The Life and Afterlife of Casper McFadden of Whipstaff Manor

A/N: I do not own Casper or any of his friends, etc. I do own Angel Precious "Angellie" Darnell, and Shadow, the dog.

Memo Note: A footnote can be found at the bottom of the page it's about Casper's name meaning.

Prologue

Opening Poem

'The highlights of faded out old memories
that were only locked away inside a dusty old scrapbook.
Time passed away and years faded with it all together.
Only the shadowing memories remained of a ghost,
and his former life as a 12-year-old boy.
Moreover, this isn't the time to get too emotional
because we're going back in time to where it all began.
To where things were happy and full of joy
and laughter filled the air around us...
Round you and I.
Back to the beginning of a new year!'

January 1st, 1895 - May 14th, 1896

This may seem like a journal entry, but I want to keep track of forgotten things... Like the day, he and I had fun making snowmen and having snowball fights with the neighborhood children.
The snowball fight was fun and it brought joy to me when I saw him smile. "Casper, over here!" A neighborhood girl yelled. Casper throw a snowball her direction; however, she dodged and teased him about it. "Ha ha! You missed me!"
"Carol, stop teasing him!" I exclaimed and unexpectedly he throw a snowball my way. "Casper!" I announced as I prepared a snowball to throw back at him.
The snowball hit him in the back of the neck, and he gave that chilly dance. (That wasn't cool and it was embarrassing for me to hit him in the neck. 'Talk about your pain in the neck moments' or 'a cold one' in any case.)
"Angellie!" Casper called. "Yes? Sorry about that, Casp!" I called back as I ducked another snowball to the face. Everyone was laughing and having fun even Casper and I. Then all the parents started calling us all in for lunch.

"See ya later, Casper," I replied romantically.
"You too, Angellie," Casper replied politely.

He was 11-years-old, but he was going to be 12-years-old within December. He and I had late birthdays that came later in the year. We were born in December, but I was born the 31st and he was born the 14th.
As time passed within the next month on St. Valentine's Day (Feb.14th). I gave Casper a special valentine made with love and deep respect of friendship for him. The valentine had a special key that unlocked a special door or locket or who knows what...?
I found it lying on the ground sometime ago; so, I decided to give it to him to hang onto for now. After Valentine's Day came St. Patrick's Day, we made sure to all wear green because otherwise it's so not cool.
Next came April Fool's Day, everyone pulled pranks on each other, but Casper and I we just skipped out on this holiday altogether. Oh and on July 4th we spent watching the fireworks together. (So, romantic.) They were so beautiful under the starry night sky. When Halloween came along we dressed up as ghost. The costumes were so convening, but we told everyone it was just a costume.
Next came Thanksgiving, I told Casper that I was thankful for having him as my best friend, and we had dinner at our homes. Finally, it was Casper's birthday (he was 12-years-old today). I gave him another special gift it wasn't much; however, it took me awhile to make it. The gift was a hat, gloves, and a scarf.

"Thanks, Angellie!" Casper said almost wanting to kiss my cheek.

I gave him a surprise kiss on his cheek instead. He blushed four shade of red. "You're welcome, Casper," I told him as I headed towards my house.
A few days later on December 24th, Christmas Eve. Casper's day, Mr. McFadden, gave him a new sled. Casper rode it all day until dusk when he got sick. I saw him from my bedroom window.
I noticed that he looked sick. His dad came to take him in at last, but was it too late?! I ran outside to talk to Casper, but his dad stopped me and insisted that I went home. Sadly, I did.

"Casper, get well soon, please!?" I plead.

Days later, I found out that he had pneumonia. (A type of illness that keeps people bedridden and mostly children catch it and usually they don't survive the illness unless they are lucky enough to over come it.) Praying for one to get well is all one can do in times like these.
Days later still, I received very, very bad news! I heard that my very best friend, Casper, had just passed away today! "No!" I thought with teary eyes. After I heard about this news, I went running to my bedroom and crashed landed on my bed straight into my pillow; sobbing.

"Casper, no! No, it can't be... No!" I said sobbing into my pillow.

There was a knock at the door. "Casper?" I asked with high hopes. "Nope. It's just me, Mr. McFadden. May I come in, Miss Darnell?" He asked. "Sure, come on in," I replied. As he came in to my room, he gave me a long talk about Casper, and he gave me a present. He said that Casper wanted to give it to me for Christmas, but he never did because of the pneumonia.
Mr. McFadden also said that I could visit Casper's grave whenever I liked to pay him a visit of respect and that I had a place in the McFadden graveyard; if, I want to be buried there beside Casper. I said that would be a great honor to be next to Casper. Mr. McFadden understood how much I loved Casper, but Casper never knew how much his dad and I loved him.
I visited his grave site everyday or chance I got. I brought him three types of roses from my flower garden: a white rose for purity, a yellow rose for friendship, and a red rose for love. A rose was engraved at the bottom right of the headstone.
Casper and I had fun with our dog, Shadow. He was my dog, but I shared him with Casper, so he became our dog. There is no more to discuss about this subject, but that he too was buried nearby. Of course, on one of my visits to the graveyard I felt strange and the day was so beautiful to not feel good. I finally got to Casper's headstone and everything went pitch black; dark even.

Angellie's Last Memory

`My best friend had just passed away,
and we had such a fun time filled
with tons of laughter in the years
and years before. However,
I'm sure we'll have fun in the years
to come if there be anymore.`

Dusty Old Scrapbook, torn pages (received)

Angellie's Memory poem

`We will have many more memoirs* together,
and many more memories in the future. I just know it,
but will we remember the memories that already came before?
I know, we'll make new ones for sure!`

*memoirs are "memories" or "reminisce"

Angellie's Valentine's poem

`Roses grow red.
Violets grow blue.
I know, I always be true to you!`
To my beloved friend, Casper
From Angellie

(6th grade, Friendship Elementary, Feb.14, 1895)

~ The End of Prologue ~

Footnote: Casper means "Treasurer," "Master of the Treasure," and more.

About the Gravestones: Casper McFadden, beloved son of Mr. and Ms. McFadden. 'He'll be missed, but he'll always be remembered.' ~ Born 12/14/1883 - Died 12/29/1895 :: Angel Precious Darnell, "Angellie", in beloved memories forever more... ~ Born 12/31/1883 - Died 05/14/1896 :: Mr. Walton McFadden, beloved husband, inventor, father, and friend. ~ Born 07/21/1862 - Died 05/05/1912 :: Ms. MaryAnn McFadden, beloved wife, mother, and friend. ~ Born 04/21/1863 - Died 12/14/1883 :: Marcus Mathew McFadden, "Stretch", beloved older brother. ~ Born 08/24/1860 - Died 02/18/1910 :: Edwin Heinz McFadden, "Stinkie", sneaky little brother who is always full of jokes and pranks. ~ Born 01/01/1864 - Died 06/17/1904 :: Eugene Elliot McFadden, "Fatso", middle brother. [Eat a salad... Fatso: "What!] ~ Born 07/04/1963 - Died 10/15/1908.