Sleepwalking in Daylight by Elizabeth Flock

Author:Elizabeth Flock [Flock, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4089-5110-1
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

Samantha

SYSTEM FAILURE. UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET. Check your local connection and contact systems administrator.

“Cammy?” I call from the bottom of the staircase. “Ca-mmy! Can you come here for a second?”

SYSTEM FAILURE. UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET. Check your local connection and contact systems administrator.

The upstairs is dead quiet. “Cammy!”

“Whaaaat?” Her tone and volume matching mine. “Can you come down here?”

I’m back, logging on after restarting again, hoping … nope. Still nothing.

“Jesus, why are you screaming at me?” she says. “Can you fix this? I’ve tried three times now and I can’t get online.”

“Dad’s computer’s off line, too,” she says. “Must be the cable modem.”

She shrugs her way out of the kitchen.

“Wait! What do I do to fix the cable modem? Can you do it?”

“No, I can’t do it,” she says, as if the mere suggestion is amusing.

“Watch your tone,” I say. “And take the other earphone out, it’s rude to stay plugged in when someone’s talking to you.”

“I’m just saying. Call the cable company or something, I don’t know. P.S. They’re not earphones. That’s so gay.”

“Oh, excuse me, and don’t call things gay. You know better than that. What’re they called if they aren’t earphones?”

“Headphones,” she says. “Or earbuds. Depending. Can I go now?”

“I’d have thought you’d be freaking out about this more than anyone,” I say. “How come you’re so fine with the computer being down?”

“I’m texting. I don’t care.”

“That reminds me, we’re going to have to have a little talk about your cell-phone minutes,” I say.

“Okay, but can we do it later? I’ve got, like, a million things due tomorrow …”

“And you’re texting homework back and forth, right? Uh-huh. Fine. You’re excused. But just try one more time?”

I pace behind Cammy, but after another halfhearted attempt she gives up and says, “Nope. It’s dead,” in a snarky tone that’s become a regular thing.

I have to rummage through a shoe box of paid bills to find the number for the cable company.

“Thank you for calling Horizon Cable, the world leader in phone and cable communications, my name is Princess, how can I help you?”

“Oh, yes, hi, wait, let me take you off speakerphone,” I say, running across to the kitchen phone. “Sorry, I was on hold so long.”

“Can I get the last four digits of your social-security number to verify your account information.”

“Oh, sure … 5421. I’m calling because I can’t get online and my daughter says—”

“You live at zip code 60626?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Ma’am, our technicians are working to fix the problem. It should be corrected soon. There’s a cable outage in your area.”

“How long until it’s fixed?”

“Ma’am, we don’t know yet. Sorry for the inconvenience. Is there anything else I can help you with today? Can I tell you about our money-saving three-in-one package? If you act today you can receive one month of premium cable channels free.”

“No, thanks.”

“Have a nice day and thank you for calling Horizon Cable.”

I know he’s e-mailed me by now. He had to take Lexi to a birthday party and wasn’t sure if parents were expected to stay or if it was the drop-off kind.

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