Last Week:
Marlee learned that the former owner of her locker disappeared mysteriously.
Chapter 4:
As they're (finally) going to class, Noreen fills Marlee in on who Suellen is.There's not much to tell. One day Noreen and her were walking with each other and the next day she was gone.
Just before going into class Marlee oh-so-casually asks Noreen if she and Tyler are dating. Noreen says they're just friends. Marlee is a little embarrassed because she didn't fool Noreen for a second.
The day goes by in a blur for her. Don't they always when you need to conveniently pass time? Marlee appreciates the fact that everyone is nice to her (take notes, Bella) but she just can't keep her mind off...what? Tyler? Nope! I think we may just have a girl that doesn't fall obsessively in love at first sight. Rare these days, I know.
Actually, what she can't stop thinking about is The Locker. It creeps her out a lot that the girl who had it before her disappeared and the smell and vision are disturbing her. She is somewhat miserable but it has more to do with yet another new school and feeling like everyone is staring and whispering. She's thankful for Noreen's presence.
I see this as yet more proof that even though Aunt C is a "cool" aunt she shouldn't be dragging two kids all over the United States. Especially since there is no reason for it. She just doesn't like staying in one place too long. They've lost their parents so why put added stress on them by yanking them in and out of schools every few months?
Anywho, back to the story. She's carrying around all of her stuff rather than face The Locker again.
Noreen invites her out after school but Marlee has to pick up her younger brother, Dobkin. Noreen perks up at the mention of a brother but gets disappointed when she learns that Dobkin is only 6. I usually don't like weird names, especially for little kids. Sometimes it makes it seem too cutesy. But I like the name Dobkin.
Noreen leaves Marlee alone with her thoughts and a knot in her stomach at the prospect of meeting the rest of the kids at school. She's dreading the thought of opening The Locker, fearing a repeat of the first time. Nothing happens though.
Her next door locker neighbor introduces himself. He's described as tall, tanned and shoulder length hair in varying shades of blonde. He is dressed a bit like a down-home boy: in jeans, a denim shirt and boots.
He's very intense and wants to know why they moved to Edison. She counters with a "Why not?"
He says that no one would ever transfer there and they're not related to anyone in town so he wants to know her reason for moving there. Because no one would possibly move somewhere just beacause. He's kind of a dick about it.
Marlee gives him a "What's it to you, asshole?" answer (I may ne paraphrasing a bit here). He thinks she's moved there "looking for a quaint little slice of Americana? Come to study the country bumpkins?"
She insists she's not like that and since we've seen absolutely no proof of it (and neither has he) then he's just being a dick. He brushes off her answer and leaves.
Marlee leaves school also to go pick up Dobkin. He's off by himself on the playground, flipping through a book and looking bored. They talk a little about his day. There was a slight issue with him dyeing a boy's shirt to match his by using grape juice. In Dobkin's words "they're all such children". So, now we know that Dobkin is 'wise beyond his years' and different from other six year olds because of course he is. At least they don't go overboard. He still talks like a six year old and doesn't use a bunch of polysyllabic words.
Dobkin can tell that something is wrong with Marlee and she tells him that "my locker attacked me". He comments that it would make a great movie and I agree (The Locker That Ate the School!)
She thinks that something's wrong but she's not sure what. Dobkin suggests she tell him because he might be able to help.
So she tells him and he reminds her that she knows what that smell was. She tries to fight off the memory and insists that she doesn't know what he's talking about. He says she smelled it once before, the smell of fear.
End of Chapter
I know I keep comparing this to some newer books (like Twilight) but it's hard not to. At least this book moves along at a fairly brisk pace without overly detailing unnecessary stuff and so far I like the main character. She seems like a normal girl. She gets a slight crush on a cute boy but doesn't get overly dramatic about it, descending into utter depression just because she hasn't seen him in a few hours. She's not nasty to everyone or dismissive of people trying to be her friend. She is nervous about meeting new people, and somewhat uncomfortable in a new school. This, however, comes out through the writing and her character. There's not a whole bunch of 'But I'm so ordinary! Why does everyone like meeee!" or unrealistic portrayals of awkwardness. And other people act normally around her. They aren't unreasonably hostile or display sudden love and devotion to someone they've just met.
Well, that's about it for tonight. Join me again on Tuesday and Thursday for another riveting chapter of Dead Dancing Women.
No comments:
Post a Comment