Page 14 of Unhinged Kallie

“The bad man killed Brunhilda and then hurt Carter.” She pointed to Carter, who was holding the side of his face. “The bad man needs to be punished.”

“He will, Angel. He most certainly will be punished,” I said and kissed her forehead.

Chapter Six

KALLIE

SIX YEARS OLD

This was so boring. I poked the dirt with my stick and moved the little stones around to block the ant. Over and over again, I moved my line of stones to see what the insect would do. Watching them was usually interesting enough for me to stay outside all day, but not today.

Carter was at a friend’s house, and I was stuck playing with Talon and her friend. I glared over at Talon as she giggled with her Becca, who was over for a playdate. They had dolls and were pretending to drink fancy drinks like Mommy and Daddy, the hot stuff I didn’t like. There was a plastic cake in the middle of the table, and they would make mmm noises as they pretended to eat it. Why they thought this was fun, I didn’t know. I played for a little bit, but when they pulled out the crowns with gems, I couldn’t play anymore.

“What are you doing,” Troy asked, and I squinted as I stared up at him in the bright sun.

“Just playing with my ant.”

“What ant?” When I looked down, I couldn’t find it. I stood up and turned in a circle, but it was gone. It had made its escape while I was distracted. Great, now I needed to find another one.

“Why don’t you play with them,” Troy asked, and I shrugged.

“It’s stupid.”

Troy smiled wide. “Want to have some real fun?”

I wiped my hands on my jeans. “Okay.”

“Talon, Becca, do you want to see something cool,” Troy asked. His smile was friendly, but I got the feeling that it wasn’t real. He didn’t say anything mean, but my gut told me he was going to do something that wasn’t nice. My daddy always told me to listen to my gut, that it talked really loud if we were quiet and listened.

My tummy talked a lot, but I didn’t think the growling noises were what he meant. I think this was what he was talking about.

“I don’t know. We were having fun. Do you want to play tea party,” Talon asked Troy.

“I know a game that is a lot more fun than a dumb tea party. Don’t be a loser, Talon.”

Oh, he called Talon a name. My mommy told me not to call people names, but I wouldn’t tell. Talon never wanted to do anything fun. Maybe this would force her to play.

“Okay,” Becca said and jumped up from her seat.

“Becca, you were playing with me, and I don’t want to go.” Talon pouted, her lip pushing out as she crossed her arms.

“I didn’t say you could come,” Troy said. Talon looked away from her brother, and I looked back and forth between them. “Loser, loser, loser. My sister is a loser, a dumb little loser,” Troy sang.

“No, I’m not!” Talon jumped to her feet and glared at her brother. “You’re the loser. Boys are stupid.”

“You saying Dad is stupid,” Troy asked, putting his hands on his hips, and I covered my mouth to stop the giggle.

“What? No.”

“Dad is a boy. Or are you too duuuuuuuumb to know that?”

“Stop calling me that.” I felt a little bit bad as her eyes filled up with tears.

“Then stop acting like it.”

“You’re mean. I’m telling Mommy on you,” Talon cried, running to her house.

“That’s it, be a tattletale and a loser,” Troy yelled, shaking his head. I wasn’t surprised she didn’t want to play with us. Talon was different. She didn’t like anything that Troy or I liked.