Beige

"Relax." Lake says. "It's just feedback from one of the amps." She likes that I don't know anything. Thinking I'm stupid probably makes her feel good about herself. She climbs up on the stone wall so that she can see better. She puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles like a trucker. Suck is the band now taking the stage. Everyone at the party starts to stumble closer. The Rat takes his place and sits behind his drum kit, shirtless. Sam quietly stands at the microphone as the entire party becomes still. He just stands there with intention. Suddenly, The Rat breaks the spell, clicking the drumsticks over his head. He screams, "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!" _______ BEIGE by Cecil Castellucci. Copyright (c) 2007 by Cecil Castellucci. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA. Excerpted from Beige by Cecil Castellucci All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.