MEGHAN-THE IRON KING

eaving would imply he was unhappy with Mom and me, or that he found a new love elsewhere. None of that was true. He also did not die, because we would've heard about it.There was no car crash,

they discovered his shoes at the edge of the water, but nothing else. They sent divers into the pond, but it was barely ten feet down, and they found nothing but branches and mud at the bottom. My father had disappeared without a trace.For months afterward, I had a recurring nightmare about standing at the top of that hill, looking down and seeing my father walk into the pond. As the water closed over his head, I could hear the ice cre

IS MEGHA

ten about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her and the handsome prince carries her off into the sunset.I didn't think it would be that way for me.The morning before my birthday, I woke up, showered, and rummaged through my dresser

d my only pair of ratty sneakers, before dragging a brush through my white-blond hair. My hair is straight and very fine, and was doing that stupid floating thing again, where it looked like I'd jammed my finger up an electrical outlet. Yanking it into a ponytail, I went downstairs.Luke, my stepfather, sat at the table, drinking coffee and leafing through the town's tiny newspaper, which reads more like our high school gossip column than a real news source."Five-legged calf born on Patterson's farm," the front page screamed; you get the idea. Ethan, my four-year-

cereal for the one I liked, wondering if Mom remembered to pick it up. Of course she hadn't. Nothing

med the cabinet doors with a satisfying bang."Where's Mom?" I asked, a bit louder this time. Luke jerked

hear you come in. What did you say?"I sighed

it was hopeless. I could tell him something fourteen different times, and he'd forget it the moment I left the room. It wasn't that Luke was mean or malicious, or even stupid. He adored Ethan, and Mom seemed truly happy with him. But, every time I spoke to my stepdad, he would look at me with genuin

said, kissing the top of Ethan's head. "Dad has to fix the bathroom sink,

ppy wants to see if Ms. Daisy had her babies yet."Lu

turned to go, "bet you can

ven turn around. "

steps faded up the stairs, and I was alone with my half brother.Ethan kicked his feet, regarding me in that solemn way of his. "I kn

h can. It hit the wall with a thump and dropped inside, leaving

tell you happy

it. Mom and Luke would completely forget my birthday tomorrow. I wouldn't get a card, or a cake, or ev

rusts anything that could make life easier. Cell phones? No way, we've got a perfectly good landline. Video games? They're the devil's tools, turning kids into delinquents and serial killers. I've begged Mom over and o

k to the main road. Looking out the window, I saw the sky was gray and heavy with rain, so

nse and a car, I am never

y, clutching his rabbit under his chi

o with y

d for my backpack. "No, Ethan. I'm going to sch

alf brother. Ethan clung to me doggedly, his face tilted up to mine, his jaw set. "Please?" he begged. "I'll be good, I promise. Take m

ing to look like a bird's nest. "You're awf

ttered, burying hi

re sc

head. "Flop

Floppy s

in the

metimes, Ethan was so quiet and serious,

eymen in his closet. In Ethan's world, stuffed animals spoke

rarely went to Mom or Luke with stories of monsters and b

e t

reassure him that nothing lurked in his closet or under his

rumbled in the distance. I winced. My wa

on't have t

ding. I sighed again. "Fine," I muttered, put

I grabbed the flashlight and got down on my knees, shining it

Ethan peeked out from behind my legs. "No monst

hen I noticed a strange gray hat in the corner. It was domed on to

would tha

e. I caught a glimpse of a figure hiding behind Ethan's bedroom door, its pale eyes watc

ginary monsters. I need to stop wat