The family was at the table - the long table - and stared at Quinn and her puppet. More at the puppet. She held him in one hand while eating with the other. It was not simple ignoring her because she was sitting next to me. Mom was the only one not weirded out by her. And she thought that the puppet was cute. No. No such thing as a cute dummy. She does not watch horror movies.

Quinn was holding her dummy between us and ate like a beast. She made her food vanish before our very eyes without taking a break. She raised her plate and wolfed down the rest of her dinner. I have never seen anybody eat like an animal. She was not fibbing when she stated that she was hungry. I scooted my chair away from her so crumbs would not land on me. I stared at my supper and rested my head in my hands. I pushed my plate.

Mom must have noticed because she said, "What is the matter, Zoey? Why did you push your plate away?" She set her fork on her plate and tried to reach for my plate and looked at Quinn. "Quinn. Would you be a dear and hand Zoey's plate back to her? I cannot get it."

Quinn set hers back on said table and wiped her hands and mouth with her napkin. "I apologize, ma'am. I was too busy enjoying this delicious food to hear you."

Mom smiled and picked back up her fork. "Thank you. Zoey loves my tuna noodle casserole. It is her favorite."

"I am not surprised. So what was your question?"

"Would you please give Zoey back her plate? It is in the middle of the table. She pushed it for some reason."

I laid back and crossed my arms. "I pushed it because I am not hungry anymore."

Her eyes went wide. "But you were earlier. You wanted some tuna noodle casserole. You were impatient."

I looked at Quinn before looking back at her. "I lost my appetite. I do not think that I will eat for the rest of the night."

"When did you lose your appetite? Just now?"

"Yes. May I please go to my room and lie down?"

"You may. I will come in later to check on you. You feel sick? Do you have a stomachache or feel pain?"

I stood and rubbed my eyes. They were getting heavy. I do not know why I was tired. Maybe my fear used all of my strength. Every last bit until I was wiped out. I hate to admit it, but the fear was still lingering. It would not leave until Quinn and her doll left. I did not trust her. I was worried that she would rob us or try murdering us. I crossed my fingers as I pushed in my chair. Mom still did not tell us how she knew her. She invited her over.

I grabbed my chair. "Before I go, Mom, I want to know how you met Quinn. I have never seen her around here or at school. I would have remembered the doll if I did. I think that I speak for everyone here."

Quinn pulled her puppet close and covered his wooden ears. "Please do not call him a doll either. He will make you suffer. He was born a boy and will remain one. But he...he is searching for a bride."

I squinted at her. "Puppets are made, not born. You do not think that yours has a mother."

She shrugged. "He never told me. I will ask him."

"That is not necessary."

"I insist." She set him on her leg and smoothed his suit out. "Hey, friend. I have a question for you."

His wooden jaw moved up and down. So creepy. It was as if he were his own person. "What is your question?"

"Zoey and I would like to know if you have a mother."

He was quiet for a minute. "I did. Not anymore. Such a witch. She abandoned me when I needed her the most. And no. She did not give birth to me. I was not floating in her belly. Yuck!"

"Sorry to hear that. Want to talk about it?"

"Not in front of these people."

"Would you like us to be alone?"

"That would be great. Now take me away! Hop to it - if you know what is good for you."

Mom clapped. "Encore! Encore! I love your skits. They keep getting better and better. You have talent."

Quinn blushed. "You think so?"

"Yeah," Randy agreed. "Your mouth never moved. You should perform at school. People would adore you."

Randy is usually not one to compliment.

She got up and put an arm under her dummy. "Thanks for the kind words...but I do not want this path. I never want to be a ventriloquist. It is a hobby. What I want to be is a fashion designer. I love creating clothes!"

He stuck out his tongue. "Fashion designers are so last year. They have no real talent."

"Being a fashion designer is harder than you think, uh, what is your name?"

"Randy. I am one of Zoey's brothers."

"And the most obnoxious," I added. "Mom, you can tell me later." I yawned and stretched. "You can tell me the whole story after I take a nap. I am so exhausted."

Mom motioned for me to go. "Have a nice nap."

"I will try."

I strolled out of the kitchen and halted in the middle of the hall. I rested a hand on the wall and breathed hard. I acted as if I could not breathe in the kitchen. I kind of could not. Not with Quinn and her puppet in there. My legs were quivering. I thought that they would melt. So weak. I had to get to my bed if I did not want to fall.

I scrambled to my bed - and gasped.