Lizard of Oz Read online

Sunlight washed over me from the open window. The sun warmed my skin. I turned to the window and shut my eyes. I pictured myself slithering out the window and lying on my stomach in the grass. Basking in the sun. Letting the sun warm my back. I wanted to sun myself for hours.

  I felt a hand on my sleeve. I jumped, suddenly alert. I turned to see Adele staring at me. Adele sits next to me in almost every class. She really thinks she’s my friend. Or maybe she thinks that makes it easier to compete with me in everything we do.

  She pinched my shirtsleeve between her fingers. “Long sleeves on such a hot day?”

  I nodded. “My mom has been away. No one did any laundry. It was the only thing in my drawer.”

  “She’s been gone a long time,” Adele whispered. “Did your parents break up or something?”

  “No way,” I shot back. Adele always tried to stir up gossip. She’s a real troublemaker.

  “Kate, could I have your attention?” Ms. Arnold called from the front of the room.

  Kids turned to stare at me. I could feel my face turning hot, and I knew I was blushing. “Sorry,” I muttered.

  Ms. Arnold dropped onto the edge of her desk, bumping her coffee cup. She caught the cup as it started to fall and placed it back on the desktop.

  “Good catch!” Ira Forrest yelled, and everyone clapped.

  Ms. Arnold smiled. “Everyone is in such a good mood this morning,” she said. “I guess it’s because of all the sunshine.”

  I’m not in a good mood, I thought. I’m scared and tense, and I just keep wondering what’s going to happen to me next? And who can help me?

  “Adele had a very good idea that I want to share with you,” Ms. Arnold said. “Actually, Adele, why don’t you tell us about it?”

  “Okay,” Adele agreed. She jumped to her feet. She swept back her hair with one hand. “Here’s my idea. I think we should all bring in baby pictures. We can make an Instagram album. See? We upload photos of what we look like now and put them next to what we looked like as babies.”

  No one said anything. Adele looked disappointed. What did she expect? Did she think we’d all burst into applause at that idea? She dropped back onto her chair.

  “I love this idea,” Ms. Arnold said. “I think it could be very funny. Get your parents to help you find a baby photo or two that we can use. It will make a great class album.”

  Ms. Arnold took a long sip of coffee. “And thank you, Adele, for such a terrific idea.”

  Adele took a short bow in her seat. She had a big smile on her face. She loves scoring points with the teacher. She turned to me with a look of triumph on her face.

  I could read her thoughts: I win, Kate. Score one for me.

  No big deal. My day was about to get a lot worse.

  “Okay, everyone,” Ms. Arnold said. “You’re dismissed. Go get changed for gym class.”

  Oh no. Gym class. If I changed into my gym shorts and T-shirt, everyone would see what was happening to me.

  No. No way. No way.

  The other kids all hurried to the locker rooms to get changed. I lingered in the gym till Ms. Baylor, the Phys Ed teacher, showed up.

  She began sliding the volleyball nets into place. I crossed the gym to talk to her.

  Ms. Baylor doesn’t look like the standard gym teacher. She’s small, very petite. She has long black hair that she wears in a single braid. She’s real pretty, with high cheekbones and big brown eyes.

  “Ms. Baylor, I’m so sorry,” I said. “I took my gym clothes home to wash them, and I forgot to bring them back.”

  She shrugged her slender shoulders. She seemed so tiny in her maroon sweatsuit. “No problem, Kate,” she said. “We’re playing volleyball this morning. You’re wearing sneakers, right? So why don’t you play in your street clothes?”

  I felt so relieved, I wanted to hug her.

  A few minutes later, the rest of the class came trotting out, ready to play. Adele came running up to me. She had her hair tied back with a blue hairband. She wore a pale blue sleeveless T-shirt tucked into white tennis shorts.

  Of course, she had to question me. “Why aren’t you dressed?”

  I repeated my lie. “I took my stuff home to be washed and forgot to bring it back.”

  She sneered. “You’re weird, Kate. Whoever heard of washing your gym clothes?” She turned and shouted to a bunch of other kids. “Hey, did you know Kate is a clean freak?”

  I’m just a freak, I thought bitterly. I had my hands curled tightly. I hoped no one could see my pointed nails.

  A freak. A freak. A freak.

  The game went pretty well. I tried to stay back, away from where the ball was being hit. Adele kept jumping in front of me, hitting balls that I should have had. But I didn’t care. She could be the star today. How could I even think about a volleyball game when I was turning into a lizard?

  I breathed a sigh of relief when Ms. Baylor blew the whistle ending the game. I watched everyone jog to the locker rooms to shower and change back into their clothes.

  I made it through the game. And no one saw my skin or claws.

  I felt good for only a few seconds. Then the trouble started.

  Ms. Baylor deposited the volleyball back in the supply closet. Then she gave me a wave. “Don’t forget your gym clothes next time, Kate,” she called. She disappeared out of the gym.

  I stood there all alone. Sunlight poured in from the high windows all around. The shiny gym floor reflected the bright light.

  Suddenly, I had a strange feeling sweep down over me. I shuddered. My skin tingled.

  I lowered myself to my knees. I brought my hands down in front of me.

  What am I doing?

  Kate, stop. Stop. Don’t do this.

  But I couldn’t control myself. Slowly, I began crawling on all fours across the gym floor.

  As I crawled, I moved my head from side to side. I flicked my tongue out. Was that my tongue? It seemed longer. Darker.

  The floor felt warm under my hands. I raised my head to the windows and let the bright sunlight wash over me. I shut my eyes and enjoyed the feeling as it spread over my back.

  Then I crawled some more, moving slowly, enjoying the warmth from the windows above. Near the wall, I spotted something small and dark on the shiny gym floor.

  I crawled closer and saw that it was a bug—a beetle, I think. It was on its back, its tiny legs all moving frantically, helplessly trying to turn itself over.

  I watched the fat insect struggle. Then I flipped my tongue out, caught it, and snapped it into my mouth. It had a sour taste, and I could feel the little legs brush the top of my mouth as I started to chew it.

  It made a crunching sound as I bit through its shell. I swallowed it, the sour taste lingering on my tongue. It went down easily. I lowered my head and moved it from side to side, searching for more.

  I turned and started to crawl toward the gym doors.

  I’ve got to stand up. I have to walk. Fight this crazy urge.

  My mind whirred as my human self battled to take charge. I had to get control.

  Stand up, Kate. Climb to your feet. You can do it. Stand up.

  But my body wouldn’t cooperate. My legs refused to pull me up. I flicked my tongue out and slowly … slowly … like a big lizard … crawled toward the exit.

  And that’s when I saw Adele.

  She was back in her regular clothes. She had her phone raised in front of her. “I’m getting this on video,” she said. “Keep crawling. This is hilarious. Wait till everyone sees it.”

  I froze. I hunched there on my hands and knees, my head low, my tongue out.

  I stared up at Adele. Watched her ugly laughter. Saw her holding the phone up, the lens aimed down at me.

  And suddenly, she turned red. The gym turned red. Everything became a blinding red in my eyes.

  I snapped my jaws. I suddenly had one thought in my mind: Hurt her.

  I turned. I was down so low, my stomach rubbed the gym floor.

  Adele had her phone aimed at
me. “Keep moving!” she shouted. “I’m loving this.”

  Not for long, I thought.

  I crawled toward her, slow at first, then picking up speed. She was a dark form inside a solid red world. Like a black shadow looming over me, surrounded by red … by my red anger.

  I flicked my tongue at her. I snapped my jaws.

  Hurt her … Hurt her …

  Adele laughed. “This is priceless! Awesome!”

  I knew I had to fight my lizard anger. I struggled to get my control back. I blinked, trying to clear away the red.

  But I couldn’t stop myself.

  Hurt her. Hurt her.

  A hoarse growl escaped my throat. I snapped my teeth again.

  I tensed my legs, preparing to leap onto her.

  I saw Adele’s expression change. Her smile faded. Her eyes bulged. “Hey!” she cried out, lowering her phone. “Hey—stop! What are you doing?”

  I crawled closer. I raised myself up rapidly, faster than I could imagine. I jumped to my feet, ready to attack.

  “Nooooo!” Adele’s scream shocked me to my senses.

  We both stood there, breathing hard, gaping at each other, studying each other. We were both asking ourselves the same question: Did this really happen?

  “I thought you had really lost your mind for a second,” she said.

  I suddenly felt weary. I uttered a long sigh.

  Adele slowly relaxed. She raised the phone and clicked off the video.

  “Adele …” I choked out, finding my voice, my human voice. “Adele … what are you going to do with that video?” I demanded.

  “Put it on YouTube, of course,” she said. “And on my Facebook page. So everyone will see it.”

  I stared at her. I wrapped my arms around myself. “But … Adele …”

  Her eyes locked on mine. “Kate, why did you do that? Why were you crawling on the floor like that?”

  “Just being silly,” I said. “Kind of a workout, you know? Crawling like that is good for the back. I was just working on my back muscles while I was waiting for everyone.”

  She stared at me without replying. I could see that she didn’t believe me.

  “Adele,” I said, lowering my voice to a whisper. “You’re not really going to put that video online, are you?”

  She squeezed my wrist. “Hey, I’m your friend, Kate. Would I do a thing like that to a friend?”

  I met Freddy in the playground after school, and we walked home together. I didn’t say much. I was too frightened and upset to pretend things were normal.

  Freddy was all excited about some Civil War battles that they talked about in his class. He said he wanted to explore farm fields and find some old swords or cannonballs. He said he could collect the Civil War stuff and sell it on eBay for a ton of money.

  “I don’t want to discourage you,” I said. “But I don’t think there were any Civil War battles in Middle Village.”

  “Maybe there were, and I could be the first to find the stuff,” he said. He suddenly reminded me a lot of Dad. Crazy schemes.

  At home, I went to my room and tried to work on a homework report. But, of course, it was impossible. I stared at myself in my dresser mirror. Was I about to lose myself completely and turn into a lizard forever?

  While I gazed in the mirror, trembling, I finally got a text from Dad. He said he was still in Toronto. He was having trouble claiming the lizard. He said he would try to get home as soon as possible, but he’d definitely be home sometime tomorrow, and we could talk.

  Tomorrow seemed a long time away.

  Would Adele put that video on YouTube? If she did, my life would be over by tomorrow.

  But maybe my life would be over anyway. Maybe my lizard life would begin tomorrow and I wouldn’t care about YouTube videos.

  I decided I had no choice. I had to tell Mrs. Overman my problem. She had to get me to a doctor. Any doctor.

  I ran downstairs. “Mrs. Overman? Are you here?”

  I saw her knitting piled on the kitchen table. She seemed to be knitting one very long blue sleeve. I guess she starts with the sleeves and then knits the middle of the sweater.

  I turned when the kitchen door opened and Mrs. Overman came in, her arms loaded down with grocery bags.

  I hurried over to help her. I took one of the heavy bags to the counter.

  “I thought I’d make chicken tonight,” she said, fluffing up her curly white hair with both hands. “Is that all right?”

  “Nice,” I said. “But … I have to talk to you.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I helped her unpack the bags. She had three packages of raw chicken breasts and legs. She spread them out on the counter.

  “Oh, my goodness!” she cried. “I left a whole bag at the store. I have to go back.”

  “But, Mrs. Overman—” I started.

  She was out the door before I could stop her. “Be right back,” she called.

  Shaking my head, I started for my room. But I stopped at the kitchen counter and gazed at the packages of raw chicken. My stomach gnawed. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.

  The raw chicken smelled tangy and sweet. My mouth began to water.

  What am I doing?

  I ripped the covers off the packages. I grabbed a raw chicken breast and stuffed it into my mouth. It was rubbery and kind of slimy. Hard to chew.

  But I gobbled down a chicken breast and reached for another.

  The juice from the raw meat ran down my chin and spread over my cheeks. I tore off a chunk of leg and chewed it furiously, swallowing with a loud gulp and chewing off some more.

  I was breathing hard, my chest heaving up and down, my stomach growling. I devoured the chicken leg and tossed the bone onto the counter.

  I reached for the other leg. But it slipped from my hand when I heard a loud cry. A shout from right behind me.

  I turned to see Freddy in the kitchen doorway. His eyes bulged and his mouth hung open in shock.

  “What are you staring at?” I snarled in a gruff raspy voice from deep in my throat.

  “Kate … Kate …” he stammered. “You … you’re acting like an animal!”

  I let out a roar. I grabbed up the chicken leg and heaved it at him.

  Freddy dodged to the side. The leg smacked the wall and slid to the floor.

  Roaring like a beast, I pushed myself away from the counter, spread my arms as if preparing to tackle him, and ran. Ran at Freddy.

  I grabbed him before he had a chance to move.

  He let out a startled squeal as I lowered my head and sank my teeth into the back of his neck.

  “You animal! You animal!” Freddy shrieked.

  He tore away from me and pressed a hand to his neck where I had bitten him. He swung his fist wildly. Missed me. Screamed again. And went running from the kitchen.

  “Animal! You crazy animal!”

  I watched him stumble up the stairs. I heard the door to his room slam.

  I stood there in the doorway, breathing hard, holding on to the sides of the doorframe.

  I shut my eyes and forced my body to stop shuddering.

  Breathe. Just breathe, Kate.

  The taste of the raw chicken lingered in my mouth. Once again, I pictured myself leaping onto my brother and biting his neck.

  Breathe. Just breathe.

  Slowly, I felt myself return to normal. My stomach had been gnawing and growling and churning. It stopped and now just felt heavy from the chicken parts I’d devoured.

  “I have to apologize to Freddy,” I said out loud. I started toward his room when my phone rang. I squinted at the screen. Adele. I didn’t want to answer. I was in no mood for Adele. But my finger swiped across the screen.

  “Kate, I need you to do me a favor,” she said.

  “A favor?”

  “I need you to pick up my two brothers after school tomorrow and take them to their orthodontist appointment.”

  I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at it for a few seconds. “Excu
se me? Why do you need me to do it?”

  “Because I don’t feel like it,” she answered.

  “But, Adele—” My voice got shrill. “I don’t feel like it, either. I’m not your slave.”

  “Yes, you are,” she said softly. “Did you forget I have that video of you on the gym floor?” She giggled.

  “You mean if I don’t pick up your brothers …” My voice trailed off.

  “That’s right,” she said.

  My mouth suddenly felt dry. I might be a lizard any minute now. And even if I find a way to stop that, I’ll be Adele’s slave forever.

  I had no choice. “Okay,” I replied. “I guess I can do it. I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

  “No, you don’t.”

  I wished Adele was standing beside me. If she was here, I could bite her in the neck.

  She clicked off. I was breathing hard again, seething with anger. I squeezed the phone so hard, my hand ached.

  “This is all that stupid lizard’s fault,” I told myself. “It has ruined my life.”

  The stupid cobra lizard bit me the day it arrived. And the bite was turning me into a lizard.

  I stormed down the hall to the hatching room, swinging my fists. My anger made it hard to breathe. I burst into the room and blinked, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the bright light.

  Screech, the big macaw, watched me as I strode to the worktable. He squawked once, then his eyes followed me. He ruffled his feathers. He suddenly seemed very interested in me.

  Does he sense that I’m becoming a lizard?

  Animals can sense changes.

  Sometimes it makes them anxious. Nervous.

  The Tasmanian cobra lizard was awake, nibbling on a cricket at the far end of its glass case. It turned its head as I stepped close.

  I lowered my head and gazed at it. It stared back with its eerie yellow eyes. I wondered if it could sense the anger I felt.

  The lizard flicked its slender purple tongue at me. I flicked my tongue back at it. It tilted its head and stared hard. I did the same.

  “I hate you!” I screamed. “Do you hear me? I hate you!”

  And then … I can’t really explain why I did what I did. My anger just boiled over, and I totally lost it.