Authors: Janet Tashjian

My Life as a Stuntboy (18 page)

As we head toward the storage facility from different parts of town, Matt texts me directions. Even though we're in a hurry, Ronnie is very careful to stay under the speed limit. When we get near the warehouse, I text Matt for an update; he says they'll be there soon.

This is more action than Ronnie bargained for, and he seems relieved when I suggest he wait in the car.

I race into the giant warehouse. “Hello!” I yell. “Anybody home?”

Frank starts screeching when he hears my voice.

“Give me back my monkey. He's not a toy or a petâhe's an animal that can bite.” The last sentence sounds like it came straight from my mom's mouth.

I spot Swifty just as he's about to open the door to Frank's cage. “Joe's coming soon. He's going to love this little guy.”

“Don't do it,” I yell.

“He likes me,” Swifty says. “I can tell. Besides I wore a long-sleeve shirt to protect myself.”

“Like a T-shirt is going to stop a monkey bite. What's wrong with you? What if he bites your face? You'd be disfigured for life!”

I look around the facility for Swifty's father, who can hopefully talk some sense into his son.

disfigured

“Nobody's here to help you,” Swifty says. “They're all at a meeting in the next lot.”

Tanya's been standing behind me, but now she steps forward. “Is that Frank?”

Swifty performs a better double take than any professional actor could ever hope for. “Are you Tanya Billings?”

Tanya's probably been asked that question a thousand times, yet she smiles and nods as if it's the first. “Yes, I am. Nice to meet you.”

As Swifty scrambles toward Tanya, he lets go of the cage door. Frank races out of the cage and past Swifty.

“Stop him,” I yell. “He can't get loose!”

I race toward the cage, but Frank is already halfway across the giant warehouse.

“You idiot!” I tell Swifty. “We're never going to find him in here.”

The last thing on Swifty's mind is locating Frank in this labyrinth. He's standing next to Tanya, swaying back and forth like a two-year-old. But I can't worry about saving Tanya from Swifty's stupid questionsâI have to find my capuchin.

labyrinth

When I hear Matt's voice, I shout, “Over here! You have to help me.”

Matt and Carly race toward me. Matt bursts out laughing when he sees my outfit, but he's even more shocked when he spots Tanya Billings. He skids to a halt with so much force, his sneakers leave rubber marks on the concrete floor.

Before Matt can fight with Swifty
about who gets Tanya's attention, Carly grabs him by the arm. “We're really big fans,” she tells Tanya, “but right now we have to help Derek.”

“That's why I came too,” Tanya says.

Carly, Tanya, and Matt hurry to the middle of the warehouse, where I've finally located Frank. When Swifty joins us, I tell him to get lost.

“This is all your fault,” I say. “You broke into my house.”

disintegrating

“The kitchen window was open.”

“You took Frankâwho's not even mine, by the way. We're just a foster home.” I try to get Frank's attention while I talk.

Swifty looks disappointed, as if the plan he'd worked so hard on is disintegrating before his eyes. I
wonder if he's acting sorry to impress Tanya, but it looks as if his remorse is genuine.

“I just wanted to feel included,” Swifty says. “You and Matt are such good friends. I've never had a best friend like thatâever.”

remorse

“And you thought kidnapping Derek's monkey, who, by the way, is being trained to help disabled people, is how to make friends?” Matt asks.

“There he is!” Carly points to Frank sitting on a giant crate at least thirty feet up on rows and rows of industrial shelving.

“Derek's right. This is my fault,” Swifty confesses. “I'll get him.”

“You'll scare him even more.” I count the levels of shelves from Frank to the floorâfive. Tony would be proud of how I map out my route before I begin to climb.

machinery

“Be careful!” Carly and Tanya say at the same time.

I move to the right and climb into the cab of the crane.

“If anything happens to the equipment,” Swifty shouts, “my father will kill me!”

“You should be worried about Derek, not the machinery,” Carly says.

misstep

I hop from the crane to the third shelf. I'm more than twenty feet off the floor; any misstep and I could get seriously hurt. But just like climbing the wall in the movie, I focus on where to put each foot next.

“Here I come, Frank. I'm taking you home.” I pray that Frank isn't too frantic with all this activity and so many new people.

The last several feet are the scariest; I will myself not to look down. Finally, I'm close enough to get a good look at Frank. He seems terrified.

I hoist myself up until I'm sitting on the highest shelf. The ceiling is only about six feet away.

hoist

“Hey, buddy. You okay?” Frank must really be scared because even though I'm wearing a wig he scrambles up my arm and holds on to me for dear life.

I look down to gauge how far I climbed and am shocked when I see the others far below. I'm even more surprised to realize Matt is taping me.

“What are you doing?” I ask. “I'm wearing girl's clothes!”

“Dude, you were great! I had to tape it.”

Carly, Matt, and Tanya are all smiles; Swifty just looks relieved.

I reach up and pet Frank. “You ready to head back down, buddy? Hold on tight.”

I check out the route down and decide it's safer to inch my way across the top, then descend at the end of the row. I take my timeâwhich is actually a new skill for meâand finally reach the ground several minutes later. Everyone wants to
oooh
and
ahhh
over Frank, but I hold him against me until he's safely back in his cage.

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