The Cousins

Chapter 2 - September 3rd

That morning, Solana walked through campus to her Digital Photography class, strolling along the canopy walkway between the biology building and the greenhouses. Two girls walked past her, they both wore pajama bottoms and tank tops. They had bags under their eyes as if the last time they slept was last century. Their faces were mellow and they appeared to be struggling holding up their Macbook Airs.

"Do those girls go to school here?" said a tiny, translucent person, walking next to Solana. Indra never went to college, but everywhere she always believed that it was a wonderland of studying where everyone wore polo shirts and pants, stayed focused in full lecture halls, and spent countless hours of studying in the library with groups of friends and coffee. The last part was true, but the dream was only that.

"Yes, Grandma." Solana replied, trying not to make it look like she was talking to nothing. "This is what college does to people."

For a spirit that is supposed to reach peace and tranquility after death, Indra seemed very confused. She paced quickly over towards Solana, seeming to struggle. "Slow down Solana, I can't walk that fast!"

Solana stopped, and turned to her see-through grandmother. "Grandma, you can float faster than you can walk, you're a spirit now, remember?" She watched her grandmother slowly levitate above the ground, the background standing still as she rose.

"That's right, I forgot, thank you."

Solana giggled. "Honestly, with the amount of times I brought you back I'm surprised you can forget that." Solana was not exaggerating. She loved talking to her grandmother again. It wasn't like the summer times when Kelvin and Solana stayed at her house, but it was close enough.

Indra floated next to her. "For eighty-eight years I walked as far as I could, through the castles of Europe, the plains of America, and to church every Sunday. You've only brought me back to Earth about ten times, it's going to take me a while to learn how to not do what I do best."

"Well, now you can see as much as you want, providing that you're within fifteen feet from me of course." Solana said, starting to walk again.

Indra looked a little hesitant to reply. "Where is Kelvin by the way?" When Solana first started summoning her she was very happy to see her, but now all she asks for is to see her other grandchildren, especially Kelvin.

Solana took out the pocket watch her grandfather got her when she was little. It was something she had held dear to her heart, especially after he passed away several years ago. "It's almost 9, he should be here soon, he has Calculus I think."

"I still can't believe you have that thing." Indra said, shaking her head. "Abraham loved to see how happy you were with it."

She opened the pocket watch again. One side had the clock, the other had a photo of her grandparents. Indra's head laid on Grandpa Abe's shoulder. They both smiled into the camera as if in pure bliss. Judging from how youngish they looked and the style of their hair and clothes this had to have taken place in the mid 90s. "Yeah," Solana said. "It meant a lot to me."

Indra started to walk away. "Okay, let's go see Kelvin."

Solana's eyes widened. "Wait...what?"

Indra turned around. "Let us both see Kelvin, it would probably do him some good if I said hi."

"No! We can't! He doesn't even know he has powers yet, let alone I also have powers and have been speaking to our dead grandmother."

Indra looked down. "I guess you got a point."

Solana didn't want to see her grandmother sad, but she was also thinking of Kelvin. What would he say if he found out she was talking to their grandmother? Or that they have powers? Or that his mom had powers for years and never told them? Or even the one person that could train him with water is on the other side of the country...and the other one is dead.