Emily The Strange_ The Lost Days Part 11

[Sitting down at his table.] How would I know that? C: Hi, umlaut, it's me, Ripper. Hope you're, uh, having a great St. Clare's Day. I actually don't know if you celebrate St. Clare's Day or not. But if you do, Happy St. Clare's Day. Fffffwwwwhhhh. I'll, uh, see you later. [Hanging up.] You know, you're supposed to call everyone in your address book that you want to stay in your address book; otherwise they get deleted.

ME:.

Why do they get deleted?

C:.

Oh, it's just town policy. To...save electricity.

ME:.

Do you actually believe all that?

C:.

[Looking angry, then spiteful.] Do you ALWAYS have to act like you're smarter than me, Molly? [And then he kind of mentally bit his tongue. But he saw he had no chance of a coverup, so he braved it out and gave me a "What are you gonna do about it?" look.]

ME:.

[Thinking fast. Pretending to know what he was talking about in hopes of getting further information.] Oh, so you think it's OK to call me Molly now? C: [Looking chastised.] Sorry to blow your cover, EARWIG. It's a little hard to keep up the act for this long. It's been FOREVER-I mean, like, two WEEKS since you rolled into town? I mean, this is the VERY first time you've broken character this WHOLE TIME. [Pausing. His voice shifting tone to Pal-Casual.] Did you get my voicemail?

ME:.

[Keeping a disinterested face.] I've lost my phone. [Long pauses as I fought back hysterical laughter.] That's why. I haven't left you. A St. Clare's voicemail.

C:.

[Long questioning stare.] Man, you are in DEEP this time, Molly. Are you...feeling OK?

ME:.

[BRITTLING FAVVWARX, he knows who I am and my name is Molly he knows me HE KNOWS ME.] [Laughing casually.] Well, you know, I have this pesky amnesia.

C:.

[Rolling his eyes. Making quotey fingers.] Oh, right, the "amnesia."

MEMOLLY:.

[Giving him my notebook, open to a blank page.] Just do me a favor and write down my parents' names and address, OK?

C:.

Huh? I don't know your parents. MM: No time for that; give me your phone. What's my last name again?

C:.

[Looking afraid, very afraid.] Merriweather.

MM:.

[Dialing information, then City Hall; paging Schneider; requesting a meeting RIGHT AWAY so I can GO HOME!!!!!! Then handing Curls his phone again.] Good thing City Hall is still answering the phone. So, refresh my memory, Curls. Where'd we meet, again?

C:.

[Looking aghast.] Uh, Toad Suck, Arkansas? Four years ago?

MM:.

Man, so, we're, like, friends?

C:.

Um, yes? You're the one who gave me my nickname.

MM:.

Yeah...Curls. Um, I know that.

C:.

RIPPER.

MM:.

Oh, right, man, Ripper, listen, I gotta catch you later, gotta meet someone...Thanks for letting me use your phone...

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And I hustled out of there. Am now waiting for Schneider at the minipark. Cannot wait to tell him I would really, really appreciate it if he would locate the Merriweathers and tell them Molly needs to be picked up RIGHT AWAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Later My parents are on their way to Blackrock. I am dizzy with success and information. And espresso. Met Schneider at the minipark, then sprinted back to the El Dungeon to interrogate Curls and collect my belongings.

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Here is what I've been able to find out about ME, MOLLY MERRIWEATHER, from Schneider and Curls: 1. I live in Zigzag, Oregon!

2. My parents are George and Sharon Merriweather!

3. I'm an eighth grader at Gallmark Junior High School!

4. I have been reported missing (and subsequently found) three times in the past four years!

5. I'm not currently on the "missing" list, and Schneider has been promising to give my parents a hard time about that!

6. Curls says he hadn't seen me for about four months before I showed up here, but last time we were hanging out, some kooky old lady told us we would enjoy this town called Blackrock!

7. But Curls and I went our separate ways there in Turniptown, Pennsylvania!

8. And he came here by himself about three weeks ago!

9. And has been working on getting himself a job with the traveling medicine show ever since!

10. And was only a little surprised when I showed up nine days later, "pretending" to have severe amnesia!

11. He is also relieved that I am finally "out of character" so he can ask my advice about how he can get more popular with the umlauts!

12. I hate to think what #11 tells me about myself as a person!

13. I am starting to feel afraid, very afraid, of the reality of my parents, my home, my belongings, my IDENt.i.tY, all of which are about to hit me, whether I am able to remember them or not, with great force, much like something traveling at huge speed would hit something else of unimaginable ma.s.s and density!