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CHAPTER 1 DONOVAN My name is Donovan Cloud, and today is the day I commit the perfect murder. Now a lot of debate can be made about what qualifies a murder as perfect but here are my criteria: one, there must be no evidence that you committed the murder and no one must suspect you; and second and most importantly, there must be something ironic or wonderfully witty about the circumstances of the murder. Even the most devout moralist must crack at least a minimal smile when they hear about it. I drove my parent's car down Red Cherry Lane. It was a rather non-descript neighborhood, full of middle class houses nestled in a little pocket of Florida suburbia. I parked along the side of the road in between the driveways of two houses. I was a good eight or nine houses away from Chris Rohr's house. If anybody happened to look out a window I didn't want them to see my blue KIA Rio in Chris' driveway. They're less likely to notice me if I simply walk into and then later out of his house than if I spent a minute getting into and starting my car. And of course, however long it took me to do what I came to do is how long my car would be sitting in the driveway for all to see. I exited my car, making sure I brought the wrapped gift box, and started walking on the sidewalk towards Chris' house. I was wearing a long sleeve button shirt and dark baggy pants. A little heavy for March in Florida but it was perfect attire for the perfect murder. I was looking at all the upper middle class houses as I walked down the sidewalk, holding Chris' present. Most of them were two-story, single family homes. This included Chris's which I had only been to once before. On New Year's he had thrown a party to which half the senior class showed up for, including me. I really had nothing better to do. Besides I like to study how the masses spend their lives and interact with each other. It was fortuitous that I did. I loosely formed my plan that night alone in my room. Now I'm going to put it into effect. I can't wait! I was glad that I had parked so far away "cause I needed time to stop giggling and put on my serious face. I had bought a ticket to, and been seated for, a movie about half an hour ago. It was some unfunny Adam Sandler piece of crap. I snuck out of the theater's exit ten minutes after the lights went dark. I would keep a hold of the ticket stub. It was an imperfect alibi, in fact it would not stand up in the least if they had some kind of concrete evidence against me but it would work to create doubt if anybody suspected me. I reached his driveway and started walking towards the front door of the house. His house was a cream colored, two-story single family home, with a garage and driveway. His lawn was full and green, like every other lawn on the block. I looked at his car in the driveway, a dark blue sports car of some kind, probably given to him as a gift for making his parents proud by winning the state championship last year. That and not flunking. I finally got to his front door and rang the doorbell. I glanced at my watch with the hand not holding his gift. 2:35 P.M. After a minute the door opened and Chris Rohr stood there wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. He was a little taller than me and a lot more athletic. He was on the basketball team and very popular, dating Chelsea Vain, one of the hottest girls in school. I wasn't jealous however; the guy was living a relentlessly mediocre life, barely aware of being awake. Being as thoughtful and intelligent as me would be beyond his comprehension. He looked at me curiously. ''Donovan, what are you doing here?'' he asked. ''I'm here for your birthday party. I brought you a present.'' ''Oh, you know it's not for another 4 hours right?'' he asked. ''Oh, it isn't?'' ''No, why don't you come back around seven,'' he said. ''Okay. Can I use your bathroom real quick though? I got to go bad.'' ''Yeah, sure, come on in,'' he offered. I stepped into his house and found myself in the middle of his living room. There were two sofas, a recliner and a flat table in the middle. No TV, but there was a nice stereo system. Obviously this area was designed more for gathering in conversation rather than sucking the mind dry with sitcoms; although, I shudder to think of the kind of inconsequential and banal conversations that take place within Chris Rohr's family. In the middle of the room was a staircase that led upstairs to where most of the bedrooms were. ''It's right through the family room,'' he said. ''Thanks,'' I said and started walking towards the bathroom. I exited the living room and was in the family room. There was a large, flat screen on one wall with sofas and chairs in a horseshoe shape in front of it. In the middle of the semicircle of seats in front of the TV was a wide chest that was being used as a coffee table. I knew from my last time here that it was where they kept the DVDs. I kept walking, past the stairs that led to the bedrooms, to the hall that connected to the bathroom and the laundry room and walked inside the bathroom, hitting the light as I closed the door. I looked at the gift box that was in my hand. I looked at myself in the mirror and took a deep breath. I was so nervous. I've never killed anybody before. I practiced on one of our neighbor's dogs but I imagined it would be far different for a person. I would have to be successful. If I tried to kill him and failed, I could spend a very long time in prison and that's if he didn't kill me. He was very athletic, great basketball player, and a lot stronger than me. The only advantage I had was the element of surprise. I looked down at the gift box. I flushed the toilet to maintain my deception and opened the bathroom door. I saw Chris standing next in the dining room looking at me as I left the bathroom. ''Are you good?'' he asked. ''Yeah, thanks, hey you want to open your present?'' ''I don't know maybe I should wait 'till the party.'' ''I don't think I'm going to be able to make it that late,'' I lied. ''All right, I'll open it now.'' I walked over to him and handed him the present. He sat it down at his dining room table and began to unwrap. I found myself getting excited and nervous. Was this going to work? I said, ''Hey are your parents here?'' ''Nope it's just me,'' he said. I of course, already knew ahead of time that he would be alone and I had also not heard anyone else in the house. I just wanted to make sure. He was nearly finished opening it. "You know you're probably the only person who is going to give me any kind of present tonight. Most are probably just coming for the free food,'' he said as he finished un-wrapping the box. It was funny how friendly he was being to me. Usually he rips on me in class. I guess when his jock douche bag friends aren't around he doesn't feel the need to hassle me for laughs. Or maybe he just really wanted his present. He opened the box and was puzzled by what he saw. He reached into the box and pulled out a hammer. ''What's this?'' ''It's a hammer,'' I explained. ''Well, no shit, but why?'' ''Look I engraved it.'' He turned the hammer, looking at the other side. The word 'Chris' was sloppily carved into the wooden handle. ''It just seemed to be poetic'', I said. It was; it was meant for him and him alone. ''Okay'', he said, obviously uncomfortable with my lack of conformity to his social norms. Social norms that did not include giving a hammer as a birthday present. ''Well, thank you. How long did it take you to carve this?'' ''Two days, off and on. I accidently jammed one of the woodcarving tools into my hand.'' I showed him the band aid that was on my left palm. He winced when he looked at it. ''Ouch! I'm sorry.'' ''Don't be, you're worth it.'' He looked uncomfortable when I said that. Like he thought I was coming on to him or something. Oh Chris, not even close. ''I'm really thirsty, would you mind if I got something to drink before I left?'' ''No, that's fine,'' he said and turned his back to me to head towards the kitchen. Okay, the hammer's right there. Do it now. His back is to me. Do it now! I was too nervous, I couldn't move. Do it NOW! I started to reach for the hammer but stopped myself. He was already too far away, now he was in the kitchen. ''What do you want? A coke, Gatorade?'' ''Just water please,'' I said hating myself for not moving quicker. Don't wimp out; you're only going to have one opportunity. When I learned for sure that he was going to be alone in his house before a major party (I overheard him talking to his friend Steven in chemistry class). I knew it was a once in a great while opportunity. His sister and parents were going to be at a ballet recital that he had managed to skip out on. Ostensibly, because he had basketball practice, although he certainly made it seem that that was just an excuse while he was talking to Steve. As I heard the water running in the kitchen I quickly formed a plan. This was going to be my last chance. He came in with a glass of water. ''Thanks,'' I said as I took the glass and started drinking from it. I looked to my left at the hammer lying on the fine wood dining room table. I tried to keep myself from staring at it, but it looked so full of potential energy. I brought the glass down from my mouth and let it slip from my hands and fall to the floor, spilling water everywhere. I pretended it was an accident, ''shit I'm sorry''. He let out a loud sigh and bent down to pick up the cup. Do It Now! I grabbed the hammer and brought it with full force down on his head. A sound like a baseball hitting a bat resonated through the room. He didn't scream; more like a grunt and he hit the floor. He groaned and started to get up so I hit the back of his head again with full force. He fell completely face down on the floor. Blood splattered on me and I almost threw up. It wasn't supposed to be this messy. He kept moving but slower now. I didn't know what to do. I needed him to be dead and to stop moving so I could move his bo