"Do you model during the school year, Kaylah?"
"Yes. In between the school day and games, but on the days I have games, they make the sessions as short as possible. But I'm off on Sundays. Unless someone asks me to babysit."
"How was church?"
"I like this church better than the one back home. No one walks all over me here. I won't tolerate that. God didn't make me to be a floor mat."
"No, he didn't."
"Hello, Aunt Lucy."
"Kaylah, I have a guest coming over for dinner tonight. Will you be here?"
"Yeah. I mean, the photoshoot that Stephanie wants me to do for the Milkshake Shack's publicity will only be at most thirty minutes. And I think I'm babysitting tonight, so that will only be an extra plate. And I think Sam has two dinner guests coming, so that's nine plates. I'll help you cook and everything. Hell, I'll even clean up everything. It's no problem."
"Who do you babysit for?"
"One of Grandpa's taxidermy customers. Her daughter Desiree. She is adorable! Oh my goodness, she will just love on you. She is a cuddle bug."
"How old is she?"
"She'll be five next month. And she loves to hang out with me. Her mom put her in pageants which sometimes sing her to sleep. Well, I'm gonna go ahead and head over to the Milkshake Shack. I'll be back in at most an hour."
"I'll see you."he hates doing. She just wants to be a kid."
"What time is she coming by?"
"Probably around six. Later tonight, I'll probably take her to the boardwalk."
"That's fine with us."
"Tonight's karaoke night at The Floor karaoke and dance bar. Desiree loves to hear me sing."
Kaylah had changed into a short sleeve black lace jumpsuit, with of course, wearing black lace clothes underneath. She was also wearing a white lace kimono, her black and white Ann Creek cowgirl boots, and of course her fedora. She decided with her big black cross statement earrings and statement necklace. She was looking almost goth except for the white on her boots, the white of her fedora, and the kimono.
"Kaylah, you're here!"
"Did you think I'd forget? When I make a promise, I keep it, Stephanie."
"I know, I know. Tonya has offered to take the pictures."
"I figured. Now how many are you wanting to take?"
"Like five pictures maximum."
"Okie dokie. Let's get to it."
"Okay, Kaylah. Just do a simple pose, like look up and smile at the sky while taking a sip of your drink."
"I can do that. That might actually be the one that sells the most."
She did another picture of her sitting at the bar with her milkshake, not having a care in the world but her milkshake.
"Actually, I think these two should do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Okie dokie. Well, I'm heading back to my house. I promised my Aunt Lucy I'd help her make supper and everything."
"Will you be back here this evening?"
"Of course I will."
"We'll see you then."
"Slán a fhágáil anois."
"What?"
"That's Irish Gaelic for goodbye for now."
"Oh, well same thing for you."
When Kaylah arrived back home, Desiree's mother had already dropped her off.
"Desiree!"
"Kay Kay! What do you have planned for me today?"
"Well, for supper Baby Girl, my Aunt Lucy and I are making Spaghetti, and then sometime after we eat, you and me are gonna go to the boardwalk."
"Yay! Are you gonna take me for ice cream?"
"I always do, Baby Girl. And, we might go on some rides tonight,"
"Yay!"
"Desi, these are my cousins Michael and Sam. Can you say howdy to them?"
"Howdy! He wears his sunglasses inside?"
"He's just weird that way, Baby Girl. Come on. Let's go in the kitchen and help my Aunt Lucy."
"Can I call her Aunt Lucy, too?"
"You gotta ask her."
"What does she got to ask me?"
"She wants to know if she can call you Aunt Lucy like I do."
"Of course you can, sweetheart!"
"Thank you!"
"Oh my goodness, she is just adorable."
"You should see her when she's asleep. She's even cuter then. Desi, do you wanna help me set the table?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll hold the plates, and you set them down."
"How many people are gonna eat?"
"Uh, I think, about, nine. Cause Aunt Lucy is having a guest over, and Sam is having a couple friends over."
"Is Grandpa gonna sit down and eat with us?"
"We will most likely have to save some leftovers for him."
"Smells good. When do we eat?"
"I told Max eight o'clock, Dad."
"Max?! You mean we're having company again?!"
"Again? Dad, you haven't had company in this house since Mom died eight years ago."
"Right. And now we're having company again. I'll take mine to go."
"Here you go, Grandpa. Here's your plate."
"Thank you, Desiree."
"Michael, Max is coming over for dinner. I'd like for you to meet him."
"I can't tonight, Mom. Got plans of my own."
"You know, things are going to change around here when school starts."
"Gotta go, Mom."
"Aunt Lucy, we only have like a full month of summer vacation left. And my birthday as not happened yet."
"Oh, that's right."
Just as Michael opens the door to leave the house, Max is standing on the front porch.
"Hey. How ya doing? Michael, right?"
"Yeah. Max, right?"
"Yes. Well. You're the man of the house, Michael. I'm not coming in unless you invite me."
Michael thought that was a strange phrase, but he just blew it off.
"Well then, come on in, come in. I'm inviting you."
"Thank you, Michael. Hello, Lucy."
"Oh, Max! I didn't even hear you come inside! Welcome!"
"Is it okay for the guest to see the food before the dinner?"
"Oh, no. You're thinking of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding."
"Oh, right. I always get those two confused."
"Mom. These are my dinner guests. The Frog Brothers, Edgar, and Alan."
"Ah. I didn't know you were having guests."
"Well, if we're in your way we can just eat peanut butter out of the jar in the kitchen."
"No, no. There's plenty for everybody. Oh, Max, this is my youngest boy Sam."
"Sam, did you seriously just say you boys were about to eat peanut butter out of the jar? After I just baked homemade Swedish cinnamon rolls, you're just gonna go eat peanut butter out of the jar?! Oh, HELL NO! Edgar. Alan."
"Aren't you looking good, Kaylah?"
"I always do."
"And this is my cousin Kaylah, but she calls me Aunt Lucy."
"And you're Max, I'm guessing?"
"Yes I am. I've seen you sing outside of my video store. You're good. I was actually wondering if you would let me record you singing outside, to show on the TV's in the store."
"I don't see anything wrong with it, so sure."
"Kay Kay, are you gonna put the cinnamon rolls in the warmer?"
"Yes, I will. Because pastries are always better warm."
"Now, that, I can definitely agree with."
"Well, the table is set, so let's go ahead and dig in."
"Sounds good to me."
"This looks terrific, Lucy."
"Boy! Somebody around here sure has bad breath!"
All of the boys look at Max, but Nanook is standing right over Lucy.
"Nanook, go in the living room with the other dogs."
"Nanook, stop breathing on me. Sam, get him to go in the living room."
"Come here, Nanook. Max, would you like some Parmesan cheese on your spaghetti?"
"Thanks, Sam."
"Max, what's wrong?!"
"That's not cheese, it's garlic!"
"I bet you hate garlic, don't ya?!"
"No, I like garlic, it's just a little much!"
Sam hands Max a glass of water, and spills it in his lap.
"Kay Kay, are they gonna play tricks on me tonight?"
"If they do, then we'll be playing William Tell, and the dang apple will be in their mouths. Really boys, these tricks need to stop."
"Does it burn?"
"Burn?! Are you kidding?! It's freezing!"
"Max, I am so sorry."
Then all of a sudden, Edgar turns the lights off.
"Oh, no! Now what?!"
"Must be a circuit breaker."
"Boys, I know it was one of you who turned off the lights, and if one of you don't turn them back on, none of you will wake up with fingers! Now turn them back on, you're scaring Desiree!"
"Easy, Kaylah. Easy."
"Don't easy me, dummies!"
The lights come back on, and Sam holds a mirror to Max's face, surprised to see that he has a reflection.
"Sam, what is going on?!"
"I think I know what's going on here."
"You do?!"
"Sure. I understand what you're thinking, Sam. But you're wrong."
"I am."
"Yeah. I'm not trying to replace your Dad, or steal your Mom. I just want to be your friend."
"Max, I am really sorry about this."
"Our batting average isn't very good, is it? So far, we're zero for two."
"I don't understand Sam. He's just not like this."
"Boys Sam's age need a good deal of discipline, or they walk all over you."
"He doesn't walk all over me."
"I don't want to fight with you, Lucy. Come on. Let's give it one more try. Dinner at my house, tomorrow night. I'm cooking."
Kaylah puts the sidecar on her motorcycle, so that Desiree can ride safely.
"Do you have karaoke tonight, Kay Kay?"
"Yes I do, Babygirl. We'll get ice cream first, then go to The Floor dance hall. Are strapped up good?"
"Yes."
"Here, let me check. Yeah, you're strapped up good. Okay, let's roll."
"Yay!"
They went to the Milkshake Shack first.
"Hey, Steph. Can we get to peanut butter milkshakes? One large and one small?"
"Coming right up. Hey, Desiree!"
"Hey, Aunt Stephie!"
"And, don't you look pretty today?"
"Thank you! Oooh, that shake looks yummy!"
"And, as usual Kaylah, it's on the house."
"Thanks, Steph. Come on, Desi. Let's head over to The Floor."
Kaylah was everyone's favourite karaoke singer at The Floor.
"Kaylah!"
"Tiffany!"
"Thank God you're here! No one has come in tonight that is any good!"
"I can believe that. Now Desi, when I'm on stage, you're gonna be sitting back here with Tiffany like usual, okay?"
"Okie dokie, Kay Kay!"
Marko and the other Lost Boys came in behind Kaylah.
"Hey, Kaylah."
"Evenin, boys."
"Aren't you looking gorgeous tonight?"
"What? You ain't never seen a chick in black lace before?"
"Yes, just not you."
"Are you going on stage next?"
"Looks like I will."
"Who's this with you?"
"This is the girl I babysit, Desiree. Desi, this is Marko."
"Hi, Marko!"
"She's cute."
"Kaylah, you're up."
"Get behind the counter, Desi."
"What song are you gonna do?"
"Uh, I guess, Ex's and Oh's by Elle King. And I don't need the words shown to me. I already know the whole song."
"Alright, folks. Next up is the house favourite, Miss Kaylah Bedwell!"
"Well, I had me a boy, turned him into a man. I showed him all the things that he didn't understand. Whoa, and then I let him go. Now, there's one in California who's been cursing my name. Cause I found me a better lover in the UK. Hey, hey, until I made my getaway.
One, two, three, they gonna run back to me. Cause I'm the best baby that they never gotta keep. One, two, three, they gonna run back to me. They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave.
Ex's and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me. Like gho-o-osts they want me to make 'em all. They won't let go. Ex's and oh's.
I had a summer lover down in New Orleans. Kept him warm in the winter, left him frozen in the spring. My, my, how the seasons go by. I get high, and I love to get low. So, the hearts keep breakin', and the heads just roll You know that's how the story goes.
One, two, three, they gonna run back to me. Cause I'm the best baby that they never gotta keep. One, two, three, they gonna run back to me They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave.
Ex's and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me. Like gho-o-osts they want me to make 'em all. They won't let go. My ex's and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me Like gho-o-osts they want me to make 'em all They won't let go Ex's and oh's.
One, two, three, they gonna run back to me. Climbing over mountains and a-sailing over seas. One, two, three, they gonna run back to me. They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave.
My ex's and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me. Like gho-o-osts they want me to make 'em all. They won't let go. Ex's and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me. Like gho-o-osts they want me to make 'em all. They won't let go. Ex's and oh's!"
"As usual, Kaylah. You're the one that always gets the crowd rolling."
"It ain't hard when you got a voice like mine."
Michael had come in to listen to her sing a little bit, but the Lost Boys had already left, and he followed after them. Kaylah had Tiffany take Desiree to Kaylah's house so that she could follow where Michael was headed to. She hides herself and her bike in the woods, and keeps herself down low. She sees the lost boys sitting up in a tree, and Michael pulls up on his bike.
"Michael! Over Here! You don't wanna miss this!"
Kaylah was able to hide herself behind a fallen tree, and sink into the shadows, out of the line of sight. And she prayed. She prayed that the boys would not find her, and she prayed that Michael would not do what the others were about to do.
"What are we waiting for, David?"
"Initiation's over, Michael. It's time to join the club."
David reveals his vampire form, as do the other boys. The Lost Boys fly down and start feeding on the group of surf nazis. Kaylah keeps herself hidden and continues to pray. She keeps her eyes shut through the whole ordeal.
"God, please don't let them find me! Please! I've killed their kind before, and I am not afraid to do it again!"
Michael struggles to control himself, as the scent of human blood and flesh flies through the air. At one point, he loses control and falls to the ground. When the Lost Boys are done feeding, they go to talk to Michael again.
"Now you know what we are. Now you know what you are. You'll never grow old, Michael. And you'll never die. But you must feed!"
At one point, Kaylah moved a little bit, and scared a rabbit, and it jumped out of the woods.
"It's just a rabbit, David."
The boys did not even bother to look in the woods. She waited until they were long gone to get on her bike and head home.