I looked up at the stone arches because

I hadn't been to a school in five years because

Johnny wouldn't have let me go

But he got married and

Now Johnny doesn't have enough time for me and then

Mary(Johnny's wife) said to Johnny

"Don't worry she'll be fine and we'll have more alone time"

And he said

"Good idea honey and I'm sure that by now she's over it"

And I wasn't supposed to hear that but

The vents in our house are all connected and

They were talking kinda loud cause

They had had wine

I wasn't in the kitchen with them cause Jessica said

"Honey your brother and I need our alone time"

And I went upstairs because I know what alone time means

And when I came down the next day

Johnny had made pancakes and

He said

"Hey honey guess what you're going to school it's a boarding school in France"

And I nodded because good, I'm glad to get back to my education but really

Good, I'm glad to get out of this house because this house

This house, I don't like for a very good reason

And that reason is

I'm psychic which not everyone likes

And they call me psycho

But I'm not maybe Barry is he says he buried a farmer's daughter(alive) on our land

And he said

"You'll tell them right that I killed her because I feel so guilty"

And I just say yes, of course I will but I won't because

I don't know who they are I don't know why he feels guilty and

I live in Manhatten so Barry must be old

(Too old for people to remember)

But Jack

(He's one of my favorites)

says that it takes a special sort of person to say yes but not mean it

And Lizzie is like a mom to me she didn't do it she says

And I believe her because

She's so sweet she makes you feel like you matter

(Even if everyone says you don't)

And she cried when she heard about my parents and no one cries

About a house fire leaving a little girl orphaned unless

Someone knew how that felt so Lizzie

Must know.

But now I have to walk through those gates and

I can hear someone there

But they're not really there because

Someone walked right through the woman calling to me so

I sigh and

Walk through the gates and

Lizzie's next to me and

She's saying good luck just

Go to the factory if you need me because

Lizzie can't go on the grounds you see because

On schools only ghosts who went there can get on the grounds and Lizzie says

She didn't go to school so

I was alone without her when I went to school and after school

She would cry

(The way ghosts do)

And say sorry, I'm sorry, I should've gone

And I just say don't worry about it I don't mind but

I do mind like how I mind right now when a boy walks no runs into me and

Stays on top of me for a few seconds and we have eye contact

(Not much but now I know his deathnumber(041623)and I hate knowing that) so I

Push him off of me and

Some of his friends are giggling

But

One girl comes over and

She has long black hair and she's wearing pink and

She looks like my mom so I kind of stare at her while she helps me up and she asks

"Are you okay" and I

Nod because I can't say no I'm not because I'd go to the

Infirmary and ghosts hang out there and there's

Too many voices and I turn and the boy is talking to me and

"Sorry I wasn't watching where I was going are you okay"

And I nod because I can't say no I'm not because I'd go to the infirmary and

Ghosts always stay there to welcome new people in and he snaps

His fingers in my face

(Like that'll make me here him better)

And says

"Are you sure" and

He's holding my shoulders so I shake out of them and nod yes and then I

Realize my suitcase popped open and it was

The one with all my clothes in it and

Johnny says I'm an early bloomer so

You can guess and I'm

Hurrying to get it back in the suitcase and the boy blushes and

Closes his eyes and the two other boys do too but

The girls (three) help me get it all back in my suitcase and

I'm red

(Like Marie)

But not and I finally

Get all my clothes in my suitcase and have it shut and I hear Lizzie giggling and

The girl who helped me stand up says

"Hi I'm Sissi who are you"

And the two other girls roll their eyes like

How Sissi but I think

Sissi seems really nice

(Nicer than the boys)

So I say

"Beri Mae" real quiet cause

When I say that they call me

Pie and

June and

Mayberry and

Mah bury and

Berry sad and

Psycho but

(Not till later) but the girl smiles real big and says

"What a cute name are you looking for the principal's office" and

I nod yes but don't talk because I

Only say that one thing when I go to school because

My voice sounds real high like a

Powerpuff girl but

I'm not I'm barely a

(Normal)

Girl

But the girl(Sissi) smiles and says

"Here I'll show you where to go" and

I just follow her and she

Asks me questions like

"What grade are you in"

And I say

"Eighth" because even though I'm

Ten I still know a lot because

Lizzie and Jack and Barry and Marie all tell me about their life so I know

A lot about history and

Al, he's one of my best friends, he taught me about

Math and Science and then

Charlie he taught me about

Books and psychology and

Vinny he taught me about art and

Amadeus he taught me about music so I know

A lot about the world around and behind me and then Sissi says

"Okay we're here" when we get there and I just say

"Thanks" and I walk into is office and he sits there with his arms

Folded like he's disappointed in me but I make eye contact and he softens and says

"And you are" and I say

"I'm Beri Mae Finch" and he nods like I see and says

"Here is your room key and map and class schedule" and I nod because

Yes, thank you very much but really

So can I leave and he says

"Go ahead and get yourself settled in I'll have my daughter Sissi show you around" And

I realize that the girl who seems nice

(Sissi)

Is the principal's daughter and

That's why the other kids don't like her and I

Leave the office and Sissi says

"So I guess I'll show you around" and I nod because

Yes, that's what the principal said and she shows me my room

(I thank her) and I

Unpack and put up a poster and hear someone behind me say

"So this is the girl" and I

Turn around and see a woman

(Ghost) leaning against the wall because

Well, there's no other place and she says

"Hello" and I

Nod because I want to be polite and she smiles at me and says

"How do you like my daughter" and I say

"Who" and she says

"Sissi" and I say

"She's really nice" and the woman says

"You remind her of her sister her sister died when she drowned in the river" I say

"Could I meet her" and the woman sighs and says

"I haven't seen her yet but you might be able to" and I nod and the woman turns sad

"Should I go" she asks and I say

"Yes please" and the woman nods and floats down through the floor and I am happy she's gone because I still have to unpack.