You just did it yourself. You both were making fun of it. How will he feelwith some reporters comments published throughout town?
For once I had silenced my parents.
See our problem? I asked.
Your father and I were just kidding. Youre rightwe really shouldnt have said those things.
But the townthey wont be fooling around. Theyll mean it. You see how Ive been treated for years.
Thats what I dont understand, my dad said. I thought you were all about being yourselfno matter what.
I am.
Then I figured Alexander would be, too.
Of course he is, I said emphatically.
There is no reason, then, my mom said, that Alexander should change who he isor where he lives.
She had a point.
So where is our nonconforming daughter? my dad asked. What has happened to you?
We dont want the whole town to know my boyfriends a vampire. That he sleeps in a coffin and has a cellar filled with bottles of blood, okay? I wanted to say.
I was on trial in front of my parents. They waited for the accused to speakto declare if I was guilty of trading in my own belief system. I was asking them to understand why I was changing my whole character in order to impress the very town from which Id been an outcast my entire life.
They were correct. Under normal circumstances, Id never go along with Alexander trying to change who he was. But if the town knew he was a vampire, hed be the one in danger.
Maybe Alexander doesnt want the town to see his real image, I began.
Why? my mom asked.
Its an invasion of his space.
How do you figure that?
The Mansion is his studio, his home, his family. Hes already shared his soul in his paintingsdoes he have to share it in a newspaper, too?
My parents agreed. I was beginning to get through to them.
Besides, its not my decision, I said. Its Alexanders. And he wants the Mansion to appear like any other home in Dullsville.
My mothers bewilderment turned to joy. Then I guess Im forced to help you shop.
Jameson and I are going to pick up the furniture after school. I just dont know where to begin, and I thought youd be great in giving me some ideas.
Come into my private stash. I followed my mom into her bedroom.
Where a man might have stashed Playboys, my mom had hidden her Pottery Barns. She reached underneath her bed and pulled out a large plastic container.
I have every issue from every home store.
We hunkered down on her bed like two girls at a sleepover. We spread out the catalogs and pored over the slick pages.
Rugs are a great accent. Framed pictures can make a statement. Clocks can really be striking. She noted pages with Post-its, and with a thick black marker I circled items that reminded me of Trevors home.
I was hoping for a day like this since you were a little girl, she said, for decorating your roombut Ill settle for decorating Alexanders.