Sigmund Brouwer - Justine McKeen, Thermostat Chat

CHAPTER ONE

Good evening. You must be Grandpa Jim, Justine McKeen said. Gram and I are here to get rid of vampires.

Justine and her grandmother stood on Jimmy Blatzos front porch. Grandpa Jim had flicked on the outside light just before he opened the front door.

Its three in the morning, Grandpa Jim croaked.

Grandpa Jim wore a bathrobe and slippers. He had a gray beard and gray hair that stuck out at all angles. He rubbed his eyes.

This is the best time to look for vampires, Justine said.

Im sorry if we woke you. Gram said. My granddaughter said your grandson was expecting us tonight.

Gram wore a flowered dress. Her hair was gray too.

Expecting you? Grandpa Jim said. Did I mention its three in the morning?

I dont mean to be rude, Justine said, but if you leave the door open, the house is going to lose heat. That takes energy to replace.

Justine took her grams hand, walked them both inside and shut the door behind her.

Grandpa Jim looked at the closed door. He looked at Justine.

Well, I dont mean to be rude, Grandpa Jim said. But who are you?

This is my gram and my name is Justine, Justine said. She grabbed Grandpa Jims hand and shook it up and down. How about we shut off the outside light?

Justine pulled a small notebook out of her back pocket. She flipped it open. She pulled a short pencil from her front pocket. She made a small mark in the notebook. She flipped it shut. She put the notebook in her back pocket and the pencil in her front pocket.

Im Doreen, Gram said to Grandpa Jim with a smile. And again, I apologize. Justine said Jimmy insisted that we come over at this time of night. And I wasnt going to let Justine walk here alone. Im her legal guardian.

Grandpa Jim rubbed his eyes again. Justine McKeen, the Queen of Green? Jimmy left a note on his bedroom door about you.

See, Gram? Justine said. I told you Jimmy expected us.

The note did not say anything about waking me up at three in the morning, Grandpa Jim said. Or anything about vampires.

I knocked on the door as loud as I could, Justine explained. I thought that would get Jimmy out of bed.

You were very loud, Grandpa Jim said. I should point out there is a doorbell.

Gram and I disconnected our doorbell, Justine said. Anything to get rid of vampires.

Vampires dont like doorbells? asked Grandpa Jim.

Doorbells are vampires.

Grandpa Jim reached over and pinched Justines shoulder.

Ouch!

Huh, Grandpa Jim said. You are real. I thought maybe my new medications were too strong.

I have that same problem, Gram said to Grandpa Jim. By the way, thats a nice bathrobe. Did your wife get it for you?

Im a widower, Grandpa Jim said. Im here for a couple of weeks while Jimmys parents are out of town.

Your girlfriend then, Gram said. She has good taste in bathrobes.

No girlfriend either, Grandpa Jim said. He slicked back his messy hair with his hands.

He smiled at Gram.

Gram smiled at him.

Since youre here anyway, Grandpa Jim told Gram, would you like me to make you a cup of tea?

No time for idle chat, Justine said. Well make sure your thermostat is turned down. Its the first and easiest way to stop vampires. Then lets wake up Jimmy and track down the rest of those vampires.

CHAPTER TWO

The three of them stood outside Jimmys bedroom door. A note was tacked to it.

Mules are very smart, Justine said. Ill have to thank Jimmy for this nice note.

Whats that noise? Grandpa Jim asked. It was coming from the other side of the door.

It sounds like a Justin Bieber song, Gram said.

What is a Justin Bieber? Grandpa Jim asked.

Gram patted Grandpa Jims hand. You are better off to never know. Now how about that tea?

Grandpa Jim smiled at Gram.

Gram smiled at Grandpa Jim.

Justine knocked on the door.

Good luck, Grandpa Jim said. It takes a lot more than a loud song to wake him during the night. Hes always been like this.

Grandpa Jim opened the door and turned on the bedroom light.

Jimmys radio alarm blared.

Please, Grandpa Jim begged. Make it stop.

Justine stepped across the bedroom and turned off the alarm. Jimmy was deep in sleep on his back. He was wearing pajamas with a puppy-dog pattern, and a puppy-dog hoodie. He had his arm around a stuffed bear, and he was snoring. There was a shiny line of drool from his lips down his cheeks to his pillow.

Hey, Blatzo, Justine whispered.

Jimmy kept snoring.

Blatzo!

Jimmy kept snoring.

Well, Justine said to Gram and Grandpa Jim, now I understand why he hasnt tracked down the vampires like he promised.