The Guide To Killing A Ghost

Plan five: How To Escape Your Angry Mother

  I didn't take the bus back home. No, it wasn't because they called my mom and I was scared to go home. Absolutely not. It's just that the weather was nice today.

   I raised one of my hands to block the sun while the other one pulled my shirt to wipe the sweat on my face. I turned another right. The streets were almost empty except for some cats here and there. I would chase after them but then I would get thirsty. I wouldn't be able to wait until I get home and I'll try to drink from Old Lady Beatrice sprinkles again. She'll somehow throw away her cane, get the ability to run faster than me, and would yell at Mom again. Mom will get even more angrier and I'll end up having to leave the country.

I'll just leave the cats alone for today.

   On the middle school turn noises started to come back and bikes going by. I keep forgetting they finish around the same time as the elementary since Chris always stays late for practice. He is in a hundred sports clubs. V says she wishes the high school finishes this time too and not by the time the adults come back from the city. She says there is traffic but comes home in five minutes. Bob tells her she needs to go out in the real world.

   I wish me and v switch places now. Even if I'll be just five minutes late. Maybe I should walk slower. Very very very slow-
The horn of a bike pushed me off the street.

   I stopped on the Orangewood Middle School white fence to look at the court from far away. I didn't want to get close. The shades of trees were nice after walking all the way here, but mostly because I didn't want my brother, Chris to see me and invite me to play with him and his million friends.
He always invites me to play. Sometimes I think I have the world's best brother.

   Other times, I really really really hate him. Like when he always takes the top bunk, or when he steals the better controller every time we play video games, or when he eats the last pizza slice, or when after he finishes here he'll chase everyone out of their rooms with his sweat smell to get us down for dinner. V calls him an annoying attention seeker. Mom says it's just his way of saying I love you.

   I watched him for a little longer throwing the ball and making it in the hoop on the first try. The whole crowd cheering for him. Beautiful blonde hair jumping with him. No poopy curls. Kind Blue eyes smiling at everything. Not angry dark ones. Going home late because he was having fun with his million friends instead of running away for pulling a prank hoping to make only one.

   Nobody in this town would know us if it weren't for Chris.
It's times like these that even if he saw me and called me to stand next to him on the court, he would still feel very far away. And I think I'm the world's worst brother.

   Also, they would make me chase after the ball all day then fight me at the water tanks then I'd have to go to the closest sprinkles. Old Lady Beatrice will turn out to be secretly The Flash.
I'll leave these giants alone. For now.

   A few more turns and I wished I didn't leave those giants alone. Because now I'm about to face the biggest one. Maybe I should just run away...

   I shook my head. It's not like it's the first time I'm in trouble. I'm not scared. I took a deep breath and slowly, very slowly walked in. Not because I was afraid or anything. Just because I didn't want to wake the baby if he was napping. Yeah, that's it. I'll just walk to my room without anyone notice-

"Where do you think you're going?" I only needed five more steps. Five more steps to safety!
Should I run and hide? There is still time.

"Oh hi, mom." I turned to wave at her after remembering the last time I hid in the baby crib and the way she locked me there as my baby brother watched and laughed.