Page 16 of Flirtasaurus
“Hi. Mabel again.” She extends her hand and shakes mine. Hard. “Kids call me the Bug Lady. I have most of these kiddos in the Critters Corner class I do here at the museum. Also, Holden attended the summer camp where I was a counselor last season. So, we’re all buds. Gosh, your eyebrows have an incredible shape.”
“Ugh, thanks. I don’t usually care about things like that, but my friend sort of made me do this whole—”
She cuts me off by sniffing me. Yeah, I’ll repeat that. This woman actually sniffs me.
“Out partying last night, huh?” she says with a wink. Oh man, she is trying way too hard.
“What? No. And could you maybe not smell me?”
“Sure! Right, of course!”
She backs up a few steps, still smiling. I take her in for a moment.
“You, um, you said you’re Mabel again? I don’t think we’ve actually… Hi, I’m—”
“Calliope FitzGerald. I know,” she says with supreme confidence.
“Oh.” Yeah, I have no earthly idea who this person is.
“Haha, you should see your face! You make such great expressions, and it’s not just because of your eyebrows. Clearly, you don’t remember me, and that’s totally fine. I remember everyone I ever meet. Freaks most people out. I assume no one will remember me, though, so I always reintroduce myself, even if I just saw you yesterday. I’m always like ‘Hi. Mabel again.’ Someone told me once they actually thought my last name was Again since I reintroduced myself to them like that so many times. ‘Hi. Mabel again!’ I must have a completely forgettable face or something. Or maybe a totally lackluster personality?”
Wow, she talks fast.
“Oh, are you really asking me those questions? No, of course not. Your personality seems… great. So, we have met then? I’m sorry to prove your point, but I’m drawing a total blank here.”
“Totally understood!” she chirps pleasantly. “Applause Theater and Nature Camp Summer of ’08?”
“Yeah! I did go there. You did too?”
“Yup. You played Rosie in ‘Really Rosie’ that summer. Me? Stage crew. I made your feather boa from real bird droppings. Feather droppings of course. Not poop.”
“Right! Of course!” Nope, still no recollection. “Well, thank you for doing that. That boa was pretty darn lush, if I remember correctly. A bit spiky in places, though.”
“Yeah, I had to fill it out with Canadian goose feathers, which are a bit pokey. Sorry about that, but duck droppings alone weren’t going to cut it. Feather droppings, of course. Not poop.”
“Right. Thanks for clarifying that. Twice.”
“So, how’ve you been since middle school, girl? You successful? Of course you’re successful. I always knew you’d be successful.”
“That’s, um… really sweet, Mabel. Thanks. I’m getting there, I guess? Just started a new job interning here under Dr. Knowles, which I’m really—”
“Oooooooh.”
Did she just shudder? This girl is… interesting, that’s for sure.
I continue, “Yeah, I’m really excited. Dr. Knowles is amazing. I feel really lucky to be—”
“Ooooooooh.”
There she goes again.
“Are you shuddering each time I say Dr. Knowles’ name?”
“Ooooooooh.” Her body actually full-on vibrates this time. “Yup. Can’t help it.”
“Why?”
“Well, she’s just so scary, yeah?”
