What she sees

1 - What I see

I sometimes wish I was normal. I sometimes wish that I didn't see these things that other people don't see, but then sometimes, I like to think that I have a special sort of gift.

*

"So, how was school today?"

"Okay, I guess. Better than yesterday anyway."

"No one else has been giving yer grief, have they? I'll sort 'em out, just you watch."

"No, really, it's fine, they didn't bother me."

"Like you could do anything anyway, Margaret."

"Ey, I can do things that they couldn't even begin to understand."

"What? Blow their bedroom door open?"

I'm trying to do my Maths homework but I'm being distracted by two old women arguing about what they can and can't do supernaturally. Just then, my door swings open, and a head peeps around it.

"Who are you speaking to, sweetie?"

"What?"

"You w... I heard you speaking to someone?"

"No I wasn't?" I hated to baffle my mum like this, but I just do what I've gotta do. The poor woman probably thinks she's going crazy, or she should do by now.

"Probably just your TV or something." Mum says, waving a hand in the air and leaving my room. My eyes flick to my TV, which isn't even on. I turn to Margaret and Adelaide and shoot them an unimpressed look, though I know it's not their fault really.

"So are you actually planning on telling the old bird one of these days?" Margaret asks me in her strong Manc accent.

"Why would I ever want to do that?" I ask her.

"It'd stop all of these awkward situations where she comes up 'ere and acts as if either you, or 'er is goin' crazy, don't yer think?" For once, old Madge has a point.

"Oh, stop it, Margaret, Emily will tell people when she's ready."

"Well, it's been 16 years, you'd think she'd be ready by now.."

"I'm still here, you know!" I interrupt Margaret with. Her words come out of the side of her mouth quietly, like she doesn't want me to hear. That completely failed, she's stood right in front of me, and she's hardly the quietest person ever. "Look, I'll tell people when I feel the time is right." I say, turning back to my desk to complete my homework. Though I'd rather listen to these two bicker on to be honest.

"Guys, I'll be back in a sec, imma just go get a drink." I say, jumping up and heading for my bedroom door.

"Wait, aren't you gunna offer us anythin'?!" Margaret shouts to me. Would it matter if I did anyway? I run down the stairs, only to see good old John at the bottom, just staring at the coats on their hooks.

"Oh, 'ello there, Emily!" he says, looking up at me, a smile on his wrinkled face.

"Hey, John." I whisper, smiling back and walking into the front room. Mum's sat there on the couch, watching a recording of Loose women and tucking into a box of chocolates. The woman eats so much of the stuff, I wonder how she's still skinny. Well, I'm one to talk, I'm not much different.

"Hey, mum." I say, walking into the kitchen. I receive a muffled "Hey, Em." and I smile and shake my head, though she can't see me. I pull the litre bottle of Orangina down from the top and I shake it... to wake it. I put the bottle down on the side and get a glass out from a cupboard, and I slowly start to twist the lid from the bottle, trying to avoid an explosion.