Seeing Ghosts
Summer

Thelast day of school had finally arrived. It had dawned very bright indeed, asthese days you look forward to most tend to. I woke up before my alarm andthreaded strands of yellow into my hair, to symbolize my happiness at thearrival of summer. I examined the effect in the mirror of the bathroom andsmiled to myself.

I was glad that I could still replace things likethe last day of school enjoyable. My life was going to get a lot scarier, I’daccepted that. But at least I wouldn’t let it destroy my life completely. I’dreplace a way to live with it, for the sake of my friends and family. I mean, whatkind of person would I be if I just tossed aside everything that I’ve been mywhole life because of this clairvoyant thing? I’d just have to keep it to myself,for now. Only Corrine would know any the wiser and she’d promised not to sayanything.

Iwent downstairs to eat breakfast and watch TV before Ria came to pick me up. Iturned on the TV and started looking for something to watch. When I flicked tothe Sci-Fi channel, I paused. Star Wars was on. I just laughed and left it on,only half paying attention to Luke Skywalker’s epic fight against Darth Vaderas I ate my cereal. It didn’t surprise me to see the figure of a wittytwelve-year-old begin to appear in the big chair in front of the TV that Johnusually took.

“Youknow this scene was listed as one of the most intense in all movie history?”Aaron said, conversationally.

“I’llbet,” I said, still eating breakfast. I didn’t mind talking to him when there wasnobody in the room to hear me apparently talking to myself. “Geez, were you aTrekkie when you were alive, too?”

Aaron’ssemitransparent face snapped over in my direction. “I am NOT a Trekkie! I am aWARSIE! Big, big difference!”

“Ex-cuse me,” I said, giggling. “I’m sorryif my nerd-lingo is lacking.”

“You’respared,” said Aaron, turning his attention back to the TV. “There’s nothinglike the old Star Wars movies. The new ones are good but…they’re just not thesame, y’know?”

“Thenew ones?”

“Yeah.Episodes I, II, and III.”

“Howcan you know about those? They came out wayafter you died!”

Aaronbit his lip. “Well…I, um, may have Recreated in a movie theater every now andagain.”

“Yougo to movies!?”

“Idon’t know if you’d get this, Gina, but there’s not a whole lot to do whenyou’re dead.”

“Sowhen you’re not roaming around looking for Entities, you spend your spare timehaunting movie theaters?”

“It’snot just me. Why do you think it’s always so cold in movie theaters?”

Thatalmost made me choke on a Frosted Flake. I’d never look at movie theaters thesame way again.

Therewas suddenly a loud honk and a bright yellow bus appeared just outside ourhouse. Maggie’s school bus had arrived. I stood up from the table. “Maggie!” Icalled for her. “Maggie! Your bus is here!”

Maggiecame running down, swinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Last day ofschool!” she cried, happily. “Gina, are you and your friend going to have funin school today too? We’re having a class party!”

“Soundslike fun,” I told her, hugging her goodbye. “You have a good time, okay? I’llsee you this afternoon.”

“Willyour friend be there?”

“Yeah,Ria will probably be there.”

Maggieopened her mouth to say something, but the bus honked again.

“You’dbetter go,” I said, giving her a soft swat on the back.

“Okay,”said Maggie as she opened the door to leave. “Bye-bye Gina!” she cried and thenshe turned away from me and stared at the chair by the TV where the figure of aboy could still sat.

“Bye-byeGina’s friend!”

Andwith that, my little sister left the house.