School Daz
In a Madison, Wisconsin educational institution, an English educator was in the midst of a lecture regarding Edgar Alan Poe. Today they're covering his renowned "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Three kids in the back row were occupied taking notes. Well, the two girls were engaged in taking written notes. The young African-American bespectacled male was trying to cheat. In a sense, he continued utilizing a digital device to take notes instead of writing them down.
The girl with amethyst eyes scowled at her friend. Only yesterday, their teacher, Ms. Lancer, warned him regarding utilizing his PDA instead of writing them down. Ms. Lancer remained a strict educator who didn't take any guff from anyone. She demanded her pupils to punctual, homework completed, moreover, no mischievousness in her classroom, period.
Therefore, virtually everyone respected her. Otherwise, they get detention. No one at this educational institution knew that Ms. Lancer had a brother. Her brother taught at Casper High back in Amity Park, where the three students in question were originally from. Ms. Lancer locked her copper eyes on the back row. She addressed the boy in question. "Mr. Foley?" she spoke sharply.
"Huh?" the teenager clad in royal purple and blue attire looked up. His one beaded plait nearly knocked his spectacles off his face from how fast his head snapped up.
"Mr. Foley, what did I tell you yesterday about using your PDA in class?" demanded the diminutive ash-blond.
"Umm..." he stuttered, and the teacher's mouth thinned even more. A sure sign she wasn't to be crossed.
"Not to use it. I won't have you send out cheat notes in my classroom. Hand it over, and you have dentition after school today—no buts!" as she held out her hand for it.
Giving over his device seemed to kill him essentially, but he did it. Then he got out his notebook and commenced taking notes by hand. His two friends looked at each other exasperated. After class, the trio went to their lockers to get their books for study hall. "Honestly, Tucker, Ms. Lancer, warned you countless times not to use your PDA!" scolded Sam, distinctly irritated with her friend.
Her short raven hair was in pigtails, her accessories matching her eyes. Looking luscious in her burgundy corset, tight-fitting jet black leather jeans with purple pinstripe and spiked footwear. The other girl was a curvy African-American garbed in chartreuse and tangerine top and skort with matching ankle boots and a ribbon pulling back her dark hair.
All three of them wore on their right wrist a gemstone bracelet. The up-to-the-minute trend were these cool crystal bracelets from this shop in town called "Leta's Alternative World Shop." Crystals and crystal healing was currently the thing for the teenage population. Not everyone could remember everything the gems did. However, Leta's shop had been sold out for weeks, with how many kids bought her bracelets for various reasons.
"It's so painful, though! To practice such ancient stuff when you can look up anything on the Internet!" he whined, and his friends were not impressed.
"You know you're fortunate you only got detention for today, Tuck. It could've been worse."
"Sam's correct, Tucker. After all, they've grounds to be concerned. Given last year they'd someone distribute cheat notes via a device during finals. Therefore, if you don't want to be expelled, learn to take notes the old-fashion way," Valarie chided him, pausing for a moment to check her reflection.
"Fine, I'll do things the old fashion way. If it gets Ms. Lancer off my back, I won't even use a study aid," Tucker concedes defeat as he collected his books.
"Good, because you know how she hates those too. Now, let's get our books quickly. I won't be late to study hall and have to get an earful from my unreasonably jaunty parents regarding my grades slipping," shivered Sam as she seized her books.
Nine years since the three of them had relocated from Amity Park to Madison. Each lived in a phenomenal residence courtesy of the celebrated Vladco corporation which all their parents had some connection.
None of the trios liked to flaunt the fact each of them was pretty loaded. As if the popular, conceited, narcissistic sleazebags weren't bad enough. They didn't need any of them sucking up to them because they'd green.
They made it to study hall on time, with them sitting at their usual table once again in the back of the classroom. Subsequently, the teacher made sure everyone was there. They're told to commence studying.
Again no engineering science, no gabfest, no-nonsense. Just poring over their notes while quizzing each other as they studied. The three opened their books and started to quiz each other regarding calculus, English, and chemical science. Geez, how fun made that sound?
Since Tuck had detention after school, Sam and Val said they meet him at their preferred hangout in an hour. An hour later, the girls were joined by Tucker and two middle school girls.
One girl had chin-length strawberry blond hair, brownish-yellow eyes, and light black skin. She'd stylish specs, a dark pink jacket, cream top, cyan skirt, and awesome footwear. Her friend's lengthy auburn locks were pulled back in a French braid. Her large blue-green eyes complimented her white hoodie and cyan and lilac skirt.
"How things going at the high school?" the girl with glasses asked as she sipped her raspberry smoothie. The kids' favorite haunt in town was called the Groove Shack. A bit retro in design, yet excellent food and music. Also, not incredibly pricey.
"Tucker got detention for using his PDA to take notes instead of writing them down," Val informed Brook, who looked pityingly at Tucker. "Tucker, when will you learn? Honestly, my mom goes super lawyer on you if you leaked crucial data."
"Maman, a police officer, she makes it clear laws are made to be followed, not broken. Mamma is also rigorous when it comes to rules." Dominique pointed out as she enjoyed her smoothie.
Since she had two moms, she used the French and Swedish terms for "Mom" to clarify which mother she was speaking about. The small group envied that Dominique was a polyglot, meaning she could speak multiple languages perfectly. She knew English, French, Swedish, and Hindi. Not to mention she could do ASL as well. Never knew when you'd run into a deaf person. Dominique had been attempting to help them all learn new languages. She'd even been striving to teach all their friends ASL. So far, it is slow going, but she refused to give up.
The pre-teen fingers felt tingly, so she concentrated. All of a sudden, Tucker's pocketbook appeared on the table. "Hey, what did you do?" he demanded as he opened his wallet to make sure everything was there.
Dominique sighed softly before explaining. "You left your wallet in the public lavatory. I used apportation to summon it before someone made off with it."
"That is so freaky!" the tech geek exclaimed. Truthfully, all three of them were still getting used to the two junior high pre-teens' freaky capabilities.
"It's just part of us having Ghost Genes," Brooke reminded them modestly. To show off her powers ever so subtly, she used telekinesis to rearrange the table's flatware.
Ghost Genes were sporadic mutations in humans that granted them paranormal abilities. Therefore, people who'd psychic powers or other supernatural capabilities were all a result of a Ghost Gene. Like any mutation, you never had any idea when it pops up. Nor what abilities would crop up with it. Lilith, the Keeper of Spirits, had been a prodigy when she was alive with her Ghost Gene's abilities. Now for the first time in over two millennia, Brook and Dominique were the first prodigies. Given they'd have every ability, you'd possibly have. Not to mention an innate aptitude for it.
This small gaggle was part of the select few who knew about ghosts and the Ghost Zone. When they'd relocated to Wisconsin, they'd made friends with the Masters kids and learned regarding the other universe through them. Valarie and Tucker have been marked by their significant others, Desire, and Techna. Sam's best girlfriend, Prima, had marked her. Even nine years later, they're still astonished moreover learning about this unique realm, including their friends who lived in it.
"So what are we doing this long weekend?" Sam inquired, given all the schools had a three-day weekend due to a teacher conference.
"Well, given our friends have the same long weekend and its spoiler weekend, I thought we all go see the movie with them," Valarie suggested.
What that meant was at the Haunted Theater in the Ghost Zone, they'd be showing a movie that wouldn't be made or released for several years on Earth. The Ghost Zone had ways to glean things from the future. Because they're Marked or had Ghost Genes, they're allowed in Ghost Zone as long as they'd a chaperon of some type. Warden Walker was still a stickler for rules.
The Ancients had difficulty getting him to understand some of their laws regarding Ghost Genes and Marked people. He wasn't particularly tolerant of humans being in the realm, but unless he desired to lose his job, he'd to abide by them himself. Everyone knowledgeable of the Ghost Zone was well acquainted with the Ancient Laws.
1. Everyone will respect each other boundaries. Meaning everyone has their own home and space that their own, and the other ghost will respect their boundaries and space like how here on Earth we can't trespass or things of that nature.
2. Ghost is allowed a certain amount of Ghostly Money per month, and it's illegal to steal money or exceed that amount by any means not approved by the Ghost Bank and the Miser. Like how we are supposed to obey our own financial rules and not commit fraud.
3. All Ghost Children must attend each of the ghost schools and obey their schools' rules.
4. No ghost kid can be out after curfew, which is the Ghost Zone hour of 10:00.
5. Birthday Truce. Same rules on a ghost's birthday as Christmas. Meaning on that ghost's birthday, no one can harm them or do violence, and at their birthday party, they must be truly treated as a guest of honor.
6. Christmas Truce, we know that one.
7. All Forbidden Locations are forbidden for a reason and are made well known from the earliest age and why people aren't to venture there.
8. Love Laws. All relationships are accepted in the ghost zone, and marriage is legal to anyone, unlike earth, and wedding days are also truce days.
9. Zero Tolerance- can't bring illegal human stuff like drugs, alcohol or smoke, or other hazardous items back to the ghost zone from the human world.
10. Ghost Children become Legal adults like humans at age 18.
11. There is a Ghost court of justice used in extreme cases but again, only in extreme cases if the ancient laws are broken only.
12. Murder is forbidden.
Other well-known laws included the following.
Ghost Zone to Human world laws- similar to getting a passport and immigration laws. With rules, written tests, and practical tests.
Mandatory Therapy- Everyone in the Ghost Zone must have therapy to deal with their unresolved issues, so no one goes rogue.
Stander Laws- you know we all know about stealing, property damage, and things we all know are known crimes everywhere globally.
Bullying and Abuse laws- like our laws on any type of abuse or bullying, including cyberbullying
Copyright Laws- not honoring the copyright laws of human entertainment or even Ghost Zone products
Black Market laws- illegal dealing within the Ghost Zone or with humans
In fact, currently, at the high school in the Ghost Zone, Jazz's class was taking an exam in Government class to see if they'd remember all of them. Jazz's classmates were Johnny 13, Kitty, Ember, Sidney Poindexter, Kai, Empathy, Draven, and Sage. Her brother's class was Prima, Hunter, Vanity, Desire, Techna. Her little sister's class in junior high was Aidan, Gale, and Ollie. Jazz was in her ghost form was like her siblings. Snow-white hair, green eyes, plus wearing a black and white outfit. Her outfit consists of a crop top with a JP with matching capri pants. Like her mother and sister, her midriff showed, plus gloves and boots.
Jazz was known as the most intelligent student ever to attend any of the Ghost Zone schools. She'd an A+ average and was a known teacher's pet. She tried hard not to flaunt her brainpower. However, schoolwork had always come easy to her.
This is why she wasn't concerned with how she do on the pop quiz she was currently taking. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Johnny, Kitty, and Ember having a hard time. Sidney didn't seem to worry since he got good marks. Kai, Empathy, and Draven also had pretty good marks. However, it was Sage that was Jazz's top competition for class valedictorian.
Sage being the child of the Ancient of Wisdom and Ghostwriter, was naturally gifted at school assignments. Though on the shy side, his test scores were the same as Jazz. They had a friendly rivalry, with each pushing the other to do their best.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Jazz hurried to her locker to get her things. She'd swim practice at 4, so she needed to get home immediately. However, her locker was giving her trouble yet again. "Come on. I can't be late! Open!" she grappled with getting it open. Soft footsteps approached, and a shy voice asked, "You need some help, Jasmine?"
Turning around, she saw it was Sage. "Oh, hi, Sage. Yeah, my locker is holding my books hostage. I'm in a hurry because I've got swim practice when I get home."
"Give me a moment," as he magically seemed to get her locker open. Jazz beamed, "Thanks, Sage! You're a lifesaver!" as she grabbed her books and was about to leave when Sage blurted out.
"Do you want to come to my house to study sometime?" blushing terribly as the words left his lips.
Stopping in her track, she looked at him. Sage resembled Ghostwriter. Neon green eyes, navy blue hair, light gray skin, dressed like a college student in gray, blue, and purple. He was also the tallest and skinniest person in her class. Jazz truthfully had been crushing on him since the sixth grade. She'd admired his intelligence and pacific nature. Enjoying seeing his creative thinking literally come to life.
Still, she wasn't too sure how to approach him on how she felt. After all, being the child of an Ancient meant his powers were much stronger then hers. Also, she herself was a hybrid and thus different from others.
Still, she couldn't deny a twinge of excitement at the thought of going to his domicile. Well, technically, she'd been there before. Cognite and Ghostwriter resided in an apartment above the library where Ghostwriter worked. Naturally, she'd been there many times, though not into the living quarters. That thought alone made her elated. She was about to answer when her watch beeped, reminding her she needed to get home.
"We'll talk later, Sage, I promise. But I can't miss my ride home! See you! Bye!" flying to the family spectral limo to take her and her siblings home. Yes, they're supernatural school buses for kids who didn't live close to the educational institution. However, the Masters children were all picked up and dropped off in their spectral limo. They'd need two limo drivers, one for Earth and the other for the Ghost Zone. The spectral limo looked like a long black hover limo—something you might see in a sci-fi movie.
When Jazz got in, she saw her brother and sister were there. Her brother's ghost form was frequently compared to anime characters. His shoulder-length snow-white hair was loose, and that was only the beginning of his sexy appearance. His outfit consisted of a long jet-black cape, white belt buckle collar, skintight sleeveless black shirt, and pants. He wore knee-high black and white boots, white elbow-length gloves. Finally, black belts around his biceps and thighs. On his chest was his Mark. "DP" Danielle's outfit was the same as the timeline when she was simply a clone. Not that anyone in this reality outside the Ancients knew that.
"So, how was your guys' day at school?" Jazz inquired as they're flown home.
"Ugh, I loath having Albert Einstein as my mathematics teacher! I've never been competent at math! Having him as my math teacher is a nightmare!" her little brother groaned.
"Well, at least I don't get him until I'm in high school," Danielle pipped up. Instead, she said, "The subject I'm unsuccessful in is biological science. It never seems to make sense to me. Yeah, Gale strives to help me understand it, as he's my lab partner, but its not clicking in my brain."
The hybrid siblings shortly arrived home within their family's concealed laboratory. Their mother, Magdalene, was waiting for them. Today she wore a plum shoulderless top, white slacks, and sling-back heels. Always looking beautiful no matter what she wore.
The kids promptly transformed back to their human forms. Each of them sexy and stylish as their mother. Jazz wore a ruby pink short-sleeved shirt with matching accessories, shoes with lavender pants.
Danny's long black hair was tied back in a ponytail. He wore a black t-shirt with white cuffs with a white vest with black pockets over it — black jeans with a white pinstripe, black and white ankle boots, and wrist-length fingerless white gloves.
Danielle a pair of pale-denim, high-waisted skinny jeans and a creme-white cotton crop top with long, loose sleeves.
"Hello, my children. How was school today?" their mother inquired politely, to which she got mixed replies. Jazz did excellently on a pop quiz, Danny required a math tutor. Moreover, Danielle was grappling with biology.
"Well, we'll look into getting you both tutors. Thus let's have a quick snack before I drop off Jazz and Danielle at practice. Danny? I'd like you in the meantime to practice the piano. You haven't practice in a week. I don't want you to lose your gift."
"What about Jazz and Danielle? We ordinarily have music lessons together."
"Again, I've to drop them off for swimming and gymnastic training. So today you'll have to practice by yourself. Remember, you're to do your homework immediately after dinner.
Once you've completed your homework, we'll meet in the holosuit for Bible study. Now, I've got your favorite sandwiches waiting for you in the kitchen. So let's get to it," as they left the concealed science laboratory after locking it up properly once more. After having a ham sandwich, Danny headed to the music conservatory to practice the piano, while his mother took his sisters to an Olympic training center to train.
Danny wasn't jealousy of his sisters having talent in athleticism. He was quite proud of his skills in astronomy, which neither had a knack for. Jazz may've talent in literature and Danielle when it came to fine art, but he was thrilled with what he excelled at.
Though their mother made sure all of them realized their potential when it came to music. Jazz played the flute, him the piano, and Danielle the violin. Having the best teachers money could buy helped them outstandingly when it came to their music lessons.
They'd been poring over the work of renowned composers recently. Last week it was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This week it was Johann Sebastian Bach. Danny may be dreadful at mathematics, but he could play Bach easily.
Two and a half hours later, it was time for dinner. The family took pleasure in some international dishes their chefs concocted for them today. Like always, the food was mixed with bits of ghost food to keep both sides healthy. Dinner was followed by an hour of doing homework before the family of five met in the holosuit to have their Bible study.
"Shall we go over again tonight lessons?" she was asking them as they sat in a group around a campfire. The holosuit Bible study simulation took place at a campsite. It was so delightful to have this kind of bonding experience, even if it was just in a super-advanced holographic environment.
"Can we have some more to eat first before we go over the lessons again, please, Mom?" pleaded her son with big adorable eyes.
"Okay, okay. Let's enjoy the food: freshly caught trout, some hot dogs, and trail-mix. Vlad, I'm so exhilarated you are preparing the food and plan for this night," as she watched her lover handled the food as if he had done this a dozen times before. He just chuckled at her while flashing his pearly whites at her.
"Of course I did, Mag. I never plan a vacation for the family without planning for everything in advance," as he served the food to his family.
The beautiful sounds of nature filled the air, and all was peaceful and wonderful for the tiny family of three as they enjoyed the food from the campfire. After they had eaten their fill, Magdalene brought out her prayer book again and started to reread some prayers and passages.
"Now again, let's do another pray dealing with our anger. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 NIV.
Together, they all bowed their heads and said, "Father, with Your help, I can overcome evil with good. When I am angry and overwhelmed by hurt, my first response is to lash out, fight back, and get even. But I know that You are pleased when I seek Your peace and trust You to help me focus on unconditional love and forgiveness. Give me a heart big enough to choose good, to bless and not retaliate, and to look for the hidden blessing in the midst of every difficult situation. Amen."
"Now, what are the tools we use when we get angry? How do we calm down and manage our anger?" Magdalene asked her family encouragingly, and she could see her family was thinking hard.
"We start doing deep breathing exercises. Squeeze a stress ball. Think sunny thoughts." Vlad replied to his love's question. She flashed her pearly whites at him to show she was satisfied with his answer.
Then she gazed upon her son with a hopeful smile. "Good, good. Danny, what do you do when you start to get angry? What are the signs to show you are getting angry?"
"My body tenses up. I get racing thoughts and start obsessing. My whole body language shifts to show me getting defensive," the teenage answered as he played with his long, raven black hair.
"Good that you recognize what the physical signs are. Now again, what can we all do to get rid of our anger or work it off?"
"Leave the room where the source of anger is. Go for a walk or do some other form of exercise," Jazz replied promptly as she made a cat's cradle with ectoplasmic energy in her hands.
"Write out all the bad feelings or listen to my favorite songs. Wash my face or shower as water as music and water are very therapeutic, Danielle also answered promptly, and Magdalene beamed, extremely satisfied with their answers.
"Both are excellent answers! Furthermore, I'm delighted that you all comprehend what tools are accessible to you. Have you been practicing them when we've not been together?" she questioned her family. Everyone nodded their heads to her making her feel even more thrilled and happy.
"Yes, Mom/Mag. We've been doing our homework. We've not shirked from our responsibilities to you," the family replied to their wife and mother. They would not disappoint the one they loved so much more then she knew.
"Good, excellent. Now let us revisit another passage on forgiveness, shall we?" as she flipped the little yellow book in her lap. She stopped on a page and began to read clearly from it.
"Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. He is kind to the unthankful and evil" Luke 6: 35
Again, the Masters bowed their heads in prayer and began to recite the prayer from the book in Magdalene's lap. "Father, You are kind to all of us. When I feel that I have been sinned against, I need only to look into my own heart to see that I struggle with the same sins. Father, I thank You that You are generous and forgiving to us all. You forgive those who trespass against me. But even more, you forgive me when I am at my worst. Because of Your mercy, I choose to be merciful too. Amen."
"Now, are there any other prayers we need to do tonight? Do we need one for conflict? Doubt? Frustration? Guidance? Help? Mercy? Patience? Stress? Suffering? Temptations? Tragedy? Truth? Wisdom? Worry?" listing some of the subjects out of her book "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares."
"Well, maybe not the prayers. But could you read the passages for those things, beloved?" Vlad requested, and she nodded. "Sure, I can do that.
"Let's see, here's the passage on When I need help amidst conflict. "Owe no one anything except to love another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13: 8
For doubt, "So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper: I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrew 13:6
Frustration "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." 1 Peter 2: 15
Guidance: "Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you to the right hand, Or whenever you turn to the left." Isaiah 30: 21
Help: "God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
Mercy: "Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7
Patience: "The testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:3
Stress: "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses." Psalm 107:19
Suffering: "I will ascribe justice to my Maker. Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you. Job 36:3-4 NIV
Temptations: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Tragedy: "Upon the upright, there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious and full of compassion, and righteous." Psalm 112:4
Truth: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8: 32
Wisdom: "Wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her." Proverbs 8:11
Worry: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way of everlasting." Psalms 139:23- 24," and with that, Mag closed her prayer book and looked at her family to see if the words of God had done them any good.
"So did any of the words of the Creator help either of you?" she inquired in a voice that made her sound just like she was a messenger from the Almighty herself.
"It has given us plenty to reflect regarding these last couple of days for certain, Mom. A lot to consider about that's for sure."
"Has any of this, my prayers, my reading from the scripture, moreover the therapeutic tools done anything, whatsoever to assist in getting you all to straighten up and fly right? That you won't go to seek revenge? But choose love, light, and forgiveness?" she questioned seriously.
Vlad took her hand in his and kissed it. "Yes, Mag, we shall not harm anyone. We shall be the bigger people and not seek vengeance. We will control our anger and let it go."
"Good. I'm so relieved to hear you'll be the bigger person Vlad and that you've embraced forgiveness. Would it help if I went over one more time on how best to restore a shattered relationship?"
"If you feel it's best, beloved."
"I understand that, sweetheart, but these are just tools that are essential in life. These ten tools are crucial to remember. Consequently, they are as followed.
1, You need to acknowledge the problems in the relationship. Even if you don't want to hear the relationship problems or that someone else has problems with you. You need to hear what they are not happy about, and you need to listen to them because they can't be resolved unless you listen and acknowledge they are there in the first place
2. Don't run away or avoid the issues. Putting off the problems or blowing them off only makes things worse, and delays are finding solutions and mending things while they can be mended.
3. Listen to the other side. Don't just hear them and repeat them. But listen and feel their emotions and understand where they are coming from and why they see and feel the way they do.
4. Don't make the other person do all the work. It takes two people to make a relationship work. So do your part and put forth the effort on your side.
5. Accept responsibility for your half of the problems. Work on solutions with the other person on how you will change your behavior towards the other person.
6. Be respectful while working things out and give each other the respect and kindness they deserve, and don't discount what they say. It may not be what you want to hear about yourself, but don't try and deny what others have to say, either. We can't see how others see us, and other people may see us in ways we might not want to see ourselves.
7. Good communication is key, and again, working together and not shutting down or making one person's fault. Again it goes two ways. You both have to work on mending the relationship. But don't tell the other what they should've done to find solutions that will solve the current problems after really listening to what the other has to say.
8. Apologies go a long way. And it has to come from the heart and not be an excuse in any shape or form. Understand what you did wrong and truly be willing to correct the behavior. Understand you hurt this person in some manner, and they deserved at least an apology and one that is sincere
9. Be ready for the long road and know it won't be fixed overnight but stay committed and don't get frustrated. Try and keep calm while working it out.
10. Take breathers, but again remember it will take time, patience, and effort on both parties to fix a relationship, but both have to be willing to try."
They concluded their Bible study with one final prayer before turning in for the night. All in all, it has been a successful day for everyone all around.