Author Topic: When the Zombies Come -- a Cottoneye Decadynasty (COMPLETED) (Read 221479 times)

MarianT · « **Reply #45 on:** September 19, 2012, 09:25:23 AM »

Chapter Twelve – Two Birthdays

This is a painting of my dad. He’s the reddish-brown blob on the right. I was looking through our chain-link fence at the time, which contributes to the Impressionistic effect.

My dad is certifiably insane. Aside from his talking to himself, there’s this thing with the bees. No matter how many times he’s been stung, he just doesn’t learn. He’s funny to watch, though.

Even now that he’s an elder, he still changes into his swimsuit to work with the bees. Crazy.

In other ways, however, he seems to have mellowed. He looks pretty good for an old man.

I was the only one around when he had his elder birthday. We’re pretty good friends, but I hope we’ll become best friends. I owe him a lot, not just for the jars of potent friendship he’s made for me with the beeswax, but for everything. (I’d better stop before I get soppy.)

And you never know what he’ll talk about. The other day, he saw a couple of people outside the courthouse demanding clowns. Actually, they were a werewolf and a vampire. “Why do they want clowns?” he asked. “Are their lives so miserable? Don’t they have anything to smile about? Why do they want the mayor to send in the clowns?”

I owe a lot to my mom, too. She’s a great writer, and I really appreciate it that she never wrote any poems about me when I was growing up. Or if she did, the references were so oblique that nobody caught them. Right now, she’s trying to find my future wife. I honestly think this is something I could handle myself, but she says the least she can do is check out the possibilities.

I don’t think much of her latest find. A. She’s only a child. B. Her name is Hope, and since that’s my sister’s name, too, it would be really confusing, not to mention weird. Luckily, her dad’s a vampire, so it’s possible that she’ll become one as well, which would render her ineligible.

I had a small party this morning, as soon as I got up. I couldn’t see wasting the whole day as a teen when I could be doing other things like painting and signing up for a job in law enforcement.

So here I am, Orion Cottoneye, first generation heir in the Cottoneye Decadynasty. Wish me luck – I’m going to need it.

ratchie · « **Reply #46 on:** September 19, 2012, 09:27:59 AM »

Best of luck Orion.

Rachel

Roxanne07 · « **Reply #47 on:** September 19, 2012, 11:51:40 AM »

I love this! You're doing great so far! Best of luck to you, Orion Cottoneye!

SimBlip · « **Reply #48 on:** September 19, 2012, 02:54:32 PM »

Happy birthday, Orion. Good luck!

MarianT · « **Reply #49 on:** September 20, 2012, 10:51:01 AM »

Chapter One – Little Sister

I’ve not said much about my sister Hope, because when we were growing up, she was mostly just a pain. But I was painting her picture the other day and started thinking about her more as a person and less as a pain.

She’s very artistic and is fond of pain-ting.

She’s also fond of pranking. Now that I’ve graduated (class valedictorian and voted most likely to have a large family), she can’t do it so much because I’m not around to blame.

At least, that’s my logical reasoning, but Hope marches to a different drummer. Or rather, sits and reads -- she's a couch potato and not likely to march anywhere.

The day I graduated, she managed to get me…

…and then Mom the next day. Mom was in a hurry to get to work, so Hope’s scolding was delayed.

I had to hurry to work, too, not that I would scold her because she wouldn’t pay any attention to me anyway. I’m looking forward to getting promoted so that I can get a full uniform, one with shoes.

On a different note, we had a scare early this morning. Dad spent a little too long outside yelling at the zombies, and this was the result.

Roxanne07 · « **Reply #50 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:38:09 PM »

Oh, no! How did that happen?!

ArianaJade · « **Reply #51 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:45:32 PM »

Is that... Hunter as a zombie?!

cndneh · « **Reply #52 on:** September 20, 2012, 05:12:35 PM »

I'm sure Hunter is in disguise... find out the zombies weaknesses.

Hopefully he hasn't been turned into one!

SimBlip · « **Reply #53 on:** September 21, 2012, 12:23:20 AM »

Shocking! I never thought that could happen. So, I just blame my eyesight. That can't possibly be Hunter.

MarianT · « **Reply #54 on:** September 21, 2012, 06:45:06 PM »

Chapter Two – Two More Birthdays

   Later on, when Dad was back to his normal (for him) self, I asked him what had happened.

   “When?” he said.

   “Early this morning, when you were a zombie.”

   “I was never a zombie,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t have any brains for them to go after.”

   “We’ve got a picture on the security cam,” I said.

   At that point, Dad hemmed and hawed. “Well, I was in disguise, pretending to be a zombie so I could find out their secrets.”

One thing I’ve learned working in law enforcement is that when you’re told two different stories, probably both of them are false. But I didn’t press Dad on it. It was his business, after all. A little while later he handed me a small bottle. “It’ll cure you if you accidentally become a zombie,” he said. “Or you can throw it at a zombie if one gets too close.”

My theory is that Dad was going to cure one zombie when another one came up and attacked him. When that happened, he had just enough brains to realize that the elixir he was holding in his hand was something he could drink himself. But I don’t have enough evidence for my theory to stand up in court.

Anyway, I meant to say something about the two other birthdays we’ve had recently. The first was Hope’s. Mom threw a small party for her, inviting, among others, Hope Temple – Mom’s top candidate for daughter-in-law. That’s her, with the blue ribbon in her hair in the foreground. (I could say, occupying the foreground, but that would be unkind. The blonde behind her is Veronica Crowder, who is also still in high school.)

My sister Hope (see how confusing this would be) decided to change her hairstyle and everything. She wants to bring Riverview into the 21st century through rock music. Her plan is to form a band with Hope Temple and a couple of other people as soon as Hope T. is old enough.

The next day, Mom had her birthday, with just us family in attendance.

She said she didn’t want the whole town on hand to see her turn into an old hag.

We all said it wasn’t that bad, but it was a relief when she came out a while later looking more like herself and less like the Ghost of Christmas Past.

My present to her was a portrait I painted of her not very long ago.

Toni · « **Reply #55 on:** September 21, 2012, 08:16:44 PM »

What a great present for her. I guess it will remind her of the good ol' days.

SimBlip · « **Reply #56 on:** September 21, 2012, 09:26:10 PM »

OMG! It was Hunter...

Thank you, Orion, for telling us what happened there!
Your not-so-little sister, Hope, is stunning! This Reader shall watch her progress in the music career with great interest!
I can clearly see how the 'other' Hope may be confusing... The Town Hall will register a change of name deed for very little, or no cost at all. Still, Veronica - not parentally 'spouse-hunted' - seemed to rather enjoy your sisters' birthday?
Your dear mother must be absolutely delighted with her portrait (and her son). That is one fine birthday present indeed!
And may I say? I am a big fan of all her books, but Paramilitary Love, will always be my absolute favourite.

MarianT · « **Reply #57 on:** September 23, 2012, 09:07:19 AM »

Chapter Three – True Love, or something

No, not me. Despite Mom’s hope, I remain unsmitten (yes, that’s sort of a pun). I’m referring to Mom and Dad. After Hope’s graduation (another valedictorian, in keeping with the Cottoneye tradition, and she was voted Most Artistic),