Chapter 2 That morning, Norman
14 year-old Norman reached around until he found the button and slammed it to silence the undead sounds of his alarm clock. Norman groaned and rolled out of bed. Today was the first day of high school for Norman, and he was not looking forward to it. Even though he'd saved the town of Blithe Hallows from zombies and a witch's ghost, three years ago, the hero effect had long worn off and he was an outcast again.
"Better this over get this over with." Norman muttered slipping out of bed and into his zombie slippers. He slowly walked to the door and into the hall.
"Good morning sunshine." said a cheery voice behind him.
"Hi Grandma." replied Norman, turning around to look at her. His ghost of a grandmother, in her pink sweatshirt, grinned at her grandson and said,
"Now why do you look so glum Norman? You're going to school aren't you? You're going to see your friends, and no longer be lonely."
"That's just it, I am going to high school, I have no friends to see, and I will still be lonely. I'm still an outcast!" Norman sighed and walked into the bathroom. He picked up the comb and tried to make his hair look nicer. But the brown spikes refused to stay down. Norman then picked up his electric toothbrush. The switch was flipped and it began whirring around on his teeth. Norman tried his best zombie imitation, and spit out the white foam. He shuffled back into the hall and down the stairs. Norman walked into the kitchen, it and found it empty.
"Where is everyone?" he asked to no one in particular. He could hear his grandmother in the other room watching a horror movie, but other than that it was silent. He sat down at the table and found three notes waiting for him. One read, Dear Norman, Had to be at work early. Made you some toast. Don't be nervous about school. Mom. He looked at the ashes of what used to be bread.
"I guess its cereal, again." Norman muttered as he threw the ashes away. When he'd fixed himself a bowl of Rocking Rice cereal, Norman read the other letters. One was from, his dad saying he was at the airport picking up two foster kids that would be staying with them for a month. The other one said that his sister, Courtney, was at the "library studying".
"Yeah right." said Norman as he finished the rest of his milk. He placed the dishes in the sink and continued getting ready. He got dressed. He pulled on his lucky hoodie, and a simple pair of jeans. He stuffed his backpack with the usual school stuff and his favorite zombie book. He said "Good bye" to his ghost of a grandma and walked out the door.
"Heeey Norman!" said the bad boy as he reclined on the curb.
"How's it going?" he replied to the ghost.
"Does anyone smell fire?" asked the hairdryer lady.
"Nope!" replied Norman grinning. At least among the dead he wasn't an outcast. He was friends with almost every ghost in town, including the dead cats and dogs. But, among the living, where he was supposed to be, he was a freak, an outcast, a loner. Few remembered what he had done for the town, and those who did, used it against him. They called him a witch, a monster; some begged him to hunt ghosts, to lure them into traps, and find out what death is like. But Norman refused, but only to keep the few friends he had. Neil had moved away, Alvin now bullied Norman, and Courtney, she acted like she had always acted. She tried to pretend he wasn't her brother.
As Norman walked down the road, he wondered if anyone new would be at school. Would anyone be like him? Unlikely. But, Norman hoped nonetheless. Soon he was standing across the road from a busy high school. Norman pulled up his hood and tried to hide from others by looking average. By doing so, he couldn't see where he was going.