It was dark out and Chang was getting some money for taking pictures of us with the little, slimy monster. I refused to but Melvin wanted to mess around like usual. I was getting tired of being upset and working so I decided to join him. We were both taking some candy from behind the counter until Chang told us to get outta there and pulled us away.

Melvin and I like to tease ourselves sometimes. When we are both up to no good we call ourselves CharMel. Both of our nicknames put together. He pulled me to the back and showed me some basketball tricks. The adults were talking business.

"Hey can you show me how to do that?" I asked as he twisted the ball on one finger.

"Yeah, sure. It's easy." He explained everything like three times and I still couldn't get it.

"Aw, screw it." I just threw the ball across the room.

"Hey! Watch where you're throwing the damn thing, huh?!" Val snaps at me while giving me a cold glare.

He never gave me that look before and never snaps at me either. Tears well up in my eyes and I just turned around. Melvin went to get his picture taken with the little monster but when he came back he saw that I was upset. He sat me down in a chair and sat next to me.

He started showing me ways how to flip people off. He knew that always cracked me up. I started laughing and soon he did too. I overhead the adults talking about who will go to Bixby on a horse. They all turn to Val and Earl except three. Melvin, Earl, and Heather turn to me. They are the only ones that know I love horses and that I try to ride them as often as I can. I just shake my head at them, silently saying I was not going anywhere with Val. The three of them just give me pitied looks.

The very next morning, everyone was outside, watching Val and Earl saddle up. Everyone except me and Melvin. We were making a stupid little prank on everyone. I know they all think I'm mature and grown up but they don't realize I'm still a kid. I need to act like one. And CharMel is always fun for the two of us.

As much as I didn't want to, I grabbed the slimy monster and tied it around Melvin's neck while he put me in a fake choke hold. We were laughing silently and then grew serious to make everything work.

We come busting out the door, me looking like I'm about to drop dead while Melvin screams, "AHH! IT'S GOT US! IT'S GOT US!" Everyone jumps out of the way, Mindy screams, and Burt points the giant gun at us. We both drop to our knees and start laughing out loud.

"MELVIN! CHARLIE!" Chang screams at us.

We continue laughing until we hear Burt. "Damn it, you two. You two came that close. Too close. No more games."

"Melvin. One of these, I'm gonna kick your ass." Earl points to him and to me. "Charlie. You better run girl, cause your gonna be in big trouble when we get back." I gulped and nodded, wide eyed, knowing he was dead serious.

Right before Val and Earl left, Earl gave me a 'be careful and stay outta trouble' look while Val game me a disappointing look and an even sadder look. I felt really bad but couldn't help feel happy knowing that I just had a little bit of fun just like a normal kid would.

As we watched the two leave, Melvin was leaning on a wooden pole with his arm around me and my head leaning on his shoulder. Some people would confuse us for twins; others would confuse us for a couple. Either way, we would both laugh and say twins.

We all headed back inside and sat down at different tables. I was so tried and I just couldn't keep my eyes open. I closed my eyes and laid my head on the table. Before I knew it, I was asleep.

I must have fallen asleep for a long time because before I knew it, someone was shaking me awake. I try to swat them away but they kept shaking me. I finally had enough so I popped my head up and groaned. "What?"

I look up and I see Earl looking down at me. He gives me the sign to move so I get up and he sits down. When I'm about to walk away, he pulls me right back down, onto his lap, next to Val. I know something bad must have happened for them to be back with Rhonda here too.

They ran into the things that are doing all the killing and Val was describing them. "No, no, no. The snake things are ju-ju-just their tongues. These animals are HUGE!"

He and Earl were the closest so I could hear them loud and clear. I leaned my head back on Earl's shoulder and closed my eyes again. I didn't really listen to anybody else except Val and Earl.

"Hey Walter. Where's Burt and Heather?" Earl asked, quietly.

I didn't hear his response but I faintly heard Melvin say,"Yeah, aren't you supposed to come up with a theory or something?"

I almost had to laugh at that but I didn't move. I heard Earl again. "Doesn't matter where they come from."

I heard Val snap a lighter shut and demanded, "Walter. Forget the damn name. Now me and Earl think we better get the hell outta this alley." I heard Nancy's voice but then I heard Val's voice farther than last time. "Yeah, that's how it works."

Earl picked me up and gently placed me back into the chair, thinking I was asleep. Everyone else did too I guess cause they started talking about me.

"Melvin." Val calls. "Did Charlie sleep at all this morning?"

"Yeah. She fell asleep right after you guys left."

"Well, shit. That had to have been around what? 5:00? What time is it now?" Earl asks.

"Uh, maybe around 2:00. Why?" Rhonda joins in the conversation.

"She usually sleeps late but like 10 or 11. Not this late. She slept last night and this morning now this afternoon too. Why the hell is she so tired?" Val nearly yells, concern dripping out of his voice.

I heard Melvin mumble something but I didn't quite catch it. Earl told him to say that louder. I heard Mel almost shout, "Maybe because she had a lot of things to think about."

"Like what?" Nester asks, like it was his business.

"That Val doesn't care for her." Mel simply said.

It was true. It was like he could read my mind but Val roared at the top of his lungs, "BULLSHIT! She is all I care about! There isn't a damn thing in the world that is more important to me than her." That just made my day to hear him say he cares about me. He's just doesn't show it.

I moan and start to stir, making it look like I just woke up. I open my eyes and see everyone is staring at me. Just staring. But not Earl and Melvin. They have smirks. The ones that say they know I was awake and heard everything. I try my best to look innocent and ask quietly, "What?"