"Steal it?" Shimlee and May Rusa looked at Keiro with surprise. But Keiro looked like she was not joking.
Keiro: "I have done enough sleuthing around the student's council so I happen to know all their routines."
Keiro motioned Shimlee and May Rusa to come closer.
Keiro:"The last person to leave the council room is their record keeper, Gee Rona from year 1 class a. If we could distract her then it is possible for us get the list of graduated seniors from their computer."
Shimlee:"So around what time does she leave the council room?"
Keiro: "She leaves around 7. 30 pm on most days. Sometimes she does her homework there."
May Rusa : Who do you think should distract her?"
Keiro looked at May Rusa.
Keiro:"You of course! Tell her that as the new basket ball club manager you would like to discuss about increasing the budget.Invite her to the cafeteria for coffee and keep her there."
May Rusa: "I suppose that would work."
Keiro:"We'll need atleast half an hour."
=========+++++++++++=====
7pm.
Student's Council room
Shimlee and Keiro waited outside the council room.They took care not to get noticed.
Shimlee :"You told us that the last person to leave is the record keeper. Then why is the President still inside the council room?"
Keiro:"God knows why.He is that unpredictable factor in our story."
Soon the record keeper Gee Rona received a call in her phone. Shimlee and Keiro watched her leave for the cafeteria.
Shimlee:"You better get the president out Keiro.We can't possibly wait any longer."
Keiro:"Why me?"
Shimlee pushed Keiro into the council room wishing her good luck.
Matt Moncee looked up.
"What brings you here Keiro? Are you not tired of trying to dig up dirt on me?"
Keiro:"About that.... President, I would like to speak in private."
Moncee: "Here is ok."
Keiro :"Well Prez,....I would like to show you something.. Please come outside for a moment."
Moncee raised his eyebrows, then got up and followed her out.
Shimlee slipped into the council room after they left.
Keiro now had to keep the president away for half an hour. More importantly she had to decide what she should show him.She had brought him out on an impulse.If only Shimlee had given her time to plan something.
'Think fast Keiro',Keiro commanded herself. She then slowly made her way to the roof top followed by the president.
President Moncee was really beginning to get curious. He watched Keiro going up and wondered what she was really upto.
When they reached the roof top,they stood facing each other.
Moncee:"Well,what is it?"
Keiro :"The weather is kind of cold these days,don't you think?"
Moncee looked at Keiro questioningly.
Moncee :"We are not here to talk about the weather are we?"
Keiro: "Oh well before that,I wanted to ask you about ...about.. your opinion of our country's current foreign policy.What do you think President?"
Moncee stared at Keiro for a moment. Then his handsome face broke into laughter.
Moncee :"Keiro, don't beat around the bush. You can tell me whatever it is.It's not like we are 'strangers' ."
Keiro:"The truth is.... I thought I should make an apology to you for all the things I did to you."
Moncee:"I do not need your apology.I kind of enjoyed it." he chuckled.
As Moncee was about to leave Keiro stopped him by the hand.
"Wait.I haven't showed it to you yet."
"What?"
"Look up at the sky, there are stars."
Moncee sighed and looked up. To his surprise the sky was indeed filled with numerous stars. He paused for a moment to appreciate it and then looked at Keiro who was also looking at them with wonder.
Keiro:"Thank you God."
Moncee : "Hmmm.. You like this sort of thing? Can you trace the constellations or something? "
Keiro:"Not really.But I heard that a shooting star would pass by around this time. Let's wait for it."
Moncee seemed to have bought it.For he stood silently for some time looking up at the sky.
'Hurry up Shimlee.'Keiro pleaded in her mind. If she spoke any more nonsense then Moncee would suspect something.
They waited like that for fifteen minutes.
Moncee :"You must have heard it wrong."
Keiro:"I must have."
Moncee sighed and took his leave and Keiro hoped for all the world that Shimlee got her hands on the list.
Thankfully Shimlee had already gotten back to the dorm when Keiro came back. Shimlee explained to Keiro that she not only got the list but also their email addresses.
Keiro:"Excellent!Now all we have to do is send all of them mails."
Keiro typed out a mail which she would send to all of them.
/Hello sir. We, the Student's Council of Moldi high school are planning to conduct an alumni meet of old football club members next month.We are making the list of those who are able to come. Kindly let us know if you will be able to attend.. Etc etc.. /
Shimlee:"Why are you sending it under the student council's name? You want more trouble Keiro?"
Keiro:"It will be more troublesome if these graduates think that the school is conducting it. I am already at war with the council anyway.He also said that he 'enjoyed' ruining my reputation."
Shimlee:"Well, you have a point."
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Next day
Ghost club room
They soon began to get back replies from the old members of the basket ball team. And as for those who did not reply to their mails, Keiro and Shimlee took turns to phone them up to confirm of their 'alive' status.
Most of the seniors they contacted seemed very much alive and as Keiro concluded, they had not turned into ghosts recently.But one of the old seniors informed her that there would be one person missing from their group and upon asking the reason for that, told her that his classmate who was in the basket ball team had died twenty years back while still in high school.
Keiro held her breath for a moment.
Keiro:"Who was it?"
Senior X: "Mart Benson.He had an accident and died while we were in high school.That was one shocking event back then. He was our Ace too."
After hanging up, Keiro thought for a bit. This was not what she was looking for. So she went to find Shimlee.
Shimlee:"It's impossible that it is his ghost. Because this one had made its appearance only recently. This cannot possibly be a twenty year old ghost!"
Keiro:"Right?There is no possibility that the ghost went on a vacation and then came back to haunt the club.. But there is no one else who has died among our seniors."
Shimlee :"Well,we could call their family and ask them for details."
And so Keiro made a call to the deceased person's sister.
"Moldi high school? Brings back memories. I used to be a student there too. That was also the time when I lost my brother. It has been many years." said the voice from the other end.
Keiro:"Was senior Mart in the basket ball club?"
"Yes.He was mad about basket ball. Unfortunately he passed away just after the final match that year.."
Keiro:"I am sorry."
"It's alright. Many years have passed since then. But mama always regretted it,not being able to go to his match.. She passed away recently you know."
Keiro:"I am sorry.. Did you just say that your mother passed away recently?"
"Err.. Yes, only last week.It was a heart attack."
Keiro:"Did she say she regretted not going to your brother's match?"
"She used to say that from time to time.She used to be against him doing basket ball all the time instead of studying.Brother had asked her to atleast watch his final match.But she decided not to go and later regretted it all her life.. I can only hope that she met him on the other side."
After giving her condolences, Keiro hung up. She explained the matter to Shimlee and they both sat in the Ghost club room thinking about it.Keiro couldn't help but feel sad even though the identity of the ghost was now found.
A little away from them,Heron Berthy slept in his couch peacefully.He snored a little.
Keiro:"We are having an emotional moment here.How come he is snoring and sleeping peacefully?"
Shimlee:"Hey Keiro, how do you think we should help the ghost onto the after life?"
Keiro:"You tell me.You are the expert."
Shimlee: "The truth is, we need to get rid of the ghost's regret.. or it won't pass on to the after life."
Keiro :"Get rid of the regret that she couldn't watch her son's last match?"
Keiro tried to think but Berthy's snoring disturbed her.
She went near him and lifted his pillow up from under his head. He woke up with a jerk.
Berthy :"Wait, why did you have to wake me now.. I was having a good dream... It was really good. You know I was... "
Keiro quickly covered her ears.
Keiro: "Please don't describe it..."
Berthy: "It was nothing perverted.... I was dressed up as the actor Husey and they were giving me money simply to shoot my sleeping...Ah the ideal life!"
Keiro:"Even if you dress up as Husey you will not be mistaken for him."
Shimlee:"Wait, what did you say?"
Shimlee got up from her seat.
Shimlee:"I have got an idea.. It could actually work!"
Berthy:"I told you, with a little make up this senior of yours will look quite handsome."
Shimlee:"No, not that.. About the ghost.. We could dress soomeone up as the late senior and do a fake match..Ghosts do not have proper senses or memory like normal people, they only have faint sensations."
Keiro clapped her hands.
Keiro:"That's brilliant, Shimlee! .. The ghost might watch it and then be rid of the regret!"
Shimlee:"We need to find someone similar to Senior Mart.. What did he look like?"
May Rusa came in just then carrying an old year book.
Keiro:"God bless you!"
Berthy:"Wait, who is she?And what are you girls talking about?"
Shimlee looked into the yearbook quickly.
Shimlee:"Late Senior Mart had red hair.. Do you happen to know anyone like that Keiro?"
Shimlee asked grinning at Keiro.