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Fan conventions are all about celebrating your interests… so what happens when your friends dont quite share yours?
Dad, can you scoot the turkeys over a little?
Credit: Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Were blocking the door.
Shut up, I murmured to them, then glanced around to confirm nobody had heard.
I was not going to become one of those people who talked to dead animals.
Scholastic Incorporated
Watch it, buddy!
Excuse me, Im so sorry, my dad said.
He peered at the bundle.
Thats a beautiful specimen.
The guy smiled, and he suddenly looked a lot less menacing.
Yup, he said.
And those are some fine-looking turkeys, man.
Thank you, my dad said, all puffed up with pride.
Caiman Dude reached out a beefy arm and clapped my dad hard on the shoulder.
Good luck, he said, and he took off.
I nudged my dad with my elbow.
Theres your favorite person, I muttered.
If there was one thing we could definitely bond over, it was that Harley was a complete douchenozzle.
Ill go get our badges from registration, I said.
Will you watch my stuff?
Sure, he said, a little gentler this time.
I heard a high-pitched giggle and turned to see a group of girls my own age.
Another girl in normal clothes followed several paces behind.
There mustve been a different convention going on in another wing.
called the woman behind the conference registration table.
I stepped forward and handed her my confirmation email.
Im picking up two badges for Hamish Buchannan.
The womans eyes widened.
Oh my god, do you work with him?
It was true, but it made me a little sad to hear her say it.
Even at home, I usually felt more like his assistant than his daughter.
Tell him how much I love his work, okay?
Im signed up for his seminar on Saturday.
Do you think hed autograph his book for me?
Im sure hed be glad to.
Im so looking forward to it.
The woman beamed as she handed me two badges and registration folders.
I hope you and Hamish have a wonderful time!
Thanks, I said.
I hope so, too.
Even though I was only a little kid back then, hed always treated me like a friend.
I called to him.
I didnt know you were coming to this!
Its so good to see you!
When I stepped into them, he squeezed me so tightly my feet almost left the ground.
Man, its been forever.
How have you been?
Are you back in the States for good?
No, just for a job.
Im doing Waterfowl and Turkeys.
Jeremy lightly punched my dads shoulder.
I hear Ill be judging this old man.
I hope youll go easy on your favorite mentor.
Im sure I wont need to.
Your mounts are always flawless, Hamish, and these are no exception.
He gave the turkeys a fond look, like they were long-lost friends.
Oh god, theyre a mess right now, my dad said.
No peeking until theyve been groomed.
I raised an eyebrow at Jeremy.
Hes been grooming them all day.
I bet you might imagine the kinds of looks we got in the McDonalds parking lot.
I wasnt grooming them, he said.
I was checking for damage.
But I figured things might be different here in the place he liked best.
Jeremy mustve sensed the tension in the air, because he immediately changed the subject.
So, you must be .
what, a sophomore now?
A junior, I said.
God, that makes me feel so old.
Oh man, thats embarrassing.
Im pretty great at laundry now, Ill have you know.
I use dryer sheets and everything.
I rolled my eyes.
Your medals in the mail.
What are you up to these days?
You starting to think about colleges?
Shes been my assistant for a year and a half now, he said.
You should see the raccoon she mounted a couple of months ago.
Good for you, Cal.
But instead my dad said, Shes out of town right now.
Well, that was bizarre.
Did he always pretend they were still married when he talked to his colleagues?
Is that Jeremy Warren?
called a voice behind us.
Jeremy turned to wave at a middle-aged guy with a Moses beard.
Hey, Ive got to go.
Its so awesome to see both of you.
Well catch up later, okay?
Absolutely, my dad said.
Maybe we should have dinner.
I heard youve been experimenting with erosion molding.
I want to hear all about it.
I made a face.
You were always so funny, Cal.
Im glad to see you havent changed.
He gave my dad a little salute as he walked away.
Come on, Dad said.
We need to get all this stuff upstairs.
I dont want to leave the ibex and the warblers in the van too long.
I crouched down and stuffed our registration folders and judging forms into my backpack.
That would definitely leave a bruise, but it was better than the alternative.
My dad would murder me if anything happened to the turkey armature inside.
God, Brian, watch where youre going!
I cant see anything behind all this stuff!
You were supposed to be steering!
Whats wrong with you?
You ran someone over!
A girls freckled face peered at me over the supply boxes.
Im really sorry, the girl said.
I retrieved the leather bag that held my dads sculpting tools from where it had landed near the gong.
I told you it was going to fall, snapped one of the guys.
Just get everything back on the cart!
Man, this is heavy.
He stared at me.
Like, to eat?
No, to study.
This is a taxidermy convention.
Brian, come on!
the girl called to me.
It was only after they were out of sight that I wondered what they were here for.
Maybe they were some sort of Harry Potter band?
Callie, if youre going to be here, I really need you to act professional.
If I was going to be here?
The words made my stomach hurt.
Wed been in Orlando all of fifteen minutes; had he already changed his mind about bringing me?
Its not my fault those drummers knocked me over, I said.
And I caught the box.
I told you nothings damaged.
I even
Im not talking about that.
Im talking about the way you mocked me in front of a judge.
I blinked at him.
Wait, you mean Jeremy?
We were just messing around.
You two used to make fun of each other all the time.
It doesnt matter which judge it was.
That was still out of line.
I didnt mean to embarrass you, I said.
I was just kidding.
Cal, youre here in a professional capacity.
This was not how this trip was supposed to go.
We were supposed to bond.
Then again, maybe I should make a run at cut him some slack until we settled in.
Travel days were always stressful.
All right, Callie?
The elevator stopped, and the doors dinged open.
Now, help me get the turkeys into your room.
We always used to have fun together at these conventions.
Maybe if I tried hard enough, we still could, even without Mom.
