Apparition High School part 5

We got out of the mine and Grandma Dee was on the phone and I knew it was Mom, with psychic abilities. “Here girl your mom is on the phone” I took the phone and said “Hey mom” she proceeded to tell me the sheriffs were on the way because someone heard screaming from the old mine. When the sheriff got there, we all explained that we were doing research on the old fire. Then everyone else’s parents arrived, and it was chaos from there. “Mom, I didn’t mean to scream it was a reaction and everything is fine.” She tells me if it were fine the sheriff wouldn’t be there. Grandma Dee, the sheriff and Mai’s parents were all talking over each other. Bryan and knight were being lectured so I told mom we can talk later. Mai convinced her parents and with the help of Dee got to come back to the house. We all got a lecture about the dangers of the mine and sent home. Brushing our teeth, we could hear mom come in and so we went to tell her what was going on.  “Yes, mom it was a psychic thing I think we have solved the mystery, but I need more information.” Mom kissed my head then told Mai good night and headed to her room. “Your Mom doesn’t like your abilities? I give her a brief explanation and we say goodnight.
               Once I knock out here comes the dreams, walking in the mine its very busy, Lots of men everywhere its hot and smelly here. “What were you getting from here I ask the guy who startled me earlier. He tells me “Tin, we use it for the war effort, makes, bullets, trays, jeep parts, you name it tin goes a long way.” I saw some men who looked Chinese they were being yelled at by a big burly man “He’s not a nice man those guys work very hard, it was him who set the charge Harold Robbins.” I woke up and wrote this all down. After Grandma Dee’s big country breakfast Mai and I facetimed Bryan and Knight “How much trouble are you two in” they told us two extra days helping at the truck stop. After chatting for a while, we had to go get ready for the firehouse picnic “This is a town thing or a county thing “Mai asks. I told her its cousin Brody and his firehouse he volunteers at. In Grandma Dee’s Cadillac over the hills down the highway, over the curve and across the main highway and to the park by Walnut Grove School.
               Once at the picnic Brody calls me Miss Cleo and I tell Mai the story behind that “She was a TV infomercial psychic from the early 90’s she was on TV all the time and ran a 1-800 company. They charged you buy the minute. “Mai was amazed then Brody introduced me to Sean and Tommy, so we all talked for a while. Brody came back to me and asked, “How was the two boys I picked” I only slightly groan, “Sean was ok Tommy was a little too much.”  Then we look over to where Mai was looking at the fire equipment and hear “Who brought the China girl” I jump up and yell “Who brought the racist D-bag” so Brody tries holding me back but I’m faster. No one is faster than Dee when she sees a wrong that needs to be righted. “Excuse me I brought her and my granddaughter and this is a free country, your opinion of Mai is disgusting.” I grabbed Mai and we booked it up to Dollar General. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before” I hug her and tell her “It’s still not right but Dee will make him feel like a speck of dirt.” We walk up to the Dollar General and comment on the grey house next door “That must be noisy on delivery day.” I get us some ice cream and water then head back to the park. Grandma pulls up and says “No ice cream in the car” I roll my eyes and tell her I was 5. Mai and I sit on the curb and finish our drumsticks. Brody tells us about the old Chief and yes, he is a racist D-bag. Back in the car we will get to the picnic and do have a better time. “Bea I would like to take you to your prom “Sean asks. I said yes and we exchanged numbers.
               We got Mai home and said, “See you at school tomorrow, the Scooby Gang has almost solved the mystery.” Now to head home and hope Mom didn’t hear about the commotion at the picnic. Well news travels fast in a tiny Missouri town. “Dee why are you telling off the old fire chief, Mr. Robbins is still a respected member of this county.” I but in and say, “Robbins that name is from the mine I wonder if he’s related to Harold.” I get to my room to Google when Mom comes in “We have dress shopping to do this is my only free afternoon.” I texted Bryan and asked him to research.  Shopping is only so much fun, especially when you are short, and everything is made for taller girls. “I think you look lovely, and your dad would have thought so too.” Mom was getting misty eyed, so I told her I did love the style and color so peach one shoulder gown it is. “Mai’s Mom is a wiz with a sewing machine at least according to Mai so maybe she can adjust it.” After we get home and eat the great dinner Grandma Dee prepared, I see what Bryan came up with. “Hey girl been trying to facetime” I apologize “Sorry eating Ham and grits with collards.” Bryan says he wants some but has news for me “Yes both Robbins are related Great Grandfather and Grandson.” I thank him and get to my own research about Tin mining during WW2. My alarm clock played Heads Carolina tails California at 7 just like normal but I didn’t want to get up. I smelled French toast so off I went. Grandma dropped me off and I met Knight, Bryan, and Mai out by the steps. “Good morning, Bryan had new news and I have some too, but may need your help, Mai. Everyone swaps their news, and we all get to class.
               “Can I go use the girls restroom?” My teacher gave me the pass and I am off. Once in there I discover a female ghost I hadn’t seen “The fire was fast and sudden, but we all knew about those tunnels, the tin was for the war effort, my grandpa was just doing what he was told it really has been a burden on him.” I tell her “He set that charge and he was mean to those men.” She disappears once the door opens; I finish washing my hands and go back to class. Lunch time rolled around, and I had some leftover French toast and sausage all rolled into one. Once everyone is seated, we talk prom “I got a dress but Mai your mom will need to trim it for me, my mom will pay.” She says, “That’s nice I will talk to mom so what can I help with I can’t see or hear,” I tell her don’t worry I will try my best mandarin and tell her what they are saying. She and I agreed to meet at Gracie’s after school to go see the cemetery.  “Here we go maybe one of them will speak through me and you can translate.” She takes it all in and after I come back around, she says “You spoke perfect Mandarin they are not at rest. During the explosion they were all deep in the mineshaft, the angry white man set the charge. Then the blowup happened quickly, they were gathered after the fire and buried side by side over there in the corner not even in coffins. They want to move on and find peace.”
               We go back to the boys sadly thinking about men just tossed in graves with no dignity. Mai was picked up first and I scooter back home. I pass the cemetery and the other man comes out to me. “They were hard working men they did not deserve that treatment.” I tell him I know and there is a way to help them move on. The next day after school Mai and I were at her house trying on our dresses and getting pinned because Loraine (her mom) was in her element. Now both were speaking Mandarin and Mai says to me “She wants to know how short because she does not want your mom mad at her.” I giggled but my mom said “Right here at my ankles but maybe a little above” I see the pin settings and I love it. Mai gets herself finished and we get to talking about the cemetery.
               “I am hoping to help these men move on they deserve some dignity people treated them unfairly.” I told Mai and she agreed with me she will try and convince her dad to perform a blessing so they can move on. “That way they could get a blessing in their own language and if you see them move on let us know.” Mai was really excited about this fact, but I have never seen the light or other side whatever anyone calls it. Once I am back home, I get my notes out from my dreams. I am trying to piece all this together and with Bryan’s notes my story is complete. I guess now I have two places to move people on from, but how to get into the school after hours, hmmm maybe it pays to know the hall monitor or an old janitor ghost.

End of part 5