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a soul around. Gerard reminded himself that all the inhabitants were dead. He strolled briskly through the graveyard, knowing that he had a lot of time and that he should not waste it. He needed to get his backpack and jacket back. Mr. Landers also needed the homework. When he got to the forest gate, he jumped it with such an ease, you might’ve thought he had done it a hundred times. Through the woods he tramped again taking careful steps over logs.
He looked up into the trees as he walked, admiring their fiery red and pumpkin orange leaves. It was a long way to Shelley’s house, but he remembered the way almost perfectly. By the time he had gotten to Shelley’s house and knocked on the door it was four thirty. He waited on the doorstep for a couple of minutes before she answered the door.
She came to open it, looking tired, her hair a fluffy mess. She wore an old gray frock with black stockings. Tied around her waist was an apron, and it was a rather dirty shade of white. She held a duster in her right hand.
“Well hello Gerard. Please come in.” She swung the door open, almost hitting him. Gerard stepped inside. He looked at her puzzled.
“You look shorter than before.” He said looking down at her She barely came up to his chest.
She laughed. “I had shoes on last time.”
They went into the kitchen and she told him to sit down at the table. Shelley went into the living room and came out with his backpack.
“You left this here last night.” She said setting it down next to him.
“Thank you.” He said and silently heaved a silent sigh of relief.
Shelley turned to the stove and began cooking. She began throwing in herbs in spices, and cutting up potatoes and broccoli on the counter.
“So what school do you go to?” asked Shelley slicing up some onions and putting them in the pot. Gerard wondered if it was a stew of some sort and winced as he remembered the soggy turkey stew.
“Um,” he began “I go to a prep school.” He said a pained expression on his face.
Without looking at him, Shelley said “You don’t like it, do you?”
Gerard shook his head. “Nooo. Everyone there are total snobs.”
She looked at him for a moment and then went back to her cooking.
“You don’t look like one of them. The black clothes, the Black Sabbath T-shirt, the dyed black hair.” She said.
“Um, my hair is naturally black. But anyway, I’m nothing like them. They’re so full of
themselves. I hate people like that.” He said.
Gerard got up and helped Shelley clear the counter of potato and onion pieces. Shelley told him that all of these vegetables had come from her garden.
“Is gardening your hobby?” Gerard asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “Cleaning, cooking and gardening are my hobbies. I like everything neat and tidy. That’s why I allow no shoes in the house.” She said eying Gerard’s shoes.
“Oh.” He said off-handedly and placed them in the hall.
When he came back, she smiled. “It’s ok, Gerard, you didn’t know. Oh well, the stew’s ready. Sit down and have some dinner with me.”
He sat down as Shelley filled two bowls and rummaged through the drawer for spoons. Gerard thanked her and took the stew hungrily. She sat down across from him and ate daintily. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. He was definitely hungry, as he was chowing down. Gerard usually ate TV dinners for supper, which is not the most appetizing thing in the world, especially if you eat them almost everyday.
“Would you like some bread?” Shelley asked him.
“Sure. I mean, thank you.” He said taking it.