The Guide To Killing A Ghost

Plan Eight: How To Escape An Angry Mother 2

"I'll put extra bandages in your bag just in case you fall into another river again." Ms. Sonja, the school's old nurse said while writing something in her file.
She's also the same nurse in V and Chris's schools somehow.

I think she has the superpower to teleport.

"Felix!" I heard mom voice even before she pushed my bed curtain.

"Are you okay? What happened? Why are you covered in bandages?" She turned to Ms. Sonja out of breath. Her bag falling next to me on the bed.

"Is he okay? Do I need to take him to the hospital?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Nurse Sonja waved a hand in the air.

"Your son just wanted to sacrifice himself for the greater good but ended up being caught in the crossfire. He'll live." I stared at her a little trying to understand. Only because I heard a 'fire'.

One time I laughed when Dad yelled at Chris for not listening to the nurse after she taped his legs together. She had to keep telling him to sit when he had a swollen ankle. He said he couldn't understand and thought she kept asking him to get her a seat.
I understand him now.

But Mom answered her right away.
"Crossfire? What crossfire? Mr. Adam told me he jumped in the river on his own."
He said that? That little piece of-

"Well, to each their own, right?" Nurse Sonja smiled a creepy big smile. She kept it as she stared at us while closing the curtain all the way.

Mom looked at her like she had just told her something very important.
I guess witches understand other witches.

She snapped her head back to me.
"Are you really okay? Let's just go to the hospital to make su- "

"I'm fine. Ms. Sonja forced me to wear the bandages but it's just some bruises." What would everyone think of me if I went to the hospital after a few rocks?

"Just some bruises? It's just some bruises?" She repeated each word slowly. Her eyes looking everywhere on me.

"Yeah, I'm really really fine. No big deal." I said it to make her calm down. I really did.
But why did it do the opposite?

"Not a big deal? I had to drag your little sister and baby brother in their pajamas and leave them in the car alone so I could come here and check on you!"

"They're still in their pajamas?"
Man, I miss summer.

"Do you know how worried I was?!" Her hands flew in the air.

"I'm sorr-"

"If you are truly sorry then tell me what happened."

I stared down at my banded hands to think about what I should tell her. If I said the truth it would be like the first day at school all over again. She'll get mad or worse take me to see that evil doctor.

I took a deep breath.
"It's like what Mr. Adam said." I think I'm going to puke.

"You jumped in the river? On your own? Nobody told you to do so? You didn't sacrifice yourself for anyone?"

"Nope." I shook my head but then stopped when my neck broke.
Thankfully she didn't see that.

"Not the doper or the super or the hyper?"

"It's the super. And no, nobody did. Each class was on their own anyway."

"Why jump in the river then?" Mom crossed her arms.

"I ... wanted to take a swim." Yeah, people do that in rivers, right? It's not weird.

"You hate swimming."