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Brains for Lunch
A Zombie Novel in Haiku?!
By K. A. Holt, Gahan Wilson Roaring Brook Press
Copyright © 2010 Kari Anne Roy
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-59643-629-9
CHAPTER 1
Lunch
Brains for lunch again
"Stop moaning and just eat it."
Lunch lady humor
Dead-on lunchroom stare
Her eyes bore holes like earthworms
Soft and unyielding
"What do you want, Mags?"
I mouth words over the din
"You want my pudding?"
An eye roll response
George catches it, hands it back
An eyeball shortstop
Geek table awaits
Larry brags about fresh flesh
He is full of lies
Also full of flies
Charlie Brown's undead Pig Pen
Larry is so gross
Nothing stops my mouth
"Just shut up for once, Larry."
The fly buffet stands
"Up yours, Loeb," he says.
Then he gives me the finger
I give it back. Yuck.
"Leave Loeb alone, yo.
And move your stinking carcass."
That's Matt. He's my friend.
Larry staggers off
"Stupid, fat, fly-filled dodo."
Matt feels brave, I guess
Dissonant buzzing
Larry returns for round two
Matt gives me his tray
I step between them
Could lunch be any more dumb?
Larry takes a swing
My jawbone takes flight
I'm always in the middle
"Break it up, you guys!"
It's Mrs. Fincher
Why's the librarian here?
I guess she eats, too
"Go get your jaw, Loeb."
If my jaw was still attached
It would fall open
How does she know me?
I only gaze from afar
"Loeb! Go. Get. Your. Jaw."
It is on Mags tray
Of course that's where it would land
"Just can't shut your mouth."
Maggie grins at me
Her eyes, though, are not smiling
She hands me my bone
"Sorry 'bout that, Mags."
There's a satisfying pop
She just stares at me
Chairs are scattering
Seven minutes 'til late bell
Brain pudding, wasted
Matt's at my locker
"Makes you smarter, my main man."
He leans over me
Give him dirty look
"What are you talking about?"
"Smell my neck, playa."
"Sweat from a Lifer."
A bottle shakes in my face
Drops cling to its side
"Where did you get that?"
Matt cocks his head to the left
"From the Lifer quad?!"
I'm incredulous
"Crossed the invisible line?
You're that desperate?"
"That line is stupid."
Matt shakes the bottle again
"De-seg says it is."
Hair clumps in place. Check.
"And look how well de-seg works." I gestured around
Only Zs right here
Not a Lifer to be seen
They keep their distance
"There's a girl. Siobhan."
I eyed him skeptically
"I think she likes me."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Brains for Lunch by K. A. Holt, Gahan Wilson. Copyright © 2010 Kari Anne Roy. Excerpted by permission of Roaring Brook Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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