What You Can Get Today

If you want, I’ll read to you from our family chronicles to celebrate my victory!” the little vampire said in an emphatically friendly way. He must have sensed that he had gone a little too far this time.

“You would do that?” asked Tony, the tempting offer making him forget his anger at the little vampire.

“Sure! Tomorrow night, for example.”

“Not until tomorrow?”

“Have you forgotten that today is Aunt Dorothee’s vampire day?”

“Oh yeah,” Tony sighed.

“You see, that’s the kind of guy I am!” the vampire told him. “I’m always thinking of you, and making sure nothing happens to you!”

Rudolph squinted at Tony’s neck and ran the tip of his tongue over his pale, bloodless-looking lips.

“I need to eat,” he murmured. “I’m feeling lightheaded.”

Tony realized with a shudder that the vampire couldn’t have—uh—eaten yet, because he’d come to see Tony right after sunset.

“Okay, let’s plan to meet tomorrow,” he said hastily. “I should go back to my father now.”

“So suddenly?” the vampire replied. “Just a moment ago you wanted me to read to you from the family chronicles!”

“My f-father has a f-fever,” Tony stuttered. “He might need me.”

“Oh, really? And what if I need you?” The vampire snorted. “You were just talking about true friendship, and now that you have a chance to show it, you’re ducking out!”

“I—I’ve got to go,” Tony said. As always, when it came to the little vampire’s eating habits, he was very ill at ease. “Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked the little vampire in a hushed voice.

“Tomorrow, tomorrow,” the vampire growled. “What you can get today, don’t put off until tomorrow! Old vampire saying! All right,” he said. “Tomorrow, just after sunset, at the ruins.”

“Can’t we meet somewhere else?” said Tony timidly. He couldn’t help but think of Aunt Dorothee and the fact that she’d be out again tomorrow night.

“What do you mean, somewhere else?”

“On the country road, for example, where it turns toward Long Suffering.”

“Fine, if that’s what you want,” replied the vampire. “Now let me through,” he added gruffly. “Otherwise, I’ll forget that I’m Rudolph the Softhearted.” He pushed his way past Tony and spread his arms under his cape. Tony watched as he flew away, and even felt a sense of relief. A starved vampire was not very pleasant company, especially if the vampire had rather one-sided views on “true friendship”!

Tony flew back to Misery Valley alone and landed in front of the Wolf’s Den. After hiding the vampire cape in a crevice, he crawled into the dark cave.

By the light of his flashlight he saw, with relief, that his father was fast asleep. His face shone damply and looked slightly red. But Tony was too tired to worry about it. He crawled into his sleeping bag, turned off the flashlight, and instantly fell asleep.