Back Home: A Beetlejuice Story

Chapter 7

Lydia

Miss Shannon's School for Girls is the smallest school in the world. Even though it connects three different towns together, there was never more than twenty-five people in one grade level. The guidance counselor is a nervous woman who peers over her wire-framed glasses.

"Now, Ms. Deetz, you've been officially unenrolled from Miss Shannon's School for Girls for the past three years, and you would have graduated last year if you had remained enrolled," she taps her pen against her desk while reading my files. "And if I'm reading this correctly, you're parents had us close your student status due to your disappearance."

"Yes, that's correct," I shift my feet nervously around the legs of the chair I'm sitting in.

"And you would like to receive information about taking the GED exam?"

"Yes."

She leans over and digs through some more files. "You'll have to read through these. And then sign this application document, and take these practice tests. The next test is in December. I recommend you turn the application in by next week in order to be sure that you can take the test then." She plops a large stack of papers down on her desk. "Is that all you needed?"

"Yes," I pick up the papers, hugging them to my chest with one arm. "Thank you so much for meeting with me."

"You're welcome. And, it is so nice to see you again, Ms. Deetz," She extends her hand which I give an enthusiastic shake.

"So did you get everything you needed?" Dad asks when I get back in the car. If I hadn't run away at fifteen, I would've been able to learn how to drive first.

"I did. I have to get the application turned in by next week in order to take the test in December." Dad begins the drive home once I buckle up.

"That's quite the stack of documents. If you need any help I'm always here, pumpkin."

"Yep." I stare out the window and listen to the radio. I don't want to risk fighting with Dad again about this. It's still a sensitive subject, and I don't want to fight during the car ride home.

"It's very exciting that you're going to get your GED, start getting back on track," Dad turns the radio down.

"Dad, I don't want to talk about this right now. We still aren't seeing eye to eye on this, and I don't want to fight." I cross my arms uncomfortably.

"We don't have to talk about what happens after your GED. I just want to know if you're excited to be getting on track."

"Yeah, yeah I am," I admit. "It's nice to have a clear direction back. Not be so lost."

"You're a strong girl, Lydia. You always have been. Ever since you were little, you would astound me and your mom away with how strong you were. Nothing could stop you from getting where you wanted to go. You're still the same. You'll get through this too." Dad shoots me a smile as he says this, and I smile back.

"Thanks, Dad."

I tap my pen against the desk. I had to kick Betelgeuse out of my room so I could focus, he was humming so much it was driving me nuts. Unfortunately, the song he was humming was now stuck in my head. I just wanted to get this application filled out so that it was done and I didn't have to worry about it for much longer. But, I can't focus at all now. I get up and try to find something else to do.

Down in the kitchen, the Maitlands are sat with Betelgeuse playing, from the looks of it, poker. And the Maitlands are definitely losing.

"Hey, Babes, come to be my good luck charm?" Betelgeuse asks, glancing up at me. He's got a large stack of poker chips in front of him that he absently plays with.