Favourite Demon

Favourite Demon

“You know, your uncle’s gone and done it again. I just can’t believe he was so stupid this time. I kept asking him to stop and think about what he was doing, that he can’t keep messing with other good people’s lives, that he’s just a stuck up brat who needs a good whack—”

Kaleb shoveled vegetables into his mouth, patiently waiting out his mother’s tirade. It wasn’t as if she expected a reply from her five-year-old son, or needed one…

“—and I told that silly girl to stay away from him! No one listens to me.” Ma was flinging things around the kitchen now. “You know, she even had the nerve to scold me for bad-mouthing my own family.” She was at the fridge now… “But that uncle of yours is pure evil. I swear to the Lord Almighty, he’s a demon! If your grandmother was still alive…”

Ma slammed the ice cream tub onto the kitchen table, forcibly ripping off the lid. She scooped two large spoonfuls out and let them splat into a bowl. “Lou Cipher… what kind of a name is that, anyway? Guess he thinks it’s funny…” she continued to grumble. The bowl dropped in front of Kaleb a moment later, and he gratefully pushed away the remains of his dinner in order to lunge at it. Ma’s hand intercepted just in time.

“Finish your vegetables, boy.” She had her mean face on, so Kaleb dutifully reached for the last few sprigs of broccoli and stuffed them into his mouth. He smiled through the green mess in an attempt to win his mother back. She reluctantly conceded. “What do I always tell you? Chew and swallow with your mouth closed, Kale.” Ma took the empty plate to the sink, a slight smile on her face, too.

Kaleb grabbed at the ice cream once again, this time successfully. He began downing each glorious spoonful, savoring the taste, letting the smooth chocolate coat his tongue…

“He’ll be here soon,” Ma started again. “I don’t know why I allow that man in my house. It must be because your father is such a whiny—” There was a slow, insistent knocking at the back door. Ma’s expression went sour. It reminded Kaleb of the one time he had convinced a friend to eat a piece of soap on a dare.

But the thought lingered only for a second, because then all Kaleb could think of was the excitement pounding in his chest. He leaped out of his chair and was at the door before his mother could put down the sponge in her hand. He wrenched the knob around with all his might, his whole body straining to pull the door open. Peeking around the edge, his knees still bent with the effort and his fists still holding on to the knob, Kaleb caught sight of the most wonderful vision to greet him yet that night.

There he stood, a comic book superhero come to life. Uncle Lou. The Uncle Lou. Even little Kaleb knew that this man had more charisma than should rightfully belong to any mortal.

“Hey, little man. How’s it going?” Lou asked, head bent to see his nephew. A pleasant, dark expression lay comfortably over his pleasant, dark features. Then, as swift and graceful as a cat, he crouched to look Kaleb in the eye. His empty hand darted out to behind the boy’s ear. When he withdrew it the glint of a plastic wrapper caught Kaleb’s eye. “Don’t say anything to your Ma, but I got you some chocolate...” he whispered conspiratorially. It was magic, and Kaleb had never known anything more beautiful.

“Thanks, Uncle Lou!” Kaleb enthused, grabbing the chocolate and stuffing it into the waistband of his pants.

“Shhh!” Lou warned, his eyes sparkling as Ma appeared behind the boy’s back.

She spoke through tight lips. “Nice of you to drop by, Lou.”

“Always a pleasure.” He waited, still grinning, until she had turned around again. “So, d’you want to learn how to do that little trick?” he said in a low voice to Kaleb.

“Oh yeah, yeah!”

Lou fished a coin out of his pocket and began to show his nephew the basics of the trick. Before he could get far, a sudden urge took hold of the boy. Kaleb threw his arms around Lou’s neck, his nose practically in his uncle’s ear.

“Uncle Lou, you know you’re my favourite demon,” he whispered.

Lou chuckled. “Is that right?”