I Think My Date Isn't Human

the colors blurred together creating a

coagulation of static and shadow on the

screen i cursed silently under my breath

removing the cartridge from the nintendo

64 and inspecting it with an impatient

eye i couldn't see anything wrong with

it but this was the third time the game

had frozen on me i blew into the seams

of the cartridge trying to dislodge any

dust that might have been stuck in there

then put it back into the console before

i could boot up the system again the

door to my bedroom jerked open

how many times have i told you to knock

i muttered without taking my eyes off

the screen waiting for the game to load

sorry sorry my dad said calmly as he

leaned his heavy frame against the

doorway

just came to see if you're all right all

ready for prom

i frowned my fingers resting against the

controller without pressing anything

i i don't think i'm going after all

from the corner of my eye i saw my dad's

eyebrows come together casting a shadow

over his face

what do you mean

well

i mean my friends want to blow off prom

to have a game night instead i figured i

might as well join him

sounds more fun anyway

i cleared my throat brushing a fleck of

dirt off the controller

you want to skip prom

to play video games which you can do any

other day

he pointed out and i shrugged sheepish

do you really not want to go

i don't know

i admitted i feel like everyone makes it

out to be a big deal when it's not i'll

probably just forget about it in a few

weeks

my dad sighed heavily stepping further

into the room

proms more than just one night it's an

event you'll remember for years after i

know my prom night was definitely a

night to remember

he said

i shuffled up along the bed to make room

for him to sit next to me we rarely had

these sorts of father and son talks so i

stared down at my feet not really

knowing what to say

you don't have to go if you don't want

to but you might end up regretting it

for the rest of your life he continued

his frame was towering beside mine and i

almost felt like a kid again standing in

his shadow

like i said my experience is one i still

remember i don't think i'll ever forget

it i was the man of the moment

he chuckled quietly to himself lost in

reminiscence

i was one of the only guys who went

without a date

he said much to my surprise

i flicked a glance towards his face and

found him grinning a childish unruly

sort of grin that i come to expect from

my dad

but boy did that work out in my favor i

ended up at the end of the night with

more numbers than i can count on one

hand

anyway

it was a great night

well

apart from one unfortunate tragedy at

the start of the night

tragedy i asked my voice thick

my dad looked away seeming to regret

bringing it up

yeah

one of the students died in a car crash

on the way to prom it was horrible i

remember hearing the sirens

geez dad

someone died and you're trying to

convince me that prom's great he

grimaced

that's not what i meant it was horrible

i knew the girl even tried asking her

out once but she completely blew me off

she was one of the popular ones you know

i can't even remember her name now but

everyone was still talking about it

months after it happened it even got the

attention of the media

i can't remember how many times the

school got interviewed by different news

crews

it all got a bit out of hand really his

voice had turned bitter and i decided to

change the topic

well anyway i'm still not decided i said

i'll see how i feel on the day i still

have a week to decide

dad nodded and gave my hair a playful

ruffle i swatted him away

good you never know who you might meet

on prom night so think about it okay

i nodded and he left the room leaving me

in silent contemplation

a week had passed and the night of prom

was dreary it had rained all day

painting the city in shades of dirt and

grime and a hazy mist had eddied into

the streets out of nowhere souring my

mood as i looked out the window

my reflection in the glass was streaked

with fat droplets of rain and full of

shadows

my fingers slipped once more and the tie

skewed into a knot i threw up my hands

with a huff i'd been trying for almost

10 minutes and i still couldn't get it

on properly

need some help

i said nothing letting him fix the tie

with practiced movements

thanks i muttered straightening it up as

i caught my reflection again in the

glass

i felt stupid the suit was slightly too

big around my shoulders and there were

shadowy crevices beneath my eyes from

staying up late i'd been unable to sleep

last night so i'd ended up playing video

games until well past midnight

you already

dad asked a grin in his voice

i shrugged without looking at him i

still wasn't exactly enthusiastic about

going but my dad had seemed excited for

me and i didn't want to disappoint him

come on

don't look so gloomy loosen your face

give me a smile

i rolled my eyes but tucked my lips into

a slight smile and my dad nodded

approvingly

there we go

he said chuckling as he took a picture

i'm sure you'll have a great time oh and

don't forget these

he reached into his pocket and withdrew

his car keys jingling together softly

i started in surprise staring at the car

keys he held out to me he never let me

drive his car

thanks

i said taking them from him

not a scratch

he warned and no drinking and driving

i scoffed i was underage anyway

and please be careful i don't want

little david's running around next year

i'm not ready to become a grandpa just

yet

i flushed fiercely at the insinuation my

ears going hot beneath my hair

yeah i know dad

right then we've wasted enough time go

say bye to your mom and get going

the evening was humid after the rain

shower and a bead of sweat clung to the

nape of my neck as i drove to the prom

venue mist congealed around the corners

of the streets forming strange illusions

beneath the hazy glow of the street

lamps so i took it slow

the clock on the dashboard red 748 which

meant i was later than i thought i just

hope that wouldn't make things too

awkward

i was lucky enough to find a parking

spot not too far from the entrance there

were still a couple of students

loitering outside girls in bright fancy

dresses and guys in suits i didn't

recognize some of them others i'd

glimpsed only occasionally around school

it was fair to say i wasn't exactly a

social butterfly

i could hear the music before i made it

inside thrumming through the walls of

the building

more sweat gathered along my back and i

wiped a hand nervously through my hair

already feeling the regret cement itself

in my stomach like a stone

why hadn't i agreed to the game night

i'd much rather be there than here in a

place i didn't belong with people out of

my reach

i slipped into the shadows of the room

almost as soon as i got inside the dance

floor was a crush of bodies and the

music was already hurting my ears i

noticed a couple of lone figures

throughout the room girls waiting for a

dance but i could hardly muster the

courage to go up to him never mind ask

them to dance with me

most of the night was passed beneath the

shadowy eaves of the room i felt like

some kind of ghost lingering in the

gloom watching everyone have fun while i

was stuck there in a limbo of anxiety

and loneliness i might as well have been

invisible

i was starting to feel stifled lingering

in the corner of the room and went for a

walk around the outskirts debating

whether to just leave

so far the night had been nothing like

my dad had described i was hoping that

tonight i might finally meet someone who

thought it was cool or fun or anything

but the outcast i usually was i was

hoping that tonight

i might finally be seen

as i was trying to slip past the throng

of students my foot must have slid on

the silky trail of someone's dress

because the next thing i knew i was

stumbling forwards

with the lights flashing above and

undulating around me i couldn't see

where i was going nor could i steady

myself

my elbow hit something hard a table and

i crumpled forward straight into the

fondue fountain

chocolate splashed up the front of my

suit some of it landing on the edge of

my lips

somehow it tasted bitter and dark and a

shudder ran through me a chorus of

laughter immediately exploded around me

and my whole body fluctuated between hot

and cold as embarrassment flooded my

veins i struggled to my feet trying to

wipe the chocolate off my clothes but

everyone was staring and laughing and

pointing and i couldn't take it

clenching my hands into fist i shoved my

way roughly through the gathered

students staring at the ground with hot

tears blurring my vision

what

a

disaster this had been nothing like my

dad had told me why did i bother

listening to him

i made it outside feeling the damp

breeze wash over my face drying the

chocolate on my clothes

i paused outside the building for a

moment trying to gather my fonts there

was no way i could go back inside now i

might as well just go back home

i folded my arms across my chest hoping

to hide the mess and was about to cross

the road when a voice caught my

attention

hey

my steps faltered for a second my heel

almost catching the curb i quickly

recovered stepping down out of the road

hey

you i stopped again glancing behind me

a girl was staring at me

she had her hands in the pocket of a

jacket she had draped over her shoulders

beneath she wore a simple ruffled dress

you alright

i blinked at her my lips opening and

closing uselessly as it dawned on me

that i was the target of her question

yeah

i'm fine

her eyes flickered down to the mess on

my clothes and i looked away my ears

going hot was she going to make fun of

me too

they shouldn't have laughed at you

she continued her voice sinking into a

gentle murmur

i saw what happened i didn't find it

funny

my eyes darted back towards her

struggling to conceal my surprise i

shuffled a couple of steps closer away

from the road

um

my name's david i blurted out pushing

aside a strand of chocolate smeared hair

sorry

the girl laughed a sound like bells in

the night and i found myself struck by

how pretty she was

although her outfit was far more casual

than others i'd seen tonight something

about the way she looked beneath the

pale glimmer of the moon drew my

attention

i'm wendy she said shortly tilting her

head slightly to offer me a smile

want to go back inside with me

i dropped my gaze to my feet how could i

go back inside after everyone had seen

me make a fool of myself

don't worry about the others it doesn't

matter what they think

let's just enjoy what's left of the

night okay

i found myself nodding even as i felt

uncertain

why was a girl like her helping me

anyway i didn't even recognize her

i had at least passed familiarity with

most of the students here but i don't

recall ever seeing a face like wendy's

before

she offered out her arm and i took it

tentatively following her back inside

the lights inside had dimmed since the

last time causing a haziness around the

room and nobody spared me a glance as

wendy and i stepped onto the dance floor

i began to relax slightly out of any

immediate scrutiny and focus on the girl

in front of me

how did i end up with one of the

prettiest girls i'd ever seen after such

a disastrous start to the evening too

you don't have to be nervous

she said softly

relax your arms

i did as she said loosening my muscles

as i kept my hands on her waist

there you'll enjoy it more if you're

relaxed she said

i felt my face flush slightly but for

the first time that night a smile fell

naturally onto my lips

we were getting into the fourth song

when wendy's expression changed her face

paled slightly beneath the glimmering

spotlights and i felt her freeze in my

arms

i

i need to go

i stared at her my lips parting with

surprise

why

i promised my dad i'd be home by

midnight

i'm so sorry he'll kill me if i'm late

i need to find my friends

they're supposed to take me home

she looked around her with frantic

movements her eyes scanning the faces

around her

there was a frenzied panic to her that

struck me off guard

wait wait i'll help you find him but i

mean

i could always drive you home

if you want

wendy's gaze return to mine and i

suddenly noticed how bright her eyes

were

green

with little flecks of gold and brown

i cleared my throat looking away

but she caught my hand

her skin was surprisingly cool against

the warmth of my palm

thank you

that's very sweet

no problem

i replied

wendy's hand still clasped in mine we

both headed back outside i'd almost

forgotten the whole incident with the

chocolate fountain wendy smiled and

whisked away all of the anxieties that

had plagued me most of the night

as we reached the car wendy quickly

slipped her hand out of mine and climbed

into the front passenger seat i went

round to the driver's side and started

up the engine

where do you live

i asked

it's a bit of a difficult neighborhood

to reach

i'll guide you

she said gesturing for me to take the

road straight ahead

so

uh

when did you start attending our school

i don't think i've really seen you

around much

really

she asked her voice pinched with

surprise

then you must be living under a rock

everyone knows me at school i was

actually gonna ask where you've been

oh

i sent squinting to see through the mist

that swirled and eddied over the road

like something alive

i mean

my friends and i usually hang out in the

quieter areas at school i'm not really

surprised if you haven't seen me

wendy hummed quietly and i reached over

to switch on the fan as the window

started to fog with white plumes of

condensation

turn

left here

i glanced across a wendy her voice had

gone faint and stilted almost as though

she was uncertain and there was a

clamminess to her cheeks i hadn't

noticed before

hey

you okay

i asked

the pallor of her skin had gone waxin

she looked ill

yeah

she didn't look at me she kept her eyes

straight ahead but i could feel the

whole mood shift into something sad and

uneasy

you can

just

just make a ride over here

i followed her directions winding

through the serpentine roads of the

neighborhood

definitely not a place to find very

easily

a soft sniffle caught my attention and

when i flicked another glance at wendy

i saw a tear glistening on the ridge of

her cheek had i upset her somehow we'd

been having such a good time what had

changed

are you sure you're all right

do you

you want me to pull over and talk maybe

we could go get ice cream or something

she shook her head

it's okay

i need to be home before midnight

remember

oh right

yeah

i muttered glancing at the clock on the

dashboard it was almost 11 52

silence webbed between us and i shifted

uncomfortably in my seat trying to think

of something to say

just around this corner

she said raking the back of her hand

roughly over her cheek to wipe away the

tear

i took the turn and pulled up outside

the house it wasn't what i'd been

expecting even under the shadow bruised

sky i could see its drab facade there

were no lights on inside and each window

peered down at me like vacant eyes the

driveway was clotted with weeds some

breaking up through the gravel and

spreading thick cracks through it

there was no car park there

more weeds and thistles grew out of the

bricks of the house and a naked bulb

swung from a porch rich of cobwebs

something about the place

seemed untouched

unloved

i almost felt reluctant to leave wendy

here

well

um

we're here

i said twisting my fingers nervously in

my lap

wendy unclipped her seatbelt and turned

to face me her beautiful green eyes were

still glistening with unshot tears thank

you david i had a truly wonderful night

i just

i'm sad i won't get to experience a

night like this again

me too but i'm sure we could have fun

together another night i said hopefully

after all it's just to dj in a dance

floor we could do something again

sometime

i said

wendy smiled

i'd like that

she said gently then flicked a glance

towards the house

it loomed like a giant behind her dreary

and unwelcoming

i guess i'd better go

goodbye

david

i

i can walk you to your door

i said quickly i didn't want her to

leave just yet

oh no

my dad would kill me if he saw

i'm sorry

it's okay

i said gently

then

how about your number so that i can call

you

wendy smiled and reeled off her number

from memory i didn't have anything to

write it onto so i chanted it repeatedly

in my head

got it she asked

i think so

i said rubbing the back of my head

okay then

i guess i should go now

yeah well

hopefully i'll see you again

i said

she pushed open the car door without

saying anything else and stepped out

closing it gently behind her

when she glanced back to wave at me

through the window i noticed that her

smile had turned sad again slipping down

at the corners

then she headed up the drive

the moonlight casting an almost ethereal

glow around her

wanting to make sure she got inside okay

i waited in the car watching as she went

around the side of the house and then

disappeared behind it i wondered why she

didn't use the front door but i figured

she might not have wanted to wake her

dad

as soon as she was gone i started up the

engine and drove home

the morning broke upon another dark

overcast day

the events of a previous night were

still fresh and i went down to breakfast

with a grin on my face my dad was

reading the paper nursing a cup of

steaming hot coffee in one hand but set

down both when i walked in

good night then eh

he asked his eyes twinkling with his

usual mischief

i shrugged thinking of wendy the only

girl to notice me the whole night

something like that

i said

oh you know i remembered the name of

that girl it was bugging me all night

you know the one that died

dad is that really important

wendy

her name was wendy

he said and my body went cold

i don't know why but it just wouldn't

leave me alone

so anyway there we are came to me this

morning as i was reading the paper wendy

hollows

poor girl

i swallowed my throat suddenly feeling

dry

surely it was just a coincidence right

there were probably dozens of people

called wendy in the area and anyway that

was decades ago

there was no way

i left the kitchen before he could say

anything else hurrying back to my room

i'd scribbled wendy's number down as

soon as i'd gotten home last night

maybe it was too soon to call her but

something about what my dad had said

troubled me

just hearing her voice would reassure me

that i was just being silly

i dialed the number into the landline

but there was no dial tone

just static humming faintly in my ear

i frowned punching the number in again

this time

a voice emerged through the static it

was an automated message telling me the

number i'd dialed was no longer in use

had wendy given me a false number or had

i simply remembered it wrong

either way i couldn't shake away the

unease that something wasn't right

slamming the phone back onto the cradle

i went back to the kitchen

dad can i borrow the car again this

morning

you going somewhere

yeah

i just want to check up on something

ah-ha you mean someone huh

sure just be careful

thanks

i said already throwing on a jacket as i

grabbed the keys from the side i'll be

back later

my thoughts were in a whirl as i drove

trying to remember the way to wendy's

house it was probably nothing but

something was bugging me about last

night

something she said i'm sad i won't get

to experience a night like this again

i was probably just reading into things

too much but something about the way

she'd said it struck me as odd and the

fact she shared the same last name with

a girl who died at my dad's prom

i turned the last corner recognizing the

azalea bushes growing from the property

on the bend and pulled the car to a stop

my heart thundered in my chest every

part of my body shuttered beneath a

chill

the house was gone

there was nothing but an empty plot of

land

had i taken a wrong turn somewhere was

this the wrong street the wrong

neighborhood

it didn't make sense i was sure this was

where her house was

getting out of the car my legs felt

suddenly unsteady and i had to lean

against the door until the weakness

passed

what was going on here

the wendy that i met last night

was she not real

but how was that possible

i spotted the sign for a local liquor

store up ahead and found myself walking

towards it in a daze

the harsh jingle of a bell when i walked

inside snapped me back to my senses and

i went up to the cashier

excuse me would you mind telling me what

happened to the house that used to be

there i said pointing to the empty plot

through the window

the cashier gave me a funny look

he was an older man

maybe a few years over 50 and spoke with

the voice of a smoker

why

bladd there hasn't been a house there in

years

it was knocked down some time ago for

renovation

what about the previous owners

he shrugged

last i heard the family that lived there

moved on after losing their child

my throat closed up

and i thanked the man in a stifled voice

before making my way back to the car

surely he was talking about wendy

the wendy i met last night and the same

wendy who had died all those years ago

on the night of her prom

that's why she'd been so upset last

night it was the last time she would

ever get to experience a night like that

and she'd chosen

to spend it with me