Chapter 15

Success

I was very hot and stuff in my doubled up clothes by the time I reached the mall transit center. I was also tired, hungry and thirsty. I did not want to waste my time or my money on food or drinks. I needed to get home as soon as possible and I knew that the attic mini fridge was stacked with food. Well unless Claudia "pork-a-lot" Kishi had snuck up and stole it all. I do not know why she would need to when the kitchen and pantry were stuffed with food and I am sure Daddy and Elizabeth told her to help herself. They are too generous with babysitters if you ask me. Claudia would eat them out of house and home if given the chance.

When the bus arrived, I climbed on, handed the driver my money, and took a transfer. Then I walked to a seat near the back of the bus and slumped into it. I did not realize that stealing would be such exhausting work. I was very sleepy and wished I could take a nap on the bus but I could not sleep and risk not getting home on time. I could not have Daddy or Elizabeth know what I had been up to today.

I watched groggily out the window as the bus rolled through town. I was hot and tired and I had to admit I was a little bit nervous still. What if my family saw my Club G items and got suspicious? I knew Hannie and Nancy would just be jelly but if Daddy saw my new things, he would know that he had not bought them for me. He would probably call Mommy and when he found out Mommy had not bought me anything he would be very suspicious. Daddy would know I did not have enough money to buy those things myself. I would just have to keep a gigundoly big secret from my whole family. It would be worth it though.

I got off the bus at the downtown transit center. The bus back to my neighborhood was not there yet. I sat on a bench next to a man listening to his ipod. He had cranked it up very loudly and I could hear the song he was listening to through his headphones. My mouth opened wide in surprise as I realized that it could be my theme song.

Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over

I nudged the man with my elbow, "Excuse me sir? What is that song you are listening to?"

He looked at me as if I was insane but answered me, "It is by The Smiths. It is called Shoplifters of the World Unite."

I had never heard of The Smiths. I figured it was an old people's band. Maybe it was like the lame music Daddy likes. It was still my new theme song. I decided I would do the sweater pants dance to it when I got home. Yes, I would definitely have to do the sweater pants dance to celebrate my success. Never mind that I did not have a copy of that song. I would find one. Sam could get it for me off the internet except he was not speaking to me because of my punishment. Maybe Daddy or Elizabeth had a copy of that song on a CD somewhere in the house or maybe I could sneak on to the internet when no one was looking. I wish they would get me a computer to have in my own room.

My bus arrived while I was thinking about it so I got on the bus and showed the driver my transfer. While the bus headed towards my neighborhood, I peeked into my backpack at my new bear.

"I'll have to think of a gigundoly good name for you." I whispered to the bear.

I did not really have any ideas for the bear's name. She was not the bear I had wanted so she could not be Karen the Bear. She looked nothing at all like me. I would really have to think of a good name for her.

I was still thinking about a bear name when the bus finally arrived at my stop and I ran as fast as I could up the street to my house. I was starting to get worried that I would not make it inside on time and that my family and Lardia Fatshi would realize I had been gone.

I sighed with relief as I arrived in my driveway and saw that no cars were home. I slipped around the side of the house into the backyard and started to tiptoe up the fire escape. I passed the living room window on the way up and saw Blobbia passed out on the couch with a bag of nacho cheese Doritos lying open on her stomach. There were also a few Coke cans and a partially eaten package of cookies sitting on the coffee table in front of her. I knew she would have the mess cleaned up before my family caught her. Claudia was very good about keeping up impressions when she babysat me. Still, I rolled my eyes at her bloated stomach. No one else was honest enough to admit that Claudia had gotten chunky lately except for me. I loved laughing at her and making up names for her in my head like Chubbia and Chunkia.

I made it up to the attic and stripped off my clothes. It felt good not to be in extra clothing. I did a modified version of the sweater pants dance without the sweater or the radio playing. Instead, it was just me in my underwear singing the chorus to Shoplifters of the World Unite repeatedly. I finally stuffed my Club G outfit in my backpack and put on my normal clothes.

I was getting hungry so I checked out the mini fridge for some lunch. There was a plate with a tuna fish sandwich, fruit salad and dill pickles on it plus a glass of milk. I took them out and ate. It was my celebration lunch.

After I ate, I took out the bear and went to a corner behind a table to sit so that no one could tell what I was doing if they came up. I brought my backpack under the table too. I hugged my bear and looked at her with a smile. I could not believe she was all mine. I began thinking of names again. Sierra? Kayla? Tara? Belle? Sophia?

I was startled out of my thoughts by the attic door opening. It was Daddy. Quickly I stuffed the bear back into my pack. "Hi Daddy!"

Daddy was not too happy to see me. I was annoyed. He needed to get over his grudge against me. "Come along, Karen. You can go back to your bedroom now."

As soon as I got to my room, I flipped on the radio. I turned it to a classic rock station at random. Much to my surprise, it was my theme song. Quickly, I changed into my sweater pants. Then I did a victory dance.

Maybe Hannie and Nancy would help me name my bear. After all, I did not have to keep it a secret from them that I had the Club G items. I just had to lie to them that my family had caved and bought it for me. I could not wait for school on Monday!