"Mr. Fenton, please, take a seat."
Danny slid into the front desk and leaned forward on his arms, nervously wringing his left hand in his right. He flicked his eyes to the door.
"Is this one of those surprise parent check-ins? Did I do something wrong?"
Mr. Lancer looked up at him from the papers on his desk, baffled.
"No, oh—no. No, you're not in trouble. It's the opposite, actually, but I wasn't quite sure how to bring it up until now."
He rounded his desk, and Danny leaned back, looking at the pages placed in front of him.
"My philosophy paper?"
"And this."
"… my final. I don't understand, did I do bad on it? I know the papers are a little burnt, but I mean that's a normal hazard in my house. You're lucky they didn't get eaten by a ghost dog."
"Wha-No, no. Lord of the Flies, that's," he stopped, gesturing his train of thought. The man exhaled, pushing that information to the side.
"You got an A on both of these papers. In fact, I wanted to commend you, because you received the highest marks of your entire class on your final."
"Oh. Thank you. Can I go?"
"No. Danny, I expected most of the class to write about ghosts for the philosophy assignment, but you went so much deeper on the subject. You could pursue this, if it's a real interest."
"Philosophy? I guess it's kind of intriguing; but that's cause of our town. I don't think it has any other interesting concepts. I mean, the answer is 'yes, trees make noise when they fall'."
The man chuckled, and picked up the philosophy paper, unfolding it to the last page. Danny gulped, freezing under his own words. Lancer watched the boy's expression carefully as he pointed to the highlighted sentence, but he knew he already caught on. He was probably three steps ahead of him.
"Do you believe you are leading a life worth living, Mr. Fenton?"
"Of course I do; it was just an introspective of the human psyche and what might burden a long life."
"Mhm." The teacher hummed, leaning back against his desk. He folded his hands, thinking.
"You have a lot of potential, Mr. Fenton. Like your parents, you are one of the smartest people I have ever met. The work you do turn in is always stellar, and the tests you show up for, you knock out of the park. Either you have mastered learning while sleeping through your classes, or you put a lot of effort into your education outside of school hours. Yes, your first year was rocky, between your restlessness, and clumsiness, goodness, we still don't have a reason for all the broken equipment, but even then, the work you did when you focused was great."
"I wasn't restless and clumsy, who thinks that?"
"The gorilla extra credit was fascinating, and I've used it as an example ever since, of both what to do and what not to do. The point is, when you show up, you always display the level-headed brain you have, and I want to know why you're not using it all the time. Why do you miss so many classes? Is this just a focus thing? Are you not stimulated enough, with the material of your classes? Are you bored?"
"No, it's not that. It's nothing— there's nothing going on. Is that why the freshman asked me for help with their Animal Kingdom projects?"
"Danny, that's the amusement park in Florida. The proper would be Kingdom Animalia. I think you mean the ecology projects specifically—Never mind. You can see how your answer gives me proof of the opposite, yes?" He sighed, and took the other paper in his hands.
"Since I know you're not talking to your parents about your…. 'Extracurriculars', I suppose, whatever they may be, my door is always open. But this isn't why I called you in today. Tell me about your final paper, 'Arlington and the Importance of Memorial Day.'"
"Uhm, it's the paper I wrote for the field trip. I don't remember it specifically, except that I was glad you made it a long final and gave us easier assignments and free periods more often to work on our other classes."
"And you're showing up for those other classes, correct?"
"Yea, why wouldn't I?"
"No reason. What made you pick The Arlington Cemetery as your topic, over all the museums and landmarks we toured?"
Danny's gaze drifted in thought.
"It…felt like a really powerful place. It commanded respect, and… I don't know, of all the places we went, it just was the most important."
His teacher narrowed his eyes, studying him, and looked down to the paper in his hands.
"You're the only student who wrote about the cemetery, and it was refreshing to read such a thought out narrative of what America stands for, and the importance of keeping respect a main characteristic in life. I mean, this paper, it exceeded the syllabus, and my expectations completely. I expected great work from you if it got turned in, but, you turned in something good."
He walked around his desk, and swiveled the computer screen to face the boy, gesturing him to the table.
"The city holds a celebration every year for Memorial Day. There's a cocktail hour, moment of silence, and entertainment in the form of speeches from the mayor and a few select guest speakers, followed by dinner, silent auction, and musical entertainment. All the proceeds go to a foundation chosen by vote at the end. If you are interested, I think your essay would be wonderful at this event. I've already run it by your other teachers, and if you agree, this would be graded in lieu of a final that you could put toward any class of your choosing."
"Like, if I miss a final I still pass?"
"I thought you weren't missing any."
"Of course not, I'm just thinking ahead. Um, what do I have to do if I agree to it?"
"Well, first we need to have a meeting with your parents. There's only two weeks until the event, and we'd need to confirm and speak with the event committee and the mayor at town hall. After that, you would need to work your essay into a speech and rehearse. It's a formal event, so you would need a suit and tie, and as one of the speakers you'll be on the news. This would also be a great addition to your senior project, which, as your senior advisor, I know you have not finished."
"It's in progress."
"Yes, well I think we have our answer, then. I'll call your parents and schedule a meeting with the event coordinator this afternoon. If you're going to miss something today, make it my class instead of the meeting with your parents after school. You're dismissed."
"I— okay."
Danny started. He stood and walked to the door.
"If I don't miss class today can I get a free excuse at a later date?"
"No."
"Worth a shot." He shrugged and left the room. The teacher stared at the shut door behind him, affronted by the attempt. He shook his head, chuckling, and spun the computer screen back around, hitting send on the email already written.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our next speaker is a senior at Casper High School, son of our resident ghost hunters. Please welcome, Daniel Fenton, performing his essay, 'Arlington and the Importance of Memorial Day.'"
The boy smiled, nodding to the emcee as he approached the booth. He stood in front of the podium, and set down his notecards. He took a breath, digging into his core for his ghostly bravery and charm.
—
The clapping rang in his ears and the pride he felt tinted his cheeks. His friends and family gleamed from their table, focused on him as he stepped down from the stage.
"Our final speaker is none other than our own mayor, Vlad Masters."
"How could I carry on after such a beautiful sentiment to the founding strength of our country and the men and women who sacrificed everything for us? Thank you again, Daniel, for that riveting appreciation of American ethics. If you haven't already, please turn in your proceed votes. We will announce the organization after dessert. Dig in!"
Danny took his seat, pulling on his tie. Sam scooted a hair closer to him.
"Ice might cool you off a little." She hinted, and he smirked, forming a snowball in his hand while he stared at her, keeping his glowing eyes away from view.
"Well done, Mr. Fenton. That was truly exceptional."
The teacher raised his glass in a cheer, and everyone followed. Sam giggled, looking away from the boy as he dropped the snowball under the table and reached over to pick up his glass.
"Thank you, Mr. Lancer."
"You did wonderful, son."
"Great job, baby."
"Thanks."
As soon as the adults took their eyes of the kids, Tucker and Sam leaned in.
"I've got five bucks that Vlad didn't have a speech prepared at all."
"I'll raise you ten that I can throw a snowball at him and not get caught."
"Okay, both good. Take it to fifteen that you can be here and innocent, but also throw that snowball the next time he's on stage."
"Really honoring Memorial Day, aren't we?" Jazz leaned in next to the goth, reaching for the butter.
Danny dropped the fresh snow in his hand and kicked it further under the table.
"Right. National Holiday." He cleared his throat, "you know, I bet Phantom is tired of the early summer heat. Maybe he'll do one of his famous snow days soon."
A hand rested on his shoulder, and Danny froze.
"If that Phantom brat wants to mess with the weather again, I'm sure our resident ghost-hunters would knock him out of the sky, posthaste."
"You're right on that, V-man! We didn't endure zero degree temperatures this year just to miss summer."
"Yes. Oh, that's my mobile. Do excuse me."
The man pulled his phone out and walked off, talking into it. His friends snickered into their meals, but the teenager narrowed his eyes at the teacher sitting across from him. The man stared back, gears turning in his expression. He narrowed his eyes, and Danny paled, realization striking the both of them.
"You know, Jack, Maddie, I saw that ghost recently. How old would you say he is?"
"The ghost kid? Oh, we don't need to talk about work today. There's plenty of ghost hunters on shift."
"No, please, I've been meaning to ask you about it; one of your sons exemplary assignments actually turned me to the conversation. Daniel, you told them about that philosophy assignment, yes?"
"No, he didn't."
The half-ghost flicked his gaze to the teacher, a small, knowing grin growing on the man's face. Danny frowned expertly quick, his warning expression hopefully missed by the parents. The teens snapped to look at the educator, then back at their best friend as he spoke.
"I forgot about it because of the Memorial Day speech; Mr. Lancer taught us an introductory unit on philosophy before the east coast trip. It wasn't really that exciting though, kind of a snoozer."
"Don't be modest; your son wrote one of the most compelling introductory philosophical reads I've had the pleasure of grading. It's a shame he's not more interested, I think he could really consider a future in it."
"How intriguing. What about his essay brings attention to the ghost boy?"
"Oh, I wouldn't want to spoil the read for you, but he brings such great commentary on the balance of life and death into physical words, and ties it into examples from the ghosts we see every day. And with the language he uses, you would think he knew more than what an observational study of the ghost psyche can provide. Now that I think of it, his writing brings a certain understanding to front that you wouldn't normally consider from the sidelines. And his control of the English language far exceeds that of a pending high school graduate."
"That is quite the review. Danny you'll need to print a copy so we can read it."
"Yea, I'll see if it survived from the old computer. Don't get your hopes up."
The teacher's smile only grew. Maddie and Jack looked at the teacher, definitely missing the green glare their son threw at him.
"I still have the one he turned in for a grade I can photocopy. There's some grading marks to read around, but if you've lost the original…"
So, that is what you carry.
The first week of June sat heavily on the senior students of Casper High. Finals had their nerves wracked. Block scheduling took the ease off a few of them, lengthening the free periods of classes already finished, and offering more time to those looming ahead.
In retrospect, it was truly beneficial Edward Lancer's English classes were a free period. The children's movie eased the stress some students felt, and reigned in the boredom of others. The last Monday of the school year went off without a hitch, and he managed to finish his book halfway through third period. On Tuesday, the educator brought a new book, the newly published 'Ecto-Psychology, Getting to Know a Ghost', by his own former student, Jasmine Fenton.
He just reached the third chapter, Importance of Beware, When the first period bell— technically the fifth— rang out and he set the book down, bidding adieu to his last class of freshman. He propped the classroom door open for the fifteen minute break between classes, and did a quick reorganization and cleanup from the last period. With seven minutes left the man sat down at his desk, marked his page and set the book to the side; he placed his classroom phone on dnd, and looked straight ahead as he waited. A chill wove over the classroom, and Edward unfolded his hands to wave the boy in from the threshold. The youngest Fenton slipped in without a noise, and stood in front of the teacher's desk.
He held out a plate of cookies, a card, and a blank-covered book.
"The cookies are a thank you from my parents. The card is a thank you from me."
"And the book?"
"It's a good read. But I have to return it to the library in two weeks; trust me you do not want to be overdue."
Danny's gaze flicked over to the copy of his sisters work, and the smallest smile grazed his battle-worn face.
"My parents liked my essay, and they're a chapter ahead of you in Jazz's book."
"I suspected that would be the case when I brought it up. Tell me, what did they say, when they read your work?"
"That it gave them a new perspective, and so far, Jazz's work is proving mine. They even said they have some theories to go over in light of our revelations."
"So you told them?"
"No. Yes, sort-of. I.. gave enough for them to figure it out."
"It is only a matter of picking the right words. Mr. Foley, Ms. Manson, do come in."
The two shuffled in and stood on either side the half-ghost, ready to be reprimanded for eavesdropping.
"I must say, I believe you three are the most accomplished students I have ever taught. Funny, how life will clear the path for those who accept it."
Danny smirked, leaning back with the cool visage of his super persona. "What clued you in?"
"It may have been the way you spoke of yourself, and the way you reacted to the mayor's comment." Lancer opened the crisp, new book the senior brought him and read the title. He looked up at the teenagers and smiled.
"Or perhaps the snow that soaked my shoe on a hot May afternoon."
"Huh. Was that life, clearing the path, then?"
'The First Year: High King of All Ghosts: Daniel James Fenton-Phantom, and His Lordship's Court'
"Yes. I believe it was."
