Page 177 of Johnny

Because I knew Charlotte Kane. I wouldn’t call us friends, but I knew her. I went to a party at her

estate once when I was eleven. Not really a boy, so I’m not sure this memory counts towards Megan’s

directive to find that part of me again. But not really an adult, either. Not even a teenager yet.

It was Charlotte’s tenth birthday. And I’m pretty sure that Jesse was there with me, but Joey was

sick that day and he was not. I remember that part clearly.

It was a magical day. Birthdays at the Kane estate are no small thing.

Charlotte was wearing a yellow dress with long skirts. It was fall, so not hot, but not too cold that

the party needed to be taken inside. There was a grand tent behind the mansion and even if I account

for my child-like brain exaggerating the number of people, there had to be at least three hundred

guests.

There was a carousel, and one of those jumpy tent things, and pony rides. Not pony rides where

you walk in circles, but actual pony rides across the hills and forests of the grounds.

I didn’t go on the pony ride. I vaguely remember someone telling me I was too tall. But Jesse did.

Everyone else did, actually. Except for me and Charlotte. I can’t remember why Charlotte didn’t go

on her own birthday pony ride, but thinking back on it now, with my cynical, Captain Hook brain, it

feels a lot like a setup. Because that’s the only time I ever had a conversation with Charlotte Kane.

I was annoyed with her because she wouldn’t leave me alone. She followed me around the entire

day trying to hold my hand, and get me interested in the magic show, or the jumpy house thing, or what

the fuck ever was happening at the time.

But during the pony ride, when we were alone with the adults, she cornered me at the punch table.

And she said something weird. Something I’d forgotten about until this very moment. She said, “My

daddy says you’re going to marry me when we grow up.” To which I answered something along the

lines of, “It’ll be a cold day in hell.”

I’m almost positive I didn’t say those exact words, but I’m equally as sure that I was thinking them.

But that wasn’t the weirdest thing. The really weird part was when she said, “And we’re going to

live forever, and ever, and ever. And be king and queen of the entire land.”

Even thinking back on it now it’s easy to dismiss it as some wannabe princess’ dream.

But in the context of everything I’ve learned over the past few days, I wonder.

Did she hear something? Was she present when some of the grown-ups were discussing this crazy

plan to extend life? And did her little-girl brain twist it all up into some bizarre fantasy about royal