Apparition High School Part 6

         
Texting Bryan to see if my sneak into the high school idea will work, he has doubts and no keys “I am just a humble hall monitor not the school security guard.” Well, there is always talking to Jim and see if he knows a way in that we will not get caught in. Now at 7 am “heads Carolina tails California somewhere greener somewhere warmer.” I turn the alarm off and shuffle into the shower one week till prom and I still do not know what to do with this hair. Grandma Dee made toast, eggs, and sausage “alright sweetie I will see you at Mai’s after your dress fitting, got to go to the hospital it's my day to run the giftshop.” I kiss her goodbye and after dishes are washed, I head out to the driveway and wait for Mai and her mom or dad.
I was just standing there scrolling the phone when Jim came up to me “What are you doing here I thought you were stuck at the school” I always believed spirits could travel but never saw it myself. He was telling me “I know how to get in under the cafeteria there's a basement and its never locked, we want to move on help us young lady.” Then Mai and her dad pulled up and Jim was gone so when I got to school and lunch rolled around, I met Knight first and we went looking for the basement in the cafeteria. “I had no idea this was still here must be an original piece of the old school.” Knight was jazzed and we tested the door sure enough it was unlocked “Now to figure out how to get here at night and cross people over.” He looks like he has an idea, so we meet up with Mai but no Bryan “I just saw him” Mai tells us “He’s eating with Kayla they are discussing Prom stuff.” I take the three of them to the table where they are at “Hey you two this will be quick Sean is picking us up at Gracie’s he said all of us will fit in his ride.” Bryan tells us that’s great and gives us the head shrug so the three of us go to our grass area. “I have away we can get here, listen to this.” Knight proceeds with his plan and Mai is in too. Knight says lover boy over there will be here too, so Friday is a date.
               Mai texted and said both her parents will be at church, but she wants to hang out at my house, so I said sure. Sean facetimed and we chatted for some time. “How are a total of 6 people going to fit in your ride I thought you said you had an old Chevy.” He tells me it’s a big surprise and not to worry about it.  I told him “My dress is all ready and all you get is the color so peach” he likes that and say, “now I can match you with my tie.” We chat more than head to bed. “Heads Carolina tails California” I shut that off and dragged my butt to the kitchen Grandma Dee made biscuit, sausage egg, and cheese sandwiches. Filled up on this Thursday, I head into school and see every ghost gathered by the display shelf. “How can you see us no one has before” Jimmy asks. I tell them as I sit on the bench by the wall. I took out my social studies book and turned to a random page making it look like I was reading. In my mind I tell them.
               “It started when I was 5, I remember my dad talking to people who my mom always said weren’t there. I told daddy I saw the lady it turned out to be my Grandma I never knew. He told me it’s a gift to see the dead, sometimes they need your help to move on, and sometimes they want to stay. When Mom found out I could do it too she was devastated. She hates my gift, but I love it. This would be my first crossing though, so I hope everyone wants to go.”
 
               Mai was dropped off after 4 and I let her in on Knight’s plan. “We are going bike riding you can ride mine and I will ride Mom’s.” At 6:30 we headed toward school and hoping against hope that Knights plan to prop the gate and basement door open. Once we get to the back gate, we see Knight and Bryan along with Kayla. “Our Scooby Gang has expanded.” Then Kayla tells us she is the lookout but good luck. The four of us head to the basement and yes, it’s open just like Knight said. Walking inside my dad has shown himself just like I asked last night in my dreams. I dream of him often and we talk about everything. “We need to stay down here up there is the cameras, so I hope they don’t mind the basement area” Knight states. Flashlights in hand we all walked near where the theater was ‘I can see chard wood “then out they all come. “Knew you could come through thank you.” I stare at that man and shout “You were the one who set that charge and were so mean to the Chinese men…: then my dad says to me. “BeaBea, they have been forgiven, time for everyone to move on.” I tell everyone to hit flashlights at the back wall “Okay dad tell me what to say.” I start chanting “Peace be with you its time to find the light, everyone is welcome, and all is well.” I see everyone going there. Light is shown all over the basement and Jimmy says farewell and Jim even comes to me “If I could hug you, I would glad the fire issue was resolved.” Just like that the light was out and the basement area was much lighter. Meanwhile….” What in the blue hill is that” Brody says as he drives past Ben Franklin after dropping off his date. “Better be a good citizen and go check the light show out.” Sure enough, when he heads to the gate, he sees a pair of bikes and four kids coming from the basement area. “Alright explain yourselves and what the light show was. “” Hold that thought and be quiet.” I looked at my phone and said “Hi other cousin, yes, I am I saw some lights coming from the back and decided to be a good citizen and check it out. No, I don’t see Miss Cleo, Goth Kid, Velma, or blonde boy. “I hang up and all kids at once, we owe you one.
               The next day we all met up at Gracie’s for a pre-prom dinner. Sean said he was going to eat with his family and it’s a rare occasion because his dad had the night off. After ice cream Mai grabbed her mom and dad and told everyone what we wanted to do at the cemetery. After some Mandarin arguments they do give in. With everyone in place I tell Mai the exact phrase from the other night. As the phrase is being translated the same man comes up to me and says “Shay Shay” I say that back and he smiles and heads toward the light. I turn around and tell the graveyard “The light is open anyone who wants to go can.” Looking over in the corner I see the man from the first day “You don’t want to go he looks at me and says, “No I don’t have no kin, I’ll stay here and make sure no one forgets about us again.”. Then Mai says that her parents were done, and we need to get home and get some sleep prom tomorrow.

               Prom- “Wow Mai you should consider a career in beauty you got my hair to do something.” I have three braids and the curls loose below. Mai is gorgeous in her red dress with a halter top. Her new glasses are sleek yet go with her face. Everyone gets in the cars, and we head to Gracie’s. “We are all here let’s do pictures” Jackie says. I tell her Sean is on his way with our ride when we see a truck pull in. A few minutes later Sean is riding in the from seat of a horse and carriage with an Amish man. “Hi, Sean, I didn’t know you were Amish.” I tell him as we all smile at the nice man. “It’s a black horse I am so geeking out,” says Knight. Sean tells us “This is Franklin our neighbor he is the Amish man, and he says we can use the horse and buggy to go to prom, we will all fit.” Franklin hops down because he does not want to be in any pictures, but the parents snap away. We give Franklin directions and head off down the road to our school and prom. Everyone and their parents agreed to meet back at Gracie’s after prom.
               The six of us were the talk of the prom arriving in a horse drawn carriage. Sean and I danced to some country hits, but he did not want to do the achy breaky heart so Kayla, Mai and I did that. I looked around the gym and did not find one ghost, so I told everyone the spell worked, then Sean dropped the bomb, he has a gift too that he has been trying to ignore. We went and got some lemonade and cookies, and I told him how I turn it off when I need to. “I tell them when I get home, you are not allowed to bother me at this dwelling, I am home and wish to be in peace.” I was thinking this was the reason Brody set us up and he’s going to hear it. I get asked to dance by Danny, one of the boys who always calls me weird, I am polite, and we dance anyway. “I never really think you are wired Bea, but the guys start that, and I went along I am sorry.” I tell him its fine then I hear Dad in my ear “BeaBea get outside” I tell Danny I am getting warm, so I step outside, Sean was out there anyway, and we both look east toward Walnut Grove. “I think that is one big plume of smoke could be the highway wonder if there was an accident.” Sean searches his phone and sees an accident on the 215 near Eudora. “Yeah, tanker truck got hit by an electric SUV and the truck jackknifed and cause the big plume, it says Walnut grove came to help but three volunteers were hurt and two have passed.”
               We both look up and gasp at once “Brody oh no not you.” Just then Mom and Grandma Dee pulled up. “Sweetheart we just got the news “I interrupt Mom and tell her everything Brody is saying.” Ey Miss Cleo and Mr. Cleo now don’t be too sad for me I lived a great life for a kid born with bad legs, I did die doing what I love. I’m going to see Mom and Dad now I love you all, and you and Sean have a great future together. Goodbye now” I tell Sean “That is the light see it” he tells me yes and Brody is gone. Then I felt Mai, Knight, and Bryan around me I got everyone in tears. Now that there is smoke in the air Prom is ending and everyone is heading to Gracie’s for pickups.
               Later that week there was a service for the fallen firefighters, other cities showed up such as Willard, Springfield, Brody’s hometown of Ash Grove, Bolivar, Morrisville, and Eudora. Sean and I are keeping it friendly till one of us learns to drive. Sean is sure he wants to be a firefighter and keep Brody’s memory alive. Other kids at school heard me cross over my own cousin so now they don’t call me weird anymore. I still see the one guy at the cemetery when I go to Gracie’s, but he is just watching over the place. Sean and I have something in common because right after school ended Franklin passed away but needed Sean’s help with something before, he moved on. I helped with that and now he is at peace, having these abilities used to be a burden now it’s a blessing.


                                                                               The End