The case of the ghostly child
If there are any benefits of the lockdown, it's helped us to unearth some serious creative talent. A couple of weeks ago, we started to put together a newsletter compiled entirely of contributions from members of Alpha & Bravo groups, who are part the life skills project that operates from Rainham and Dagenham each week.
We have received a number of stories and accounts of family life in the last three months, but we have also received a fantastic short story from Evie Pearman, who attends our Alpha steering group. While we haven't been able to meet in person for the last three momnths, we have been holding a virtual meeting every week and we've been encouraging the members to turn their hand to whatever they enjoy.
Well, Evie is clearly a budding novelist & author, if this is anything to go by. But don't take our word for it. Put the kettle on, settle down and enjoy 'the case of the ghostly child'
THE CASE OF THE GHOSTLY CHILD
It was an unusually breezy, gloriously sunny day in early October when we solved this case.
Hermia and I have been exploring the fascinating hobby of detecting, and with each case it only becomes even more so mesmerising than the last. The idea of solving a mystery is a particularly attractive one . But this was quite a strange case.
Firstly, it took place over less than twenty-four hours, on a weekend day, (Hermia and her older sister Helen were only at our school because their parents are lawyers, and were involved in a demanding lawsuit, and their grandfather was in hospital for a operation).
Secondly, it concerned what Hermia wants me to type as: THE SUPERNATURAL. Usually, Hermia doesn’t board and goes home every evening, but this was a rare occasion. This case mostly revolves around our race, which is caused by a genetic alteration (at least, that is what most scientists think) and therefore, what some would refer to as superpowers. I have sonic screams and Hermia has telepathy, although enchantments (for lack of better word) stop us from using them in school grounds. This infuriates Hermia. But people without powers see us as rogues and therefore discriminate against us without thinking beyond their bigoted, filthy, nasty little brains. This is why we go to our school, officially called ST NICHOLAS SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL CHILDREN.
This case also concerns Adam. He sticks out amongst the older boys. Adam is obsessed with maths and little else and is one of us few that like it and excel at it. His father is a reputable non-magical man, and therefore has little time for Adam, who boards almost every day of the year. He has a high voice; an outlandish haircut and a nervous habit that causes him to scratch at his arms when (as mild Mr Snakeskin puts it) animated. Ryan says he does it when he goes wacko.
Ryan and Adam
Batman and the Joker.
The connection? Both pairs are two sides of a coin: neat, smug Adam and rough, shouty Ryan.
This story begins as me and Hermia were arguing about the reality of ghosts. Hermia, for all she is so sensible, believes that ghosts do exist. I don’t, mostly because I don’t want them too. The very thought... shivers down my spine, goose bumps erupt upon my flesh and my fists clench in desperate self-control. We were discussing this because there was a rumour flying about: there was a ghost in the school annexe. “Where else is all the junk food going? What are all those clangs?” Hermia said, her glossy brown hair even glossier in the sun. “Don’t be so dull, Sheen.” “You don’t board properly.” I said defensively. “You can’t hear them. Because I haven’t and I’m here all the time.” that was a lie. “Well, I’ll be boarding tonight.” she insisted, turning her petite nose upwards. “And I intend to investigate it.” so, as secretary of the two of us, I had to write down all that Hermia said were the facts. The Case of The Ghost: Who? Where? School annexe, off limits to students! When? At night-time... Why? What? Funny sounds, missing food in the morning, How? Facts: Deductions: Theories: - It is Betelgeuse or a vengeful vampire, hoping to prey upon Mr Snakeskin. (Hermia’s idea- I disagree). I sucked my pencil nervously and wriggled, uncomfortable. There wasn’t much to base on- but nothing stopped Hermia.
As we got ready for bed, my heart went thump, thump, thump. On the news, there was talk about some poor girl missing, Adam was watching, whimpering and scratching. I turned and saw that it wasn’t just any girl... it was one of Adam’s non-magical sisters. Lilith. She had been missing for five days. Poor Adam! I had never gotten the impression that his family were close to him, but he was on the verge of tears. Hermia sniffed and showed upset, but I was certain that as soon as this case was over, she would jump like a lion, onto the next case looking for drama. I lay there, listening to Miss Dale (Hermia’s arch-nemesis (but that is another story)) say goodnight. Thump. Thump. Thump. “Make sure you all stay in bed.” she said, eyes darting over to Hermia. I shivered. Did she know? “After all, there’s a ghost about.” she snorted in mirth and walked off. I did not drop off to sleep. I could hear footsteps, even after the teachers’ lights out. There was a bit of thumping, not just from my chest. Hermia came and shook me. “Come along, Sheen!” she hissed hotly. We crept out of the dormitory. Every shadow stretched out to me, leering unpleasantly, and I could still hear thumping. Some from the direction of the off-limits-to-all-but-adults annex.
It was mostly deserted other than some Easter and Christmas decorations, and most teachers only ventured up there, (always in pairs,) a few times a year. The door was locked, but Hermia had a paperclip and smugly opened it. She winked at me and I blinked back in terror. As soon as we went inside, I could hear the thumps... but they were more like clinks. I hear the smacking of lips and a bit of muttering. We turned the corner, behind a tower of boxes were there seemed to be a glow of light... I almost jumped out of my skin. There was a small girl, with a bad haircut and pale skin, but not a ghost. She was eating biscuits and had a mug of tea. She was the girl on TV. And next to her was Adam. I screamed. Long and hard. “What are you doing?” I wailed and I started to cry. So did Adam. Hermia looked vaguely annoyed and then got excited. “Two cases solved at once!” she whooped “we’ve found the ghost and the missing girl”. We were making so much noise. “Go away.” hissed Lilith. Then I noticed. Her eyes... around her eyes... a sign of magical children were coloured eyelids- I had turquoise, Hermia lilac, Adam silver. And this girl... she had grey. Not just shadows or bags- they stretched to her eyelids too. But... Adam’s family were normal... then she burst into tears and words came tumbling out of her mouth. “D-Daddy... if he knew... he’d disown me anyway... I’m like you... I came here... b-but A- Adam said that they’d send m-me b-back without p-parental consent.” I began to feel very sick and very sorry.
At that moment, who should walk through but a fuming Miss Dale in a cheap kimono and Mr Snakeskin in a cotton dressing gown, that didn’t quite cover up his neon pink bunny-themed onesie. Soon, everything was explained. Lilith had begun to notice the magical signs and panicked. Her family were awfully discriminating, and she didn’t want to shame them. She panicked and ran off to her older brother, the only who might understand. Unfortunately, Adam, for all he is a genius at maths, is not always socially logical and decided to hide her in the annex after being told by a unsuspecting Mr Snakeskin, parental permission had to be given for a student to enrol at the school. Therefore, he hid her. It all fell into place. There was no ghost- just a clumsy boy and his sulky, loud younger sister. Adam had been stealing the food to provide for her. Lilith was sent home at once, but I am not sure what her family will say. I hope she will be alright. Maybe we will see her again. Adam was tutted at by the police (but let off with a warning), roared at by Miss Dale but was eventually sent on his way by Mr Snakeskin, infuriating the other teacher. Mr Snakeskin was more baffled than angry. Hermia was pleased we had solved another mystery, but I think she did feel a little sorry for Lilith.
She was even happier to hear her beloved grandfather’s operation had gone well and her parents would be picking them both up that evening. As we sat waiting for her parents, contemplating the day - Hermia declared Lilith and the ghost case closed. I turned to her and smiled. “I always said to you, didn’t I, ghosts don’t exist.” Hermia grumbled, “Just because Lilith wasn’t a ghost, doesn’t mean there aren’t any!” she grumbled. “But Hermia, you just said yourself, case closed-“ just as I was beginning to protest, a door slammed somewhere in the school. I jumped. It could have been anything but who knows... Hermia laughed.
THE END
By Evangeline Pearman, age 14.
19/05/2020
