Aya raced down the stairs, still confused in the web of deja vu from the morning. Almost tripping over her cat (Mr. Whiskers) who had decided in the heat of the moment to messily spread out on the floor. She dodged him like a pro and shouted, "Watch it, buddy." Cats were in the wrong place at the right time. Her bag was on the kitchen counter somewhere, somehow it had become a makeshift shelf for cereal boxes and half eaten snacks, and she grabbed it. It was a blur of the walk to school. Aya had stopped thinking about the fact that she'd done this before. Almost, she could hear the faint echoes of her teachers' voices from yesterday. They said Math isn't just numbers. "It's a way of thinking!" Great, just what she needed. Nerves about the test on top of a philosophical crisis about math. She glanced at her phone. No notifications. Perfect. A digital black hole.
Hallways were alive as she entered the school. In lockers, clanging like a random percussion section, students chatted about weekend plans, teachers argued over lesson plans, and the clanging continued. Mia was leaning against wall, scrolling her phone and Aya spotted her best friend. "Hey! Mia was teasing you, you look like you've seen a ghost. Aya shrugged. Just weird, you know. Like I've been here before."
Mia rolled her eyes. "That's what you mean like that time you thought you were in a horror movie because you saw a kid wearing the same shirt as you?" Aya chuckled. "Okay, that was different. But this feels… deeper." Both of them knew it was just her mind playing tricks. Still, it nagged at her.
They headed to class. Chalk and anxiety wafted through the math room. Aya looked around, then sat into her seat. The usual suspects filled the room: the overachiever scribbling notes, the slacker pretending to be interested, the kid that always seemed to get the best snacks. The corner had a small fan whirring that made a breeze that you would have thought was comforting. Her pencil poised she opened her test booklet.
And then it happened. There was a loud crash in the classroom. Mr. Thompson, the math teacher, burst in with a rubber chicken and the door flew open. "Sorry I'm late! … I was … testing out my new prop for the talent show!" Everyone in the class started to laugh. Aya's tension eased. Perhaps this was what she needed. Just a little chaos to break the routine.
Mr. Thompson waved the chicken as if it were a magic wand. "Alright, settle down! This test requires you to focus. First, though, let's have a quick laugh." He started a dramatic chicken impression. Aya couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. The déjà vu passed and the joy of the moment took its place. A little unpredictability was sometimes the best cure for a chaotic mind.
At the start of the test Aya was more relaxed. With a new determination about tackling problems, she became caught up in them. All the classroom rhythm, all the laughter off the walls, all the rubber chicken still going around her brain, and it all blended into a weird but comforting symphony. The test didn't seem so daunting anymore. She was just another part of her messy, beautiful reality.
She was still buzzing about the test, wanting to break the tension. She joked, 'If you thought this test was bad, you have not heard about my lunch.' "I thought I was biting into a meatball, but it was a grape?" Everyone laughed. That worry melted away a bit for Aya. Nia has a gift for story telling, she brings the mundane to the ridiculous.
It faded to laughter and the battered feeling came back into Aya's mind. It felt like a spider crawling up her back. Looking around at the courtyard, she half expected someone in the shadows to jump out at her. Nothing. None of her friends could see the mess inside her head. She thought, Am I losing it? She wasn't the first person to feel watched, but this time it felt different. More intense.
On her way home she was stopped by her brother Ren still stuck in his comic book entirely in his own world. Aya tried to lighten Ren's mood, 'Ren, you're going to become a superhero soon.' He grunted and didn't look up. She rolled her eyes. Typical Ren. His indifference was comforting, even if he was indifferent. She remembered this was their childhood way to plan to save the world from imaginary villains.
Their mom walked in with a plate full of spaghetti. "Dinner is ready! Don't worry about that test and… She seemed to sense Aya's unease, as she always bounced back. Aya smiled weakly. "Thanks, Mom. But what if I don't?"
Ren was finally torn away from his comic and chimed in, "Well if you don't, then I will have to hire a private tutor." "A superhero tutor. "Only history of epic battles"; who will only teach you history." Aya laughed. To have a caped crusader explaining the War of 1812 was absurd. However, it was an unnecessary distraction from the nagging feeling.
When we all settled in the your living room after dinner, Aya agreed to face her unease. She asked, "Guys, ever feel like someone's watching you?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Like a stalker? Or Mom when you're sneaking cookies?" Or maybe, Nia offered, maybe it's the spirit of history tests past, standing over you with a 50%?" Again the room burst out in laughter, and Aya felt a little seriousness.
The lights flickered suddenly. Aya blinked. Incredulous she asked, "Did anyone else see that?" Ren shrugged, unfazed. "Maybe it's just a ghost. Or your test score coming back to haunt you." A loud crash came from the kitchen just then. Their hearts raced and they all jumped up. Was that the ghost of a failed history test? Maybe the spaghetti pot falling off the counter or just something else.
Tiptoeing into the kitchen they watched with a mixture of dread and curiosity. Their very cat, Whiskers, stood there amidst the wreckage,' as it were, of fallen utensils, looking as guilty as possible. "I wasn't expecting the ghost, Aya said, exhaling." "He must not have liked the spaghetti either, Ren laughed,". The air cracked, Aya felt free. Perhaps the world wasn't so heavy after all.
The earlier worries had faded and they returned to the living room. Aya knew that a little laughter, and a mischievous cat sometimes can chase away some of the shadows.
Aya woke up feeling like she'd slept with a hundred pound backpack. Rubbing her eyes, she groaned. She hadn't shaken the feeling of being watched. She glanced at her alarm clock. 6:30 AM. Great. Time to face the day. Her legs swung over the side of the bed and she landed her feet onto the cold floor.
She muttered 'Why do I even bother?' A strategy was needed for every school day that was like a battle. It was maybe today that she'd finally take on that old library. Snacks on hand, a flashlight and, of course, her trusty notebook.
But breakfast was another matter altogether. The house smelled of bacon. Ren was already at the table shoveling food into his mouth like he was about to run a marathon. He said, mouth half full, "You look like you saw a ghost."
Aya shot back with 'Thanks for the support.' "I think I'm being watched."
Perhaps it's the ghosts," Ren chuckled. What they want is for you to join their book club." Clearly enjoying the idea, he took another bite. "You'd be the star member."
She rolled her eyes and replied, 'Very funny.' It was oddly amusing to think of a ghostly book club. She could already picture it: spectral members talking about the merits of plot twists, floating books. "Next meeting: And how to scare the living daylights out of your neighbors."
After breakfast, she couldn't stop feeling dread. The library was calling her. She had to know what was going on. She packed her supplies and went out after school. It was a perfect kind of weather, almost brave enough with a light breeze. Almost.
She was at the library and it looked like she remembered, dim, dusty and a little menacing. She thought, "This is the haunted library." She pushed the door open, creaking as it did. Inside, it was even darker. She couldn't help but whisp words of the past, and she smiled.
She whispered to herself, 'okay Aya.' "It's just a library. A really spooky library." Her heart was racing, and she moved forward. With each step the shadows grew longer. She shined her flashlight on rows of ancient books.
But then, she heard it. A soft giggle. It echoed through the aisles. Aya froze. "I think that's not funny," she said out loud. "Who's there?"
A figure appeared from between the shelves. A wild haired girl with a mischievous grin. She banged her fist to the table and exclaimed, 'Welcome to the ghost club!"
Aya blinked. "What?"
"Didn't you hear? There is a meeting every Wednesday at 4 PM. You'll love it!"
Aya sensed the unease flee from her suddenly. "Wait, you're not serious?"
"Of course! We read spooky stories and then try to scare each other. It's a blast!"
Aya couldn't help but laugh. "So this is a ghost hangout library?"
"Pretty much! So, are you in?"
She had taken a deep breath as Aya knew she wasn't so afraid after all. In fact, maybe it's just the perfect escape from her daily chaos.
"Why not? She said that counted her in and felt a spark of excitement. Perhaps this is what she needed. A little ghostly giggles, along with a new adventure.
It just felt lighter when she walked out of the library. They didn't seem so scary now. Instead, they felt like a backdrop to too many stories waiting to be told. And who knew? Perhaps Aya would be the next ghost club star member.