I Become Shadow by Joe Shine

Author:Joe Shine [Shine, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-61695-359-1
Publisher: Soho Press
Published: 2014-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

AFTER A QUICK SHOWER and a check that all of my surveillance equipment was still working, I made my way to one of the cafeterias. I found a table off in the corner and sat down ready to do work on a big bowl of mac and cheese. Before I could raise the fork to my mouth, a tray slapped down across from me.

It was the runt from the gym.

“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said breathlessly. “You were like wham, hack, walloo, and he was all uhhh, budoooo, out.” He of course had punctuated every odd sound he made with finger and hand movements. “You should be in movies. Or have your own TV show.” He stuffed a massive spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth and then added, “I’d watch.”

I was frozen, my first bite of mac still on the fork, inches from my lips. He sat there beaming as he worked the potatoes around his mouth and swallowed.

“I’m Lloyd,” he said right before popping in a whole chicken finger. He reached across the table to shake my hand.

I forced myself to be polite. I shook it. “Nice to meet you, Lloyd.”

“You gotta name? ’Cause if you don’t I’m gonna call you Kung Fu.”

I kind of liked the name, I admit. “Julia,” I said.

Julia Roth was my FATE-given alias. Better to use a phony name than your real one in case you ran into someone from your old life. Weirder things could happen.

“Cool name. Like Julia Gulia.”

This kid—and he was a kid, he looked about twelve years old, max—was ridiculous. I didn’t want to like him. I didn’t want to be his friend. But come on. Coke-bottle glasses, short hair, and clothes that had obviously been passed down from an older brother. Not to mention the random Wedding Singer reference.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Just turned eighteen,” he said. I raised my eyebrows and he quickly said, “Okay, sixteen … fifteen.”

“You’re not fifteen,” I said loudly.

“Shhhh. Yes, I am.” He paused and then added, “Why, do I look older?”

I snorted. “No. You look like you’re twelve.”

“Well keep it on the low-low.” He looked around. “Don’t wanna ruin my rep.”

“It’ll be our secret.” This kid was awesome. He was the little brother your friend hated but who cracked you up. I nibbled on my food a bit before asking, “So are you some professor’s son or something?”

He shook his head.

“Visiting your brother?”

He shook his head and looked a little confused. That made two of us.

“I’m sorry, I don’t get it,” I said. “Why are you here?”

“Because I’m a student.” Then, speaking to me like I was an idiot, he added: “I graduated early. Real early.”

“So you’re like Doogie Howser smart.”

“Wow,” he said dully. “Never heard that one before.” He gave me a look that said, You completely unoriginal horseface.

“Hey, that show was awesome and being Doogie smart is a compliment.”

“That show sucked.”

“You know the guy that played Doogie’s best friend?” I asked. Lloyd nodded so I continued, “That’s my uncle.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.