At first we though she was trying to say my last name, but how would she even know what it was? She was only three. After a second or two of confusion, we all figured out that she was trying to say Dumbo. It was her current favourite movie, and the Fraziers had even bought the VHS tape for their new VCR. I guess I should be glad that she couldn’t pronounce it right. I don’t know if I could stand to be known as Brian Dumbo.
“You got any chips, Blair?” I asked, deflecting Angela’s question. I didn’t have any ideas, but I was getting tired of digging in the dirt for non-existent treasures. They been going out to the site every day for a couple of weeks, and Mom and Dad had sent me out with them more days than they didn’t. The novelty was starting to wear off.
Angela wasn’t easily ignored, though. She intercepted the bag of Rip-L-Chips that Blair tossed me and said, “Hang on, Gum. You got something you want to do this afternoon? Digging for tools isn’t good enough for you? You got some hot book you wanna read? Or do you need to go dust for prints somewhere?” My face got hot and I wished I’d never mentioned the Junior Detective Kit I’d gotten for my birthday that year.
“Come on Angela,” Johnny said, hand wrist deep in his own bag of chips. “Don’t be a jerk.”
“Never mind,” I said, getting up and wiping the dirt from my butt. “I just don’t feel like it today.” I half walked, half fell down The Mound toward where the bikes were lying on the ground.
“Where are you going?” Blair called after me.
“Home,” I said, not turning around. I picked up my bike and walked it over to the edge of the lot.
As I looked for my opening to cross the highway, I heard Angela laugh a fake high-pitched titter. I knew then that she felt bad, but it was too late. I was already halfway across the highway and heading for home.