The secrets of Gettyson preschool

Chapter 14

"So, JJ," the school counselor started, "your teacher sent you to me because he noticed you were awfully distracted, looking everywhere and crying randomly. What's wrong?"

JJ took a breath, then said, "I've...been somewhere and seen things I can never unsee."

"Where and what?" the counselor asked. "I can't do much to help you unless you open up."

"I've been to an abandoned warehouse," JJ lied. "There were dead guys there, and a drug dealer tried to kill me. I barely escaped with my life."

"Well, JJ, I don't know why you went to an abandoned warehouse in the first place, but that's not why you're here. You obviously had a very traumatizing experience, and it seems like you could do with some relaxing time. Go to the cafeteria and wait for lunch. When it's over, go and call your mom, tell her I said to pick you up. Spend the rest of the week at home to heal mentally, and I'll make sure it doesn't count against you."

"Wow, thanks," JJ exclaimed as he got up and went to the new cafeteria.

When lunch arrived, he got his lunch and went to see Maralyssa in her voodoo-practicing room.

"Hey, voodoo doll," JJ said as he sat down. "I need someone to talk to, someone I trust."

"Well, I guess I'm here," Maralyssa replied.

After JJ explained everything that went down at that underground preschool, she asked if his mom knew about it. JJ said that she did, even though she thought he was a little crazy. "She also said I'm lucky to have such a good friend who would return the bike to her when I wasn't able to," JJ said. "I wonder who it was..."

He looked at Maralyssa, who was smiling.

"It was you?" he asked, shocked and surprised.

"Indeed it was," Maralyssa replied, not taking that smile off of her face. "You see, when you told me that you were gonna die, I took the liberty of going to that mechanics place. I told them you sent me to pick up the bike, and they said they couldn't do anything with it. I took it and pushed it until no one could see me, and then I fixed it."

"But how? If they couldn't...oh," JJ said, suddenly remembering that she could do magic better than he could.

"Anyway," Maralyssa went on, "after I fixed it, I brought it to your mother. And I know what you're thinking, but I only told her I was your friend, and nothing more than that. She thanked me and asked me if I knew what was happening with you. I told her that you called me and told me, and then she hugged me and sent me on my way."

"So, she has her bike back, and she's got me back," JJ said to himself.

"I know you'll be going home soon and won't be back until Monday, and I hope your mind gets well soon."

"Uh, thanks, Maralyssa," JJ replied, surprised that she was saying something like this.

When the bell rang, he went straight to the office and called his mom to pick him up. She understood what was going on, so she picked him up and took him home, assuring him that he was safe with her.