cla watch h vagabo wa-
ob pl up o th b. Sh was ot soy to s ay o t go
a oly wo what sh was gog to wa oc t was all
go. Alay sh was lvg alost xclusvly a blac -
sht a th o pa o jas Rg ha accptabl.
Cla lt pactcally a th lttl cap-slv t sh hawo oly as a usht bo th. But o o th fst
thgs Rg a cla was that o att what Cla wo,
t ha to ft h poply, ot vlop h l a cocoo. Slowly
Cla was bcog o cootabl valg th shap o
h log, sl boy.
h a fv o us who l a lot o th sa usc a thsa styl. Dug school w o alost vythg togth.
hs s c. Rg xa a blac pcl st sh pull
o th clost. Cla t cogz t. Sh guss t was
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Nathan Kotecki
26
h oths, put th by acct. h ot Rg lt,
sh woul ty t o. A ths Rg st as a oag
oal ss Cla ha wo to a paty u uss o hoth ths wll p o a spcal occaso. Cla coult
guss why such a gash ss ha a t though Rgs
hash tag. W a ftly gog to hav to go shoppg,
a Ill l you so thgs utl w gt you waob
o. Rg sl at h. W all juos o sos, but I
th wll joy havg a potg.Cla hat to ha ay o. Sh just hop
Rgs s woul b as c to h. It was a s sh was
wllg to ta, galss. No o v ha a such a o-
to Cla, a o all sh w, such a o ght v
co aga. h su class ha , a Clas staast
awg habt lax ts gp o h l just a lttl as th
school ya appoach. H tato to Rgs usc a
a ss o styl was th w ocus o h ays a h w
a at ght.
The homeroom teacher arrived, blls ag, a th
oo bca a ocus hv o actvty. h was o o
t o Cla to sc, avog th alty o th stag-s aou h. h thy w lauch out to th og,
scablg to avgat a ushg cut o tachs a boos
a fst assgts. Sh hut h way though Sububas
tbutas to f ach w stato. By lucht th top
shl th loc that ha b assg to h was ull o
boos.Cla baly ha spo all og. It stll ca atually
to h to b slt a uposg o o th thgs Rg
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27
The Suburban Strange
hat as h to chag. It was asy to p to hsl wh
vyo ls alay w ach oth, a h classats
s to xpct t o h bas o h sob outft. Claou hsl o th cvg o a w as ybows, but
that was all. Sh w sh coul lv wth that. I act, sh ha
to at t was o gatyg.
Wh t was t o luch sh was swpt o to th ca-
ta a v o chattg stuts, but sh stopp shot at
th sght o a sa o cow tabls. Sh alt whl stutsbush by h, wog wh sh coul f a plac to b
vsbl a at, but th sh saw Maco stag a wavg
at h o a tabl th l o th oo. B sat by
hs s. Maco o log wo th sut jact sh ha s h
bo school, a o th ot o hs -sht lag bo-
ltts spll drink me laboat typ.
H, h sa wh sh a t to th. You loo l a
halghts ov th.
I lt l o, Cla sa. How you guys gt a tabl
to youslvs?
Macos xpsso suggst h hat v cos th
qusto. Lav you stu a go gt luch. Wll b h. I
ot ow you l soup, but thy a ally goo soup.H sat ow a Cla gatully wt to gt oo.
So, Rg tol us you a talt atst, B sa
wh sh tu.
I ot ow . . . I l to aw. Cla wo why sh
was bg ost. Out o th cos o h ys sh lt aby
stuts loog at th th o th cuously, but Ba Maco w oblvous. h at th tabl wth th sh lt
sulat o th st o th stuts th athltc cloths
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Nathan Kotecki
28
a cago pats, a sh joy th lg o bg spaat
o thos oths. What os you -sht a? sh as
Maco.Wll, Eat me woul b vulga, Maco sa, laughg.
hs s o ystous.
I lov to s you awgs, B sa to Cla.
What styl o you wo ?
Rals, I guss? As alstc as I ca gt. Cla tu
ov h stchboo a watch th two o th hal tlcatly, just as Rg ha.
What atsts o you l?
I I ot ally ow that ay, Cla sa.
Its goo to hav hos, B sa. Ag so-
o as you wat to b btt you ow way. You shoul
chc out a Vcs awgs, o ayb Albcht Ds -
gavgs. Cla wsh sh ha thought to say a Vc. Sh
too out h otboo a scbbl ow th sco a;
sh wast su sh was spllg t coctly, but sh t wat
to as.
Rgs ally happy sh ou you, Maco sa.
Sh s?
Su ow sh has soo to wth h. A I owsh wat aoth gl th goup. Sh a Lz at all that
clos.
hats ot tu, B sa to h. hy xchag
a loa glac a Maco pt slt. Cla wo sh
woul co to usta th thgs thy wt sayg out
lou.ha you aga o th x, Cla sa.
You wlco! I hop you l t you ow ay o
th sogs?
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The Suburban Strange
No, Cla att. Rgs gv a lot o usc, but
I ally ot ow vy uch. Sh says you wt a blog.
I o. You shoul chc t out. B scbbl a wbstass o a pc o pap a ha t to h. Actually, b-
o you got h Maco a I w havg o o ou ogog
scussos about usc. Youll gt to ha qut a bt o thos
you hag out wth us. oays topc: bst opg ls to
sogs.
My vot s: Love is a stranger in an open car, to tempt you inand drive you ar away, Maco sa.
A s: Come closer and see, see into the trees; fnd the
girl while you can, B sa. W ust hav b th-
g about you, h a, slg.
Cla blush. I ot ow th o thos.
hats oay. Whats yous? Maco as.
Cla thought o a ot, tyg to co up wth so-
thg pssv. Sh lt t was a tst, whth thy t t
as o o ot. How about: Every fnger in the room is pointing
at me?
Maco o aato a B sa, hat s a
goo o. I woult hav thought o that. hy at slc
o a ot a Cla bath a wa sgh o l.So, what o you th o Sububa so a? Maco as.
Its a lot bgg tha y ol school. A th tachs a
gog ally ast. But I th I l t.
W all ta school vy sously, a w gt goo gas,
B sa. You shoul gt volv a lot o thgs, but
classs always a th ost potat.W all o oth thgs, too, o cous, Maco a.
Bs o th stut coucl, a I woul sp all y
t ag cloths I coul. But school always cos fst.
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Nathan Kotecki
30
I you havg toubl wth ay subjct, w ca hlp you.
A lot o s co ow h o th pos a
wast t. W go to th lbay a gt ou howo o,Maco sa. Lt s you schul. Cla tu t ov to
h a Maco stu t. W hav so pos togth-
. H w a lttl sta so o th boxs o h schul.
Loo o us th lbay.
Cla otc a goup o blac-cla stuts o at a co-
tabl. Most o th ha ha o ultpl colos algths, a so ay tal accssos; though th s
w sttg stll, Cla thought sh coul ha th cla-
g. Ev at a tabl a school cata thy loo l thy
w lotg. But th ass a th svty o th styl
a Cla wo thy ght sha so tsts wth
th Rosay. Do you ow th? sh as B a
Maco.
Not ally, B sa. W ot hav that uch
coo.
Evy ay s ot Hallow, Maco sa. But thy show
up th costus othlss.
Mo tha that, thy ot ta school vy sously,
a thy s a lttl lost, B sa. Bss, all youstagss s o th outs, ost that a you o
ull o th s? Whats that quot Lz says all th t? h
as Maco.
h o by R Cha? A new mystery sings in your bones.
Develop your legitimate strangeness.
Cla pat t to hsl, tyg to tas out th a-g. Sh coul tll B a Maco subscb to t, but sh
wo how o wt about og such a thg. I s what
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The Suburban Strange
you a, sh sa, bcaus sh coul usta at last how
thos oth s wt polsh o abtous ough to hav
a plac th Rosay.Whats you last a? B as. Rg tol
a I thought t was bautul, but I cat b.
Balaust, Cla sa. It as ow o th po-
gaat.
Rally? hats atastc. It s o y avot sog,
h Spagl Ma by th Coctau ws. Do you owth?
No, Cla att.
I wot a blog post about th sog. You ca a t you
l. B pot at th pc o pap h ha gv h
wth th wbst ass. Its o possbl to u-
sta h lycs, a th chous I ptty su sh sgs, Its
pogaat, but who ows what shs ally sayg.
Ill ftly chc t out. Cla tuc th pap s
h stchboo. How log hav you guys b togth?
h fv o us, o th two o us? B sl. Ivo a
Lz a Rg a I hav b s sc w w sopho-
os a Rg was a fst ya. Maco tas h last
ya, a wv b atg sc last all. Itll b a ya Oc-tob. H g at Maco, who w at h.
Do you ot say sha? Cla sa.
W you a a last ya? Maco as.
No, o cous ot, Cla sa.
h wast ay oubt y , Maco sa. You
gogous. You hav such a lgat c.ha you, Cla sa, blushg aga. Sh coult -
b a boy sayg aythg l that to h bo. It t
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Nathan Kotecki
32
v att that ths o was gay. Sh push h ha bac o
h shoul, lv t was sooth a shy ow that Rg
ha st h to so poucts a a goo bush.Rgs gog to b ally potctv o you. Just a
su shs ot og t bcaus you gttg o attto
tha sh s, Maco sa.
Hy! B sa. Whats wth th s cots
about Rg? H tu bac to Cla. I ot th sh
cas how uch attto you gt.But shs atg Ivo, ght? Cla as. Sh tol al-
ost othg about all o you, but sh ust hav tol sh
was gog to hocog wth Ivo a oz ts.
hy are gog to hocog, Maco sa caully,
a B a I a gog wth th, but I th t as
sothg vy t to Rg tha t os to Ivo.
Oh, Cla sa. Sh wat to ow o, but sh t
l cootabl asg.
Later Celia searched out th chsty lab a scov-
that th a who ha t to hlp Els th pag
lot that og woul b h chsty tach. H wast
o t stbutg boos a a psso slp o a fl tpto th wat pufcato plat. h h as th to choos
lab pats. h was a uy o ovt, a as th class
sot tsl o oxyg atos to oxyg olculs Clas
tty a up, a sh was oot plac. Acoss o
h a gl was loog at h wth a xpsso sh coult
tpt. Sh t th ayo v ha loo at h thsway bo as though Cla ght b th asw to soo
lss qusto. h oth gl ha a o attpt to f a
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33
The Suburban Strange
pat, th, a by th thy w th oly two lt. Cla
coss h fgs a wt ov to h.
H! You w, ght? I Matt! th gl sa bghtly.Matt A, but I just go by Matt. Lots o popl th
y as May A, but ts Matt.
Cla touc hsl a thy loo ach oth ov.
Matt was th o gl Cla woul hav b Rg
hat tv. Sh ha o oscpt cloths that t
qut go togth. H culy stawby blo ha a auuly halo aou h ac. Cla thought wth a lttl att-
to t ght b vy ptty; th sh sl o a ot,
aus to ot sh baly ha g o h ow a-
ov a alay sh ha as to a ov soo ls. So-
cally, howv, Matt was h oppost. Rath tha bg
tat by Cla, who was aly a oot tall tha sh,
Matt chatt asly as thy wt ov to a op lab tabl,
a Cla wo sh was l that all th t o t was
just vs.
What school you go to last ya? Sububas ptty
cool. I wt to Mout Ros o l school, but ot a lot
o s o th co h. h tach loos so youg!
H pobably just got out o collg. Hs suppos to b -ally tough, though. Is h sous wth thos cocol loas?
h tachs shy, wavy ha lay clos to hs ha, -
g Cla o totosshll. H ha wttMr. Sumeletso o th
boa, a sh wo what couty th a ca o.
Hs chos w a lttl too bg, a hs t t loo l h
ha b wag t sc hs ow hgh school ays. H sla lttl tly as h gl wth th stuts.
Cla t h ha at ag covsato. So gl
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Nathan Kotecki
34
got stug by a b th pag lot bo school a ha a
allgc acto. Soo ha a EpP o h, though. M.
Sultso was th, a h hlp h to th bulg wht was ov. hat spa Matts tst, a thy stu
th tach o aoth ot.
I guss h loos c ough. h Matt ov
o. Hav you v go oc clbg? I wat to la.
Loo ths a hugb! Cla ollow Matts f-
g a saw th blu o a b just outs th ast wow.hy watch t o a w scos bo Matts attto
tt away aga. What bus o you ta?
I gt a wth a , Cla sa, but sh alz that
uch o what Matt sa t qu a spos, lagly
bcaus sh t paus log ough to cv o. At least
there wont be any awkward silences, Cla thought. No th
cotay stop wh M. Sultso bga talg. Matt
scbbl thgs th ag o h otboo o Cla to
s. He cant be more than 24 he looks like hes 17! Cla t
to coctat. owa th o th class M. Sultso a-
ouc h woul b coachg th w sw tas, ow that
Sububa ha a swg pool, a h hop thy woul co-
s tyg out. Matt scbblI cant swim!wth a scayac, a Cla wot Me neitherxt to t. hy g at
ach oth. Cla wo Rg woul hav wat h
to a aloo, but sh t wll o t.
At the end of the ay, tyg to put h loc so
o o bo sh lt, Cla thought sh ha o ptty wll.h oly l-thatg thg that ha happ ha b to
soo ls. Sh ha a t though uscath, a a w
ots v ha b plasat. Sh wast copltly su
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35
The Suburban Strange
how sh woul ft to th Sububa cosos, but sh ha a
a. It ca lagly u th auspcs o th Rosay, who ha
co th at o ystous a sophstcat at Sub-uba. houghout th ay Cla ha watch th fst ya
stuts, as w to Sububa as sh was. hy alt a
sha bac, stll loog o th alls. Suly sh woul hav
sbl th t wt o Rg a th Rosay.
Matt was th oly o so a who challg Clas b-
l that vyo alls. hs gl claly avgat hay wth a oc o wll that qu o assstac. Matt
t s to a ta, a sh t ca to wa th u-
o o o, th. hat a h ascatg to Cla. Sh -
b h pac hooo that og, a w sh
possss owh a Matts lvl o cofc. Cla
wo sh ght la thgs o Matt, t
thgs tha sh xpct to la o th Rosay.
Bu wth h bag o boos, Cla wt ow to th
lobby to t Rg, but wh sh got th sh saw oly Lz
by hsl o th a wall. Fo acoss th lobby, Cla ollow
Lzs gaz to a athltc guy a oag -sht, a Cla
cogz h as th joc who ha ust Lz th pa-
g lot that og. H ha o a h was bg watch.h Rg av a Cla wal wth h to t Lz
a wat o th oths.
I l l Iv b h a w alay, Lz sa waly.
I ag out I got M. Sultso o Ch wo.
Rg tu to Cla to xpla. H just got h last ya,
a I ha Ms. Mo o Ch O, but vyo who haM. Sultso last ya pactcally al hs class. I ac Ch
O last ya, but M. Sultsos fst class toay I lt l
I ha ogott allo t.
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Nathan Kotecki
36
I hav h, too, o chsty, Cla sa, watchg
Rgs coc xpa to clu h. H s c.
Gt ay. Its gog to b ha, Rg wa.I gla I got though chsty bo h show up,
Lz sa. How was th st o you ay? sh as Cla.
Goo. Dftly a lot o howo.
Wh you gt ho, oc yousl to stat ght away.
Dot wat utl at . Its th bst habt you ca o,
Rg avs h. Lz o abstly, but h ys wacoss th lobby aga.
Wh th boys av, thy all pat th sooth,
puposul wal out to th cas, a th goup chatt o a
ot bo splttg up to vhcls. B a Ma-
co as Cla about h ay, but Ivo loo aou ly, a
Cla thought aga h t s vy tst owg
h. At oly o ay sh spatly wat appoval o
all o th, but sh tol hsl ot to as o too uch too
soo.
You ow, w hav to gt you a job, Rg sa as sh
pull slowly out o th pag lot, l bh th oth
two cas.
A job?Su. W all hav jobs. I wo at a a sto. Maco
hlps wth hs os talog busss. B wos at a
usc sto. Lz wos at th lbay, a Ivo wos at a t-
o sg f. You to stat ag oy o collg.
A to pay o cloths a usc, a Dabolqus.
Dabolqus?Its th club w go to o Fays. Youll lov t.
A you pats gog to hlp you pay o collg?
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The Suburban Strange
Su, but ts gog to b xpsv, Rg xpla. I
you wat sothg you hav to o th wo to gt t, ght? Iv
sav fv thousa ollas ov th last two yas o school.Wow. Cla was pss. I wo wh I ca f a
job.
W ca go loo ths w. No tacy clothg stos,
a o oo svc, Rg sa fly. Mayb you coul
wo at a at supply sto?
Cla av ho lg as sh w bac o a log-stac tp. Sh wo th oths tuly w gttg
staght to wo o th assgts bo , but sh
c to ollow Rgs stuctos, bcaus t t s
l a ba a. As sh ug to h pl o boos, h thoughts
w v a o th Rosay a how thy ha taso
h hgh school xpc a sgl ay.
Wh sh wt owstas o , Cla aga saw th
loo that ha b h oths ys v sc sh ha stat-
h tasoato. It was a loo that sa, Im glad youve
fnally started to pay attention to your appearance, and maybe what
youve chosen isnt terrible, but it isnt what I had in mind, either.
But t wast lost o Cla that h oth v ha as h
to justy h csos.How was you fst ay? h oth as. ll all
about t.
I ot v ow wh to bg. Cla xhal. O
thg I ow o su: I was a t pso ystay.