CYNTHIA AND ZEV: Solve the Mystery of the Boarding School Ghost

CHAPTER 8

Amidst the tranquil night, the campers at Coach Trent's campground are tucked away in their tents, peacefully slumbering away. All is still until a distant howl echoed through the night, as if it were in time with the sweet melody of the wind. Coach Trent had a strict rule about who could share tents; girls were to share a tent, and boys were to share a tent. No one is allowed to share a tent of any kind with someone of the opposite gender. Though the campers initially groaned, Coach Trent had a unique way of getting his point across. With a mischievous smirk, he said, "If you don't like the arrangement, feel free to sleep on the ground with the stars as your blanket and the bushes as your pillow." It seems that Coach Trent's words were taken seriously, as not long after, the campers had all settled into their tents for the night. As the campers drifted off to sleep, they all knew that they were safe and sound, thanks to Coach Trent's rule.

Though it was a night of peace and relaxation, Coach Trent had made sure that all the campers were in a safe environment. By enforcing the rule of having separate tents for boys and girls, Coach Trent had made sure that no danger or unwanted advances would take place during the course of the night. Cynthia and her friend Reilly lay in tent number nine. Cynthia is wearing a burgundy nightgown while Reilly is wearing burnt Sienna colored pajamas. One long, brown, fluffy blanket covered them both as they slept peacefully until Cynthia began to toss and turn, her face showing signs of horror.

In Cynthia's dream, she was with her parents, enjoying their Easter vacation and hunting for Easter eggs. Cynthia and her father were playing with her pet rabbit, Ruby, under the morning sun. Suddenly, the yellow sun turned into red flames from a lighter, and Cynthia held the lighter in her hand. Cynthia tossed it into the air and the light turned into a house that engulfed the home. Cynthia was trapped inside the burning house as her aunt shouted, "YOU DID THIS! THIS IS YOUR FAULT! ACCIDENT CHILD!" Somehow Cynthia found herself outside the burning house screaming, while her parents called out to her. Cynthia violently shook as she woke up in the tent. Rielly had woken Cynthia up from her nightmare. Reilly stares at Cynthia with concern.

Reilly is filled with concern when she asks Cynthia, "Cynthia, are you okay?" Cynthia, still shaken by her dream, manages to reply, "Yes, I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry." Reilly hugs Cynthia, giving her comfort from her nightmare. She replies, "Good. Good. If you need an ear to listen, I'm here." Cynthia nods in response. Five minutes later, Cynthia broke the silence, "I dreamed about a fire incident involving my family." Reilly looks at her with disbelief. "What?" Cynthia nods, "I caused the fire incident. I fought a lighter one day, brought it home, and later that same night the house was engulfed in flames." Reilly shout-whispers, "What? No!" Cynthia nods.

Riley responded, "Damn girl. That could not have been me. My mom would check me to see if I brought home anything I didn't have before. She whooped me once for bringing home a mango that I got for free. Much less, a lighter."

Riley is filled with sympathy and understanding as she comforts Cynthia. She offers her a safe space to talk, and listens to her story with empathy. Afterwards, Reilly told Cynthia a story about her mom. It is an entertaining story, full of crazy and bold moments, that had Cynthia laughing out loud. Reilly's story could have made Cynthia worry about her own mom, but instead she felt lucky that her mom isn't as strict and hard on her as Reilly's mom is.

Riley "Let me tell you girl, my mom is crazy. If I don't go to bed on time late, she whoops me. if I have extra money my mom takes it. Heck, I helped clean the house one time, and my mom asked me if I was her real daughter."

Cynthia replies, "No way. My mom will never treat me like that."

Riley "Lucky you. Haha."