The Monster Hunter's Manual (10 page)

“So? What did you learn?” she asked.

I hesitated and looked at Alex. “I learned a lot,” I said. “I learned that trolls can be kinder than people and that people can be more dangerous than zombies. I learned that trolls love the earth and their families, but mostly I learned that I couldn't have learned anything without Alex and that I can't be a monster hunter unless my brother is one too. So I guess you'll have to find another protégé, because I can't leave Alex behind.”

Alex smiled when I said that and scooted a little closer to me. I looked at Aunt Perrine defiantly, thinking that she
would say no. There could be only one monster hunter. That was the way it had always been. I expected her to be mad or at least disappointed.

“Good,” she said. “You are a smart boy and both of you will be good 'elps to me. Tomorrow we wake up early and you will learn French and in zee evening, if you work 'ard, I will show you zee book.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean you will both learn from me and you will both take over when I am gone,” she said.

“But…I thought there could only be one monster hunter,” I said.

“Why would you zink zat?” Aunt Perrine asked.

“Eleanor said that there could be only one,” I said.

“Just because there 'as always been one does not mean we cannot change. You two need each other. You vill be better together,” Aunt Perrine said.

“Thank you,” Alex and I said together.

That night Aunt Perrine popped popcorn and we all sat on her old couch and watched movies. We were an odd family. Uno, Roger, Eleanor, Alex, Aunt Perrine, and I, didn't look anything like a family should, but as we sat on the couch laughing I knew it was more important to feel like a family than to look like one. Alex sat by Aunt Perrine and she put her arm around him and I sat by Alex.

The sun set and the world was quiet. Alex and I had come home.

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