The Ghost and the McGee Twins

First Day Frights

The first day of school. Yet another day for me and my siblings to be outsiders in a new town. Although, I never thought I'd share my new room with Molly and a ghost. I still got out of bed and got dressed for school. "Hey Scratch!" Molly shouted, summoning Scratch in midair. "Whoa! You can summon him?" I asked. "Also, why is he all wet?" "Ahh! Molly, Amber, turn around, please!" Scratch screamed. "Oh, what's the big deal?" Molly complained. "You don't even wear clothes." "Yes, but I happen to be emotionally naked right now." Scratch explains, putting on a towel. "What's so important that you had to rip me away from my me time?" "I'm afraid, Scratch." Molly confessed. "You? Afraid?" I gasped. "Now we're getting somewhere." Scratch said. "Be specific please." "I know that you said you're very popular in the ghost world." Molly said. "Yes, yes I am." Scratch lied. "I'm very popular. Like, number one on the list if there was a list, but, of course there's not because it would hurt everybody else's feelings." "Why do I get the strange feeling that you're lying?" I asked. "Because it's the truth." Scratch replied. "I knew it. So, you probably can't relate." Molly sighed. "But, today is the first day of school, and our family's moved a lot. You know, like, a lot a lot. So, trust me when I tell you the first day of school in a new town is super important, and the stakes have never been higher. Do you realize that even one eensy-weensy embarrassing mistake can turn me into a social outcast forever?" "Scratch, just ignore Molly." I groaned. "She's like this all the time." "You'd be ruined." Scratch said. "Exactly!" Molly panicked. "You'd have to leave Brighton." Scratch continued. "Highly doubt that." I commented. "The curse would be broken and I'd be back in this house by myself." Scratch finished, completely ignoring me. "You know, actually, now that I'm talking to you about it, I hear how ridiculous all my fears sound." Molly said. "See?" I asked. "Uh, I don't think they're ridiculous at all." Scratch replied. "It's gonna be fine." Molly smiled, enraged with positivity. "No, it's gonna be a disaster." Scratch explains. "And I love making people happy, so, I'm bound to make tons of friends." Molly said. I rolled my eyes. "Not on my watch!" Scratch snapped. "This will be the worst first day in the history of first days. I promise, McGee. You won't make even one friend!" "Nice try, Scratchy. I already reenergized my positivity." Molly said, leaving our room. "Thanks for being a sounding board. Byeeee." "She bothers me." Scratch said to me. "You and me both, Scratch." I sighed, about to leave for school. "At least you don't have an identical twin who thinks positivity is her superpower."

Mom and Dad drove us to our new school. But this year was different. "Wow, all three of our kids in middle school." Dad said, about to cry. "They're just... They're growing up so fast. Next it's gonna be college, then a career, then grandkids. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna be a grandpa! You do it!" Mom grabbed the phone to take a picture of us. "Okay, big smiles!" Mom exclaimed. "Who's ready for a fantastic school year with minimal trips to the principal's office?" "Me!" Molly exclaimed. "Her!" Darryl and I replied in unison, pointing to Molly. "Alright, you three. Have fun." Mom said. "You know I will." Molly replied in a singsong voice.

In class, our teacher, Miss Lightfoot, told us to come to the front of the class. "As I'm sure many of you have noticed, we have two new students joining us." Miss Lightfoot said. "Welcome, Molly and Amber McGee. Would you like to tell us a little about yourselves?" "I sure would." Molly replied. "But, I'll let my sister go first." "Well, my name's Amber, I enjoy reading and being independent." I introduced myself. "That's it. I'm going back to my desk." "If you know only one thing about me, it's that I..." Molly explains as she suddenly slipped on the floor. "I, uh, like to dance." Surprisingly, our classmates were amazed by Molly. But, one student stood out in particular, giving my sister some slow claps. "Brava!" She said sarcastically. "Ahn-drea Davenport, social influencer, future disruptor, Brighton Middle School's official good will ambassador." The entire class applauded her. "It's a lot of things in one, I know." Andrea said. "I'd be honored if you'd join me on stage this afternoon at the New School Year Assembly." "Wow! Thanks! That would be incredible, Ann-drea." Molly replied, butchering her name. The class and Miss Lightfoot gasped. "Now she's done it." I whispered to myself. "It's actually Ahn-drea." Andrea corrected. "Isn't that what I said?" Molly asked. "No. You said Ann-drea." Andrea grunted. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Molly apologized. "Oh, honey, it's fine. It's your first day, forgive and forget." Andrea explains. "Oh, thank you, Ahn-drea, that's very nice of you." Molly thanked. "Oh, crud, is it Ann-drea? What was it again? Which vowel? Is it A, E, I, O, or is it, like Aun-drea?" "Maybe you should take a seat." Miss Lightfoot said as Andrea was still mad. "Before you make this even worse." Molly went back to her seat as the class started gossiping about her. "Oh, God." I said. "Hey, in the first grade, there was a girl named Libby." The girl behind me whispered. "She was bright-eyed and full of promise, until one day, she called Ahn-drea Ann-drea, and from that moment on, she was an outcast, forever shunned from respectable society." "What happened to her?" Molly asked. "Did she die or something?" I wondered. "Oh, she's me. I'm Libby." She introduced. "And don't get too close! I think I almost got her worn down. Looking good, Ahn-drea!" "You know, just because she's popular, doesn't mean you have to respect her like some kind of celebrity." I commented.